Ayurveda (Sanskrit: yurveda , "life-knowledge"; English pronunciation //[1]) or Ayurvedic medicine is a system of Hindu traditional medicine[2] native to the Indian subcontinent. Practices derived from Ayurvedic traditions are a type of alternative medicine.[3] Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda or "auxiliary knowledge" in Vedic tradition. The origins of Ayurveda are also found in the Atharvaveda,[4][5] which contains 114 hymns and incantations described as magical cures for disease. There are also various legendary accounts of the origin of Ayurveda, e.g., that it was received by Dhanvantari (or Divodasa) from Brahma.[6][7][8] Ayurvedic practices include the use of herbal medicines, mineral or metal supplementation (rasa shastra), surgical techniques, opium, and application of oil by massages.

Originated in prehistoric times,[9] some of the concepts of Ayurveda have been discovered since the times of Indus Valley Civilization and earlier.[10] Ayurveda significantly developed during the Vedic period and later some of the non-Vedic systems such as Buddhism and Jainism also incorporated in the system.[10][11] Balance is emphasized, and suppressing natural urges is considered unhealthy and claimed to lead to illness.[12] Ayurveda names three elemental substances, the doshas (called Vata, Pitta and Kapha), and states that a balance of the doshas results in health, while imbalance results in disease. Ayurveda has eight canonical components, which are derived from classical Sanskrit literature. Some of the oldest known Ayurvedic texts include the Surutha Sahit and Charaka Sahit, which are written in Sanskrit. Ayurvedic practitioners had developed various medicinal preparations and surgical procedures by the medieval period.[13]

Although laboratory experiments suggest it is possible that some substances in Ayurveda might be developed into effective treatments, there is no evidence that any are effective in themselves.[14] Concerns were raised when 20% of Ayurvedic U.S. and Indian-manufactured patent medicines sold through the Internet were found to contain toxic levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.[15][16]

The canonical components of Ayurveda are derived from classical Sanskrit literature, in which Ayurveda was called "the science of eight components" (Sanskrit aga ). The components are:[17][18][19][20][21][22]

The central ideas of Ayurveda are primarily derived from Vedic philosophy, although some concepts were later borrowed from similar non-Vedic systems such as Buddhism and Jainism.[11] Balance is emphasized, and suppressing natural urges is considered unhealthy and claimed to lead to illness.[12] For example, to suppress sneezing is said to potentially give rise to shoulder pain.[26] However, people are also cautioned to stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure when following nature's urges.[12] For example, emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake,[27] sleep, and sexual intercourse.[12]

Ayurveda names seven basic tissues (dhatu), which are plasma (rasa), blood (rakta), muscles (mmsa), fat (meda), bone (asthi), marrow (majja), and semen (shukra). Like the medicine of classical antiquity, Ayurveda has historically divided bodily substances into five classical elements (Sanskrit [maha]panchabhuta, viz. earth, water, fire, air and ether.[6] There are also twenty gunas (qualities or characteristics) which are considered to be inherent in all substances. These are organized in ten pairs of antonyms: heavy/light, cold/hot, unctuous/dry, dull/sharp, stable/mobile, soft/hard, non-slimy/slimy, smooth/coarse, minute/gross, and viscous/liquid.[28]

Ayurveda also names three elemental substances, the doshas (called Vata, Pitta and Kapha), and states that a balance of the doshas results in health, while imbalance results in disease. One Ayurvedic view is that a the doshas are balanced when they are equal to each other, while another view is that each human possesses a unique combination of the doshas which define this person's temperament and characteristics. In either case, it says that each person should modulate their behavior or environment to increase or decrease the doshas and maintain their natural state.

Ayurvedic doctors regard physical existence, mental existence, and personality as a unit, with each element being able to influence the others.[clarification needed] This is a holistic approach used during diagnosis and therapy, and is a fundamental aspect of Ayurveda. Another part of Ayurvedic treatment says that there are channels (srotas) which transport fluids, and that the channels can be opened up by massage treatment using oils and Swedana (fomentation). Unhealthy channels are thought to cause disease.[29]

Ayurveda has eight ways to diagnose illness, called Nadi (pulse), Mootra (urine), Mala (stool), Jihva (tongue), Shabda (speech), Sparsha (touch), Druk (vision), and Aakruti (appearance).[30] Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using the five senses.[31] For example, hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech.[6] The study of the lethal points or marman marma is of special importance.[28]

Two of the eight branches of classical Ayurveda deal with surgery (alya-cikits and lkya-tantra), but contemporary Ayurveda tends to emphasise attaining vitality by building a healthy metabolic system and maintaining good digestion and excretion.[28] Ayurveda also focuses on exercise, yoga, and meditation.[32] One type of prescription is a Sattvic diet.

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Ayurveda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia