lecturer - Institute of Pharmacy
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur (C.G.). If all three doshas are aggravated (the state of sannipata), the pulse movement resembles that of a woodpecker. A healthy person?s pulse is slow steady and regular. A regular pulse beat of thirty times always indicates good prognosis. While examining the pulse some other factors must also be taken into consideration: vayu content in the body increases in the old stage, in the late afternoon, late at night, two hours after eating, during summer or in the beginning of the rainy season. Pitta content goes up during youth and middle age, at
2. Examination of physical features: Vayu-dominated patients normally have a rather dry and cracked skin and dry hair. They do not like cold things. Pitta-dominated patients are frequently thirsty and hungry. Their skin is hot to touch and often yellowish. The palms and soles are frequently coppery in colour. They have somewhat less hair. Kapha-dominated patients have compact joints, bones and muscles. They are never excessively thirsty or hungry.
3. Examination of the eyes: In case of Vayu diseases, the patient will complain of a burning sensation in the eyes. The eyes will also be dry and smoky. Pitta type of diseases will manifest in a yellowish tinge in the whites of the eyes, an aversion to light and a burning sensation. Unctuous and dull eyes and Kapha predominance.
4. Examination of the tongue: Vayu aggravation is indicated when the tongue is cold, rough and cracked. A red or bluish tinge indicates Pitta aggravation. And a white and slimy tongue indicates Kapha aggravation. The tongue is dark with eruptions when all the doshas are aggravated.
5. Examination of the skin: A cold skin indicates Vayu aggravation. When the skin is hot to touch, Pitta is aggravated and a moist and wet skin indicates Kapha aggravation.
6. Examination if nails: Cracked and dry nails indicate Vayu aggravation, while red or yellowish nails indicate Pitta aggravation.
7. Urine examination
8. Stool examination
Applying these methods of examination, an experienced physician is able to comprehend a general impression about the client?s individual constitution and which dosha or combination of doshas is affected. The therapy can thus be broadly identified.
Ayurveda looks for food and herbs as having similar effects on the human body. Food and herbs are composed of the same five elements that are found in nature. Therefore, the components of both can be categorized to these five elements. Thus, even if these herbs are continued after the body has regained its normal state, they can provide immunity against disease by strengthening the system in much the same way as a tonic does.
Symptomatic therapy is almost alien to Ayurvedic medicine. The disease as a whole, including the site of its origin and the site of its manifestation, is taken into consideration for the choice of therapy. The primary aim of therapy is to break the process of pathogenesis. It is only when the symptoms become excessively painful that the Ayurvedic physician resorts to symptomatic therapy.
Chronic disease, ailments of the mind and the body will naturally involve a lengthy process of therapy, accompanied by adhering to a diet and regimen. Recovery will necessarily be naturally gradual. The speed of recovery depends on several factors including length and strength of illness and strength of person. Usually, the patient opts for Ayurvedic therapy after other systems have been tried and failed. As we have already emphasized, even before the dosha determination is formed and the therapy of a patient is begun, it is essential to identify the client?s individual constitution.
In general, three types of therapies are used in Ayurveda to correct a dosha imbalance. These constitute internal cleansing, external cleansing and surgical therapy. Where diseases of the mind discerned, Ayurvedic psychotherapy is employed. Medicines meant for internal cleansing, as a rule, are used to treat disease caused by improper diet, which can include excessively rich food, food eaten at irregular hours, stale food and so on. External cleansing which has a curative effect includes massage, fomentation and unction and entails external contact with the body. Surgical therapies comprises excision, incision, puncturing, scraping, uprooting, rubbing with a rough surfaced substance, suturing, probing and application of leeches and alkalis.
Basics of Therapy in Ayurveda
Ayurveda offers many therapies to heal and rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul. These include lifestyle, nutrition, herbs, mantras, homa (fire ceremonies), aromas, and many more. The Ayurvedic physician, in suggesting a therapy, examines both the patient and the disease carefully. The selection of medicines depends upon several factors.
Doshas: These may get diminished or aggravated in quantity. Seasonal changes, the constitution of the individual and the tissue elements affected by the disease also influence variation in the doshas.
The nature of the herbs: The herbs suggested may vary in their effect due to the age, feature and the combination of constituent herbs. Herbs also vary in their effectiveness by virtue of their qualities: taste, potency, post-digestive effect and the specific effect the herb provokes.
Time: Therapy may vary according to changes in seasons, the time of day and night, or the duration of the disease.
Strength: The client?s strength or general resistance to disease is a factor that influences the selection of the therapy.
Body Structure: The patients body may be fat, lean, porous loose-limbed or compact. The condition of the vital organs may differ too.
Diet: The kind of food the patient eats may affect the selection of the herb. The way the food is prepared and the quantity the patient eats are important factors in choosing a herbal preparation.
Age: Different stages of life such as infancy, youth, old age may also cause variations in the therapy selected.
? Lightening therapies or Langhana.
? Nourishing therapies or Brimhana.
? Oleation therapies or Snehana.
? Fomentation therapies or Svedana.
? Astringent therapies or Stambhana.
Lightening therapies can include the administration of six types of elimination therapies such as emesis, purgation, enema and inhalation; control of thirst; exposure to wind and sun; intake of herbs that stimulate digestion; fasting and physical exercise. These are specialized therapies where herbal decoctions and medicated oils are utilized. Elimination therapies can be judiciously used in the case of patients who tend to be corpulent and who suffer from diseases which are caused by aggravated Kapha, Pitta and Vata and affect the blood and excreta.
Herbs that promote digestion are useful in treating diseases such as vomiting, nausea and anorexia, diarrhea, heart diseases, cholera, intestinal disorders, fever, constipation, belching, heaviness of the body caused by a vitiation of Kapha and Pitta. Fasting and control of thirst will take care of the same diseases in less effective ways. Such diseases which are mild or moderate in strong individuals can be administered during winter (November to February) to patients suffering from skin diseases, obstinate urinary disorders and those who possess a corpulent body together with unctuousness and fluidity. It can also be suggested for those who suffer from diseases of vitiated Vata (Vayu).
Nourishing therapies can be used effectively for those suffering from emaciation, phthisis, weakness, old age, exertion from long tours and habitual indulgence in sex and alcohol. Such persons are in greater need of this therapy during summer. The kind of nourishing food suggested for this client consists fresh fruit and vegetables, and immune boosting foods (e.g. dairy, herbs). Patients afflicted with hemorrhoids, sprue, or consumption are advised to eat easily digestible, nourishing foods for their dosha. Unction, sleep, enema with sweet-tasting herbs, sugar, milk and ghee constitute universal nourishing devices. Organic foods are also advised to prevent intake of toxic chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, and GM additives that may further harm the health.
Oleation therapy uses ghee and oil (vegetarian methods). This therapy is usually done in three ways: oral administration, administration via enema, and topical massage. The simplest way is to drink hot sweetened milk with one or two teaspoonfuls of ghee before going to bed. Ghee is the best because of its power to effectively assimilate the properties of herbs boiled in it. Ghee alleviates Pitta and Vata and is conductive to blood and semen. It has a cooling effect in the body. It also has a softening effect and adds to the clarity of the voice and the complexion. Oil alleviates Vata but does not aggravate Kapha (in moderation). It promotes bodily strength and is beneficial for the skin. It is a hot substance, also a stabilizer and it controls the morbidity of the female genital organs. Special herbs and herbal mixes can be used for injury or fracture (e.g. laxadi bati), trauma, prolapse of the uterus (raspberry leaf), earache (clove oil) and headache. It enhances the virility of a person. It is also useful for those who do physical exercise. Ojas-producing herb strengthen semen, Kapha, fat, and marrow. It adds to the physical strength of the individual, especially of the bones.
Fomentation therapy is of thirteen kinds in Ayurveda. This therapy induces perspiration thereby eliminating toxins from the skin. The simplest way to perspire is to wrap oneself in a towel after a hot bath and lie covered till the body stops perspiring. Other methods are to apply external heat like a hot water bottle, hot sand bags and heated stones. Fomentation is used to heal coryza, cough, hiccups, difficult breathing, heaviness of the body, pain in the ears, neck and head, hoarseness of voice, spasmodic obstruction in the throat, paralysis of the face, limbs, the whole body or part of it. It can also help when there is distention of the abdomen; constipation and suppression of urine; stiffness of back waist sides and abdomen; sciatica; dysuria; enlargement of the scrotum; pain and stiffness feet, knee, calf; edema; neuralgia of the upper and lower extremities; diseases due to impaired digestion and metabolism.
Drying therapy involves the intake of pungent, bitter and astringent substances like cakes made of mustard, sesame, and honey. This therapy is recommended for patients suffering from diseases where the channels of
channels of circulation are obstructed and there is an excessive dominance of the aggravated dosha which is manifested in the vital organs of the body through spastic thighs, gout and severe urinary disorders.
Astringent therapy reduces or prevents excessive physiological secretions. It can be applied in case of uncontrolled watering of eyes, excessive secretion of ear-wax, profuse menstrual flow and diarrhoea. Ayurveda considers substances like spinach and dates astringent which decrease Pitta and Kapha but increase Vata.
The herbs used in the therapy of diseases whether they are oils, powders or liquids, work along the lines indicated in the six types of therapies that have been outlined in this chapter. A detailed description of some of the herbs and other substances used in the therapy of a few select diseases follows.
In every culture there are innumerable little tips and recipes for health care that have survived the test of time and become a part of family folk-lore. Where indigenous systems of medicine are still followed, such instances are numerous and a part of the lives of the people inhabiting those regions. In Ayurveda, there are also a few home remedies that can be safely tried.