Fundamental Principles

मुख्य पृष्ठ/ AYUSH Systems of Medicine/ Ayurveda/ Fundamental Principles

According to Ayurveda, ayu i.e. life is a union of physical body, sense organs, mind and soul. It advocates the measures for propagation of health and making the life of individuals beneficial to the society. It also describes the factors which may lead to pathogenesis in physical body as well as mind.
Ayurveda gives most comprehensive definition of healthy person as one in which dosha (metaphysiological entities), agni (metabolic fire), dhatus (tissues), malas (excretory products) and their activities are in balanced state and whose soul (atma), sense organs (indriya) and mind (manas) are in sound state.
One of the unique principles of Ayurveda is the understanding of health as a result of coordinated functioning of soul, mind and body in intimate relationship with everything else in cosmos- material and non­material. It believes that the constituent factors of human body and cosmos are same.

Dosha

Dosha, dhatu and mala are considered as root of all physiological and pathological activities of body in the same way as root of tree is responsible for growth of the tree. Doshas, three in number- Vata, Pitta and Kapha may be termed as metaphysiological humors which govern every living thing in nature and are required for the life to happen. They control a person’s temperament, personality, health as well as diseases.Equilibrium of these factors is responsible for health of an individual. When they get vitiated due to various causative factors, diseases are produced in the body. Though essential for the body, they are termed as dosha as they have the capability of getting vitiated and in turn lead to pathogenesis. Each of these has been linked to specific functions in the body and specific diseases.

Vata is considered as the force which governs the movement of Kapha, Pitta, dhatu and mala in body, simulating it with the functions of wind that propels clouds from one place to another place in the sky.It is responsible for movement, smell sensation, speech, blood circulation, breathing,expulsionof foetus at right time, semen, excretion of feaces, urine, sweat etc. It also performs CNS functions like carrying sensory input from sense organs to the brain.
Pitta having fire like properties and actions is mainly responsible for digestion and metabolism. thirst, intellect, absorption and assimilation of food, metabolism, softness of skin, cheerfulness, regulation of heat in the body etc.
Kapha, also known as shleshma, is described as cohesive or cementing factor which responsible for bringing together different units of the body especially bone joints. It provides the structures and the lubrication to the body.Kapha in its normal state of functioning represents a potential source of strength and resistance to disease.It provides stability, strength, vigour to the body, helps in memory retention, gives energy to the heart and lungs, and maintains immunity.
Mansik Dosha- In Ayurveda, physical body and mind are considered as seat of diseases. While sharirikdosha are responsible for diseases in physical body, Mansik Dosha- two in number- Rajas and Tamas are responsible for mental disorders.
Dhatu Seven in numbers, these are considered as nourishing and structural part of sharira. They are interdependent, give support and nourish the other dhatu. Dhatus exists as concrete and formed entities. They are constantly being formed, destroyed and reformed with appropriate material derived from poshakadravyas from the time of conception to that of death. Total seven number of dhatu are considered in the body, these are called as saptadhatu. Saptadhatuare also known as dushya, because of the tendency to implicit in them to be citiated. Seven types of dhatu are Rasa (Plasma), Rakta (Blood tissue), Mamsa (Muscular tissue), Meda (Fat or Adipose tissue), Asthi (Bone tissue), Majja (Bone marrow), and Shukra (Reproductive tissue).
Mala Considered as Visha or poison for the body if they remain in the body for a longer time. Each dhatu except Shukra Dhatu produces its mala which should be excreted from body.
Pancha-Mahabhuta

According to Ayurveda, everything inuniverse including human beings is composed of thePancamahabhutasor five basic elements viz. Akasa(Space),Vayu(Air),TejaorAgni (Fire), Jala (Water) andPrithvi (Earth). They are mixed in an infinite variety of relative proportions such that each form of matter is distinctly unique. Although each element has a range of attributes, only some get evident in particular situations. Constantly changing and interacting with each other, they create a situation of dynamic flux that keeps the world going.
In the case of a complex, multi-cellular organism as a human being for instance, akasacorresponds to spaces within the body (mouth, nostrils, abdomen etc.); vayudenotes the movement (essentially muscular also nervous system);agnicontrols the functioning of enzymes (intelligence, digestive system, metabolism);jalais in all body fluids (as plasma, saliva, digestive juices); andprithvimanifests itself in the solid structure of the body (bones, teeth, flesh, hair etc).
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