AYURVEDA - BIO-RHYTHM OF HEALTH

Documentary Film Series on Ayurveda- Bio rhythm of Health Indian System of Medicine

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.

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.

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 )

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

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.

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.

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 )

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

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 )

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.

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,