Understanding Ayurveda

An ancient art of healing paving the way for modern medicine

Ayurveda is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning the “wisdom or science of life and longevity.” For thousands of years, medicine derived from plants has been the primary means of healing for those living in many parts of the world. Ayurveda is based on holistic wisdom encompassing the whole range of life, both inner and outer. Scholarly speculation suggests Ayurvedic tradition and philosophy reflects events occurring earlier than 6000 B.C.

Pioneers contributed to Ayurveda over the years to form today’s practice. Dealing with both the body and spirit, prominent contributors such as Srila Vyasadev studied herbal drugs in the “Vedas” (oral tradition not originally conveyed in text), “Sushruta” and “Chraka,” which uncovered information on how to perform prosthetic surgery and other surgical procedures. Significant medical content can be found in early writings such as the Rig-Veda of India, which came into existence around 1500 B.C. The knowledge accumulated was systematized into text known as Swastha-Vritta, or “Regimen for Health,” and text known as the Atur-Vritta, or “Regimen of Disease.”

There were two schools of Ayurveda—the school of surgeons and school of physicians. Originally, Vedic science was placed in four books containing information on yoga, medication, astrology, herbal medicine, dietetics, bodywork, surgery, psychology and spirituality. Additionally, there were more than 2,000 medicinal botanicals classified in India’s Materia Medica. This ancient system of medicine established eight specialties including internal medicine (Kayachikitsa), ENT (Shalakaya tantra), toxicology (Vishagara-vairidh Tantra), pediatrics (Kaumara bhritya), surgery (Shalaya Tantra), psychiatry (Bhuata Vidya), fertility (Vajikarana) and rejuvenation (Rasayana).

Ayurveda is also believed to be the oldest healing science, forming the foundation of Tibetan, Buddhism, Taoism and Greek medicine.

Ayurveda is holistic in many ways. It perceives an individual as an integrated whole who is intimately connected with nature and the universe. Ayurveda views each individual as a unique body-mind constitution with an exclusive set of life circumstances. The focus of Ayurveda is perfect health, both an inward balance and an outward harmony with the environment and the laws of nature.

There are three constitutions of Ayurvedic medicine called doshas. Doshas are biological forces that result from the combination of the basic elements. Heat and air create Vata, which is responsible for body movement; fire and water create Pitta, which is responsible for metabolism; and water and earth create Kapha, which is responsible for structure and lubrication. Each person has a unique proportion of the three doshas that determines the body type—including both physical and mental attributes. One’s personality, intellectual capacities, physical characteristics and temperament all result from the unique combination of these energies.

Historically, when an imbalance existed among the doshas, an Ayurvedic physician would suggest a special combination of food, exercise, meditation and herbs to bring them back into balance. For thousands of years, Ayurvedic physicians have been discovering which plants (and plant parts) produced the desired effects for their patients. It was not uncommon for individuals experiencing the same illness or condition to be given different dietary and herbal regimens, since every individual is a unique mix of each of the three doshas. The Ayuvedic approach is based on a very thorough evaluation that begins with examining the causes, signs, symptoms and results from diagnostic tests. Ayurvedic practitioners pay close attention to each patient’s face, mouth, tongue, eyes, nails and voice. A pulse analysis is also very important because its rate and quality helps to establish presence or deficiency of specific dosha.

Ayurvedic medicine also stresses that common bodily urges, believed to be taboo by many when performed in public, such as crying, sneezing, belching, yawning, vomiting and flatulation are natural and necessary for proper health and impact a person’s mood, emotions and physical body.

These are just as important as other basic urges such as sleeping, breathing, eating, drinking, urinating and defecating; suppression can result in long lasting or even detrimental problems. Key to the maintenance of good health are healthy digestive and immune systems.

A healthy and highly functioning digestive system is known as “agni,” which means digestive fire. A poorly functioning digestive system creates an accumulation of toxins known as “ama,” which are believed to be the root of all health problems. Good digestion supports a healthy immune system referred to as “ojas,” which translates as life-sap and protects and heals humans from illnesses. There is a very tight correlation between agni and ojas. If too much or not enough agni is present, ojas is out of balance.

How does this interesting yet complex system translate into modern medicine? Those not familiar with their specific dosha make-up yet who want to benefit from the value of this thousand-year-old tradition may feel frustrated. Many companies in the United States do a great job of educating consumers about specific dosha make-up and Ayurvedic principles in great detail. Regarding the herbal component of Ayurveda, treatment following a strictly Ayurvedic diagnosis requires the use of single herbs. In order to bring the rich heritage of Ayurveda to everyone, herbal formulations were created. Several companies recognized the need to bring Ayurvedic herbs into the western world and make them broadly available to a majority of people. Herbal formulations are neutral in potency and can therefore serve as a complementary modality to allopathic medicine.

The pharmaceutically-developed Ayurvedic remedies available on the market and based on a very rich herbal pharmacopoeia are essentially “tri-dosha.” They truly do not require any lengthy dissertation on the philosophy of Ayurveda to show their effectiveness in addressing all the symptoms of aging and in helping everyone reach their goal of optimum health. For today’s consumers, Ayurvedic herbal formulations offer a bridge between allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine.

Often classified according to their potency such as sweet, astringent, bitter, pungent, sour or salty, herbs are used by practitioners according to their energies or “energetics.” The fundamental herbs used most commonly in Ayurveda are referred to as “Rasayana herbs”—rejuvenators that simultaneously affect the body and mind. Rasayana, “the path of juice,” aims to nourish, restore and balance bodily functions. According to classical texts, the benefits from Rasayana therapy include arresting aging; enhancing intelligence; increasing memory; boosting strength; restoring youth, luster, sweetness of voice and vigor; nourishing blood, lymph, adipose tissue and semen; preventing degenerative changes and illnesses; and improving metabolic processes. Rasayana invigorates the body generally by sustaining the required balance between anabolism (building) and catabolism (destroying).

An important formula that follows rasayana principles is Chyavanprash. This combination of 40 different herbs, such as Amla, Indian mallow, Guduchi and Gokshura has been used for ages to balance the body, prevent damages caused by stressors and protect the immune system. Another Rasayana formula is Triphala, which contains only three herbs in equal amounts—Amla, Haritaki and Vibithaki. It has been used as an absorption and digestive aid.

Also in the rasayana herbal category is a long list of single herbs including Ashwagandha, which is known for its antiinflammatory and thyroid supportive properties. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that contains several active phytochemicals known as glycowithanolides, which research has shown may relax smooth muscles and therefore support healthy blood pressure. Additionally, phytochemicals may act on gamma butyric acid receptors, therefore increasing the effectiveness of tranquilizers, some anesthetics and anti-depressants such as imipramine.

Another Rasayana single herb, Guggul, is well known in traditional Ayurveda as an herbal “declogger” of the system. This helps alleviate joint pain because of its antiinflammatory activity and Guggul has recently been touted for its supportive properties of healthy cholesterol levels. One note is that some people may be sensitive to Guggul, and can develop indigestion or a rash when they consume the herb in large doses.

The Rasayana herb Amla is a rich source of vitamin C that is highly absorbable because of its high content of bioflavonoids. Alma is the main ingredient in Chyavanprash, but is also used alone for its supportive properties for healthy cholesterol. Amla, a potent antioxidant, has traditionally been used to strengthen hair and has been proven effective in slowing down premature aging.

Shatavari, a rasayana herb initially found at an altitude of 8,000 feet in the jungles of Northern India, is rich in both amylase, the enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates, and lipase, the enzyme that helps digest fats. Shatavari is known for supporting female hormones and increasing the weight of mammary tissue, which increases milk production.

Mucuna is a natural source of L-dopa, a compound found in the human brain that is responsible for the body’s motor activity. Mucuna was traditionally used by tribal medicine men in India for relief of gastric intestinal discomfort when an antispasmodic agent was required to release the symptoms.

Gotu kola is known to modulate the development and metabolism of connective tissue, and stimulate the collagen in both quantity and quality, while its triterpenoid saponins were found to support the healing of wounds and pressure in vein’s walls. Bacopa, known as a “Brahmi”, nourishes the brain cells. Bacosides, a class of active phytochemicals, are responsible for supporting memory retention and new information.

Bacopa helps to create vividness or indelibility, so that memory, especially when performing tasks, becomes ingrained and more permanent. In Ayurvedic text, Bacopa is classified as a medhyarasayana, an herb used to improve memory and intellect. Bacopa also exhibits strong antioxidant properties.

Guduchi has established medicinal value in anecdotal Ayurveda. It is widely used as a general tonic and an anti-inflammatory agent with strong immuno-modulating activity. It has been observed to relax smooth muscles in support of healthy blood sugar and urea levels.

Garlic belongs to the onion family and is rich in sulfur-containing phytocompounds that support a healthy fat level. Its germanium and selenium content have strong antioxidant activities, while allicin is strongly antibacterial. Garlic may inhibit key enzymes involved in cholesterol and fat synthesis, therefore supporting healthy blood levels of both macronutrients. There are many more anecdotal reports about garlic supporting healthy blood pressure, but no strong clinical research currently backs these claims.

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