Back to Nature with Ayurveda - part 2

By Asha Devi

Ayurveda is a complete health lifestyle in a scientific way. It is about yoga, meditiation, treatments, food and herbs. Ayurveda creates harmony in body, mind and soul, with help from nature and the five elements. In a simple way you get unique and deep knowledge about Ayurveda and lot good and practical advice how to cure health problems and keep permanent health, wealth and happiness in life.

This is part two of two.

• Language: Svenska
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: Jul 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9789175697925

Asha Devi

Asha Devi, Brahmacharini, before living in Himalaya, is an Ayurvedic doctor practicing in Sweden for the past 10 years. Before that she had a flourishing practice in the Indian capital of New Delhi. She has had a lifelong association with Ayurveda. Born in a family of Ayurveda physicians, love for nature came naturally to her. She has done extensive social work, focusing on women empowerment and education of underprivileged children. She has a heartfelt desire of promoting world peace and spreading the benefits of Ayurveda throughout the world.

Book preview

Dr. Margareta Andersson gave me the idea to write a book

about Ayurveda.

Thank you.

Chapter 1   MUDRAS

In Yoga Sadhana, the Mudras are also very important. The Mudras are complementary to the Asanas. In Asanas, the organs are important. But in Mudras, physiological organs are secondary. In our scripts, it has been said aptly about the Mudras Nasti Mudra Samn Kinchit Siddhidan KshitimanDale. This means, nothing is more beneficial than Mudras on the entire globe for achieving success in life.

For simplicity here we classify Mudras in two series: (i) differences of vital elements (Tatwas); and (ii) Kundalini Jagaran.

According to Vaidic Science, universe is made of Panch Tatwas. Our body is also a combination of these Panch Tatwa (five vital elements viz: Kshiti = earth; Jal = water; Pawak or Agni = fire or heat; Gagan = sky or space and Sameer = wind). Although the modern science treats the elements (Tatwa) in another way but that is not contradictory to this concept.

According to Vaidic science, the five fingers of the hand represent the Panch Tatwas; thumb (Pawak or Agni Tatwa or fire), fore finger (Sameer or Vayu Tatwa or wind), middle finger (Gagan or Akash Tatwa or sky), ring finger (Kshiti or Prithvi Tatwa or earth) and little finger (Jal Tatwa or water). The proper balance of these five vital elements makes the body healthy. Applying these Mudras, the eternal sense, internal glands and the latent energy of the body are stimulated and invoked.

(Note: These Mudras are made with fingers and produce desired results. All Mudras should be practiced from 10 minutes to one hour for complete advantage. If one can’t do this in one single sitting, they can do it by taking breaks in between.)

(I) Gyan Mudra (Agni Tatwa)

Touch the thumb and fore finger. Keep the rest of the fingers straight.

Advantage: It improves concentration and memory and makes the brain sharper. It has the power to control anger, sleeplessness and headache.

II) Vayu Mudra:

To perform this Mudra touch your thumb to the middle back portion of the fore finger and the fore finger should bend by 90⁰. The rest of the fingers should be straight.

Advantage: Body pain, gastric problems, arthritis, rheumatism, joint pain and cramps can be cured by this Mudra. Blood circulation is improved too.

(III) Akash Mudra:

Touch the middle back portion of the middle finger with the thumb such that the middle finger gets bent and is touching the inner palm. Keep the rest of the fingers straight. Take deep breaths while practicing this Mudra.

Advantage: Thyroid, heart diseases, throat diseases, bone related diseases and disorders of ear can be cured by this Mudra.

(IV) Prithvi Mudra:

Apply a very slight pressure on the top of the ring finger with your thumb. Keep the rest of the fingers straight.

Advantage: It strengthens the body. It reduces extra fat and improves digestion.

(V) Jal Mudra:

Apply a little pressure on top of the little finger with the thumb. Take deep breaths.

Advantage: It can cure the skin related problems, disorders in blood, pimples, rashes, acne, dry skin etc. and makes the skin healthy and glowing.

(VI) Surya Mudra:

This Mudra should be performed at the end of all the other Mudras. Press slightly at the root at the back of the ring finger with the thumb.

Advantage: This Mudra improves overall health and helps to decrease cholesterol level. It can cure diabetes and reduce weight and extra fat.

Chapter 2   AYURVEDA PANCHAKARMA

What is Pancha Karma?

The Pancha Karma is a specific practice of Ayurveda to clean and purify the entire body. It clears out all the impurities and toxins. It is a system of bio-purification. A common problem with today’s medicines is that some patients are resistant to the medicines while some suffer from their side effects. Another thing is that many a times there is no permanent cure. Why is that so?

An answer to this question is provided by the first physician (probably of the human civilization) Rishi Charak. He said that if we use medicines and chemicals to treat diseases, it will increase the toxins in our body. Also the body either reacts or becomes passive to the medications. At this stage, the medicines do not give the desired effect. Rishi Charak believed that natural purification of the entire body is the way to cure diseases. All other methods won’t keep the patient healthy for long. He added that if the patient is not fully cured even after this purification, then he may take a little medicine which will give a satisfactory final result.

System of Pancha Karma

In Pancha Karma, there are five main processes of purification: (i) Snehan (massage), (ii) Swedan (sweating), (iii) Vaman (vomiting), (iv) Virechan (purgation), and (v) Nirooh or Vasti (enema).

According to Ayurveda, Upavas (fasting), Falahar (fruit diets), Nirooh Vasti (enema), Abhyang (massage), Swedan (sweating), and Bhap Snan (steam bath) are very beneficial in treating and uprooting diseases from the body. It is also known as Naturopathy or Nisargopchar. It not only cures the disease but repairs and restores the body. And it provides a complete Kaya Kalp (transmutation) of the body so that it becomes fresh, pure and healthy as in childhood. Apart from this, it ensures a healthy and long life.

In the system of Panchkarma, all natural gifts such as: wind, water, earth, sunlight, oils, fruits, milk, vegetables, herbs and spices are used to treat or purify the patient.

The Panchkarma is not only for patients but it is useful for every person irrespective of whether he is ill or not. Like washing and cleaning of clothes, house etc. is necessary; eating, bathing, ejaculating etc. are necessary to clean the body organs externally and internally; similarly the Panchakarma is necessary to clear the internal toxins to repair, revive and rejuvenate the body organs.

An expert practitioner of Panchakarma can easily dignose the cause of the disease. And according to Ayurveda he can treat the patient by Panchakarma. Such a person knows where the obstruction or disturbance is and how it can be removed. But the only problem is that this process works slowly and takes a long time. Therefore both the physician and the patient should keep patience during the treatment of Panchakarma.

The modern pharmacopeia system is based on toxicology. Although the modern system of allopathic treatment provides prompt relief it produces many side effects which can give rise to other diseases in future.

When allopathic modern treatment is unable to cure the patient, when all attempts and efforts are useless, the Ayurvedic Panchakarma revives the patient successfully. Therefore, both the physician and the patient should have faith and should continue the natural Panchakarma treatment.

Our body naturally purifies itself by sneezing, cough and cold, coryza, purgating, vomiting, sweating etc. These are natural, automatic and self forced curative acts.

1:   Snehan (massage):

In the Panchakarma, the first step is massage. The Snehan is used to clean out the impurities in our body. In this process many medicated oils, Ghee etc. are used.

By Sehan and Swedan, all the rheumatic disorders are cured.

There are three ways in which Snehan works:

(i)     Vrihan: Snehan rejuvenates the flesh, fat, marrow, semen etc. It develops the body by increasing and empowering the Agni (bodily fire).

(ii)    Shaman: Snehan cures various disorders by its oily, cool and seminal properties.

(iii)   Shodhan: By Snehan, the sources which create disorders are transferred to the intestines. Thus, the Snehan helps to excrete the filth through feces.

Snehan is a preliminary and important part of the Panchakarma. The ingredients are chosen according to the nature of disorders: in mild and chronic pyraxia- Pippyaladi Ghreet; in rhuematism – Vala Tail; in Amla-pitta – Drakshawaleh or wet currants are used for massage.

2:   Swedan (Steam Bath):

It is the process of sweating. Sweat excretes the oxidized impurities of the cells. The Swedan Kriya causes the pores of the skin to open up. The natural sweating process helps protect the body from many disorders. In common fever, it is desirable that the patient sweat so as to reduce the fever and complications.

The sweating makes the body comfortable and stress free because it excretes the filth.

In this process, steam bath is mainly used. Steam heats up the body; this increases blood circulation and opens the pores. Mainly this helps clean out the mucus of the body organs and it improves appetite too.

In Ayurveda, there are thirteen kinds of steams used:

Sankar Bhap,

Prastar Bhap,

Nadi Bhap,

Parishek Bhap,

Avagahan Bhap,

Jentak Bhap,

Ashvamadhan Bhap,

Karna Bhap,

Kuti Bhap,

Bhoo Bhap,

Kumbhi Bhap,

Koop Bhap and

Holak Bhap.

For sweating, the steam is applied to local parts of the body according to the requirement. Sometimes the whole body may need a steam bath except the head.

In summer, the steam is applied for 10–15 minutes whereas in winter it is extended by 20–30 minutes. If sweating does not place in this duration then application time can be extended. If it causes agitation or discomfort then the treatment should be stopped.

After coming out of the steam bath it is advisable to bathe with lukewarm water (or in some cases, with fresh water). Avoid exposure just after getting out of the cabin.

(Note: Take one glass of fresh water before the steam bath and wrap a wet towel around the head. Continue to wet the towel during the steam bath to protect the head from overheating. If one feels weakness or discomfort after the steam bath, they should take Kati Snan for a few minutes. The testicles, heart and eyes should be protected from the steam as they already have a higher temperature than the rest of the body. The steam bath should be taken only two or three times in a week.

3:   Vaman (vomitting)

The Vaman is a drug induced emesis. Through this process the vitiated doshas (toxins) are eliminated from the body. The treatment lasts for eight days. The Vaman is beneficial for everyone because it causes the body to emit mucus. Vomiting makes one feel fresh. It improves metabolism.

In the process of Vaman, some emetic preparation is given to the patient, which causes the patient to vomit.

In Panchkarma, the Snehan and Swedan are applied before the Vaman. By Snehan and Swedan, cause the body to excrete filth but they are not able to excrete mucus or saliva. Vaman also causes saliva or phlegm to be excreted out of mouth.

The present modern clinical procedure to excrete saliva or phlegm out of mouth is Ryle’s tube. But there is a great difference between Panchakarma (Vaman) and the Ryle’s tube. Whereas the R-tube excretes only the normally collected phlegm in the stomach, Vaman collects the mucus and phlegm from the body in the stomach and then excretes it out. Thus, Vaman of Panchakarma refreshes all the three Doshas (Vata-Pitta-Kafa). It also helps in curing asthmatic disorders and arthritis.

Indications: The Vaman is beneficial for cough, laryngitis, pharingitis, excessive sleep, insomnia, lethargy, ulcers in mouth or on tongue, saliva problems, bad breath, over discharge of phlegm, T.B., asthma, coryza, cold, headache and migraine.

Contra-indications: It is advised not to talk loudly, sit for long, stand and walk a lot, be angry; over cooling and overheating; depression; intercourse; remaining awake at night and sleeping during the day; spicy diet; obstructing urine, feces, breath, sneeze and eructation are strictly prohibited during Panchakarma treatment.

Because the appetite becomes poor after the Vaman and there’s a bad taste in the mouth, the patient