Ayurveda treatment procedure which was developed thousand years ago, the whole meaning of ayurved is knowledge of life. To simplify the treatment, Ayurved is divided into 8 branches. Let's discuss the classification in ayurved.
Before entering into the main discussion we should gather some knowledge of Ayurved. In this blog we will come across many slokas so calm your heart and enjoy the discussion with all senses.
हिता हितं सुखं दुःखं आयुतस्य हिता हितं
मानं च तत् च यक्त्रोक्तं आयुर्वेद स उचते .
The shastra in which there is description about the 4 types of Ayu that is Hitayu, Ahitayu, sukhayu, Dukhayu is called ayurved. It was believed that ayurved was descended from heaven. It is meant for the treatment of people from various diseases and help to fulfil one of the greatest aims in life i.e. long and healthy life.
आयु: काम्य मानेन धर्मार्थ सुख साधनम् , आयुर्वेद उपदेशेषु बिधेय परमादर.
Dharm, Money, desire and moksha are four important aspects and aim in human life to achieve these things a man should have long and healthy life and ayurved's advice are the important requirement for a long and healthy life. In my blog named 'Medical science from Acharya' I explained about the origin and the greatness of ayurved. A thousand years ago we are more developed than the modern world without having modern instruments. We mastered the art of medicine and surgery. What is the purpose of ayurved?
स्वस्थस्य स्वास्थ रक्षण°, आतुरस्य बिकार प्रसमन° च.
The purpose of any medical procedure is to treat the patient when they are affected by disease but here ayurved purpose is something different, the main and first purpose of Ayurved is to protect the healthy life of patient, then after if the patient became affected then it apply its next rule that is the treatment of the victim. From the first purpose of ayurved we can conclude that prevention is better than cure. To simplify ayyrved and to emphasise on special zones ayurveda shastra classified into 8 branches.
काय बाल ग्रह ऊर्ध्वान्ग शल्य दम्ष्टा जरा वूषान्
अष्टावन्गानि तस्याहुश्चिकित्सा येषु संश्रिता .
Kaya(general medicine), Bala or kaumara bhaiya(paediatrics), Graha(psychology), shalakya, Shalya(surgery), Jara or Rasayan, Agadatantra, Vajikarana Tantra( Reproductive Medicine) are the divisions in which Ayurved was divided. Let's discuss one by one about all the divisions.
Kaya chikitsa
Kaya means body, so the general treatment through medication of the body is called kaya chikitsa. This includes treatment through general medicines of metabolic error and systematic error. The meaning of the word Kaya is antaragni also. The agni which regulates all body functions including metabolism and other energy conversion reactions is called Kaya. The balanced state of agni controls all body functions smoothly but the deviated state creates many diseases. So the treatment or the procedure to balance the state of agnis is called kaya chikitsa. Maharsi Charaka is the most famous personality in Kaya chikitsa. Charaka is also known as the father of medicine.
Bala chikitsa Or kaumarabhritya
The meaning of Bala or koumara in Sanskrit is children here children refers to the individuals under the age of 16. Maharsi Kashyap's copendium regarded as the greatest samhita in Kaumarabhritya branch. It can be related to the modern paediatrics department of allopathy. It deals with in depth knowledge about nourishment of children, breast feeding of mother, child health after delivery also deals with the diseases occuring in children.
Graha chikitsa
Graha chikitsa deals with the diseases which do not have certain obvious cause of the disease. In simplified version it is the ayurvedic psychology which focuses mainly on psychological and psychiatric aspect if health and well-being.Graha chikitsa is also called manas chikitsa because it's treatment directly affects to the mind. Graha chikitsa heals disease from its root. The treatment includes meditation, yoga, massage, shirodhara and panchakarma.
Urdhwanga chikitsa or shalakya tantra
Urdhwanga word consists of two words Urdha and Anga, it means the body parts above the clavicle bone are called as Urdhwanga. The treatment of Urdhwanga is called Urdhwanga chikitsa or shalakya tantra. It includes organs like eyes, nose, ears, lip, central nervous system, skull, throat, brain etc. This branch is further divided into different departments like netra chikitsa, karna chikitsa etc. There are clear references from sushruta samhita in urdhwanga chikitsa.
Shalya tantra
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Shalya tantra or we can say surgery originated in ancient India. Ancient Indian sage Maharsi Sushruta recognized globally as father surgery. When in Western surgery became popular at that time rhinoplasty was practised in India. Shalya tantra deals with the surgical aspect of treatment. In some cases when Kaya chikitsa fail doctors advices to shalya department. Shalya tantra is regarded as one of the best department in ayurved. Shalya tantra also introduced many instruments, shastras, alkalis that were used in surgery. Shusrut samhita explains more than 300 type of operations, 42 types surgeries with 125 types devices.
Damstra chikitsa Or Agada tantra
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Agada tantra in Ayuved is same as modern toxicology department. In early time before modernization people regularly came across many poisonous thing trough dog and snake like animal biting or through any food. To regulate the poisonous activity in our body and to use poison in treatment purpose agada tantra department was introduced. It includes poisons like swabhabik visa(natural poison), kritrim visha(artificial) and samayog vishas(combination of poison). A school of toxicology was established by vridha kashyapa. Ayurved always try to ensure balanced body composition and Damstra chikitsa ensures it.
Jara chikitsa Or Rasayan chikitsa
Jara chikitsa mainly focuses on youth to keep their period long, healthy, juvinating and fruitful. Jara chikitsa in others can be called an anti-ageing method, the process through which ageing can be prevented, intelligence can be improved and long lasting immunity can be achieved is called jara chikitsa. It can be achieved by Ausasadh rasayan, Ahara rasayan and Achara rasayan.
Vrsha Or vajikarana chikitsa
With the advancement of environment and irregular lifestyle many sexual diseases and sterility are increasing day by day, to counter the problems there are sufficient treatments present under the branch vrsha chikitsa. In vajikarana it include treatment for virility, potency, strength, excitability, techniques, regimen, diet, herbal medicines, and treatments to take care of reproductive organs, and diseases such as sexual dysfunctions, infertility, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction.
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