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Role of Plants, Its therapeutic value,
the Ayurvedic view point
-Ayuvedashram
Herbs have always been a part of our life. In those grand
old days Ayurveda was the way of living, so much so that each and every aspect of our life
was basically Ayurvedic health science. For example, the common everyday sambar powder is
a perfect blend of digestive, appetizer, carminative, stimulants and pacifiers so
perfectly blended to bring about the harmonious function of the various systems within our
body.
Many of you would have experienced your granny or elderly
ones at home coming to your rescue during a bout of cold, cough fever, with a cup of
steaming decoction of pepper, turmeric and ginger or a brewing cup of Basil Tea. Similarly
a small complaint of stomach ache and a lack of appetite would bring a steaming pepper
rasam on the table. A bout of diarrhea and you have fenugreek seeds and buttermilk down
your throat.
How true is all this? How scientific is this? Is this
justified, a myth or is there any element of truth in that? As we look around us, the news
paper, T.V. media, the word HERBAL pops up at you everywhere. Anything with a Herbal tag
sells in the market today. The much laughed at notion of neem toothbrush, today, finds its
way into many a toothpaste. Turmeric and sandalwood paste are the catch words for all
facials and beauty parlors. The traditional herbal oil bath which had become the thing of
the past has now become the in thing with various massage centers popping up in all areas.
The scientific community has sat up and started taking
note of the facts. Though the various benefits of herbs, and its various advantages have
been known for centuries, It is only now that they have started proving what was talked
about for centuries. The facts got recognized. As people started looking for permanent
remedies without a side effect, naturally this science caught their fancy and the
Ayurvedic tide has turned in full force.
Ayurveda is a science which tells you what, when, where,
and how to do, to remain healthy. i.e., living in tune with nature.
What is Swastha? A Healthy Being? What is Nature?
Nature is Prapancha, the products of five, namely:
AIR, FIRE, WATER, SPACE and EARTH.
Everything in this universe is the product of this five
in various permutation and combination. Yet a certain pattern has been observed where
there is an affinity for two of these five elements to pair. For example, Space and air,
Water and fire, water and earth. For the sake of convenience these pairs have been given a
name
Space and air combine –VATA
Fire and water combine –PITA
Water and earth is called Kapha.
These three forces are totally responsible for the
function of the body. The balance of these doshas or energy factors in the body is called
health. The imbalance of these doshas is disease. So it follows that to rectify a sick
person, you have to necessarily balance these doshas. What is an imbalance? Generally it
is either less or more of a particular combination. If it is less, one has to increase the
doshas and if it is more we have to decrease it. The easiest way to increase that which is
less is to give something similar. For example, when there is loss of blood you give
blood. Similarly Ayurveda does a similar thing. It takes a plant in which that particular
combination is dominant and gives it to the patient. Automatically you have the desired
result. For example, in Liver related diseases the pita factor is on the wane. Hence pitta
dominance plants like punarnava - Boravia diffuse, Bhoomiavalaki, -Phylanthus niruri,
Bringaraj -Eclipta alba, are used to bring about the balance.
How does Ayurveda classify plant and how is it helpful in
the therapeutic field?
The three most important text of Ayurveda have classified
the plants in different ways making it a very effective method for the vaidyas to follow.
Charaka has classified the plants into 50 groups, based on the type of action or result
the plant gives. For example, Jeevaneeyam - i.e., drugs promoting life. like, pippali,
chavya, shunti etc.
Shusruta has classified the drugs into 37 groups, naming
it after one main plant in the group and adding others possessing similar gunas or
characteristics. Generally, the action of all plants in one group will act on the same
doshas and diseases. For example, all the plants under Aaragwadhadhi gana checks kappa and
poison and is used in diabetics, fever, vomiting, itching, etc.
What are the other factors that give these plants a
Therapeutic value? Ayurveda describes it beautifully analyzing on what principle the
course of action do these plants get their therapeutic value.
Ayurveda has a highly developed concept of pharmaco
dynamics. It describes the manner in which the nutrients are digested and metabolised and
utilized for running and maintenance of all functions of the body.
Different plants/herbs act in different ways using
different properties to achieve its course of action. This can be classified into five
paths:
- RASA: 6 different taste – sweet, sour, etc.
- GUNA – 20 qualities – dry, cold, wet, etc.
- VEERYA – 2 energy modalities – hot or cold.
- VIPAKA – 3 different final metabolic products.
- PRABHAVA – a special action of some plants which is
exceptional.
Just to give you a small idea of how plants help as
medicine using either one of the above methods:
- Rasa: Sweets, Sour, Saline - decreases vata, bitter,
pungent and astringent increase it. So simple that you do not need a doctor to guide you.
If you have a vata problem like feeling tired on exertion, then eating sweets or say a cup
of lime juice with sugar and a pinch of salt makes you feel so refreshed.
2. Te lime juice decreases the
vata in the body and thus you feel fresh. Some plants use their gunas to do the job. For
example, dryness of skin is reduced by using coconut oil. Here the oily or unctuous
quality of coconut oil counters the dryness and gives the desired result.
Some plants use their veerya hot or cold property.
Excessive heat and sweat after a day out in the sun is immediately relieved by a cool
drink, may be coconut water or a cool fruit like a water melon.
Other plants may use their vipaka that is the final
product after digestion For example, all sour items should actually increase the acidity
in the system. But amla or the Indian gooseberry though being sour does not increase
acidity, but in fact it cools it due to the method of action where the final product of
amla after digestion is sweet by nature.
Other drugs have a unique characteristic. They do not
confine themselves to any rule or regulation. They have their own special reaction. For
example, Haritaki – Terminalia Chebulla has a laxative effect, though none of its
characteristic warrants it. This is its special function and this effect is known as
Prabhava.
This is a very short introduction to the way Ayurvedic
medicine works with plants to get the desired effect on human physiology and pathology.
See you soon with different facts of Ayurveda. Let us
join hands to live in tune with nature and have a healthy, long and cheerful life. |
