Vedic Approach To Health And Disease

Vedas stresses the fact that we are not mere human beings having spiritual experience here but we are spiritual beings having human experience here in this world. Health of physical body is not the only thing but Spiritual health has given much more importance in Vedic philosophy. Ayurveda says that the perfect health is achieved when the Body-Mind and the Consciousness/ Atman are in perfect sync and harmony. We have heard about this body-mind-consciousness relation again and again but in order to understand it properly we need to understand the further classification of this trio which in turn tells about the layers/ structure of a man. The structure of a man can be divided into five layers enveloping Atman (the sprit or the soul).These layers are called as sheaths or Koshas (Tattriya Upanishad). The five sheaths are:

Food Sheath (Annamaya Kosha) (Outermost)
Vital Air Sheath (Pranamaya Kosha)
Mental Sheath (Manomaya Kosha)
Intellectual Sheath (Vijnanamaya Kosha)
Bliss Sheath (Anandamaya Kosha) (Innermost)

These five sheaths envelop the Atman. Atman is like electricity in a bulb. As without electricity one cannot expect light in a bulb similarly we cannot expect any activity in the body without Atman. Also the electricity alone cannot give us light, in the same way Atman alone cannot show any activity, it needs the Body or these five layers to express itself.

Food Sheath is the outer most layers. It is the physical body. The five organs of perception (Jnana-Indriyas), five organs of action (Karma-Indriyas), the three doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha, the seven dhatus i.e. the seven bodily tissues, the 13 Agnis i.e. digestive juices and metabolic hormones and enzymes, the malas of the body i.e. waste products of the body namely urine, feaces and sweat are a part of it. It is called food sheath because it is caused by food, maintained by food and finally ends up as food.

There are five faculties functioning within you. They correspond to the five physiological functions. They are called the five Pranas. Together they constitute the vital air sheath. They have been given that name because they are related directly to air you breathe. The air we breathe is the vehicle of Prana. The five Pranas are:

Prana – Faculty of Perception
Apana – Faculty of Excretion
Samana – Faculty of Digestion
Vyana – Faculty of Circulation
Udana – Faculty of Thought – Absorption
Vital Air Sheath is subtler than food sheath. It controls the food sheath. When your pranas functions properly your physical body remains healthy and strong. When they slacken (as in old age) and work inefficiently the body is adversely affected.

This completes the gross or the physical aspect of the body which should be kept in balance.
Further on subtle level Ayurveda says that health is not merely the absence of disease but it is a healthy state of mind too. In order to keep your mind healthy you need to understand the other three Koshas.

The mental sheath is the mind. Mind consists of passions, emotions, feelings and impulses. It is full of likes and dislikes. It controls the previous two outer sheaths. When the mind is disturbed the physical body and physiological functions are affected. In order to keep this kosha in balanced state you need to feed good (satvik) food to the mind. Food to the mind is provided by the sense organs through faculty of perception. Sense organs send signals to the mind which in turn gets deposited there. If sense organs send unhealthy signals mind becomes unhealthy and it’s vice a versa. Understanding this fact we should provide only good sensations to the sense organs so that they forward only healthy information to the mind. We should always try to provide good sights to the eyes, good smell to the nose, good music to the ears, good taste to the tongue and good touch to the skin. Mind alone cannot decide what is good and what is bad. To do this it requires the fourth Kosha.

Intellectual sheath is the intellect. It functions as thinking, reasoning, judging etc. It is analysis and distinguishing between good and bad. It controls the above three sheaths.

The idea of keeping your soul happy sounds heavenly but it is quite possible with the Knowledge of fifth Kosha i.e. Bliss Sheath (Anandmaya Kosha). When you are detached from all the mental agitations and you are in a state of undisturbed peace, you are into Bliss Sheath. You experience it every day that is when you are in deep sleep i.e. dreamless sleep you are in bliss sheath.

If all these factors are healthy then only we can realize our real self (Atma-Satkarkshat), which is of utmost importance according to Ayurvedic definition of health.

Now the ultimate question is how to keep these factors in a balanced state in today’s fast moving life?

Answer to this again lies in Vedas. They say that the Bliss sheath is the causal body when it expresses itself, it takes the form of other two sheaths and finally works out as perceptions and actions in the gross body. It means if we instilled our causal body with the suggestion of health and positivity, the subtle body will entertain positive thoughts of health and the gross body is bound to be healthy. Because of this philosophy only Ayurveda perhaps is the only medical system which while describing a disease, tells about the dietary changes, lifestyle changes and changes at the level of thinking process along with the treatment proper of that particular disease. It says that a disease starts when we go away from these factors. The treatment of a disease cannot be achieved only by administering some medicines, we need to cut the source of the disease ,we need to correct all the factors responsible for that disease then only the treatment would be complete. On the other hand if we keep these entire psycho-somatic factors in a balanced state and generate a habit of positive thinking there is no question of a disease.
Food sheath is the first and the outermost layer which makes the physical body. So good satvik food is the first and foremost requirement to keep the physical body and other subsequent koshas into a healthy state. It says “We are what we eat”. When we are born we are a lump of small tiny mass. Our body grows as we grow older with the help of daily food we take. If we don’t take food we will not grow. Nutrients from food get deposited into tissues of body and mind. All the food stuffs are made up of same elements our gross body is made up of. They are made up of five basic elements namely earth, water, fire, air and space. The amount of these elements differs in various food stuffs. They impart their qualities in our body when eaten by us. Likewise they affect our thinking process too. So to have a healthy body and healthy and positive thoughts you need to eat healthy and satvik food.

Ayurveda and Yoga are the two strongest tools given to mankind by the Vedas to understand the complexities of health and disease. They say Ayurveda is created to keep our Kaya (Physical Body) healthy and Yoga to keep our Manas (Mind) healthy. Yoga simply means to join or the combination. It is a science which shows us the way to keep all the five koshas combined in a harmonious way. So eat a healthy diet and make Yoga Practices with meditation your daily routine. Yoga gives you the power to have full control over your sense organs to keep them away from perversions.

If still something goes wrong in your body and mind Ayurveda offers you a treasure of Herbo-Mineral preparations which are specially potentiated to balance the above described elements. We, the “Vedam Ayur Herbals”, have picked some of such preparations to combat with some of today’s most common health conditions.

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SYNERGY AYURYOGA

Yoga and Ayurveda are two different Vedic traditions, one is incomplete without the other. If Ayurveda heals the physical body, Yoga heals and purify the mind and the consciousness. Both the sciences complement and embrace each other.

The ancient rishis (seers) were the original masters of all Vedic sciences. They realized that good health is an asset on the path of Self-realization. If the physical body is neglected it can easily become an obstacle to spiritual practice. One cannot sit still for long time to perform meditation if his physical body is not healthy. So both Yoga and Ayurveda works in a synergistic way where ayurveda prevents and heals various disorders and cleanse and rejuvenate the body, yoga introduces him with his inner self.

Not only their philosophies are same but they propound some similar practices too. Both the systems require same kind of attitude. They practice similar rules of nutrition, hygiene, exercise, cleansing and spiritual teaching. Both the sciences were being taught in the Gurukul System where a deciple was required to take care of entire premises and does all the work of his Guru (The Teacher).Guru used to teach him all the lessons of life, health and spirituality according to his caliber, while performing their daily works. Life was very strict and disciplined inside a Gurukula.Later these disciplines and hardships of life used to serve as a foundation for a life of Sadhana (spiritual practices).

Nowadays, the teachings of Yoga are easily available to all. People start practicing it without proper preparation, discipline and even without checking their caliber. This has some positives, in the sense that more people can be turned on to its teachings, although much is often lost without the parampara, or close guidance of an accomplished master. Knowledge of ayurveda can solve this problem. The principles of ayurveda if propagated and practiced as a daily routine, will bring the required disciplines among followers .Knowledge of their basic body constitution and doshic dominance will tell them their needs and capabilities.

First, let’s take a look at the similarities between Yoga and Ayurveda:

* Both are ancient Vedic teachings and cultural and spiritual heritage of       India.

* Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is vital for fulfilling the four aims of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), andMoksha (liberation).

* Both recognize that the balance of doshas (humors), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) is essential for maintaining a good health.

* Both share virtually the same metaphysical anatomy and physiology, which consists of 72,864 nadis (subtle channels), 7 main chakras (energy centers), 5 bodily sheaths, and the Kundalini Shakti (energy).

* Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer, puja, and rituals for healing the entire being.

* Both encourage physical health as a good foundation for mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

* Both share the same view on psychology. Ayurveda embraces all six of the main schools of philosophy including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Vedanta (a non-dual philosophical and spiritual path). They both understand that the attachment to the body-mind complex is the root cause of all suffering and that the ultimate state of health is experienced when we abide in our true nature, which is total peace, regardless of the state of the physical body.

* Both use cleansing methods for the body, all of which encourage the removal of waste products and toxins through their natural routes of elimination. Ayurveda has Panchakarma (five cleansing actions) and Yoga uses Shat Karma (six purification measures).

Cleansing in Yoga and Ayurveda

Ayurveda and Yoga both emphasize cleansing of the body for health and support of spiritual practices. Their methods are similar and work by expelling excess dosha and ama or toxins, using the body’s natural routes of elimination.

The yogic method as known in the Ashtanga tradition is Shat Karma, or six cleansing measures. These are:

1. Neti (nasal cleansing)
Jala neti (salt water flushing of the sinuses)
Sutra neti (nasal cleaning with string)

2. Dhauti (washing the GI tract)
Teeth, tongue, eyes, ears and forehead
Agnisara Dhauti
Vamana Dhauti (vomiting salt water)
Vastra Dhauti (washing with a cloth)
Varisara Dhauti (washing with water for purgation)

3. Basti (enema)

4. Trataka (forehead wash, gazing into a candle flame)

5. Nauli (intestinal washing, abdominal rolling)

6. Kapala Bhati (skull shining)

The Ayurvedic method for cleansing and rejuvenation is known as Panchakarma, or five cleansing actions. This program is usually done for a week or two, but can also be done for longer periods depending on the case. The five actions of this method are:

1. Anuvasana Basti (Enema)

2. Asthapana Basti

3. Nasya (Nasal application of herbs and herbal oils)

4. Vamana (Therapeutic vomiting)

5. Virechana (Purgation)

Some add Rakta Mokshana (Blood letting) as one more cleansing procedure.

Ayurvedic approach to Asana practice

The use of asana, pranayama, and meditation for healing is known as Yoga Chikitsa or Yoga Therapy and has been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic and yogic adepts. In Yoga Chikitsa, a group of yogic exercises are chosen that will best support the individual and are practiced daily. This can be done over an extended period of time in conjunction with an Ayurvedic regime and herbal and dietary therapies. Yoga Chikitsa also plays an integral role in the Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation process known as panchakarma.

For a well balanced personal yoga practice, it is important to take into consideration the individual’s body structure, prakruti (original constitution), and vikruti (present constitutional imbalance). The following are general recommendations according to the predominant dosha.

Vata predominant individuals should remember to focus on calming, grounding, stillness, strengthening, and balancing while doing their practice.

Precautions for vata:

* Flowing postures (not to stay in one posture for long instead doing quickly and repeatedly to initiate) tend to move too quickly from one pose to the next and can aggravate the hyper-mobile quality of vata over time. Flowing sequences can be made to be more vata pacifying if they are not excessively long, the duration of time, poses are held is extended and transitions are done slowly and consciously.

Pitta individuals should maintain a calm, cool, and relaxed intention while doing asanas. Pitta types may benefit from trying to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness, and of surrendering or offering the fruits of their practice to the divine or to those who are in need of a positive healing energy. Because asana practice tends to generate heat in the body, it is best to do them at cooling times of the day, such as dawn or dusk. Also, it is useful to place some emphasis on poses that help to release excess heat from the body, such as poses that compress the solar plexus and poses that open the chest like.

Kapha types tend to be sedentary and often dislike vigorous yogic practices. For this reason, their practice should be energetic, warming, lightening, and stimulating, providing they are physically capable. Flow style posture is good for Kapha because it is dynamic and moves quickly from one pose to the next, it induces sweating and gets the heart pumping.

Yoga poses that address specific doshic problems can be easily added to an Ayurvedic regime and integrated into an existing yoga routine, or they can be organized as a small session with the help of an Ayurvedic clinician who knows each individual case well and can help set up a well balanced program according to the needs of each client.

Ayurveda also offers Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy, for specific doshic disorders. It is advised to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for an individualized regime.

Ayurvedic Approach to Pranayama, Bandha and Mudra (breathing techniques, locks and mudra)

The ultimate goal of pranayama is to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. It also has a therapeutic effect on the physical body as well. It is not essential to do a pranayama practice according to dosha, but knowing its effects on the body, is a valuable tool for management of the doshas. Below is a general list of pranayama and bandha exercises according to dosha.

Vata: Nadi Shodhana, Kapala Bhati, Agnisara Dhauti, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Pitta: Sheetali or Sitkari, Nadi Shodhana.

Kapha: Bastrika, Agnisara Dhauti, Kapala Bhati, Ashvini Mudra (contracting and releasing Mula Bandha), Ashvini Mudra, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Furthermore, the Six Purifications (Shatkarma) told earlier is an ancient method from the Hath Yoga for purifying the gross and subtle body in order to prepare it for more advanced practices. They are tridoshic and safe for everyone, provided they are performed correctly.

Meditation According to Dosha

These spiritual paths and their meditation techniques can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their prakriti. This list is only intended to give an idea of how dosha can support or influence one’s spiritual practice. Many traditions of Yoga blend various aspects of the paths listed here.

* Vata : Kriya Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga and other structured techniques help to keep vata stabilized and focused.

* Pitta: Jnana Yoga and Vedanta are good for pitta types because they often have sharp intellects and have a keen interest in self-study (Atma-vichara).

* Kapha: Bhakti Yoga is natural for Kapha types because they are often loving and devotional by nature.

Ayurvedic and Yogic Diet

Ayurveda is more concerned with food being constitutionally balanced, while Yoga promotes a diet that is satvik (light and pure). A combination of both aspects is the best choice for a yogi or anyone wanting to make real progress on a spiritual path.

Ayurvedic diet:

* According to dosha.
* Primarily vegetarian (meat is used as medicine, mainly for extreme deficiencies).
* Primarily cooked (raw food in moderation, especially for vata types).
* Containing six tastes.

Yogic diet:

* Satvik vegetarian diet.
* Easy to digest.
* Simple meals (to limit desire).
* Both cooked and raw.
* Foods recommended in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika consist of rejuvenating substances such as wheat, whole grain, white basmati, corn, raw milk, raw sugar, butter, ghee, honey, dried ginger, mung, beans, pure water, and vegetables.
* Fruits, roots and nuts.
* Avoiding excessive hot, sour, salty, fermented, and fried foods.
* Avoiding tamasic (dulling) foods like meat, onions, garlic and mushrooms as a regular part of the daily diet.

It is obvious that Ayurveda and Yoga not only complement each other but both sciences actually embrace each other as they share similarities of fundamental principles on many levels. Ayurveda and Yoga should go hand in hand if we want to achieve optimal health, peace, and longevity.

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