Interview

Dr Arya: Ayurveda (Ayus-Life; Veda-knowledge), is much more than a science of life- it encompasses an entire philosophy of healthy living. The origin of Ayurveda is traced back to the Vedas-the oldest repository of human knowledge. Ayurveda is an upveda (subsidiary text) of Atharvaveda, although the other three Vedas (Rigveda, Yagurveda, Samaveda) are replete with references to various aspects of Ayurveda.

Dr Arya: Yes, there are eight branches of Ayurveda i.e. Ashtanga Ayurveda : Kayacikitsa (Medicine),Salakya( ENT. & Optha.),Salyapahartrka( Surgery) ,Visa- gara–vairodhikaprasaman ( Toxicology ), Bhuta Vidhya (Psychiatry ), Kaumarabhrtya (Paediatrics ), Rasayana(Science of Rejuvenation ) and Vajikarana (Science of Aphrodisiacs).

Dr Arya: Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine, which considers body as composed of five basic elements i.e. PANCHAMAHABHOOTA (Pancha-five; Maha-great; Bhoota-eternal elements) viz. Akasha (Ether), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Jala (Water), Prithvi (Earth).

According to Acharya Sushrut, a human being is a union of these five basic elements and soul (shariri).

The permutation and combination of these five elements lead to three Humours in human body called TRIDOSHAS viz. VATA, PITTA,KAPHA. VATA : composed of space and air. It is responsible for all the movements in body i.e. both voluntary as well as involuntary and sensations. It is the motivation force behind the two other humours. PITTA: composed of fire and water. It is responsible for all physiochemical phenomena (Digestive and Metabolic activities). KAPHA: composed of water and air. It maintains compactness or cohesiveness in the body by providing the fluid matrix to it. It provides the strength and stability for holding body tissues together and thus responsible for the constitution of gross structure of the body. The fundamental concept of Ayurvedic medicine system is that “the equilibrium of these three humours (Tridoshas) results in health while a condition of imbalance causes disease.” While the Tridoshas determine our physical health, it is the three Gunas (Trigunas) that determine our mental or spiritual health (Manas Prakriti). The three Gunas or Trigunas are:-

1. Rajas – characterizes motion and stimulation
2. Tamas-characterises heaviness and resistance
3. Satva—characterizes consciousness, purity and clarity

Dr Arya: According to Ayurveda, organizational layout of human body is divided into three basic components:-

1. Doshas (Humours)
2. Dhatus (Tissues)
3. Malas (Impurities)

1. Dosha: As said earlier, the permutation and combination of the five basic elements lead to three Humours in human body called TRIDOSHAS viz VATA, PITTA,KAPHA.
2. Dhatu: “BODY TISSUES” , according to Ayurveda the human body is composed of seven tissues called Dhatus which hold together and nourishes the body:-
   1. Rasa:- Plasma
   2. Rakta:- Blood
   3. Mamsa:- Muscles
   4. Med:- Fat
   5. Asthi:- Bone
   6. Majja:- Marrow
   7. Shukra:- Reproductive Tissue

   According to Acharya Sushrut , every first Dhatu nourishes the other as Diet and nutrition yields Rasa Dhatu, Rasa Dhatu nourishes Rakta Dhatu and so on respectively.


3. Mala : They are the waste products produced during the course of digestive and metabolic processes. Three primary Malas:-
   1. Purisa(faeces)
   2. Mutra(urine)
   3. Sveda(sweat)

   

Arogya (Disease free condition) results when there is a balance between doshas, Dhatus , and Malas

There are some other attributes of human body defined in Ayurveda as:

AGNI: Agni is the biological fire that governs metabolism and is responsible for the whole sequence of chemical reactions and interactions in the body. According to Ayurveda there are thirteen types of Agni in the body. The most important of them is the Jhatharagni i.e. the Gastric fire , which is responsible for the digestion of food as according to Ayurveda , digestion is the cornerstone of good health. SROTAS: Srotas are the numerous channels of the body which allows the flow of energy, nutrients and the waste products e.g. alimentary canal etc. AMA: ama is a toxin which is generated either by weak digestive fire or by out of balance doshas. OJAS: Ojas is the essential energy of the immune system. It is a unique concept of Ayurveda ; the vital essence of the body; a subtle force that integrates and cements the body, mind and spirit into a functioning individual. Low Ojas lead to degeneration and immunological diseases. Abnormalities of Ojas will lead to diminution of immunity and the individual will be vulnerable to infections and diseases.

Dr Arya: The “Definition of Health” according to Ayurveda is : “One whose Doshas, Agni, function of Dhatus and Malas are in the state of equilibrium and who has cheerful mind, intellect and sense of organs, is termed as ‘Swastha’(Healthy).” Now this conception of Ayurveda is recognized globally and WHO has defined ‘Good Health’ as state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. Thus health as defined by Ayurveda is a dynamic process of equilibrium of all bodily elements and not just a ‘state of absence of disease’ as defined by modern medicine system. This difference in outlook has resulted in the different approach of both sciences. Where modern medicine treats a ‘disease’, Ayurveda treats a ‘patient’. Consequently every disease begets an identical treatment in modern system of medicine while Ayurvedic treatment varies according to the constitution,age,sex and other individual factors.

No, it is a wrong perception. Cell was discovered only in 17th century AD by Robert Hooke and elaborate cell theory was formulated only around mid-20th century but centuries before the invention of microscope, ‘cell’ had been discussed in Ayurvedic texts and even the cellular mechanism can be explained through the ‘Tridosha’ concept of Ayurveda. For e.g. Acharya Charak had mentioned that: “Human body is made up of innumerable atomic particles (Parmanu) which are incalculable, tiny and microscopic, they are invisible and cannot be observed by human senses.” He is talking about cells, its organelles and their structural constituents, even he mentioned the factors responsible for their union and disintegration. One can find even the concepts of “Stem Cells” and “Genetics” in Ayurvedic texts. Modern science had gone up to the level of elementary or fundamental particles but what escaped it was “God Particles” i.e. “The Higgs Boson” which gives elementary particles their masses and now modern scientists are doing elaborate research on them at Large Hadron Collider. Similarly though modern medicine system has gone up to cellular level or even below that but what still eludes it, are the concepts of “Panchmahabhoota” and “Tridoshas” of Ayurveda through which it identifies human body with nature and they, if being researched upon intensively, may produce miracles for the science of medicine.

They are not competitors but are complementary to each other in serving the Mankind. No doubt that the modern medicine system (Allopathy) has taken the science of medicine to a new height; it is responsible for the elimination of various diseases and controlling life threatening infections through its brilliant vaccination and antibiotic therapy. I also agree that in the case of medical emergencies such as accidents, poisoning, cardiac arrest, cerebral haemorrhage, etc., Allopathy is the only panacea. It is responsible for the sharp decline in mortality rates throughout the world and has provided a great relief to the sufferings of humanity but it has its own shortcomings – side effects, multi-drug resistance and its helplessness in various disorders as coeliac disease, diabetes, psoriasis, asthma, migraine, spinal disorders; some other neurological, gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders to name a few. Moreover, unlike Ayurveda, which eliminates the root cause of the disease and prevents its relapse, Allopathic treatment is more localised then holistic, the symptoms are receded to the background till the effect of medicine is there and they may reappear afterwards, with more vigour, which then requires an even higher dose to treat the condition. Ayurveda can aptly fill this vacuum and can provide a better alternative to modern medicine system in a number of disorders.