AYURVEDA (A science emerged from Indian philosophy, logic : “ANVIKSHIKI”)

Leave a comment

November 8, 2019 by Indian Schools of Thought

A very ancient  medical science which gave  the scientific theory for cures, interaction and properties of nature, the scientific debates and discussions: understanding of the nature and its importance and direct link to the advancement of knowledge and understanding .  It laid down the principles for the application of the ethics, distinction between the scientific and pseudo- medical sciences, superstitions, quackery as well the danger of using toxic, poisonous substances, unethical practices of the doctors for personal enrichment and selfishness.

It used the scientific theory of the evolution of the universe, nature Sankhya philosophy and enriched the logic and the art of debate, consultation and debates among the medical practitioners.  Contesting views of different authority was clearly laid down in Rig Veda, the well known Nasadiya Sukta : questioning even the competence of the creator to know the complexity of the universe.

The Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita laid down the standards in medicines, surgery respectively. Charka laid down the rules, behaviour, qualifications for the doctors, as well for the patients and ethics for the medical practitioners- strictly forbade medical professionals for personal enrichment and greed for wealth.  Since, science is based on quantitative calculation.  Ayurveda rightly claims to be a medical science and practices which has tested its medicines- cures for billions of tests and trials since its very inception and accepts all scientific development of knowledge and experiences.. 

Scientific Methodology:

#”Ayurveda” means knowledge of health and longevity, because it explains and proves what is good and what is bad for life, what is pleasant and what is painful for life, what is wholesome and what is unwholesome for life.

Yukti Vyapashreya Bheshaja : The reliable medical science, means medicine based on rational remedies “Yukti” rational application is the ultimate, foundation therapeutic science. Scientific remedies is brought out from various angles and at various places.

#“Ayurveda” is called eternal because it’s nothing but the laws inherent in nature.

Ayurvedic doctors have  centuries old traditions, most of the herbs have been used for thousands of years and their therapeutic effects have been observed, the different combinations of herbs are used to treat the diseases and different therapies are used   (goes back to pre-vedic times 7000 years) discussion on their experience and different remedies prescribed by them, Ayurveda is an acknowledged product of this long process of development. No wonder it insists that such discussions are necessary for the development of science of health and longevity.@

Fundamental postulates for discussions

1. The principle of causality
2. The recognition of the reality of disease
3. The curability of curable diseases.

 “Why certain drugs yield certain results can not as yet, to be explained”. But what is it on which the claim of curability is based, depending upon definite proofs and disproofs, it gives us the knowledge of the substances and their qualities and actions which are inherent in their nature.  Their nature is disclosed according to whether they cause pleasure or pain prove the wholesom or unwholesome (to the patient) promote or adversely affect long life”.  

Ayurveda follows principles which are well established by direct observation.  A physician of accomplishment and means who starts treating curable disease after full investigations, without fail, bestows health on the patient. In case of diseases amenable to medical treatment medicine can never be ineffective.  Caution any success attained without rational application is sheer accidental success. A pretentious quack or authority gathers encourages with which hastens the death of many persons.

Drawing conclusions from extensive experiences and observations, putting them again to the test of all doctors  with a view to enriching medical science, combining the cool self-confidence of the scientist with modest recognition of the limitations of his extant knowledge, rejecting empiricism and quackery, making no concession to pseudo scientific practices enforced by the present day vested interests of big pharma and their henchmen the regulatory authority.  Science is the process of discovering more satisfactory explanations in the place of the less satisfactory explanations– a continous process ever evolving.

Methodical Approach: 

1. History, general principles and the theoretical basis of medical science
2. Causes and symptoms of various diseases
3. Nature and qualities of substances and the process of their transformation in the body
4. Conduct of the medical practitioners 
5. Anatomy embryology 
6. Diagnosis and prognosis
7. Pharmacology and therapeutics.

More than six hundred medicinal plants are systematically classified and the medicines made from them are described,  various animal products used for treating disease are covered. Various minerals as also alkalis, acids, salts, sulphur, mercury, narcotics, alcohol and their medicinal properties are narrated .  The properties of all these substances have been ascertained by their actual use and observed effect on the ailments for which they are prescribed. The diagnosis of various diseases on the basis of their symptoms and other tests is dealt with elaborately.  

A very large number of surgical instruments, how they should be made and how and for what purposes they should be used.  The good qualities of the surgeon , is a surgeon’s hand itself , and nothing is more important than its professional skill.

Ayurveda’s Fundamental  Theory :

Man is a product of nature, the epitome of nature”. Therefore there is no substance in the world which is not relevant to medicine.  Further, the entire world is the teacher of the intelligent physician, as it is the foe of the fool”. Disease is defined as the loss of balance between the various natural constituents of the human body; cure is defined as the restoration of the balance; and treatment is defined as the administration of drugs with properties which are the opposite of the substances that caused the loss of balance.

In a word , healthiness meant a correct relationship between environmental matter and body matter.  The knowledge of matter in its different forms is one relevant for medicine, because in the therapeutic context impossible to conceive of anything transcending matter.  In this discipline everything is viewed as made of matter in five forms (the five elements). Matter is either conscious or unconscious A substance called conscious when it is endowed with sense-organs; without the sense organs a substance is unconscious.

The body is verily the product of food. Life is nothing but food transformed into life.  Not Only the physical features but life life, talent, intelligence also are established in food.  The body means the totality in the transformation of five forms of matter- a totality in which consciousness is rooted. Nature and human life as phenomenon in perpetual flux.  The state of a person’s health is a continuous  action and reaction between environmental matter and body matter.  Nothing about the body remains the same .  Everything in it is in a state of ceaseless change.  Although in fact the body is produced anew every moment, the similarity between the old body and the new body gives the impression of  the persistence of the somebody. 

There has never been any break in the continuous stream of life, not in the continuous stream of knowledge.

“The understanding of substances must be considered as being determined by nothing but their inherent nature –SVABHAVA, The fire burns because it burns, why fire burns and water does not, and why water moistens while fire does not.  The nature of a thing is only passive so long as it is not brought into conjunction with another . Its nature is really, fully known only when it is brought into conjunction with another object. Substance is that serves as the substratum of the actions and qualities related inseparably to it.  The quality , thought inseparably related to the substance, is caused only in the passive sense. As residing in the substance that which serves as the real cause of conjunction or disjunction ( of the body elements) is an action, by which is meant its actual function. SVABHAVA, of the substance itself.   The essence of a thing is and has to be judged by, the result of its impact on another thing. The thing in itself is the thing in action, the actual function of a substance in curing human disease. That means thing in itself is the thing for us.  

The substance themselves and their properties may or may not be permanent.  The same substance used in different  quantities, leads to totally different results.  In the therapeutic section the medicinal uses of certain poisons are discussed , poison is both medicine and poison.  Prescribed in the correct doses, it is medicine. Beyond that limit, it is poison. Not a theoretical but at least a practical understanding of quantity changing into quality.  

Like poison, like weapon, like fire, like lightning-the drug whose SVABHAVA, is not understood remains a source of unknown terror.  When understood, it proves as beneficial as nectar. So poison is nectar, and even nectar is such only when its SVABHAVA is demonstrated in real life.  SVABHAVA of drugs a law governed process from their tested and observed efficacy as medicines.  

(It is only because SVABHAVA that water moistens, salt liquifies, alkali digests, honey synthesises, ghee adds unctuousness, milk promotes vitality, flesh adds to strength, flesh broth nourishes, alcohol inebriates, sidhu wine emaciates, grape wine stimulates digestion, liquid molasses cause accumulation of morbid matter and produces oedema, the pinyak plant causes depression.

Medicine is, that, which , when rightly administered, becomes at the same time, a harmonizer of increased or decreased body elements.  It brings down the elements that has become excessive, and, at the same time , augments the deficient one opposed to it. Healthiness means a correct relationships between environmental matter and body matter.

Yukti or rational application means the way of knowing how from the conjunction of water, tilling seed and season results the harvest; or how from the foetal body results from the junction of six dhatus (body constituents) ; or how from the conjunction of flints, fire drill and the act of rightly striking it results fire by the rational application of the four factors of medicine is thus effected cure.

The four factors of effective medical treatment are described as follows:

1. The qualifications of the physician, viz. Clear grasp of the theory of the science, a wide range of experience, practical skill and cleanliness.
2. The quality of the drugs, viz. Applicability, abundance, multiple use and efficacy.
3. The qualifications of the nursing attendant, viz. Knowledge of nursing techniques, practical skill, attachment for the patient and cleanliness.
4. The qualities of the patent, viz. Good memory, ability to describe his symptoms, obedience to the doctor’s instructions and courage.

The validity of all claims made in respect of the SVABHAVA of things and the efficacy of prescribed medicines is emphatically stated as “This is what we directly observe”.

Medical Ethics 

A learned physician must never try to examine on grounds of pure logic the efficacy of medicine which is known by direct observation as having a specific medical action.  Even a thousand logical grounds will never make the Ambasstha group of drugs to have a purgative function.  

At present stage of knowledge the operation of certain drugs is beyond the comprehension of doctors.

All discoveries of medical science would be pure chaff if doctors were not to use them with undivided dedication to the cause of curing the ailing and the sick.  A good Doctor, the best physicians who can in actual practice cure people of diseases. Practical success depends on the right application of all the relevant measures.  Thus, it is practical success which makes one a first rate physician endowed with all the required medical qualifications.

To produce good doctors, it is necessary to have good teachers. The teacher  selected should be one with adequate knowledge of the medical texts, a wide experience of the actions of drugs, skilful, upright, clean, with deft hands, well equipped with the medical paraphernalia, possessed of all the sense organs, having knowledge of nature and the capacity for rational application, possessing insight into medical sciences, free from arrogance, envy and anger, capable of withstanding great strain, affectionately disposed towards the students as well as accomplished in the technique of communication. 

Glory of Ayurveda: Pre- Colonial India’s Medical standards

Humanitarian values, compassion for a Ayurvedic Doctor, the highest standards were set 2500 years earlier by Charaka

 “Among the physicians he surpasses all who practices medicine ($) for the sake of money nor for the sake of sensual gratification in any other form , but is motivated only by the compassion of the human being.”

“Those who as a source of income want to sell medical skill as any other commodity run after a heap of dust over-looking the real hoard of Gold”

“Compared to the physician who cuts off the noose of death brings back to life those who are being drafted by fierce diseases diseases towards death, nobody confers greatest blessings-moral or material-to human beings.”

“One who practises the healing art with compassion for the living beings as the noblest of all duties is a person who really fulfills his mission thereby gets entitled to the highest form of happiness.” 

NOTES:

@: highly advanced methodology of discussion and logic were the product of the scientific debates held in big assemblies regularly sponsored by the kings all over India, as their most important duty towards their subjects.  The methodology for proper debates and discussions were developed to have the most learned, disciplined and scientific logical debates.  

# The conditions imposed on medical practitioner reflects the social and civilizational achievement of socio -political system of India before the colonialists could ruin the very foundations and culture of India. This was possible pre colonial british period, as the state existed solely for the purpose of well being of the people from very ancient times, In india education, health care, food was provided free of cost to all, as the most important part of its culture and traditions from very ancient times. The physicians and teachers enjoyed the highest status in Indian society, and were well provided for and looked after by the community and the state.  Indian ethics demanded very high standards of character, morality and responsibility as a duty and obligations towards society, humanity, nature.

$ The scientific thinking and methods were highly developed in pre colonial India, the sciences developed because of the cultural economic environments and mu;ltituede of religious, practices, faiths, school of thoughts i.e philosophies, different religions from hoary past.  The highly advanced mathematics, astronomy, -maritime, economy, trade, industry and agriculture. And very advanced polity of autonomy, accountability and answerability, for all communities, villages, irrespective of the rulers, kings or local chiefs.

% Controlled trials are the result of doctors’ humble admission that they can be hopeless at assessing the true worth of treatments, something that is still being demonstrated almost daily.  The side effects and long term consequences and risks can not be assessed. There is a need to establish procedures to ensure the scientific quality and ethics of clinical trials, the participation of the medical practitioners from all over the world.

(&) The Ayurveda is eternal and can become universal, if ayurveda fraternity offers strict control for  quality herbs, combines modern scientific knowledge to advance the cause of Well being as its supreme duty, it can easily defeat the evil of the present profit hungry Big pharma and its malicious propaganda of Ayurveda being a pseudo Science for the following prevailing controlled conditions