Swine Flu And Ayurveda

Now a days, the whole world is going gaga over the Swine Flu which has been declared as Pandemic by WHO. Before Swine Flu, it was Avian Flu which had scared many. Luckily it was controlled.

For Ayurveda, all these pandemics are quite common. There is nothing new for Ayurveda about these pandemics. In texts like Charaksamhita,under the heading of Janapadodhwansa, the causes of these pandemics has been described in detail along with the measures to be taken by individuals to stay healthy even in these times.

Emphasis is greatly given on ways to maintain immunity and avoiding unhealthy foods and habits. The same stands for swine flu. As its a viral disease, the only way to protect yourself from getting infected is to improve your immunity. Steps should be taken to not let your immunity diminish. For that the basic things that can be done on a daily basis is to avoid outside food, eat right stuff which will nourish your body properly. Personal hygiene is also very important in such cases. As rainy season is approaching nearer, it would enhance the spread of H1N1 virus. Hence these steps are essential. Moreover one should also cover his mouth while coughing or sneezing.


Now lets see how ayurveda describes Swine Flu. According to Ayurveda, swine flu can be classified as Vatakaphaj jwar, as both these doshas are responsible for this disease. It is a dwandwaj jwara. As the prime mode of transmission is Respiratory tract, nasya on daily basis should help to avoid one from catching the infection.

As far as the treatment in Ayurveda is concerned, ushna dravyas which destroy both vata and kapha should be used. Along with that some rasayan dravyas are also useful as these will help build up the immunity which is lost due to infection. Common herbs which can be used in such case are Guduchi, Kantakari, Patol, Vasa, Neem, Tulsi etc. Mahasudarshan Kwath, Amrutarishta,Mahajwarankush rasa, Sookshma Triphala etc.

I am sure these medicines can help curing the swine flu along with other Ayurvedic Aahar and Vihaar. Ayurveda can definitely provide an alternative source of treatment to this disease and help the ailing population in both ways o cure and prevent the infection of Swine Flu. Suggestions of Experts are readily welcome.

Segments Of Ayurveda

We have already seen that how ayurveda was passed on to sages on the earth. Although it may seem that Ayurveda is only one science, but the fact is that Ayurveda has been divided into branches, just like modern science of medicine. Traditionally the science of ayurveda has been divided into eight branches which are as follows:

1) Kayachikitsa(General Medicines)

2) Kaumarbhritya(Obstetrics and Paediatrics)

3) Graha or Bhootvidya(Diseases due to unknown causes)

4) Shalakyatantra(E.N.T. and Ophthalmology)

5) Shalyatantra(Surgery)

6) Agadtantra(Toxicology)

7) Rasayantantra(Rejuvenation Therapies)

8) Vajikarantantra(Problems associated with sex and related diseases and problems like infertility in both men and women)

It is believed that there were separate texts written on each of these branches; but they are unavailable now. There were Vaids specialising in respective branches in that era, just like specialist doctors in today's time. Texts on kayachikitsa and shalyatantra are still available in present time. On reading these texts one is amazed at the amount of knowledge of human anatomy and physiology,our acharyas had at that time.

Texts prominently available are Charaksamhita which is predominantly on Kayachikitsa and Sushrutsamhita which deals mostly with surgical cure of diseases. By reading these texts one gets to know that whatever diseases which are encountered in today's times have already been mentioned in ancient texts along with their causes and their treatment. Moreover not only physical but also psychological causes of the diseases have been described by the sages. Psychosomatic diseases ; the branch which is still considered to be developing by the modern science was well known since long time by Indian physicians. The exact pathology of the disease is also described properly in texts.

From the texts it is evident that vaids used to perform various surgeries like appendix, hernia and above all plastic surgeries with great efficacy. Plastic surgery which is thought to be the invention of modern medicine is known to Indians since long.

Ancient Indians knew the technique of preservation of dead bodies and performed their dissections to learn about the anatomy. They have give the exact number of nerves and blood vessels in human body.

Thus, it is evident that the science of Ayurveda was enjoying its Golden period in ancient times and it still has answers to various questions which present day modern science is unable to solve. It is up to us that how much we believe in this gift of our ancestors and again bring the glory days of Ayurveda back and prove its efficacy to the whole world.

AYURVEDA: History At A Glance

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word; made up of two words: Ayu meaning "life" and veda meaning "collection of knowledge" or "science". Thus the word Ayurveda means "the collection of knowledge of life or the science of life".

Many experts believe Ayurveda as a fifth veda or pancham ved. It is rated after first four vedas ie. Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurvaveda and Atharvaveda. While some experts call it as an upved of Atharvaveda as Atharvaveda is also mostly concerned with health related topics, hence closely related to ayurveda. Atharvaveda is said to be compiled by Atharva Rishi; hence the name. Atharva Rishi is said to have discovered fire.

Thus, ayurveda traces its origin way back to the origin of world's first written scriptures. The knowledge of ayurveda has evolved through ages. Though it is known to have passed on the earth by Gods. Brahma who is believed to be the creator of the entire universe according to Hindu mythology is said to have created ayurveda before creating the universe.He is said to have written Brahmasamhita containing one lakh verses.Later on it was passed to Daksha Prajapati and then to Ashwinikumars(who are known to be physicians of God), then to Indra(the king of Gods). This is the divine part of sharing the knowledge of ayurveda.

Then Indra in turn passed this knowledge to various sages(Maharishis) who later on gave this knowledge to their disciples. Prominent among these were Maharishi Punarvasu Atreya and Bharadwaj.

This was the oral transfer of knowledge. These disciples in turn created various treatises or texts and the knowledge of Ayurveda was stored in written form. Out of these texts Agniveshtantra written by Agnivesha which later came to be known as Charaksamhita and Sushrutsamhita written by Sushruta are still found and followed even today. These texts hold a prominent position and have left their mark on people who seek knowledge of ayurveda even today.

According to other opinion, Lord Dhanwantari The God of Ayurveda came to earth and passed the knowledge of surgical ayurveda to his disciples, among whom Sushruta was prominent and he is said to have written Sushrutsamhita.

Thus the science of Ayurveda has divine origin and was transferred to earth which is helping people even today to maintain their health.