Ayurveda Treatments for Public
Health
Dr. U. Indulal B. A. M. S
The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy
Coimbatore, India
Health Transition
• Dramatic changes and transitions in the world's health
needs are expected in next two decades as a result of
epidemiological transition.
• At present, lifestyle and behaviour are linked to 20-25% of
the global burden of disease. This proportion is rapidly
increasing in poorer countries.
• Non-communicable diseases such as depression and heart
disease are fast replacing the traditional enemies such as
infectious diseases and malnutrition, as the leading causes
of disability and premature death.
• By the year 2020, noncommunicable diseases are
expected to account for seven out of every ten deaths in
the developing regions, compared with less than half today.
NCD in Brazil
• In Brazil, CNCDs account for 60% of all deaths and
about 40% of the disease burden. In 2010, the
Ministry of Health estimated a high prevalence of
CNCD risk factors among adults (3), including low
consumption of vegetables (81.8%), being
overweight (48.1%), smoking (15.1%), binge
drinking (18.0%), and sedentary lifestyle (14.2%).
Moura EC, Pacheco-Santos LM, Peters LR, Serruya SJ, Guimarães R.
Research on chronic noncommunicable diseases in Brazil: meeting
the challenges of epidemiologic transition. Rev Panam Salud
Publica. 2012;31(3):240–5.
Causes for health and ill
health
Internal
External
Food
“हे तुर्द्विधा, अन्तरङ्गो बहहरङ्गश्चेतत
I अन्तरङ्गो र्दविधा, दोषा दष्ू याश्चेतत I
बहहरङ्गो र्दविधा - विहार: आहारश्च I
विहारो र्दिेधा
तियतकालोऽतियतकालश्च I
तियतकालो र्दिेधा दै िन्न्दि: आत्िश्च
I”
Hemadri. Ayurvedarasayana Comm.
Ashtangahridaya. Sutra. 1. 6 /2. 1
Activities
Daily
Of definite
period
Seasonal
Of indefinite
period
Indian Health Sector
• Health sector trends suggest that no single
system of health care has the capacity to
solve all of society’s health needs. India can
be a world leader in the era of integrative
medicine because it has strong foundations in
Western biomedical sciences and an
immensely rich and mature indigenous
medical heritage of its own.
(Eleventh Five Year Plan, India)
स्वस्थ निववचिम ् - Definition of Health
१
२
समदोष: शमान्निश्च समधातुमलक्रिय: I
प्रसन्िात्मेन्न्ियमिा: स्िस्थ इत्यभिधीयते II
Susrutasamhita. Sutrasthana. 15.41
the doshas are in a state of balance,
the agni is working properly,
the dhatus are actively engaged in the nutritive process
the malas are eliminated naturally from the body,
the atma, indriya and manas are in a pleasant state
विकारोधाति
ु ैषम्यं साम्यं प्रकृततरुच्यते I
सुखसंज्ञकमारोनयं विकारोद:ु खमेि च II
Charakasamhita.Sutrasthana.9.4
Disease = imbalance; sorrow
Health = Balance; Pleasure
आरोग्यलिङ्गानि – HEALTH INDICATORS
अन्िाभिलाषो िुक्तस्य पररपाक: सुखेि च II सष्ृ टविण्मूत्रिातत्िं शर्रस्य च ला्िम
सप्र
ु सन्िेन्न्ियत्िं च सख
ु स्िप्िप्रबोधिम II बलिर्ा्यष
ु ां लाि: सौमिस्यं समान्निता I
विर्दयादारोनयभलन्गाति विपर्ते विपय्यम II
6-8. Bhojyojopakramaneeya adhyaaya. Khilasthaanam. Kaashyapasamhita
Proper appetite
Proper digestion
Proper elimination of wind
Proper elimination urine
Proper elimination of feces
Lightness of the body
Clarity of senses
Proper sleep
Proper waking
Proper strength
Proper complexion
Healthy longevity
Pleasant state of mind
Balanced state of agni
Purpose of Ayurveda
इह खल्िायुिेदप्रयोजिं व्याध्युपसष्ृ टािां व्याधध - पररमोक्ष:
स्िस्थस्य रक्षर्ं च
Susrutasamhita. Sutrasthana.1.14
अन्स्मस्तन्त्रे आय:ु पालिं प्रकृतम तर्दर्दविविधम,
स्िस्थित्त
ृ मातुरित्त
ृ ं च
Arunadatta. Sarvangasundara Comm. Ashtangahridaya.2.1
स्िस्थित्त
ृ ं : Preserving the health of a healthy person
आतरु ित्त
ृ ं : Curing the disease of a diseased person
Swasthavritta/ Preventive Care
• Counseling for self-awareness
• Healthy routines – daily and seasonal
• Diet – suitable for the individual with relation
to the time and place
• Healthy mental and spiritual practices
• Guideline for periodic cleansing, rejuvenation
etc
Two attributes of the Body
“शर्रगर्
ु ा: पुिर्द्विविधा: संग्रहे र् - मलित
ू ा: प्रसादित
ू ाश्च “
Charakasamhita. Sareerasthaana.6.17
• Pure Attribute
• Impure Attribute
How to keep the body pure?
• By maintaining the digestive strength
• By enabling liquefaction and flowing back of
lodged toxins
• By eliminating the toxins
Treatments
• Samana
• Sodhana
Sodhana Treatments: Problems
Ref: Keraleeya Chikitsa Paddhati
• It demands the physicians to go beyond the
ordinary awareness of medical herbs and be well
acquainted with the subtle nuances of
fundamental principles along with their clinical
implications. (C. S. Sutra. 15.5)
• This higher standard expected is declining. (C. D.
71.34)
• Indiscriminate practice of Panchakarma cause
many complications known as
panchakarmabhava roga (Sa. S. 1. 7. 194)
Healing techniques
• Anta parimaarjana (Internal)
• Bahi parimaarjana (External)
Cleansing treatments in Preventive
Medicine
• The person enjoying a positive health due to a
good Ayurveda doctor is forbidden from
undergoing any sodhana/elimination therapy
(Nbh. R. V. S. 1 – 1)
• Elimination therapies prescribed under a
specific season are not a general rule. It
should be administered only to those who
digress from the regime laid down in Ayurveda
(ibid)
Use of these treatments in health care
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Simple and non-invasive
Easy to make them available
Less complications
Easy acceptance
Needs less resources
Wide range of therapeutic use
Suitable for mild to moderate levels of dosha
vitiation
• Balances Vata, the major dosha
• Has rejuvenation effect too
Kerala Special Treatments
• Bahi parimaarjana.
• Based on the concepts of Snehana and
Swedana.
• Should not be named as Kerala
“panchakarma”
• Performed for curative, preparatory and
rejuvenation purposes.
Kerala Special Treatments: Texts
• Dhaarakalpam
by Sri. Bharatitirthaprasada
• Sirassekaadi Vidhi
by Puthiyedathu Raman Menon
Sirodhaara
• With medicated
oil/buttermilk
• Performed on a
specially designed
wooden plank.
Sirodhara with thaila
•
•
•
•
•
Imparts vitality to the dhatus
Bestows virility
Stabilizes agni, complexion and ojas
Enhances sensory acuity
Deters the process of senility and confers
longevity
• Prevents bones from becoming brittle
• Reduces the vitiation of dhatus
Sirodhara with Takra
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prevents premature graying
Sharpens sensory acuity
Reverses the agitation of doshas
Reduces headache
Reduces depletion of ojas
Reduces pain (palms and feet)
Reduces problems with urine
Gives relief to slackening of joints, diseases of the
heart, aversion to food and decreased appetite
• Effective in diseases afflicting head, eyes and ears
Improperly performed Sirodhara
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Burning sensation
Skin lesion
General Pain and Joint pain
Fatigue or loss of consciousness
Malaise
Weakness to sound
Vomiting
Hemorrhage
Fever
Sirovasti
Sirovasti: Duration
• Till nostrils and mouth gets moistened
• Till the discomfort of the disorder subsides
• Till a stipulated period (more for Vata,
medium duration for pitta and less for kapha)
“Pizhichil”
Pizhichil
•
•
•
•
•
Temperature of the oil
Height, thickness and speed of the oil flow
Duration of the treatment
Positions of the patient
Time of treatment
Thalam and its importance
• Process of applying medicines over the center
of the head.
• Purpose
• Procedure
Kizhi
• Ila Kizhi or Leaf Bundle
• Podi Kizhi or Powder
Bundle
• Navara kizhi or Rice
Bundle
Navara Kizhi: Precautions
•
•
•
•
Type of cloth
Ventilation
Continuity of application
Cleaning after kizhi
Sirolepa
• Application of medicinal paste on head
• Paste is made either by boiling the drugs or by
triturating the dry medicinal powder in
buttermilk.
• Commonly used drug: Amalaki/Gooseberry
Effects of Sirolepa
•
•
•
•
Cures tiredness, nodular enlargements
Imparts strength to sight
Induces sound sleep
Other effects similar to that of Takradhara
Food during these treatments
िोज्योऽन्िं मात्रयापास्यि श्ि: वपबि पीतिािवप I
ििोष्र्मन्न्िष्यन्न्दिाततन्स्िनधमसङ्करम II Dharakalpam
Should be liquid, hot, not causing abhishyanda, not increasing
kapha, not excessively unctuous and not a combination of
wholesome and unwholesome food
Regimen during these treatments
उष्णोदकोपचारी स्याद् ब्रह्मचारी क्षपाशय: I
िवेगरोधीव्यायामक्रोधशोकहिमातपाि ् II
प्रवातयाियािाध्वभाष्यात्यासिसंस्स्थती: I
िीचात्यच्
ु चॊपधािाि: स्वप्िधम
ू रजांलस च II
Ashtangahridayam. Sutrasthaanam.16. 26
• Use only hot water
• Observe celibacy and proper sleeping habits
• Avoid control of urges, exercises, anger, worrying,
cold weather, sun, breeze, travelling, excessive
walking, excessive talking, very low or high
pillows, study, prolonged sitting, exposure to
smoke and dust
Recommendation
• Address the fundamental causes of health and
illness, and provide incentives for healthy
ways of living rather than reimbursing only
drugs and surgery.