St. Joseph's & Santhigiri Ayurveda & Siddha Healthcare Centre

Main Road, Opp. AC College, Near flyover, GUNTUR - 522 004
 

AYURVEDA SYSTEM

The Body Matrix

Life in Ayurveda is conceived as the union of body, senses, mind and soul. The living man is a conglomeration of three humours (Vata, Pitta & Kapha), seven basic tissues (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja & Shukra) and the waste products of the body such as faeces, urine and sweat. Thus the total body matrix comprises of the humours, the tissues and the waste products of the body. The growth and decay of this body matrix and its constituents revolve around food which gets processed into humours, tissues and wastes. Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and metabolism of food have an interplay in health and disease which are significantly affected by psychological mechanisms as well as by bio-fire (Agni).

Health and Sickness

Health or sickness depends on the presence or absence of a balanced state of the total body matrix including the balance between its different constituents. Both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors can cause disturbance in the natural equilibrium giving rise to disease. This loss of equilibrium can happen by dietary indiscrimination, undesirable habits and non-observance of rules of healthy living. Seasonal abnormalities, improper exercise or erratic application of sense organs and incompatible actions of the body and mind can also result in creating disturbance of the existing normal balance. The treatment consists of restoring the balance of disturbed body-mind matrix through regulating diet, correcting life-routine and behaviour, administration of drugs and resorting to preventive Panchkarma and Rasayana therapy

Types of Treatment

The treatment of disease can broadly be classified as

Shodhana therapy (Purification Treatment)
Shodhana treatment aims at removal of the causative factors of somatic and psychosomatic diseases. The process involves internal and external purification. The usual practices involved are Panchkarma (medically induced Emesis, Purgation, Oil Enema, Decoction enema and Nasal administration of medicines), Pre-panchkarma procedures (external and internal oleation and induced sweating). Panchkarma treatment focuses on metabolic management. It provides needed purificatory effect, besides conferring therapeutic benefits. This treatment is especially helpful in neurological disorders, musculo-skeletal disease conditions, certain vascular or neuro-vascular states, respiratory diseases, metabolic and degenerative disorders.

Shamana therapy (Palliative Treatment)
Shamana therapy involves suppression of vitiated humours (doshas). The process by which disturbed humour subsides or returns to normal without creating imbalance of other humours is known as shamana. This treatment is achieved by use of appetisers, digestives, exercise and exposure to sun, fresh air etc. In this form of treatment, palliatives and sedatives are used.

Pathya Vyavastha (Prescription of diet and activity)
Pathya Vyavastha comprises indications and contraindications in respect of diet, activity, habits and emotional status. This is done with a view to enhance the effects of therapeutic measures and to impede the pathogenetic processes. Emphasis on actions such as dos and donts of diet is laid with the aim to stimulate Agni and optimize digestion and assimilation of food in order to ensure strength of tissues.

Nidan Parivarjan (Avoidance of disease causing and aggravating factors)
Nidan Parivarjan is to avoid the known disease causing factors in diet and lifestyle of the patient. It also encompasses the idea to refrain from precipitating or aggravating factors of the disease.

Satvavajaya (Psychotherapy)
Satvavajaya concerns mainly with the area of mental disturbances. This includes restraining the mind from desires for unwholesome objects and cultivation of courage, memory and concentration. The study of psychology and psychiatry have been developed extensively in Ayurveda and have wide range of approaches in the treatment of mental disorders.

Rasayana therapy (use of immunomodulators and rejuvenation medicines)
Rasayana therapy deals with promotion of strength and vitality. The integrity of body matrix, promotion of memory, intelligence, immunity against the disease, the preservation of youth, lustre and complexion and maintenance of optimum strength of the body and senses are some of the positive benefits credited to this treatment. Prevention of premature bear and tear of body tissues and promotion of total health content of an individual are the roles that Rasayana therapy plays.

SIDDHA SYSTEM

Siddha medicine is one of the ancient medicine system of India. Siddha was the medicine of Dravidians. The person who were associated with establishing siddha system were known as "SIDDHARS". There were many, among them, 18 siddhars called as "pathinensiddhars" is said to be the formers of this system.

They recorded their finding in medicine, yoga , astrology, alchemy in Tamil language. There are "96 Thathuvams" in Siddha. The fundamental principle include 5 elements(Aimpootham), 3 temperaments(Mukkutram). They diagnosed by 8 methods of examiniation (Envagaithervu), by palpatiny NAADIS they will find & evaluate ethiology, treatment and prognosis.

Siddha is not only a, medical science, but also the way of leading a perfect life. Siddha imparts 4 kinds of knowledge :-

VATHAM - Alechemy;

VAIDHYAM - medicine& treatment

YOGAM - Purification or regulation of body & mind. Achieving longevity by practicing Astangayoga.

GNANAM - Attainment of supreme knowledge.

TREATMENT METHODS IN SIDDHA

VINNAVAR MARUTHUVAM - Divine treatment for chronic & dreadful diseases.

MAANIDA MARUTHUVAM - Rational treatment for common diseases.

ASURAMARUTHUVAM - Surgical treatment.

Siddha medical system classifies the medicines in to 32 types of external medicines and 32 types of internl medicines.Around 700 Mooligai(herbal), 11 types of Lohas (metal) 25 type of karasaram (salts), 120 Uparasam which also includes Jeeva porulgal (animal derived) and 64 types of Paashanas(Arsenical compounds) are utilized for the preparation of medicine.

The toxic nature of metals & minerals are removed by heavy purification methods, which not only removes toxic but also improves he efficiency of the drugs which makes the siddha medicines more safe to use and provides highly efficacious medicines. Higher form of medicines like parpam and Chendooram are considered as nano-medicines. Each medicine has multi target effect; it can be prescribed for different diseases by changing the "Anupana" (Vehicles). Medicine are available for 4,448 diseases which are cost effective.

SPECIAL TREATMENT METHODS IN SIDDHA

THOKKANAM :- The massage procedures,there are 9 types.

VARNAM :- Manipulation of 108 vital points.

YOGA :- Includes Pranayamam,Dhyanam,Dharana.

KAYAKALPAM :- Rejuventars for longevity.

PURA MARUTHUVAM :- 32 types of external treatments for selected diseases.

NOI ELLA NERI :- Hygenie,diet,daily life habits.

HOLISTIC EFFECT OF SIDDHA MEDICINES

"Maruppathu udal noi marunthenalagum
Maruppathu ul noi marunthenachalum
Maruppathu eni noi vaarathirikka
Maruppathu saavai marunthenalamae"
(THIRUMANthiram-THIEUMOOLAR)

Meaning :-

One that cures physical ailment is medicine.

One that cures psychological ailment is medicine.

One that prevents ailment is medicine.

Siddha medicine cures physicl illness; simultaneously alleviates mental illness, prevents onset of the disease; extends life span of an individual.

Diet and all the Ayurvedic Treatment

In Ayurveda, regulation of diet as therapy has great importance. This is because it considers human body as the product of food. An individuals mental and spiritual development as well as his temperament is influenced by the quality of food consumed by him / her. Food in human body is transformed first into chyle or Rasa and then successive processes involve its conversion into blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone-marrow, reproductive elements and ojas. Thus, food is basic to all the metabolic transformations and life activities. Lack of nutrients in food or improper transformation of food lead to a variety of disease conditions.