Ayurvedic Medicine and Ayurvedic Acupuncture

Ayurvedic Medicine and Ayurvedic Acupuncture

Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurveda (Ayus= Life, Veda/vid = knowledge or science) meaning 'The Science of Life' is the sophisticated and wholistic traditional medical system of India which has been in continuous existence for the last 7000 years. Its tenets and knowledge are not only applicable to India, but are totally suitable to all people, irrespective of race, country, culture or environment. It is indeed a world class system of medicine which is and will become a main corner stone of future world health and indeed the system of the 21st century.

The Life-force, called Prana in Ayurveda, allows life and the development of the Five Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)- Ether, Wind, Fire, Water and Earth. In combination, these six (including Prana) facilitate the development of three specific humoral energies in a living organism. These are Vata; causing qualities of coldness and dryness to increase , Pitta; causing heat and moisture to increase and Kapha; causing moisture and coldness to increase. These three are called doshas or ÎfaultsÌ because disease occurs when one or more of these three increase beyond the norm for the individual person. Like a special thermostat, each person has varying strengths of these three doshas which are set for that person. Inherited traits further weaken this, allowing imbalances to easily occur at these weaknesses when the body is challenged (stress, etc.). Consequently, these doshas are also recognized as constitutional traits (prakruti) by the physical, mental and emotional states of a person. The individualÌs prakruti may be Vata, Pitta or Kapha constitutional bodytype.

Besides its essential core of knowledge, Ayurveda has a large number of usable therapeutic modalities including:

Massage therapy. This massage system (abhyanga) may include Marma Chikitsa, treatment of pressure points (marmas) by massaging these specific points.

Pancha Karma. The five doshic and toxin cleansing and balancing therapies.

Herbal medicine. The internal and external herbal (and mineral) medicine system.

Color/Gem Therapy. Using colors from light or gems to effect healing by application onto the body, especially at specific marmas or pressure points.

Ayurvedic Aromatherapy (Gandha Chikitsa). Using concentrated essences of plants (essential oils) in various forms for:

ÔMassaging of the body and including the pressure points (marmas)

ÔPuncturing acupoints with an acupuncture needle and essential oil remedy (medicated needles) Aromapuncture.

ÔInhaling (including incense)

ÔApplication to skin

ÔIn baths

ÔSpritzing

ÔAgni-karma/ moxibustion .

Yogatherapy. Utilizing yoga postures with obvious effects on pressure points, body systems and organs.

Ayurvedic Sound Therapy. Using special sounds as in mantras or else directing sound to specific pressure points in order to balance the body.

Ayurvedic Acupuncture (Suchi-karma). Ayurvedic acupuncture (also called marmapuncture) using fine acupuncture needles to penetrate the skin at specific acupoints (marmas) in order to balance the Life Force or energetic principle Prana, within the internal body environment (microcosm) with the external world environment (macrocosm) resulting in balance or health. Medicated (aromapuncture) or normal needles may be used. Moxibustion (Agni-karma) using lit agni sticks with or without essential oil essences may also be carried out on the pressure points.

AYURVEDIC ACUPUNCTURE

History

Many references exist today with regards to ancient acupuncture practice in India (see our reference section). It is impossible today to know for a fact exactly where acupuncture first originated. There are references to denote that the first needles were made of stone before the advent of metals, showing exactly just how ancient this practice is (stone age). The ancient practice of nailing a person to a cross, practised by Carthaginians (from ancient area of Lebanon) and later by the Romans also reflects a deep understanding of marmas or pressure points for the person being crucified died from suffocation, as the palm and sole marma points cause slow death by reducing air and Prana intake into the lungs. By direct contrast, by needling these points, Prana and air flow is promoted into the lungs.

Acupuncture was practiced as a global system around the world in ancient days, including Egypt, but most interesting is the practice by the Amazon Indians in South America. Using needle-like blow darts, the natives puncture various points for curing diseases, often in combination with herbs by dipping the needle point into the herb liquid, to effect a better cure. The development of the same practice using the muscle relaxant 'curare' to paralize the prey (e.g wild game or enemy) stems also from acupuncture. The lack of communication between the Amazon and China within the last two thousand years seems to prove that acupuncture is indeed extremely ancient. Possibly emanating from the region of Northern India, near the Himalayas according to some scholars, Ayurvedic Acupuncture was practised by many in India and was taught as an Ayurvedic subject in the major ancient universities like Nalanda and Takshashila. Excavations have unearthed metal acupuncture needles in the sites of these ancient universities so we know the practice was there at that time. Some experts believe that this acupuncture via Buddhism was taken to Tibet and to China alongwith the knowledge of the Five Elements. The Five Elements knowledge was established in China by Tsou Wen believed to have received it from Buddhist travellers from India. Later, China developed its own excellent system of elements and acupuncture. This adoption of Indian knowledge seems to parallel the adoption of Kalaripayat ...