The vast and often mysterious subcontinent we know as India is the home of auryveda, a system of health and healing which is believed to be anywhere between 2,500 and 5,000 years old. Auryveda is, in fact, the oldest existing medical protocol practiced in the world today, and is recognized by the World Health Organization as a valid medical system.
The word "auryveda" translates to mean "the science of life and longevity." The word comes from two Sanskrit roots: ayus means life or span; veda means knowledge or science.
Legend has it that knowledge of auryveda was passed down by the god Indra to one of the Hindu seers. No one knows the real origin, but historical documents reveal that spiritual writers known as the Vedas included auryveda philosophy in their works as early as the fifth century, B.C.
The Charaka-Samhita manuscript has survived from the first century A.D. It describes 582 auryvedic medicinal herbs. Another document, the Bower manuscript, is said to have been written about 350 A.D. by Buddhist monks. The document was discovered near the ruins of Mingai (Turkestan), and purchased by British officer Hamilton Bower in 1890. The main book on surgery, the Sushruta Samhita, lists some 600 plant remedies. Most experts agree that these books represent teachings that are at least 2,000 years old, although the manuscripts which have been unearthed were more recently transcribed.
Heal Thyself
Auryveda approaches wellness with the fundamental belief that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. Illness develops as a result of internal disharmony. We fail to take advantage of our healing ability, and we allow ourselves to get sick by engaging in stressful lifestyles, unreasonable dietary habits, and activities that put us out of sync with the life forces.
According to auryvedic thinking, health relies on a crucial balance of three basic forces, known as the three doshas:
Vata represents air and movement. Vata stimulates the nervous system, brain activity, and thought.
Kapha represents earth, a steady, stabilizing force.
Pitta represents fire and heat, and the burning of energy. Pitta is also the mediating dosha between the two extremes, kapha and vata.
Each of us is born with a unique ratio of the three doshas, and typically, one of the doshas will dominate, manifesting in behavior and body type/shape. No one is completely vata, pitta, or kapha, but rather has a tendency to one of them.
Vata people are small-boned and thin; frequently they are nervous people who can't sit still, but are very bright, even intellectual. Pitta types are athletic, muscular, active, and very focused, who can work hard and be determined, but can also be hot-tempered and obsessive. Kapha individuals are stocky and heavy-set, but they can also be athletic and strong, with an approach to life that is steady and slow.
Doshas can be used to forecast the kinds of ailments to which we may become susceptible. Pitta dominance, for example, can trigger "fire" diseases, such as digestive ulcers and heartburn. Vata dominance can produce insomnia, anxiety, numbness, and pain. Kapha excesses can result in diseases of "water," such as obesity, frequent colds or congestion, and sinus headache.
Auryvedic Practitioners
In India, auryvedic medical school is a five and one half year program that includes hospital residency. But auryvedic medicine is not licensed in the U.S. and those who practice its methods must be accredited in chiropractic, conventional medicine, or related field.
An auryvedic health exam focuses on finding out the person's dominant dosha using a variety of techniques, most especially the taking of the pulse. An auryvedic pulse reading is done at both wrists, using the first three fingers, with the practitioner trying to determine strength, pace, and patterns.
A practitioner will also ask about the diet, elimination patterns, habits, moods, and even dreams.
Healing Herbs and Spices
Diet and herbal medicines are key remedies in auryvedic practice. Foods, spices, and herbs are each assigned to a dosha.
One example involves garlic and onion. Garlic and its cousin are a strong pitta foods, fiery and pungent, to be used by people who need to boost passion and energy, and not recommended for hot-tempered individuals. Garlic especially is too intense for them, and may throw their energies out of balance, leading to anger, and disease.
But auryveda considers garlic as a valued herb with a number of applications. As a diuretic, it moves out accumulated vata, and as an decongestant, it stimulates mucus (kapha) to be expelled from the body. Externally, garlic oils are applied to bruises and sprains, and ear infections.
The herb boswellia serrata is thought to counteract excess vata. It is anti-inflammatory, to reduce pain and stiffness from arthritis and sports injuries. It is native to hilly regions of India and is a botanical relative of the Biblical plant frankincense.
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice that is a botanical relative of ginger. Turmeric is the auryvedic equivalent of an antacid to address excess pitta, for relief from stomach upset and ulcers. It is also used topically for sunburns, insect bites, and skin rashes. Turmeric contains a pigment called curcumin, which is widely used in the food and spice industry as a coloring for curries and mustards, as well as a food preservative. Western science has confirmed turmeric's therapeutic potential. Curcumin exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infectious activities. It has been studied by organizations such as the National Cancer Institute, and is currently in clinical trials with AIDS patients.
Other auryvedic herbs include gotu kola for clear thought, mental and emotional well being; guggul, to lower blood cholesterol; and triphala to enhance digestion. Products containing these plants are found in most health food stores.
Along with healthful herbs, modern auryvedic thinking also encompasses practices such as drugs, surgery, steam therapy, and even acupuncture. But the emphasis is balancing food and lifestyle. This includes a diet of whole, natural foods, meditation, rest, regular exercise, massage, and yoga. Most of all, the goal is to teach preventative health practices so we can minimize our encounters with illness, and enjoy longer, happier lives.
Susan Moyers is a writer and educator focusing on health and science issues. She is the author of the popular book Garlic in Health, History, and World Cuisine. Florida 813-393-5986
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