Ayurveda for Modern Man in the times of Covid-19
Reference - Caraka Samhita Chapter: Janapadodhvansaniya Vimana
Ayurveda
These days people have started seeing Ayurveda as an alternative medicine and it thrives in India as a business and has a huge market to attract tourists and modern Indian populace, who consider it as a spa-therapy. Ayurveda however, being the oldest health science (that can be traced back to 6000 B.C) has a lot more to offer than just massages, yoga and herbs.
Ayurveda (or, the “Science of Life”) is based on the balance of bodily systems and aims at seeking a harmonious balance of mental, physical and spiritual health.
The central principle of Ayurveda states that health exists if there is a balance between the three fundamental bodily elements called the “doshas” — The Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which are the biological energies of human body and mind. If the proportions of the three doshas in the body are corresponding to the birth constitution, they are in equilibrium and one is in excellent health.
Ayurvedic Medicine is deeply rooted in the Hindu system of beliefs as this science of life emerged from the learnings of the ancient Hindu sages.
The sacred text of Caraka Samhita
Along with Susruta Samhita, Caraka Samhita is the most well-known text on Ayurveda, dating 2nd century B.C. The contents of the book were the teachings of the ancient rishi Atreya. It was later codified into a tantra by his disciple, sage Agnivesha. Acharya Charaka (The Indian Father of Medicine — 3rd century B.C), a principal contributor of Ayurveda, revised Atreya’s teachings and compiled Caraka Samhita. These teachings evolved from the native traditions of wandering physicians who brought their medical expertise and magico-religious rites (from the Atharva Veda) from village to village.
Caraka Samhita is a compendium of 8 texts (with 120 chapters all-in-all) that talk about the causes of diseases, ethics of the profession, anatomy of human body, diagnosis and prognosis of diseases, medicine and treatment of diseases, pharmacy, preparation and dosages of medicines, signs of abuse and poisoning, signs of cure, hygiene and healthy living.
Janapadodhvansaniya Vimana
Janapadodhvansaniya Vimana is the third chapter from the text of Vimana Sthana (the text discussing specific measurement of vitiation of dosha and other factors that cause diseases), that discusses the prevention of epidemic disorders caused due to polluted air, water, soil and season. Janapadodhvansa (janapadam + udhvamsaneeyam) means annihilation of communities.
Sage Atreya chose the banks of Ganga at Kampilya (city of Panchala) to teach Agnivesha about Janapadodhvansaniya. Atreya taught that the cause of the destruction of communities due to vitiated environmental factors (of vayu-air, udaka-water, desha-land and kala-season) is attributed to the karma of the community of people. In the very first verse, he describes to Agnivesha the importance of collecting the herbs possessing good qualities from mother earth before the onset of the calamity( which always gives prior warnings in the form of ominous signs).
The chapter discusses the conversation, through verses, between Atreya and Agnivesha, who asks Atreya how simultaneous destruction of communities through the onset of a single disease happens, when people in those communities have different constitution, diet, physique, vitality, habits, psychic make-up and age. To this, Atreya explains what characteristics could be observed of pollution of air, water, land and season. He also states the degrees of indispensability (season > land > water > air) of the four factors.
The root cause, according to Atreya, for the vitiation of the environmental factors is adharma or unrighteousness (of present and past lives). The reigning heads of countries and cities who govern people by swerving the righteous path, it seems, are responsible for the seasons getting impaired.
Life span of individuals is discussed in the text to be dependent on two factors: daiva (pre-determined or divine) and purushakara (of human effort). Daiva refers to one’s deeds in the previous life, whereas purushakara refers to one’s actions in this life. A weak daiva gets subdued by a strong purushakara and similarly a strong daiva overshadows one’s purushakara. Some scholars therefore maintain that the span of life is invariably pre-determined. However there are ample proofs for indeterminateness of life span. The sage goes ahead and explains the reasons for kalamrutyu (timely-death) and akalamrutyu(untimely-death).
The verses later-on describe the practice of using hot beverages to fight fever. However, if a fever is exacerbation of pitta-dominant symptoms like burning sensations, giddiness, delirium and diarrhea, hot water must not be administered. Disorders originating from heat or hot sources are treated with cold measures and vice versa.
The chapter also touches upon apatarpana chikitsa (depletion therapy) that is administered through balanced diet and calorie restrictions and the selection of treatment. It talks about the types of patients not fit for any form of treatment and types of lands where treatments should not be administered.
Treatment and prevention of diseases that annihilate communities — Tips derived from Ayurveda for fighting Covid 19.
Purification therapies, drugs with effects opposite to the cause, rasayana drugs (drugs that increase agni by enrichment of nutritional quality of rasa), hot water, balanced diet and fasting are pertinent when it comes to treating people infected by community-borne diseases.
Over centuries, pandemic diseases like Cholera, Small pox, Plague and Influenza has decimated populations across the earth. Measures that boost immunity such as a balanced diet and ayurvedic herb administration (herbs that boost digestion like tulsi and giloy), administration of nasya using medicated oils and pranayama are very helpful ayurvedic methods that can be done in the comfort of one’s home.
