AYURVEDA - BIO-RHYTHM OF HEALTH
Documentary Film Series on Ayurveda- Bio rhythm of Health Indian System
of Medicine |
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Hita hitam sukham duhkhamayustasya hitahitam /
Manam ca tacca yatroktamayurvedah sa ucyate //
Caraka samhita 1.41. |
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"That is named the Science of life wherein is laid down
the good and bad life,
the happy and the unhappy life, and what is wholesome and what is unwholesome
in relation to life, and also the measure of life." |
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A state of positive health
is achieved when all the body organs are functioning at the optimum level
and the body as a whole has attained the full biological potential and
balance in the total environment. Health cannot be achieved merely by
popping pills. A sound understanding of its principles and practical applications
can help. Food, hygiene, exercise, rest, measures for protection against
disease are five such fundamental principles, lucidly described and visualized
in Ayurveda - Bio-Rhythm of Health. Modern diagnosis methods enable use
to recognize the symptoms of a disease, long before it erupts fully. This
helps us to take preventive measures well in time.
Mere absence of illness does not mean health. The dividing line between
good health and disease is extremely thin. The onset of chronic disease
is difficult to defect. Without health, life cannot be lived or enjoyed
to the full, but is robbed of its joys and pleasures.
The series, Ayurveda - Bio-Rhythm of Health and help our viewers to convert
their dream of health into a reality. In overcoming natures challenges,
mankind can become progressively healthier.
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Ayurveda - Bio-Rhythm of Health - Steps towards healthier mankind.
Descriptive rich in interpretation, Ayurveda - Bio-Rhythm of Health brings
the friendly Doctor into your living room. Medical Scientists, eminent
doctors, surgeons, specialists physicians etc., have been consulted in
its preparation.
The process of disease and information about recovery are presented in
simple narrative form, backed by strong and relevant visuals. Eminently
viewable by the common man, Ayurveda - Bio-Rhythm of Health achieves case
of understanding with apt visuals and easy explanation.
Rich with upto date information, Ayurveda - Bio-Rhythm of Health is a
handy visual encyclopedia packed with healthy information.
An unparalled effort in Health Communication is the healthiest programme
for you. Not just a documentary programme, it is a right prescription.
The only programme for all ages. The only prescription available in original
Sanskrit.
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The word "Ayurveda" etymologically
means the science of life. It aims at imparting the knowledge to preserve,
promote and correct the body tissues as well the quality and strength
of mind, so that one can aspire to attain a status of supreme and eternal
happiness.
Ayurveda conceives life as a four-dimensional entity comprising of physical
body-Sharira, the senses-indriya, the psyche-Satva and soul-Atma or life,
i.e., the conscious element. Thus, the individual is a comprehensive psycho-physico-spiritual
unit, which is highly dynamic and is in constant interplay with the universe.
Charaka ( 100 BC )
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The origin of Ayurveda goes back to the dates of origin of life. The
documentary evidence finds its root in the oldest scripture of human wisdom
and civilization i.e. the Vedas, the age of which is estimated to be in
between 4500 B.C. to 2000 B.C. Atharva Veda which primarily deals with
practical sciences and arts, where a detailed references are available
on life science. The preceptors of Ayurveda includes the mythical personalities
like Brahma, semi historical personages like Bharadwaja & Dhanvantari
and historical figures like Charaka and Sushurta. Ayurveda has survived
through a number of authentic Sanskrit texts. The fundamental approach
essentially is philosophic, holistic and humanistic. It advocates complete
promotive, preventive and curative system of medicine.
Different branches of Medicine and Surgery as mentioned by Charaka and
Sushruta can be classified as follows, which holds good to the contemporary
classification:
1. Kayachikitsa - Internal medicine and therapeutics
2. Shalakya - The science of special organ diseases - eye, ear, nose,
throat, etc.
3. Shalyapaharana - Surgery
4. Vishna tantra - Toxicology
5. Kaumarabhrtya -Paediatrics
6. Bhuta vidya - Psyvchiatry
7. Rasayana - Rejuvenation
8. Vajikarana - Vilificaiton
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Sushruta ( 1500 BC
) Numerous texts of medicine other than Charaka samhita and Sushruta
samhita were regularly composed through the centuries such as Bhela samhita,
kashyapa samhita, Ashtanga hrudaya, etc. The Ayruvedic tradition continued
as a vigour and expanding scientific tradition down into the 16th century.
Its medical literature is oriented practically and operationally, although
apparently it had an elective affinity for and an ongoing exchange with
the classical Indian philosophies.
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The dominant intellectual influences on Ayurveda are those of the
sankhya and vaisheshika Indian philosophies, although one also finds terms
and notions from vedanta, nyaya, yoga and early Buddhist and Join reflection.
Panchamahabhuta Theory : The body of man and all the objects in
the universe are composed of the same basic elements namely Earth, Water,
Energy, Air and space. After death the body disintegrates and merges into
their five-basic/primordial elements from which it is formed.
Earth (Pruthvi) ; Space (Akasha) ; Air (Vayu) ; Energy (Teja) ; Water
(Aap)
Earth (Pruthvi) : The five elements in the nature, when gentle
and functions normally, are essential for the sustenance of life. The
same five elements, when abnormal or enrages cause discomfort and can
destroy life. These five elements change their nature continuously; thus
the temperature, humidity etc. keep on changing in various seasons as
well as at different times during the day. Hence, man has to adopt continuously
for maintaining homeostasis and these forms the reason for detailed description
of daily and seasonal regimens (Dinacharya and Rutucharya).
Tridosha theory : It is the applied form of panchamahabhuta theory
in order to understand the psyco-physio-pathological mechanism of the
human body. The total human body consists of mass of solid substratum
added over it with an intensive interplay of chemical activity and an
energy pool of motion and movements. There are three primary principles
recognized to represent the entire functions to the human body comprising
on one side the bio-motor force-the vata, the metabolic activities-the
pitta and the preservative principle of the body-kapha and these three
forms the vehicles of the qualities of the satva, rajas and thamas, the
three psychic-qualities. On the other, there is an inseparable blending,
however judicious, of the two entirely different phenomena of organic
life, of the physical with the metaphysical, of the physiological with
psychological. All these three aspects coexist in a genetically predetermined
proportion and they function in a manner complementary to each other in
the interest of the overall functions of the body, in spite of their opposite
properties and functions. The genetic pre-disposition determines one's
physical, physiological and behavioral features, termed asprakruti or
constitution.
Kapha
All the cells, tissues and organs or the body are predominantly composed
of the kapha element. The combination of solids and liquids in varying
proportion is responsible for the varying structure and composition of
various tissues such as lymph, semen, blood, muscle, fat, bone marrow,
bone and brain.
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The centripetal, slimy,
viscid and unctuous nature of kapha molecules is responsible for uniting
two molecules and giving compactness to the body as a whole. It is responsible
for strength, stability and firmness of the body. Kapha is responsible
for all the anabolic process including growth and development of the body.
Nagarjuna ( 600 AD )
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Vata
'Vata' the biological element, controls, the activities of the body. By
controlling the movements of molecules and cells, it is responsible for
the organization of all the tissues in the body. By bringing together
kapha molecules and cells, it helps in regeneration and conjugation of
tissues. By stimulating movement and activity, it increases tile catabolism
and controls the metabolic processes in the body. It is vital for the
functioning of pitta i.e. digestive as well as tissue enzymes.
It carries all the sensory impulses to their centers and maintains the
efficiency of sense organs.
Pitta
Pitta is the biological combination of energy or hear and liquid. The
energy is the active principle, whereas liquid acts as a vehicle. Pitta
molecules, because of their active energy element tend of break the bigger
kapha molecules into smaller ones and increase the motion of vata molecules.
Pitta increases the catabolic processes, heat production and body temperature.
It increases appetite and thirst. Pitta maintain colour, complexion and
luster of skin. The vision intact. By improving digestion and cellular
activity, it maintains health.
By increasing the metabolism of the brain, it improves the mental activities.
Tridoshas are not constant, but keep on fluctuating from time to time,
Kapha dominates in children, pitta in adults and vata in the old.
Vata is dominant in greeshma and varsha ruttu (i.e. summer and monsoon
seasons); pitta in varsha and sharad rutu (i.e. monsoon and autumn season)
and kapah is dominant in shishira and vasanta rutu (i.e winter and spring
seasons.)
Dhatus and malas-tissues and waste products: The word dhatu means the
one, which supports. Thus tissues constitute the supporting or structural
units of the body are called dhatu and are 7 in number. They are (1) Ras,
i.e. body fluid, (2) Rakta, i.e. blood (3) Marnsa muscular tissue, (4)
Meda - adipose tissue, (5) Asthi - osteous tissue (6)Majja - nervous tissue
and bone marrow and (7) Shukra - generative tissue including semen and
ovum. Each tissue has its own specific enzyme. During the metabolic activity
of each tissue, its specific waste product, i.e, mala is formed primarily
they are three in number viz. Stool, urine and sweat. Health depends on
the balanced state of all the dhatus, doshas and malas, both quantitatively
as well as qualitatively. When any of these body constituents in increased,
decreased or assumes an abnormal quality, a disease starts.
MAN, NATURE AND AYURVEDA
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Man is the epitome of the universe
and he can't be taken in isolation as the depends on it for continuance.
Ayurveda envisages body rhythm as a part of universal rhythmically. Universe
is a dynamic system of matter and most, if not all, phenomena in the universe
are rhythmic in nature.
Vagbhata ( 1200 AD )
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The principles of Ayurveda are based on natural laws e.g. "The Law
of similar". This law states that, substances that have properties similar
to a particular tissue will, when taken internally, increase that particular
tissue in the body and vice versa e.g. ghee or animal fat will increase
fat in the human body. This and other natural laws will remain eternally
true, though new substances having similar properties may be recognized
and discovered in course of time. Hence Charaka states that the science
of life has unlimited score for expansion.
Ayurveda In Clinical Medicines : The beauty of Ayurveda lies in the way
in which all the complex metabolic, physiological as well as pathological
processes in the body have been lined up in normal or abnormal functioning
of the three basic biological elements vata, pitta and kapha. The practical
utility of this line of thinking is tremendous as it not only simplifies
the understanding and approach to the disease of symptoms even before
the disease becomes manifested.
Ayurveda the gift of India, only that Indian Masters wisdom who though
of all the biological processes in terms of molecular biology thousands
of years ago. Modem medicine and physics have evolved from gross to minute,
i.e., from body organs to cells molecules and from molecules to energy.
The ancient physicians and philosophers have always looked at man and
universe as evolving and philosophers have always looked at man and universe
as evolving from the universal soul principle, the precursor of universal
energy.
Ayurveda is rich in conceptual content understand in order to be able
to practice good medicine.
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Rasa shala
( Laboratory ) Ayurvedic Pharmacology : Drug therapy, as separate
branch is well established in Ayurveda. A drug (dravya) is defined in
Ayurveda as a substance, which has its inherent properties (Guna), and
actions (Karma). Charaka has explained this further by saying "a drug
is like afabric, its physicochemical properties (Guna) and actions (Karma)
are like the yarn of the fabric ".
It is striking to find those most scientific aspects of modern medicines
and pharmacology has been expressed in different languages in Ayurvedic
texts. Site of actions (Adhikaran), pathways (Upaya), dosages (Matra)
and antagonism (Viruddha) were the basic considerations kept in mind.
With ever increasing hazards of toxicity and other side effects of conventional
synthetic medicines, there is a serious look out for a safe and effective
alternative medicine, especially for chronic diseases. Ayurveda, because
of its sound concept and practicality, has been identified as one the important
and leading player in filling the void. Ayurveda gives a comprehensive understanding
of the interplay of man and his universe. Owing to its complete promotive,
preventive, and curative aspects and because of natural way of understanding
the disease and its treatment,
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Ayurveda is becoming more popular
and reestablishing its positive role as a healing science - Bio-Rhythm of
health. |
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