Nowadays importance of Ayurveda in providing effective health care is growing in leaps and bounds. Be it on the home turf or the international arena, people are widely recognizing the power and benefits of Ayurveda. “Ayur” in Sanskrit stands for life, while “Veda” implies science. Ayurveda in simple terms is a “Life Science” that has been a part of Indian health care practices for over 5000 years. Even the oldest scriptures have shown the prevalence of Ayurveda as the medicinal administration system during the bygone era.

It is a true body of wisdom, that lets you reach a divine state while staying vital and realizing your full human potential. Ayurveda is so popular that even Tibetan and Chinese medicinal practices have roots in Ayurveda. Ayurveda is known for providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses. Ayurveda continues to remind us that good health is the result of balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit.

Tri-Dosha: The Fundaments of Ayurveda

Ayurveda recognizes human beings as a part of nature & believes that it governs inner and outer environments – our movements, transformation & structure. It is determined as 3 names in Sanskrit- Vata which is wind, Pitta which is fire & Kapha which is earth. These forces are primarily responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body.
Ayurveda recognizes human beings as a composite part of nature, which governs both inner and outer environments – our movements, transformation & structure – determined by three factors called VATA, PITTA and KAPHA in Sanskrit. Vata means wind, Pitta means fire & Kapha means earth. These forces are primarily responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body.

If Vata is more in our Ayurvedic consultation system, we tend to be thin, light, enthusiastic, energetic & changeable. If Pitta is higher in our Ayurvedic consultation system, we tend to be intelligent, goal oriented and intense and have an appetite for taking what life has to offer. When Kapha rules our Ayurvedic consultation system, we are more easy going, methodical & nurturing.

However, these forces are also affected by imbalances & the ensuing problems. When there is too much Vata movement in the system, a person tends to experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation, and difficulty in focusing. When Pitta is out of balance, a person tends to be compulsive and irritable and may suffer from indigestion or an inflammatory condition. Similarly, when Kapha is out of balance, a person may experience sluggishness, weight gain, and sinus congestion.

1. Internal Medicine (Káyachikitsá)
This is related to the soul, mind, and body. Psychosomatic theory recognizes that the mind can create illness in the body and vice versa. The seven body constitutions and seven mental constitutions are delineated as follows: Váyu (air/energy), Pitta (fire), Kapha (water), Váyu/Pitta, Váyu/Kapha, Pitta/Kapha, and a combination of all three (tridosha). The main objective of Ayurvedic treatment is to determine the right cause of an illness, which still remains a mystery to the modern medical science.

2. Ears, Nose, and Throat (shálákya Tantra)
Sushruta reveals approximately 72 eye related diseases, surgical procedures for all eye disorders (e.g., cataracts, eyelid diseases), and for diseases of the ears, nose, and throat.

3. Toxicology (Vishagara–vairodh Tantra)
Topics include air and water pollution, toxins in animals, minerals, vegetables, and epidemics, as well as keys for recognizing these anomalies and their antidotes.

4. Pediatrics (Kaumára bhritya)
In this branch, prenatal and postnatal care of the baby and mother are discussed. Topics include methods of conception, choosing the child’s gender, intelligence, and constitution, and childhood diseases and midwifery.

5. Surgery (Shalyá Tantra)
More than 2,000 years ago, sophisticated methods of surgery were known. This information spread to Egypt, Greece, Rome, and eventually throughout the world. In China, treatment of intestinal obstructions, bladder stones, and the use of dead bodies for dissection and learning were taught and practiced.

6. Psychiatry (Bhúta Vidyá)
A whole branch of Áyurveda specifically deals with diseases of the mind (including demonic possession). Besides herbs and diet, yogic therapies (breathing, mantras, etc.) are employed.

7. Aphrodisiacs (Vájikarana)
This section deals with two aspects: Infertility (for those hoping to conceive) and Spiritual development (for those eager to transmute sexual energy into spiritual energy).

8. Rejuvenation (Rasáyana)
Prevention and longevity are discussed in this branch of Ayurveda. Charak says that in order to develop longevity, ethics and virtuous living must be embraced.