The Plot to Murder Ayurveda Surfaces again - Part 2

 

The Plot to Murder Ayurveda Surfaces again - Part 2

There is response to my post, they cover the following;

1. Then why does ayurveda use herbs?

2. What you say is impractical

I have answered as follows;

1. Why does ayurveda use herbs?

Ayurveda is not about using herbs. The present format evolved after the British redesigned the system as per the report of its own committee (in 1930 if I remember correctly) that dismissed the philosophy of ayurveda as religion, thereby effectively castrating it.

Since that time ayurvedic texts talk of disease names and corresponding herbs/ minerals/ patent herbo mineral preparations. This was not the case earlier.

Ayurveda addresses body conditions, according to the dominance of elements. There are three body types;

Vata = Air + Space

Pitta = Fire + Water

Kapha = Earth + Water

These are called dosha's or fault lines maybe because they are unstable and are influenced by factors like environment, food, lifestyle (including physical activity), and mentality.

Dosha's are corrected or stabilized through adjustment to the environment, food, lifestyle, and mentality. There are also other energy concentrating and mind counselling methods that are very useful. Kumbhak and Tratak come to the mind, besides plain old meditation and mindfulness.

As far as intervention is concerned, which is secondary, the first preference is food intervention. Next comes herbs.

How are food and herbs viewed? They are not really viewed as per their physical composition or nutrition value but according to the play of elements in them. The play of elements in food and herbs is known by their taste; sweet, bitter, salty, pungent, and astringent. Each of these influence the body constitution by either ameliorating or aggravating the imbalance. They can balance the doshas by reducing the imbalance.

If any herbal or herbo mineral preparation is prescribed, the vaidya has to prepare it according to the constitutional needs of the patient using local herbs grown in the region.

The potency of the herb varies according to time and place. This also aids in individualized treatment.

There is a mental connection between the flora and the vaidya. The vaidya approaches the plant / tree with respect, and choosing the time of plucking, requests the plant to part with the part appealing to the plant to provide its fullest potency and blessing/ compassion.

I have written about how a gardener cured me of my 28 year old asthma. He asked me to come at the break of dawn, was meditating when I reached him, and he waited for the first rays of the sun, went to the plant, stood before it with folded hands, and uttering something, gently plucked the leaves. The vaidya can also ask you to come at a certain astrologically determined point called tithi.

So you see, it is not about disease and the corresponding herb at all.

2.  What you say is impractical

This is why I always say, to have full time doctors is foolishness. The full time doctor is an irritant. Always primed to do something and obtain immediate results, she or he does more harm than good.

It is wise to remember the sage words, "The doctor must do as much nothing as possible". Nature knows best. Our duty is to understand natural laws and observe how the healing takes place. It requires an amount of patient understanding that is often beyond the capacity of a full time doctor dependent on the process for his livelihood and income.

Once I had written to B M Hegde Sir about this and he had pointed out that the prognosis is always better when the patient arrives late to the doctor's chamber. By that time the body has already stabilized with its own innate wisdom. Nothing can replace it, he said.

Medicine requires subject matter understanding, intelligence, wisdom, keen powers of observation, experience, great patience, communication skills, captivating presence, humility, and respect for the life form presenting before her or him for healing.

What we have currently is a high sounding pharma awarded degree with all the hubris that comes along with it.

Physician heal thyself. Upon healing is understood the process of healing and the ability to guide others towards good health and wellbeing. We have a lady doctor within us who is sharing her own experience of dealing with depression. It is out of the box and so very enriching! I enjoy going through her blogs.

We are beset by the mechanical view of the world. That works to an extent. But when we examine the human being a completely different world emerges before us; as if through the human being a tremendous power is making itself felt and known. Studying a human being and the forces acting within her or him is a very humbling experience.

As a postscript I wish to convey my concerns. We still have systems and their knowledge base that are capable of healing. Corrupting them leaves nothing but pain and misery for the patient who has no way to recover. I myself recovered to an extent where I am still functioning and working due to the inherent wisdom contained in the traditional healing systems. Therefore I strive to preserve and disseminate them for the benefit of those who are suffering.

We need diversity of thoughts and practices. In the interest of patients that diversity is essential.

Doctors are also human beings, their families and relatives suffer from disease and need healing. Why the hurry to finish everything off? Dr Madhav Nayak has adopted naturopathy. His clientele definitely includes his colleagues and their family members who have regained their health but cannot advertise it because of the obvious repercussions. What a system pharma has built for us!

Let all benefit from all systems. Each have their place. Let us concentrate on our duty towards nature and life forms. Let us be a blessing to this world. Let us never be the cause for pain and suffering.