FOR TOTAL HEALTH
Dr. Sreedhar Rao
M.D(Ay), P.G..Dip.Yoga, (Ph.D)
Consultant – International Cooperation
Department of AYUSH
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Government of India

Ayu + Veda
LIFE: The unified State of Science:
Body, Mind & Soul Knowledge
Ayurveda = Science of Life

What is Ayurveda?
•Is a system of traditional medicine
native to the Indian Subcontinent
•Practiced in other parts of the world
like USA, Europe, Australia, New
Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia etc as a
form of complementary and alternative
medicine
•Involves use of herbs, massage, and
Yoga as exercise
•Or applied on their own as a form of
CAM treatment

Ayurveda – the Wisdom of Life
• Offers a proven guide for a life of
happiness, vitality, love and purpose.
• Human beings are not viewed as
mere thinking physical machines, but
• Rather as fields of intelligence in
dynamic exchange with the energy
and information of the environment.

Ayurveda – a holistic system
• A Comprehensive System with
equal emphasis on the body, mind
and spirit
• Strives to restore the innate
harmony of the individual
• It is not only about treating sickness
– preventing disease and
enhancing health, longevity, vitality
and happiness.

Vedas
• It is the bedrock upon which Ayurveda rests
• Considered to be composed around 1500-
2000 BC
• Four Veda
Rig-veda : lots of stuff
Sam-veda : Soma sacrifice
Yajur-veda : entire sacrificial rite
Athar-veda : lots of medical text (fever,
diarrheas, heart disease, jaundice,
cough, leprosy)

Quest for longevity

Earliest Texts
• 760 BC : Charaka Samhita – herbal or plant
based pharmacopoeia
• 660 BC : Sushruta Samhita – Surgical
approaches
• 7th Century : Ashtanga Sangraha of Vagbhata
– summary of previous two
• AD 100 : Nagarjuna – iatrochemistry
• 1331 : Madhava Nidana by Madhava
– Ayurvedic Diagnosis
• 14th Century :Sarangadhara Samhita
– Pulse diagnosis

Disciplines of Ayurveda
Ashtanga Ayurveda
1. Internal Medicine : Kayachikitsa
2. Surgery : Shalyatantra
3. ENT), Ophthalmology : Shalakyatantra
4. OB G & Pediatrics : Kaumarabhritya
5. Toxicology : Agadatantra
6. Psychiatry : Bhutavidya
7. Anti-aging &rejuvenation : Rasayana
8. Reproductive & aphrodisiac medicine
: Vajikarana

Specialized Traditions

Plastic Surgery in Ayurveda
Rhinoplasty – An
Ancient Ayurveda
Technique
Skillful treatments for snake-bites

Ayurveda in 20th Century
• Ayurveda flourished till 12th century, till the Muslim
invasion
• Not much progress from 12th to 17th century
• British invasion : 1833 virtually all Ayurveda
schools closed, opening of British medical schools
• 1920 : a national revival and resurgence of
interest in traditional Indian culture and practices
• 1946 : Formal Govt. recognition and reacceptance
of Ayurveda and resurgence of research.
• Currently, however it holds a secondary place in
medicine in India
• India Govt. officially recognizes as legitimate:
Allopathy, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, Unani
Tibb, Ayurveda, and its cousins Siddha and Yoga.

Most fundamental Principle
“ Prakriti Purusha Samya”
Prakriti (Nature): Governed by
• Air
• Sun and
• Water
Purusha (Living body):
Regulated by 3 vital entities: “Doshas” –
• Vata,
• Pitta an
• Kapha

Mind Body Soul Trinity:
Personality in Ayurveda
PURUSH Soul CONSCIOUS
(Living)
PRAKRITI Mind Non-living Matrix
Body

Preventive Care to
Preserve Health
Therapeutic means to
treat Disease
Disease Care Vs Health Care

Ayurvedic Approach of Health and
Disease
Promotion Prevention
of of
Health Disease
Ayurveda
Science of Longevity
with quality of life
Holistic
management
of disease

Definition of Health
Dosha - 3 (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
Physical & Agni - 13 (Metabolic fire)
Physiological
Dhatu - 7 (Body tissues)
Components of Mala - 3 (Waste products)
health Indriya - 5 (Sensory motor organs)
Psychological
Manas - 1 (Mind)
Spiritual Atma - Soul
One whose doshas, agni, functions of doshas and malas are in
state of equilibrium, who has cheerful atman, mind, intellect
and sense organs is designated as healthy.

The Four Components of Life
Health according to Ayurveda is perfect
balance between
• Body : Sharir
• Senses : Indriya
• Mind : Sattva
• Spirit (Soul) : Atma

PANCHAMAHABHUTA THEORY- 5 elements
AKASH VAYU AGNI JALA PRITHVI
Space Air Fire Water Earth
VATA PITTA KAPHA + SOUL
TRIDOSHA THEORY- 3 DOSHAS
HEALTH DISEASE
AYURVEDA
EQUILIBRIUM DISEQUILIBRIUM
of 3 DOSHAS of 3 DOSHAS

Effecting Human Physiology
Space :
• In the human body, many spaces are
aspects of the Space element.
• The spaces in the mouth, nose,
gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract,
abdomen, thorax, capillaries, etc.

Effecting Human Physiology
Air :
• All movements involve Air as an
element.
• The nature of the elements themselves
determine the nature of physiology.
• With the human body Air is present in
the pulsations of the heart, lungs etc.

Effecting Human Physiology
• Fire : The source of Fire and light in the
solar system is the sun.
• In the human body, the source of Fire is
metabolism.
• Fire works in the digestive system as well
as in the gray matter of the brain, where
Fire manifests as intelligence. Fire also
activates the retina to perceive light.
• Therefore body temperature, digestion,
thinking etc are all the functions of the
Fire.

Effecting Human Physiology
Water:
• It manifests in the body as the
secretions of digestive juices, in the
mucous membranes and in plasma and
cytoplasm.
• Water is vital for the functioning of all the
systems of the body.
• For example, dehydration resulting from
diarrhea and vomiting is due to water
element.

Effecting Human Physiology
Earth :
• The fifth element, is also present in the
microcosm of the human being.
• Life is possible on this planet because
the Earth holds all living and non-living
substances to its solid surface.

The Four Components of Life
2. INDRIYA (Senses & Functions):
ELEVEN
• Gyan-Indriya (Senses) : FIVE, Sight,
Hearing, Smell, Touch & Taste
• Karm-Indriya (Voluntary functions) :
3. MANAS (Mind) : Supreme Indriya that
controls all ten Indriya
• Has three abstract qualities – ‘Sattva’,
‘Rajas’ and ‘Tamas’.

The Four Components of Life
4. ATMA (Soul/Self) :
• Param Atma : Supreme, immortal pure
has only Sattva, free of happiness or
sorrow.
• Jiv Atma : resides in living body
attached to Rajas and Tamas, witness
every function & emotion throughout the
life.

Tridosha
Ayurveda is based on 3 energies.
Their balanced state is health and
imbalance disease.
• VATA – the kinetic energy, movement,
division, growth, etc.
• PITTA – the thermal energy, heat
generation, intellect,sight, etc.
• KAPHA – the potential energy

Three Doshas (Tridoshas)
• Tridoshas are Vata, Pitta & Kapha
• Tridosha concept is applicable in living organisms
• Tridoshas are biological entities responsible for
structure, function and behaviour dimensions of
all living organisms
• Therefore human body mind constitution
(Prakriti), diseases, Medicines and Food all has
been categorized in Vata type, Pitta type and
Kapha type.
• But nothing is absolute pure; every thing is
permutation and combination of Tridoshas

Doshas Function

Concept of Sapta Dhatus
( 7 Body Tissues)
Body is made up of Seven Tissues and their
function is to maintain the body matrix
1. Rasa 5. Asthi
(Plasma) (Bones)
2. Rakta 6. Majja
(Blood) (Bone marrow)
3. Mansa 7. Shukra
(Muscles) (Reproductive
tissues)
4. Medas
(Fats) Ojas
(Responsible for Immunity)

Genetic Constitution of Body
“Prakriti Purusha Samya”

Concept of Prakriti
(Body Mind Constitution and Temperament)
• Concept of Prakriti (human constitution) is related to
physiological attributes to health and disease.
• Prakriti is determined by relative predominance of
dosha in intra-uterine life of a fetus.
• Prakriti is unchangeable throughout the life span, but
• One can take remedial measures in diet and
behavior suitable to his/her prakriti to maintain health
and prevention of disease.

Significance of Prakriti in Clinical
Medicine
• For Promotive & Preventive Health
– Know your prakriti and diseases susceptibility
– Prakriti will tell the risk factors, course of disease,
complications and prognosis
– Follow your diet, behaviour, profession and life style
suitable to your prakriti to lead a healthy life.
• Curative Health
– Select the drugs and dose as per prakriti
– Drug body interaction and reaction pattern depend upon
the prakriti of individual & drug
– Associated complications of a disease, prognosis and
their treatment can be improved as per prakriti of
disease & individual

Causes of diseases…
• Man made activities -
Prajnaparadha
• Environmental factors
• Genetic factors
Psychological factors….

Diagnosis in Ayurveda
The two main pillars on which the diagnosis
• History of Illness:
• Examination of the Patient:
• a) General Examination or Ashta Vidha Pariksha:
Examination of the pulse (Naadi Pariksha), Tongue,
Urine and stool examination, Speech, Examination
by palpation and percussion, Gait (bodily
movement), General appearance of the patient, and
Examination of the constitution (Prakriti).
• b) Systemic Examination: This consists of
examination of the different systems, Skin and Hair,
and Eyes .

Marma Vigyana
(Vital Points of Body)
• Trimarma- Vasti, Hridya, Shir
• Total Numbers of marmas: 107
• Types- Based on Structure &
Based on Discomfort/
Dysfunction
– Mansamarma, Siramarma, Snayumarma,
Sandhimarma, Asthimarma, Dnamnimarma
– Sadhyapranahara, Kalantarpranahar,
Vaikalyakar, Vishalyagh, Rujakara

The factors responsible for
prevention of illness and promotion
of health
Day regimen (Dinacharya)
Night regimen (Ratricharya )
Seasonal regimen (Rutucharya)
Seasonal Purification (Rutu
anusara Shodhana)

Treatment in
Ayurveda

Basic treatment modalities
Pacification Treatment Purification Treatment
Pacifies doshas locally Removes doshas from body
Comparatively of temporary Effect lasts for long
action.
Done in minimal or moderate Done in profound dosha and of
dosha and of minimal or profound strength
moderate strength
Does not interfere much with Normalizes tissue (dhatu)
tissues (dhatus) functions

Management Principles
Internal Purification
External treatment modalities
Internal medicines
Holistic treatment….

Drug Therapy in Ayurveda
• DRUG (AUSHADHA)
“One which ensures alleviation the disease but
does not give rise to any other disorders”
• PLANT origin
• MINERAL origin
• ANIMAL origin
• Single or Compound formulations of
above
• Employed as per ‘Yukti’ (planning).

Rasayana
• Rejuvenation Therapy
• Delays Aging
• Provide Immunity
• Improve Memory and sensory
perception
Traditional way to be EVER GREEN

Personal Health is a BALANCE
of -
• Good Food
• Good Regimen
• Good emotions
• Good Environment

Food in Ayurveda
• Quantity and Quality
well defined….
• Food Combinations
are important
• Natural food are
highlighted…

Regimen and Ayurveda
• Exercise
• Sleep
• Sex

Seasonal Regimens
• Different Regimens in
different seasons
• Improves immunity
• Fight against infectious
diseases
• Prevents seasonal
diseases

Social Health
• Healthy Societies….
• Pollution free air,
water, land etc…..
• Good Health
education

Caring the Nature
• Protection of Ecosystem
• Cultivation of medicinal
plants
• Prevents massive
exploitation of natural
resources
• Preventing pollution….

Ayurveda Vs Modern Medicine
Philosophy
M: treats discrete disease entities
A: treats subtle dysphoria, whose disruptive trends may later develop into
discrete disease
Diagnostic
M: scientific objectivity and verifiability (accumulating statistically
significant data) – “experience-distant”
A: pratyaksha (perceptive understanding of each individual “experience-
near”
Treatment
M: Linear logic, categorical and uses a classification system of disease
A: Maintenance of optimal health by daily proactive care, continually
modified according to seasonal changes
Belief
A: Individual has the innate capacity for potential self-correction and
primary self healing

Benefits of Ayurveda
Physical Benefits
The basic constitution represents
the individual’s psychological and
physical nature, distinctly.
Non-invasive diagnostic Ayurvedic treatments are
beneficial for chronic diseases such as diabetes,
heart ailments and cancer.
Difficult diseases like asthma and tumor growths
(gulmas) are managed effectively.

Benefits of Ayurveda
•Detoxification methods like Panchakarma and
other herbal remedies make the body more
responsive to medicines and treatment.
•It hastens the healing process.
•Yogasanas achieve the twin purpose of strengthening
body-parts such as bone, muscle and vital organs like
heart, liver, stomach, intestine as well as
•Keeping out blood circulation and psychological
conditions strong and resilient.
A discerning diet according to one’s dosha type, and well
regulated life (dinacharya) helps strengthen one’s
natural immune system.

Benefits of Ayurveda
Psychological Benefits:
It is said that the condition of body
and mind are integral to the overall
health of an individual.
Ayurvedic massages, inhalation of
herbal (Aromatherapy)
preparations, panchakarma
(nasya) besides much-tested
yogasanas and meditation leave a
calming effect on the nerves.

Benefits of Ayurveda
Spiritual Benefits:
The treatment methods, diet and lifestyle regimen
in Ayurveda are meticulously planned to heal
the body as well enrich the mind
So that each can improve from their own levels to
the higher goal of realizing the full self-potential.
It was with Ayurveda that the unique longevity and
rejuvenating method of rasayana was born for
mankind to progress in the path of spirituality.

Summary of Benefits of Ayurveda
• Ayurveda is not only treatment, it is a way of
life
• Has no side effects
• Gives happy, healthy disease free long life
• Makes you Tension Free
• Relaxes mind
• Provides knowledge about life
• Tells about good and bad dietary effects to
life
• Tells the way for life goals, with keeping
good health status

Ayurveda and Tourism
• Maintain positive
health for domestic
and foreign tourists….
• Tourism in its purity…..

Systems Thinking
+ +
Wellness aware Interest of Attractive More
tourist Yoga, environment tourists
+ Ayurveda…
-
More wellness aware the tourist More attractive the
is, more interest of yoga and environment is, more tourists
ayurveda the tourist has. come.
More interest of Yoga, Ayurveda the More tourists come, less
tourist has, more wellness aware the
attractive the environment is..
tourist is..

Tourism in the future
• Tourism in the past: sand, sea, sun
• Today and the future: awareness of wellbeing
active rest wellness

New Model of Wellness Tourism
Environment -
+
-
Ayurveda
+ Yoga
+ Attraction Crowd
Infrastructure
Culture, awareness of +
wellbeing
+
Number of
+
tourists
Investments +
to wellness
programs

Endless List of scopes….
• Sports medicine
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorders….
• Disaster management…
• Anti addiction programs
• Veterinary medicine….

Healing with a Feeling…..
• Care for Soul, mind, body and
sense organs
• Holistic approach
• Care the nature to care you back
• YES….! Ayurveda is not a mere
medical science, but
a LIFE SCIENCE…

Come on …..
Let us unite with our
• Head - Intelligence
• Heart - Attitude
• Hand -Skilled work