Ayurveda is the science of life or longevity, which helps in the promotion of health, prevention of diseases and in achieving a long life. The basic philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the panchamahabhoota (five elements) theory. This theory states that the universe as well as the human body is made up of five elements, namely air (vayu), space (akash), earth (prithvi), fire (agni) and water (jal). These elements combine to form controlling forces or biological humours called Dosha. These dosha are responsible for sustaining the living body in its normal state and are of 3 types: Vaata, Pitta and Kapha.
Category: Ayurveda
Ayurvedic Concepts
Ayurveda is the science of life or longevity, which helps in the promotion of health, prevention of diseases and in achieving a long life. The basic philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the panchamahabhoota (five elements) theory. This theory states that the universe as well as the human body is made up of five elements, namely air (vayu), space (akash), earth (prithvi), fire (agni) and water (jal). These elements combine to form controlling forces or biological humours called Dosha. These dosha are responsible for sustaining the living body in its normal state and are of 3 types: Vaata, Pitta and Kapha.
These controlling forces or the doshas act on the tissues of the body known as the Datus and help in the various physiological functions. The waste products formed as a result of various bodily functions are Malas, which are end products of the body. Thus the science of Ayurveda deals with Doshas, Dhaatus & Malas.
Diagnosis by Ayurveda
Diagnosis of a disease using Ayurvedic methods consists of following details. The two main pillars on which the diagnosis is based are: History of illness, and Examination of the patient.
Ayurveda: Modern View on Ayurveda
The pulse is the pressure wave you can feel as the pumping heart pushes the blood Ih rough the arteries. According to modern medical science, the pulse gives an indication of the rate and pressure at which the heart is beating apart from the rhythm, character and volume.
Ayurveda: Remedy for Abnormally Slow Pulse
There are a number of medical disorders that can slow down the pulse below the normal rate and which, as a result, may also induce palpitations.
• Medication: Digitalis, the drug that is commonly used to control irregular heart beats, may cause slow pulse. Also, the beta-blockers, such as inderal, atenolol, commonly used for a range of disorders including high blood pressure, angina, anxiety, migraine and abnormal rhythms of the heartbeat, also slow the pulse.
Ayurveda: Remedy for Abnormally Fast Pulse
Tea, coffee and soft drinks, all contain high levels of caffeine, which is a heart stimulant. So, drinking more than three or four caffeine containing drinks, or, for that matter, more than two or three measures of alcohol daily is enough to develop a faster pulse, particularly if the individual is a smoker, since nicotine enhances the effect.
Ayurveda: How to Check Your Pulse?
To check your own pulse, keep your right arm and wrist slightly flexed. Then see for radial stylus, the bump located outside your wrist bone just under the thumb. Approach with your left hand from underneath the right hand and move your index finger just below this bump. You will find the radial artery. Now line up the first three fingers and press down until you feel throbbing by all the three fingers distinctly. Then decrease the pressure of your fingers slightly to sense varying movements of the pulse.
Ayurveda: Importance of Pulse in Ayurveda
Avurveda has got something more than the above general information about pulse. According to Ayurveda, every cell in our body sends its own unique signal to the heart via different vital organs, and the blood stream. These praanic currents of energy are then compressed into rhythmic pulsation, which can be decoded to reveal what is going in the liver or the kidneys, the left ventricle of the heart or the right fallopian tube.
Ayurveda: Body Constitution (Prakriti)
After knowing your prakriti (body constitution) with the pulse examination, you can apply it in maintaining the health and counteracting the disease as it plays an important role in health planning. If we know our natural constitution according to vaata, pitta, and kapha, we can take care of our problems and defend against diseases. We can know what sort of diseases are possible in us in different seasons, and can know how to prevent them before they attack us. It is also possible to perceive about the prognosis of disease with respect to prakriti.
Ayurveda: Role of Diet for Good Health
Ayurveda stresses a lot on the role of diet in maintaining good health and preventing onset of diseases. According to the philosophy of Ayurveda, health is not just maintained by taking a balanced diet but it depends on various factors like: constitution or prakriti of an individual, digestive power or agni, taste or rasa of the food item, heating or cooling energy of food or veerya, and post-digestive (metabolic) effect or vipaaka.