Did you know that the oldest medical system in the world is ayurvedic medicine? We examine the origins and guiding principles of Ayurveda in this blog article. Let’s begin straight away!
History
Ayurveda is thought to have been a gift from the Hindu gods to the ancient Indian rishis or seers some 5,000 years ago. Their sacred writings, the Vedas, in particular the Atharva Veda, included all the necessary knowledge for achieving a balanced and healthy existence.
Ayurveda is credited as being established by the Hindu god Brahma, one of the three main gods of Hinduism. He subsequently taught his son Daksha Prajapati this information. Ashwini Kumaras, the twin Vedic gods, received it from Daksha. The twin gods evolved into the Devas of Ayurveda and the gods’ doctors.
Indra, the ruler of the gods, was given Ayurveda by the twin gods. Three doctors, Acharya Bharadwaj, Acharya Kashyapa, and Aacharya Divodas Dhanvantari, were among Indra’s students. The foundational Ayurvedic treatise of internal medicine was created by Agnivesha, a pupil of Bharadwaj.
Acharya Charak, a student of Agnivesha, later amended this corpus of literature. This began the custom of sages receiving Ayurvedic knowledge from gods.
The epic story of India, the Mahabharata, also describes how Vishnu took the form of Dhanvantari. Dhanvantari emerged from the vast cosmic churning of the ocean in search of the divine nectar of immortality, and Vishnu appointed him to assist humanity in curing ailments.
Indian society’s rishis and munis devoted their entire life to discovering the truth about the cosmos. They passed on their skills and traditions to their pupils, allowing the oral tradition to endure for countless years. The sacred Vedas have a record of their discoveries. Bharadwaja was one of the most well-known rishis, and he flourished in approximately 700 BCE.
Ayurvedic Principles and Their Application to Illnesses: Modern Research
To determine an individual’s dosha parameters objectively, research was done. The goal of the study was to ascertain if an individual’s phenotype and the factors that make up his or her dosha-Prakriti are equivalent. A comparable investigation with the idea of ayurgenomics was also carried out. The possibility that the gene EGLN1, which controls several phenotypic outcomes, may be the tridosha’s molecular twin was also investigated by the researchers. Ayurgenomics may also be utilized to find and identify the best treatment options for a particular patient.
Another review investigates the origins of cancer from an Ayurvedic perspective. Despite enormous financial investments in cancer research over the previous 50 years, the researchers emphasized that no meaningful advances had been made. Additionally, compared to Eastern countries, cancer is more prevalent in Western nations. The goal of the study was to determine how Ayurveda and contemporary medicine may be used to treat cancer.
The use of Ayurvedic medicine to treat neurodegenerative illnesses has been the subject of more scientific investigation. The study focused on the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha in particular. As one of the plants frequently utilized for this type of treatment, ashwagandha ranks first among the herbs categorized in Ayurveda as brain tonics or rejuvenators.
A scientific investigation was conducted on a different Ayurvedic herbal remedy. It is worthwhile to investigate the rejuvenating qualities of Rasayana herbs for the treatment of illness and antioxidants. Although just a few Rasayana plants have been thoroughly studied, the researchers discovered that they strongly promote considerable antioxidant activity.
A new study also tries to investigate how Ayurvedic substances have been incorporated into contemporary treatment. The experts recommend that these herbal remedies be included in the creation of modern medicine since they recognize that Ayurvedic medications have fewer adverse effects. Many of the active ingredients found in Ayurvedic herbs have not yet undergone in-depth scientific research.
Other studies looked at ways to keep the liver healthy using Ayurvedic principles. The researcher identified many Ayurvedic plants, including Andrographis paniculata aerial parts, Microrhiza kurroa hellebore roots, Zingiber officinale rhizome, and Embelia fruit (Embelia Ribes). These herbs have been used for centuries to treat liver conditions, aid digestion, and improve circulation and metabolism.
Threats to Ayurveda
Ayurveda became a practice that had a significant impact on both the eastern and western worlds. In actuality, Chinese academics began studying Ayurvedic medicinal concepts about depth in 700 CE after translating Ayurvedic books into Chinese in the year 400 CE. Ayurveda also made it to Greece, where it had an impact on the development of that nation’s medical system.
When foreign invasions began to sweep over India, the glorious period of Ayurveda began to fade. Islamic soldiers in the vicinity of Turkey and Afghanistan invaded India about 1200 CE. Ayurveda suffered a fall during this time when Muslim culture and traditions permeated Indian civilization. These Muslim conquerors destroyed the majority of Indian culture and literature while waging crusades against Buddhism and Hinduism. Unani is a branch of medicine that combines Ayurveda with Arabic medicine.
The concepts and practices of Ayurveda were further undermined by the British Empire’s invasion of India in the 15th century. The British monarchs at the time forbade the use of Ayurveda and encouraged the use of Western medicine. Lord McCauley ruled that all areas under the control of the East India Company had to practice medicine according to English standards.
Bottom Line:
A nationalist movement and a change in the political climate in India during the 19th century reignited interest in Ayurveda. When India became independent at the beginning of the 20th century, it worked to revive Ayurvedic practices. Ayurveda was accepted as a kind of medicine during this period, and the government supported its expansion. Buildings for hospitals, clinics, and institutions proliferated. Ayurvedic practice and education were also evaluated by legislation and government laws. Ayurvedic medicine production and sales are now governed by legislation. As a kind of complementary medicine, ayurveda is still widely used in contemporary culture.
