Ayurveda

The Indian System of Medicine

Dr. Tahir Ali

RIPS
Riphah International University
 History
• Came into existence in about 900 B.C.
• The word Ayurveda means Ayur meaning life and
Veda meaning science.
• The Indian Hindu mythology states four Veda
written by the Aryans:
– Rig Veda,
– Sam Veda,
– Yajur Veda and
– Atharva Veda.
• The Ayurveda is said to be an Upaveda (part) of
Atharva Veda.
• Charaka Samhita (1900 B.C.) is the first
recorded book with the concept of practice of
Ayurveda. This describes 341 plants and plant
products used in medicine.

• Sushruta Samhita (600 B.C.) was the next

ayurvedic literature that has special emphasis
on surgery. It described 395 medicinal plants,
57 drugs of animal origin, 4 minerals and
metals as therapeutic agents.
 Basic principles of ayurveda
• According to ancient Indian philosophy, the
universe is composed of five basic elements or
pancha bhutas:
– Prithvi (earth),
– jal (water),
– Teja (fire),
– vayu (air) and
– akash (space).
• Everything in the universe, including food and the
bodies were derived from these bhutas.
• A fundamental harmony therefore exists
between the macrocosm (the universe) and
the microcosm (the individual).
• The Pancha Bhuta theory and the human
body: The human body is in a state of
continuous flux or dynamic equilibrium.
• The pancha bhutas are represented in the
human body as the doshas, dhatus and malas.
• There are three Doshas in the body also
known as tridoshas
 Doshas
• The doshas derive from the Five Elements and
their related properties.

1. Vata is composed of Space and Air,

2. Pitta of Fire and Water,
3. Kapha of Earth and Water.
 Vata
• Vata derives from the elements of Space and
Air and translates as “wind” or “that which
moves things.”
• It is the energy of movement and the force
governing all biological activity.
• Vata is often called the “King of the Doshas,”
since it governs the body’s greater life force
and gives motion to Pitta and Kapha.
 Vata
• Just as the wind in balance provides movement
and expression to the natural world, the
balanced Vata individual is active, creative, and
gifted with a natural ability to express and
communicate.
• When the wind in a Vata type rages like a
hurricane, negative qualities quickly overshadow
these positive attributes.
• Common signs of Vata imbalance include anxiety
and bodily disorders related to dryness, such as
dry skin and constipation.
 Vata
• The main locations of Vata in the body are the
colon, thighs, bones, joints, ears, skin, brain,
and nerve tissues.
• Physiologically, Vata governs anything related
to movement, such as breathing, talking,
nerve impulses, movements in the muscles
and tissues, circulation, assimilation of food,
elimination, urination, and menstruation.
• Psychologically, Vata governs communication,
creativity, flexibility, and quickness of thought.
 Pitta
• Pitta derives from the elements of Fire and
Water and translates as “that which cooks.”
It is the energy of digestion and metabolism in
the body that functions through carrier
substances such as organic acids, hormones,
enzymes, and bile.
• The qualities of Pitta are oily, sharp, hot, light,
moving, liquid, and acidic.
 Pitta
• The main locations of Pitta in the body are the
small intestine, stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas,
blood, eyes, and sweat.
• Physiologically, Pitta provides the body with heat
and energy through the breakdown of complex
food molecules.
• It governs all processes related to conversion and
transformation throughout the mind and body.
Psychologically, Pitta governs joy, courage,
willpower, anger, jealousy, and mental
perception.
 Pitta
• When a person has a tendency to “overheat,”
excess Pitta is usually the culprit.
• Just as a campfire may turn into a forest fire
without proper care, the internal fire of the mind
and body must be kept in check.
• There is a saying that imbalanced Pitta
individuals don’t go to hell; they simply create it
wherever they go!
• Pitta imbalances commonly manifest in the body
as infection, inflammation, rashes, ulcers,
heartburn, and fever.
 Kapha
• Kapha derives from the elements of Earth and
Water and translates as “that which sticks.” It is
the energy of building and lubrication that
provides the body with physical form, structure,
and the smooth functioning of all its parts.
• Kapha can be thought of as the essential cement,
glue, and lubrication of the body in one.
• The qualities of Kapha are moist, cold, heavy, dull,
soft, sticky, and static
 Kapha
• The main locations of Kapha in the body are the
chest, throat, lungs, head, lymph, fatty tissue,
connective tissue, ligaments, and tendons.
• Physiologically, Kapha moistens food, gives bulk to
our tissues, lubricates joints, stores energy, and
relates to cool bodily fluids such as water, mucous,
and lymph.
• Psychologically, Kapha governs love, patience,
forgiveness, greed, attachment, and mental inertia.
With its earthly makeup, Kapha grounds Vata and
Pitta and helps offset imbalances related to these
doshas.
 Kapha
• Just as a nourishing rainstorm may turn into a
rampant flood, the fluids of the body may flood the
bodily tissues, contributing to a heavy dampness that
weighs down the body and clouds the mind.
• This dense, cold, and swampy environment becomes
the breeding ground for a number of bodily disorders
such as obesity, sinus congestion, and anything
related to mucous.
• Mentally, the loving and calm disposition of the
Kapha individual may transform into lethargy,
attachment, and depression.
 Dhatus
• The dhatus are the body constituents and form the
basic structure of the body; each one having its own
functions.
• The dhatus are seven in number:
 Malas

• Malas in Ayurveda, the waste products of the

body, which include
– urine,
– stool,
– Sweat
• Effective elimination of malas is said to be
important for maintaining good health.
 Now

• The doshas , dhatus and malas

should be in a state of perfect equilibrium for
the body to remain healthy.

• Any imbalance among these constituents

results in ill health and disease.
 Diagnosis
• The classical clinical examination in Ayurveda is called
ashta sthana pariksha (eight-point diagnosis) and
includes an assessment of the state of the doshas as
well as various physical signs.
• The eight-point diagnoses are
1. Nadi pariksha (pulse diagnosis),
2. Mutra pariksha (urine examination),
3. Vata/sparsha (Nervous system assessment),
4. Pitta/drik (assessment of digestive fire and metabolic
secretions),
5. Kapha/akriti (mucous and mucoid secretions assessment),
6. Mala pariksha (stool examination),
7. Jihva pariksha (tongue examination) and
8. Shabda pariksha (examination of body sounds).
 Treatment
“Focus on the person than the disease”
• In Ayurveda, before starting the treatment, a
person’s constitutional type should be
determined.
• Drugs are prescribed based on the patient’s body
type as well as on what disease or disturbance of
the doshas they are suffering from.
• Everything that might affect the patient’s health,
including their activities, the time of the day, and
the season should be taken into consideration.
 Treatment
• Ayurvedic treatment attempts to establish a
balance among vata, pitta and kapha, as well as to
improve digestion and elimination of ama
(undigested food).
• Ayurvedic therapy often begins with shodhana
(cleansing) in which toxins, emotional or physical,
are eliminated or neutralized.
• Once shodhana is completed, shamana (palliative
treatment) is used to reduce the intensity of a
disease and balance the disordered doshas.
• Finally, rasayana (rejuvenation therapy) is used to
maintain health and reduce the negative effects of
disease.
 Branches of ayurveda
• Ayurveda has eight branches:

1. Kaya Chikitsa (Medicine),

2. Salya Chikitsa (Surgery),
3. Salakya Chikitsa (ENT treatment),
4. Bala Chikitsa (Paediatric treatment),
5. Jara Chikitsa (treatment related to genetics),
6. Vajikarama Chikitsa (treatment with rejuvenation
and aphrodisiacs),
7. Graham Chikitsa (planetary effects)
8. Visha Chikitsa (toxicology).