India Herbs

Publication: Gorkhapatra.com

Author: Uttam Maharjan

Date: November 2006

Ayurveda is a type of alternative therapy. Ayurveda would literally denote a science of life (ayus means life and veda means knowledge or science). It deals with how to maintain a healthy living and physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony by adopting proper therapeutic methods and other measures.

Medical properties
Ayurveda is based on the theory that various materials derived from plants, animals and minerals have medical properties, which can be taken advantage of to cure various ailments. In Ayurveda, such materials have been used for centuries to cure ailments and to maintain a healthy living. Ayurvedic medicines are made from herbs alone or in combination with metals, minerals and the like. These materials are purified through a process before they are used as medicines. There is, however, evidence that some ayurvedic medicines, especially those containing herbs, metals, minerals and the like, may pose a health hazard, including toxicity. Toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic are found in some Ayurvedic medicines.

Plants are increasingly used in the preparation of medicines. Over 100 allopathic medicines are based on plant extracts. Some of the plants used in Ayurveda have the potential to fight certain ailments. Some are found to prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters, improve memory and enhance the concentration in Alzheimer’s patients.

Ayurvedic practitioners believe that illness and disease result from an imbalance in the doshas in sharp contrast to allopathic practitioners who argue that pathogens,infectious agents and genetic disorders are behind the provenance of diseases. The basic theory of Ayurveda is that the physical functions of the human body are regulated by the three doshas called vata, pitta and kapha. The doshas are also believed to regulate mind-body harmony.

Critics of Ayurveda claim that Ayurveda lacks scientific legs to prove that it is a reliable system of treatment because there is a lack of rigorous scientific studies and clinical trials of an umpteenth number of Ayurvedic products. They also impugn the safety of Ayurvedic preparations.

Hindus believe in the divine origin of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is said to have been first compiled as a text in his book Agnivesh Tantra by Agnivesha during Vedic times. It was later revised by Charaka and renamed Charaka Samhita. Another ancient Ayurvedi text is Sushruta Samhita. Verses dealing with Ayurveda are found in Atharvaveda, implying that Ayurveda is as old as the Vedas. Ayurvedic practices have evolved over time and some are improvements upon earlier Vedic practices. The system was orally transferred through the Gurukul system until a script developed.

Ayurveda was practised during the times of the Buddha (520 BC). During the time, Ayurvedic preparations were based on a mercury-sulphur combination, together with other metals in conjunction with herbs. During the time, Nagarjun, a herbalist, was famous for preparing new medicines for the treatment of various diseases. As Ayurveda made much headway during the time, the time is appropriately called the Golden Period of Ayurveda. Emperor Ashoka was an ardent follower of the Buddhist precepts. He was so influenced by the precepts that he proclaimed a restriction on bloodshed in his kingdom in 250 BC. As a result, many Ayurvedic practitioners who were using surgery in their medical practice discarded surgery and resorted to a totally new medical system.

New drugs, methodology and innovations ruled the roost in this period.

During the regime of Chandragupta Maurya, Ayurveda was given the status of mainstream Indian medical technique. It was, however, driven off the pedestal after the invasion of India by Alexander the Great, the Moguls and the English. Chakrapani Dutta, a Vaid Brahman of Bengal, was a writer of books on Ayurveda such as Chakradutta. Chakrapani Dutta was the Rajvaidya of King Nayapala. Some Ayurvedic practitioners believe that Chakradutta is the be-all and end-all of Ayurveda.

Recognition
Ayurveda has been preserved as a traditional “science of life”, even if modern medical techniques are in great use. Ayurveda is an invaluable asset, which must be used to derive maximum benefit to improve human health and maintain harmony among physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing. In the present-day world, allopathy is not the be-all in the medical field. Alternative therapies like Ayurveda must be given due recognition for the betterment of human health.

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