the science of medicine, practised by doctors in India is known by the sacred name of Ayurveda---the science of healthy longevity. Its source too is as divine as the source of the Vedas! It has to be studied with as much awe and veneration as the Vedas are learnt, at the feet of the guru. It has to be practised with as much devotion and dedication as Vedic ceremonies and recitations are fulfilled. The Veda or knowledge that confers Aayu (longevity) is Aayur-Veda. It can prolong life, preserve and protect life from hazards.
The Ayurveda deals not only with the curing of illness but it also deals with the prevention of disease. Absence of mental ease and equanimity leads to what we correctly call disease. One sacred duty of the doctor is to advise persons on how to preserve health and prevent disease. He has to be vigilant in society to discover and suppress every tendency in Ahaar and Vihar (food habits and recreational activities) by which diseases are developed. The dress worn by humans, the houses where they live and the areas where they are situated, have to be tidy and clean. The food that is taken has to supply all elements needed to keep the body strong enough to resist illness. Even if it falls short a little in this respect, health can be maintained if it is unpolluted, pure and holy. The atmosphere breathed in, the water taken in, the ground lived on, the animals and plants that surround---all have maleficent microbes that may cause illness, if the mind and body are not equipped with powerful resistance armour. Exercise, bathing, washing, cleaning, etc., are prescribed for this purpose. The body is the boat on which we voyage across the ocean of samsara (worldly life) and it has to be kept trim and sea-worthy. The voyager too has to be strong, confident and courageous.
The current belief is that medicine is to be valued for its validity during illness. Its use ends with the cure. But this point of view has to change. Medicine is used to see that one does not fall ill, not so much as to raise him up when he falls, just as the purpose of truth is to so live that one is not subjected to birth again. (SSS Vol.14, pp. 336-337)
Ayurveda affirms that purity of mind is more essential for one’s health while Allopathic doctors do not consider the mind as so important. They give importance to the eradication of disease-causing germs and consider this as the only means to cure diseases. This does not take into account the role of the mind and the Spirit in the eradication of disease. Allopathy is based on external knowledge and experimentation, while Ayurveda is based on inner knowledge and experience. There is gulf of difference between experiment and experience. Because of the difference between the subjective and objective approaches, in course of time, Allopathy resorted to the use of antibiotics to deal with various diseases. The antibiotics act powerfully and yield quick results in curing a disease. But, in the process of curing a disease they give rise to adverse side effects.
Allopathic doctors experiment only with matter. They do not take the inner consciousness (Self) into account. In spite of the prodigious technological developments in the world, man is not able to enjoy peace. Peace cannot be achieved by knowledge of the physical. Peace should come from inner feeling or the Spirit within. It is only when the body, the mind and the Spirit are in harmony that peace will prevail. Medical Science should recognise the role of the mind in causing sickness. Good health confers mental peace.
Mental worry impairs physical health. Ayurveda, therefore, lays emphasis on mental peace and aims at the elimination of the root cause of disease.
(The three doṣhas and the five elements from which they are composed)
There are three basic factors, which are responsible for health or disease in the human body according to Ayurveda. They are vata (vital air), pitta (bile) and shleshma (phlegm). Vata accounts for 36 diseases.
These three factors are essential for the human body but they should be in proper balance without exceeding their respective limits. When they are in balance, there will be no disease. Moderation is the golden rule for good health.
For the treatment of disease arising out of vata, pitta and shleshma, gingely oil, ghee and honey respectively are prescribed as remedies. These should be taken in moderation. The body is a gift of God and cannot be made by doctors. The human heartbeats 1,03,000 times a day. The blood circulation in the body is computed to cover 1,68,000 miles per day. Man breathes 21,600 times and consumes 438 cubic feet of air every day. These are based on Divine Will and are regarded as a Law of Nature.
God is the preceptor of Prakriti (Nature). The body is unclean in many ways and is subject to various diseases. But in such an inherently unattractive abode dwells the most valuable divinity. Man should always act in harmony with Nature, which is reflection of Divinity.
What is the cause of heart ailments? Many doctors say that they are due to smoking, consumption of fatty foods, overeating and other habits. The relationship between food and habits should be properly understood. We should see that proper balance is maintained between the physical body and inner feelings (Spirit). Modern man is continuously in a hurry. Hurry causes worry, which affects the physical health. The main cause of heart troubles may be said to be hurry, worry and curry. Curry means fatty foods. Many doctors have made investigations in this field but the results have not been made known widely. Heart diseases are found to be more rampant among non-vegetarians while vegetarians are not prone to heart ailments to the same extent. This is because of higher percentage of fats in non-vegetarian food, which increases the cholesterol in the blood. Worry causes high blood pressure and hurry causes diabetes. Both of them are like twins, one acting on the heart inside and the other externally on the blood.
Every one should know how to control these causes. Some people do not do any physical exercises and lead a sedentary life. My advice to office-goers and students is that it is good for them to commute by cycle at least 5 or 6 kilometres a day. This cycling exercise is very useful not only for maintaining health but also for reducing the expenditure incurred on accidents. Moreover, it serves to reduce atmospheric pollution caused by the release of harmful fumes from automobiles. The carbon-dioxide smoke from motor vehicles and factories is already polluting the air in cities and is affecting the ozone layer above the earth. The primary task is to purify the environment, which is affected by pollution of air, water and food. All the five elements are affected by pollution. People should, therefore, try to reduce the use of automobiles and control the emission of harmful industrial effluents.
In the ancient times, sages and scientists commended the Ayurvedic system of treatment as it was considered a natural system for curing disease. Trees play a vital role in helping mankind to receive oxygen from the atmosphere while they absorb the carbon dioxide exhaled by human beings. Hence, the ancients favoured the growing of trees to control atmospheric pollution. But nowadays trees are cut down indiscriminately and pollution is on the increase. The relationship between man and trees is indicated by the term ‘Vanaspati’ (herbs) employed in Ayurveda. (SSS Vol.26, pp. 38-41)
When the doctor treats the patient with a pure mind, sweet words and loving care and concern, possibility of the disease getting cured quickly is great. Therefore, if you want the patient to be cured of his disease quickly, employ the principle 50% medicine and 50% love. This is why, the ancient system of medicine in India was termed as ‘Ayurveda’ which means the Veda that confers Ayush (long life). In this context, the term ‘Veda’ refers to the performance of one’s duty in accordance with the Vedic injunctions. Falling sick and going to a doctor for cure is natural for human condition. However, it is better not to fall sick than to try to get cured afterwards. (M&M, p. 16)