basics of ayurveda

Ayurveda is The Science of Positive health and fulfillment in life.

The Aim of Ayurveda is:

 1.To achieve Positive health for the individual

 2.Prevention of the Diseases and thus protecting the Masses and

 3.Ultimate liberation.

The last goal can be achieved by following regulations of daily conduct and by following strict seasonal regimens, so that one can be constantly healthy. Being continuously healthy is comparable to achieving ultimate liberation, as it involves the eliminating the factors that bring about suffering.

To understand Ayurveda, it is very essential to know its basic concepts.  These are the backbone of Ayurvedic philosophy. Ayurvedic approach to health care is based on their applications.

1. Pancha Mahabhuta (The Five Basic Elements
2. Doshas (Biological Elements)
3. Dhatus (Basic Tissues)
4. Malas (Waste Products)
5. Agni (Biological / Digestive Fire) &
6. Trigunas (Manasika Gunas) 

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PANCHA MAHABHUTA (The Five Basic Elements):

Ancient Indian philosophy is of opinion that all materials, living or nonliving are made of five fundamental elements called Pancha Maha Bhutas, representing five fundamental categories of matter. These are:

PANCHA MAHA BHUTAS:

1. Akasha (Ether / Space)

2. Vayu (Air)

3. Teja (Fire/Energy)

4. Jala / App (Water), and

5. Prithvi (Earth)

In a simple, single living cell for example the earth element predominates by giving structure to the cell. The water element is present in the cytoplasm or the liquid within the cell membrane. The fire element regulates the metabolic processes regulating the cell. The air element is the gaseous part therein. The space occupied by the cell denotes the presence of ether, the Aakash 

In the case of a complex, multi-cellular organism as a human being for instance, Akash corresponds to spaces within the body (mouth, nostrils, abdomen etc.); Vayu denotes the movement (essentially muscular but nervous system also); Teja controls the functioning of enzymes (intelligence, digestive system, metabolism); Jala is in all body fluids (as plasha, saliva, digestive juices); and Prithvi manifests itself in the solid structure of the body (bones, teeth, flesh, hair)

The Pancha Maha Bhutas therefore serve as the foundation of all diagnosis and treatment modalities in Ayurveda and has served as a most valuable theory for physicians to detect and treat illness of the body and mind successfully. 

The relationship of Pancha Maha Bhutas with Sense organs, its Properties and Actions are:

DOSHA (Three Biological Humors):

Biological application of Panchamahabhutas reflects in the form of Tridosha. Here ‘Tri’ means three and Dosha’ represents to humor (bioentity). Thus the word ‘Tridosha’ denotes to three humors i.e. Vata, Pittaand Kapha. These are said ‘Dosha’ because these have tendency to get vitiated and also to vitiate others. This bilateral tendency of Dosha is cause of health and diseases. State of balance of Dosha represents health while imbalance to the disease. Every Dosha has definite place/ location and functions in our body.

DHATUS (Basic Tissues):

Our body is supported and sustained by seven Dhatus (basic tissues).  Beside this, Dhatus have property to vitiate. Dosha and Dhatus have relation with each other in health and disease. In pathogenesis of disease these both play key role.

Following are the SAPTHA (Seven) Dhatus:

1. Rasa          (Plasma)

2. Rakta         (Blood)

3. Mamsa      (Muscle Mass)

4. Medas       (Adipose Tissues)

5. Asthi         (Bone)

6. Majja         (Bone Marrow)

7. Shukra       (Reproductive Tissues)

MALAS (Waste Products):

The word ‘Mala’ means excretal products. Urine (Mutra), Stool (Sakrt), and Sweat (Sweda) are known as the principal Malas. They are also called KITTA or Waste Products. There are other products like fatty excretions of the intestine, ear wax (Cerumen), fatty secretions of the skin, mucous of the nose, saliva, head, beard and body, nails  of the fingers and toes, tears etc.Ayurveda has a unique concept of Malas. Sustenance of Mala in appropriate limits, sustain the life. To understand it in a better way, take the example of common excreta - urine. Excess urination may cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

AGNI (Biological/ Digestive Fire):

Agni is considered as biological fire. In our body entire range of digestive and metabolic activities are performed by it. Ayurveda considers about thirteen types of ‘Agnis’.

TRIGUNAS (Manasika Gunas)

The word literally means three qualities or three properties. These are the three specific properties of the Mind. They are Satwa, Rajas and Tamas.

1) Satwa: 

Neutral balanced, positive, cool! Calm! Sweet! Disturbances can't affect this. High spirits are core of this aspect. This is able to enlighten all the objects by its glow. Rest two may cause any deformities but purity of it's never allows disturbances to invade. Kind as love of nature and pure as blessings of God!

2) Rajas: 

Rajas Guna is activity, factor responsible for change, works to rearrange the things and ideas, transaction from darkness to light or vice-versa. It transforms potential energies of life and nature into kinetic energies. New formations anywhere in the world are controlled by this specific factor. 

3) Tamas:

Inertia!! Binds things to their places, hates any alteration or renovation. This is orthodox in nature. It makes things to deposit. Negative approach is a big and positive is zero here. Important for a pause, which give the relaxation to all animates. 

Where ‘Sattva’ is enlightened like a sunny day; ‘Tamas’ is darkened as a no-moon night, Dawn and Dusk are ‘Rajas’, for a Human Body:

Out of these three, two (Rajas and Tomas) are also known as Maha-Doshas as they can cause problems to our bodies, due to tendency of negativity (Tamas) and nature to go towards the negativity (Rajas). Sattva is pure, so no question, for appearance of a disease! These Sattva, Rajas and Tamas blend with the Panchmahabhootas and these total eight prepare configuration of a human body by giving birth to Tridoshas.

According to the involvement of the Sattva, Rajas and Tamas in the body there are 16 Types of Prakruthi, described well by Charka Samhita. Seven among these sixteen are Sattvika, six are Rajasika and Tamsika are only three.