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Ayurveda means the science of life. It has its origin in India more than 3000 years back. The early knowledge of Ayurveda was transmitted orally through teacher disciple lineage. Later on, this knowledge was penned down and books of Ayurveda came into existence. Over thousands of years numerous books were written but the most important once have been studied and commented upon by successive generations. The three major texts of Ayurveda are:

• Charak Samhita
• Sushrut Samhita
• Astang Hruday

The Eight Branches Of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic management of diseases extends across different specialties of health science. The major eight specialties or branches of Ayurveda are:

• Kaychikitsa – Internal Medicine
• Baalchikitsa – Pediatrics
• Grahchikitsa – Spiritual Medicine
• Shalakyachikitsa – ENT Medicine
• Shalyachikitsa – Surgery
• Agadtantra – Toxicology
• Jarachikitsa – Geriatrics
• Vajikaranchikitsa – Sexology

Ayurveda And Other Medical Sciences

Since centuries, trade has influenced cultures and health system was no exception to it. Ayurveda has influenced other medical sciences such as the Greek medicine, the Chinese medicine, the Unani and even the allopathic science. The present day evolved science of plastic surgery has its idea in the traditional Rhinoplasty (nose repair) performed in India since ages.

Ayurveda At Present

Traditionally, a health science practiced only in the Indian sub-continent; today Ayurveda has spread wide across oceans. In India, it is one of the main stream health practices and over 80% of the Indian population uses one or the other kind of Ayurvedic product. To practice Ayurvedic medicine in India, one has to undergo a compulsory 5.5 years undergraduate degree course – BAMS- including a mandatory 1 year internship period. Further study courses for masters and Phd programs are also undertaken by various universities in India, all under the regulations of AYUSH ministry which works for the development of Indian system of medicines. In the western countries, Ayurveda is practiced as complementary and alternative medicine and is gaining popularity day by day. In May 2016, WHO and AYUSH ministry joined hands for standardization and promotion of Ayurveda across various countries.

Ayurveda & The Human Body

Dosha, Dhatu & Mala are the building blocks of our body. To have a healthy body, it is imperative that there is a sustained balanced between them. The body requires them to flow continuously in order in the hollow spaces and channels. Any pathological condition or an ailment is a direct result of imbalance of these three. The immaculate balance is sustained on the healthy state of these channels, in other words, the circulatory systems. In Ayurveda treatment, diagnosis involves understanding the state of these channels and the balance of doshas & dhatus. A disease or an ailment is diagnosed by identifying which channel is affected and the nature and extent of their imbalance. According to Ayurveda, human body is categorized into different channels of circulatory systems or the organ systems – Strotas are comprised of gross channels and the subtle channels. The gross channels are the intestinal tract, lymphatic system, arteries, veins and the genitourinary tracts. The subtle channels include capillaries. These channels are the health indicators of the body. Diagnosis is carried out by identifying the individual doshas that are compromised and the channels which are obstructed. One compromised or vitiated dosha, which might be the original cause of the ailment, can travel through these channels and reach and affect other doshas too, causing an obstruction of strotas or channel. The natural flow is affected when this happens. All the channels are governed by Vata, Pitta & Kapha.

DOSHAS AND KAAL

In Ayurveda, Vata, Pitta and Kapha are known as the three doshas, or regulating forces of nature. These three doshas are made up of five elements: Vata comprises air and space, Pitta comprises fire and water, and Kapha water and earth. We describe below how the three doshas are affected by time and the external climate / seasons.

We know that Doshas get affected on practice of similar food and lifestyle. But apart from this they are also influenced by certain other factors such as:

• Time of day and night
• Age
• Season
• Time After food

Time Of Day And Night