Ayurvedic wisdom is effective not only in preventing and treating illnesses but also as a practice for a healthy and long life. This is because Ayurveda adopts a holistic medicine approach that comprehensively views nature and the human body, which is advantageous for health management practices that require a complete understanding of life phenomena.
In an aging society, the utilization of Ayurveda is indispensable for a comfortable end of life. In this article, we will unravel traditional Ayurveda, often described with antiquated terms, using modern scientific language to introduce its basic concepts.
What is Ayurveda?
First, let's introduce the basic content of Ayurveda.
Meaning of the word
Ayurveda is a word composed of "Ayur" and "Veda." Each has the following meaning in Sanskrit:
- Ayur: life, longevity
- Veda: knowledge, science
Thus, Ayurveda means "the science of life" or "the science of longevity."
Origin
It is believed that indigenous medicine was added to the ancient Indian civilization more than 8,000 years ago, and the current system of Ayurveda was formed approximately 3,000 years ago. The most prominent theory for its origin is northwestern India, but because it is composed of several elements, it cannot be confined to a specific location.
Around the time of the Aryan invasion of India, Ayurveda also developed independently in northeastern and southern India. Northeastern India was a place where Buddhism flourished, and in magnificent Buddhist universities, Ayurveda was studied alongside Buddhist theories.
Traditional Medicine
Ayurveda is considered one of the world's three major traditional medicines, along with "Unani medicine (Greek + Arabic medicine)" and "Traditional Chinese Medicine."
Traditional medicines other than modern Western medicine have inherited the influence of the Tri-Dosha theory, which is a characteristic of Ayurveda, and commonly utilize herbal preparations.
Holistic Medicine
One of the characteristics of Ayurveda is its "holism"-based holistic medicine. This is a way of thinking that prioritizes considering the whole body rather than just looking at parts of the body.
In holism, the whole has unique functions, and life phenomena cannot be explained by simply gathering parts. Based on this holism, Ayurveda holds that the harmony of all elements such as mind and body, lifestyle, and environment is necessary for health maintenance.
Purpose of Ayurveda
The ultimate goal of Ayurveda, as its name suggests, is "eternal youth and longevity." It is a comprehensive guide to life that not only prevents and treats diseases but also maintains and promotes health, and even delves into rejuvenation, pursuing a happy and better life.
It offers numerous herbal preparations, dietary methods, purification methods, and lifestyle manuals for a healthy and long life. Here, we will explain the purposes of Ayurveda.
Disease Prevention and Treatment
Ayurveda believes that "prevention" of disease is superior to "treatment." Maintaining a good balance of mind and body is necessary for disease prevention.
For disease treatment, there are palliative and purification therapies that balance the three "Doshas" introduced later. In practice, the treatment of specific diseases using herbal preparations is predominant.
Building an Ideal Body Structure
To create a body that is resistant to illness, palliative methods, dietary methods, correct lifestyle habits, herbal preparations, and the use of yoga are effective. Mental and psychological stability is also important.
Through these measures, it is possible to strengthen immune function and self-healing power, creating a body that is resistant to pathogens and diseases.
Improvement of Constitution
All Ayurvedic treatments consider the constitution (Prakriti). The constitution is determined by the strengths and weaknesses of the three Doshas.
Since personality and disease susceptibility are determined by constitution, health management through foods, exercise, and lifestyle habits appropriate to one's constitution is recommended.
Improvement of Mental Quality
When discussing mental stability, the "Triguna theory" of Samkhya philosophy is used.
Triguna refers to "Sattva," "Rajas," and "Tamas," which are three fundamental elements behind all natural phenomena. They respectively define "mental stability," "instability," and "lethargy."
Actions that pacify "Rajas (instability)" and "Tamas (lethargy)" through yoga, social contribution, and positive thinking are important.
What is Dosha?
Dosha means "impure thing, failure, defect" in Sanskrit, and refers to the cause of illness. It is believed that an excess, deficiency, or imbalance of the three types of Doshas, called "Vata," "Pitta," and "Kapha," leads to illness. This is called the Tri-Dosha theory and is a universal theory of illness in Eastern medicine, including Ayurveda.
Types of Dosha
There are three types of Doshas: "Vata," "Pitta," and "Kapha." Each corresponds to "motor function," "reactive function," and "moisturizing function."
Vata (Air)
Vata controls motor performance, possesses the qualities of space and wind, and regulates the circulation within the body.
People with a predominant Vata are thin, nervous, fickle, and prone to diarrhea. Their hair is dry and gray hairs are prominent, but they do not go bald.
An increase or aggravation of Vata is prone to causing respiratory, nervous, and circulatory disorders.
Pitta (Fire)
Pitta controls transformation and reaction, also possesses the qualities of fire and water, and regulates chemical reactions within the body.
People with a predominant Pitta are of medium build, passionate, critical, and have strong digestion. Their hair is thin, brownish, and they are prone to baldness.
An increase or aggravation of Pitta is prone to causing body heat problems, digestive diseases, and dermatitis.
Kapha (Water)
Kapha controls moisturizing function, also possesses the qualities of water and earth, and regulates mucus synthesis and secretion, and macromolecule synthesis within the body.
People with a predominant Kapha have a strong physique, are mild-mannered, tenacious, and have a strong appetite. Their hair is thick, black, and they do not go bald throughout their lives.
An increase or aggravation of Kapha is prone to causing bronchial diseases, obesity, and arthritis.
Constitution (Prakriti)
Mammals have the three constitutions of "Vata," "Pitta," and "Kapha" introduced earlier. The cause is thought to be the ratio of expression of the three homologous genes related to the body plan.
The ideal type is one where each is expressed in 1/3 amounts, but many people have a dominant expression of one or two of these. This expression pattern is largely determined by the mother's intrauterine environment, but it also fluctuates due to acquired factors such as the external environment, lifestyle habits, and time of day. People with an extremely dominant Vata express only 1 unit of the Vata gene.
Characteristics of Ayurveda
Ayurveda has developed by incorporating various Indian philosophies, thus strongly reflecting several Eastern philosophies. It scientifically pursues the maintenance or improvement of health and longevity from every angle to lead a happy life.
In particular, it emphasizes the concept of "preventive medicine," which prioritizes preventing illness rather than treating it after it has occurred.
Ayurvedic treatments can be broadly divided into "preventive medicine (palliative therapy)" and "curative medicine (eight clinical subjects)."
Representative examples of palliative therapy are dietary methods and purification methods using herbal oils. Yoga also belongs to palliative therapy. For disease treatment, five purification therapies called Panchakarma (nasal administration, emetics, purgatives, enemas, bloodletting) and herbal preparations are used.
To prevent the accumulation of harmful substances in the body, it is recommended to always consider the balance of the Tri-Doshas and to follow appropriate dietary methods, elimination of waste products, and lifestyle guidance to maintain the Saptadhatus (seven bodily tissues) in good condition.
However, in real life, even with efforts to prevent disease, illness frequently occurs. Therefore, herbal preparations have been devised and widely used for most diseases.
Herbal preparations are highly effective medicines with no side effects, and all traditional medicines around the world utilize them. Herbal preparations are the essence of Ayurveda and the crystallization of its wisdom.
Ayurvedic Treatment Methods
Ayurveda does not aim to cure only the affected part of the illness.
Illness occurs in a specific place. From there, it follows a specific path and manifests in a specific organ. Therefore, treatment always aims to correct all of its origin, its path, and its final symptoms.
For example, let's take bronchial asthma.
Respiratory distress originates from bronchial spasms. In modern medicine, the symptomatic treatment is to administer antispasmodics. While these antispasmodics have proven effective in experimental animals, they are not guaranteed to be effective for everyone.
On the other hand, in Ayurveda, bronchial asthma is diagnosed as originating in the stomach and small intestine. An Ayurvedic physician purifies these organs by emesis or intestinal cleansing and administers medication containing Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
In Ayurveda, the "field" is more important than the "seed." Just as an excellent seed cannot germinate in barren soil, no matter how powerful a pathogen is, it cannot multiply in a healthy body.
Ayurveda treats by creating an environment where pathogens cannot multiply, using herbal preparations, diet, and lifestyle habits.
To eliminate side effects, Ayurveda prioritizes optimizing tissues rather than killing invading pathogens with herbal preparations. Thus, Ayurveda can bring about healing for the sick and preventive effects for healthy individuals.
Differences from Western Medicine
Western medicine is said to have originated with the Greek physician "Hippocrates." Hippocrates' medical art incorporated all of Ayurveda.
It is thought that Western medicine diverged from Eastern medicine after the Industrial Revolution. Eastern medicine has utilized herbal preparations from ancient times to the present day. This is because fertile soil and diverse climates and natural features produced a rich variety of vegetation, allowing for abundant access to many medicinal herbs. This is a major difference between Eastern and Western medicine.
Furthermore, Ayurveda's holistic medicine aims to remove the cause of illness. This is also a major difference between Ayurveda and Western medicine. In recent years, there has been an increasing need for integrated medicine that complements the strengths and weaknesses of both.
Eat According to Your Dosha Type
Ayurveda recommends dietary methods, lifestyle guidance, and treatments for maintaining health. Here, we introduce diets suitable for each of the three Doshas.
For Vata (Air) Type
Consume foods that pacify Vata.
- Sweet foods that increase digestive power and basal body temperature
- Sour foods
- Salty foods
- Warm and nutritious dishes
are recommended. Limit light and cold foods, and raw vegetables, which are characteristic of Vata, and strive for regular eating habits.
For Pitta (Fire) Type
Consume foods that pacify Pitta. Foods that suppress Pitta include:
- Sweet foods
- Bitter foods
- Astringent foods
are recommended. Limit hot and stimulating foods, spicy and sour foods, and spices, which are characteristic of Pitta, and also avoid excessive drinking. Avoid irregular meals.
For Kapha (Water) Type
Consume foods that pacify Kapha.
- Light and stimulating foods
- Spicy foods
- Bitter foods
- Astringent foods
are recommended. Spices such as ginger and chili peppers are also good. Limit cold foods, fried foods, dairy products, and meats, which are characteristic of Kapha, and avoid overeating and naps after meals.
While Ayurveda recommends dietary methods for health maintenance, it is difficult to implement them correctly. Therefore, by using herbal preparations, it is easy to control the Tri-Doshas.
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Summary
Ayurveda has, over a long period, devised excellent theories and practical methods for disease prevention and treatment, building an outstanding clinical record.
In recent years, the effectiveness of Ayurveda has been demonstrated from various angles in Europe, America, and the Indian subcontinent. In Japan, Yokohama City University, in cooperation with local specialized universities, is scientifically verifying Ayurvedic theories and herbal preparations.
While Yoga and Buddhism are established in Japan, the value of Ayurveda is still largely unrecognized under a medical system that is exclusively focused on Western medicine.
Our company "Ichiban Life," through joint research with Yokohama City University, creates optimal Ayurvedic recipes for beauty, health, and longevity using the latest theories and technologies of modern science.
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