Ayurveda – the ancient Indian science of health and longevity

Ayurveda is the first medicine of mankind.

Originating in India, it influenced the healing practices of the entire ancient world. Much of its methods were adopted in China, Tibet, Persia, Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome.

Long before the new era, Ayurveda accumulated vast medical knowledge, including about complex procedures such as eye surgery and organ transplants.

What are the directions in Ayurvedic medicine?

In Ayurveda there are eight medical directions:

1. Kaya Chikitsa

corresponds to “Internal diseases” and concerns general physiological diseases. It is described around the second century BCE in the Charaka Samhita.

2. Bala Chikitsa

is an analogue of “Pediatrics” in today’s Western medicine. It was described in the 6th century BC in the treatise Kasyapa Samhita.

3. Graa Chikitsa

corresponds to “Psychiatry” and deals with diseases of the mind and soul and how they can be treated naturally.

4. Shaliya Chikitsa

corresponds to “Surgery” and is described in the treatise Sushiruta Samhita, where instruction in surgery is included along with a description of instruments and procedures.

5. Urdvanga Chikitsa

corresponds to the “Ears, Nose and Throat” specialty, but also covers diseases of the eyes, head and neck.

6. Damshtra Chikitsa

is analogous to “Toxicology” and describes the preparation of various antidotes to counteract poisons in the body.

7. Vrishiya Chikitsa

is Ayurvedic “Reproductive Medicine” which deals with libido and procreation.

8. Jara Chikitsa

deals with the diseases of the elderly and the fight against aging, which in allopathic medicine we call “Geriatrics”.

What should we know about Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a view of the creation of the Cosmos, nature, man and their interrelationship.

As a “science of life”, it gives prescriptions for a way of life and thinking, attitude to the world, to oneself and to others.

Ayurveda believes that the restoration of harmony between man and his own nature is precisely the method of curing all diseases.

For Ayurveda, the patient has an essential role in treatment.

They must know the basics of Ayurvedic philosophy in order to become “part of the doctor’s team” and contribute to their own recovery.

Ayurvedic teachings on the Five Elements and the Three Doshas

Two teachings are at the core of Ayurveda.



The first is Panchamahabhuta – about the Five Elements from which the entire Cosmos is created.



The second is about the Three Doshas – types of energies in the human body.

Doshas represent combinations of the Five Elements and determine the body type – from physiological and emotional characteristics to predisposition to disease.

The five elements

The five eternal elements of creation make up the Cosmos and everything visible on earth.



Space
is a location for the forms of matter.



Air
is associated with the movement of material bodies.



Fire
is the transformation of forms from one to another.



Water
characterizes connectedness and penetration into nature.



Earth
determines the density and formation of forms.

As concepts in Ayurveda, the Five Elements transcend concrete visual representations and are seen more as general characteristics and principles.

The three Doshas

In the human body, the Five Elements combine into three Doshas or three types of energies – Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Vata dosha
is a combination of space and air.
• It is a light, dynamic and cold energy.
• Responsible for motor activity.
• It includes all human movements – from blinking, through blood circulation, to locomotion.

Pitta dosha
is a combination of fire and water.
• It is passive and warm energy.
• It is associated with transformations in tissues and organs.
• It involves metabolism.

Kapha dosha
is a combination of water and earth.
• All passive, cold and damp energy.
• Responsible for the formation of tissues, organs and the body.
• This is actually the growth of the body and its defenses – immunity.

The ratio of the three types of energy is individual for each person. It is set at birth and is a unique “code” for life.
This combination determines the body type of each person – from the color of the skin, eyes and hair, to the processes in the body.

Thus the Ayurvedic teachings of the Five Elements and the three Doshas determine health, disease and cure.

Why do we get sick?

As we mentioned, for Ayurveda the concepts of Harmony and Balance are primary. Any imbalance leads to a problem.

Imbalance in the ratio of Doshas mostly occurs due to improper diet and harmful habits.

In addition, people often do not take into account the activity cycles of the body and do not properly combine work, rest and motor activities.

Spiritual health activities are also neglected, leading to physiological problems.

Therefore, the Ayurvedic doctor prescribes an individual daily regimen as well as a lifestyle plan – not only for the purpose of treatment, but also for the purpose of prevention.

What is the diagnostic process in Ayurveda?

Ayurvedic diagnostics aims to determine the exact disturbances of the energy balance, as well as the reasons for their occurrence.
It combines different methods, namely:



In Rogi Pariksha, the doctor examines the appearance of the body and determines its structure by touch and listening. He then takes information from the patient about the symptoms they have noticed.



With Dasavida Pariksha, structural disorders and physiological problems are identified, information is obtained about the geographical and climatic conditions in which the patient lives, about their work, their eating habits, etc.



With Ashtavida Pariksha, details such as pulse, condition of tongue, eyes and vision, strength of voice, sensitivity to touch, appearance of urine and faeces are checked.

On this basis, recommendations for Ayurvedic therapies, diet and physical activity are given according to the patient’s characteristics.

The remedies of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is nature-based medicine that works with herbs and oils from nature.

In the old texts there are over 50,000 herbs and formulas for their combination according to the disease, its degree of development and the peculiarities of the patient’s body type.

Purified metals can be used in some ointments and powders, but they are in strictly defined doses and ratios with the other ingredients, and their role is to enhance their action.

In a systematized form, the remedies in Ayurveda are:



Powdered herbs or herbal mixtures



Purified cow ghee butter with medicinal herbs



Herbal decoctions and tablets



Herbal mixtures and spices in honey



Aqueous and alcoholic extracts



Herbal oils

Prescriptions are written by an Ayurvedic doctor and are individual. They should not be used by anyone other than the patient, even with similar symptoms.

Ayurvedic therapies

According to Ayurveda, accumulated toxins in the body are at the root of imbalances and diseases.

Therefore, it is especially important to cleanse the body and restore the original state of health.

For this purpose, Ayurveda mainly uses Purvakarma and Panchakarma methods.

Purvakarma therapies

In PURVAKARMA, two types of external impact therapies are used.

One is Snehana – oiling of the body and the other is Svedana – sweating.

• Anointing with herbal oils can be external – Baja, and can also be applied internally – Abyanta.
• In addition to drinking, internal anointing with herbal oil or ghee can be done by gargling, as well as placing in the ears or nose.

These are preparatory therapies by which toxins move from the periphery to the digestive system to be eliminated.

Panchakarma therapies

PANCHAKARMA is an internal cleansing in which accumulated poisons are removed from the body.

The method includes five types of therapy:

• Medicinal emesis is induced through Vamana. It balances Kapha and rids the upper body of toxins.
• Virechana is a laxative procedure that balances Pitta and removes toxins from the digestive system.
• Vasti is a healing enema. It balances Vata, and the removal of collected toxins improves the activity of the colon.
• In Nasya, medicinal oil is placed in the nose to remove toxins from the head area.
• Raktamokshan is the release of blood, while the methods can be different.

All therapies are prescribed individually, according to the type of imbalance in the body.

Disease-free life – completely possible with Ayurveda

Ayurveda places an extremely strong emphasis on prevention or ways to achieve longevity without disease and with joy in life.

Whether your goal is to cure a disease or prevent it, it is completely achievable with the natural methods of Ayurvedic medicine.

Here you can make your reservation in Ayurveda Clinic Sofia

online reservation