Ayurveda > Ayurvedic Treatment > Ashtang Ayurved
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
The famous ayurvedic
sage Charak rishi talks about
eight specialized branches of
treatment designed to treat all known
human illnesses. To make it easier to
understand we can divide ayurvedic
treatment in eight different parts
according to Charak sanhita, a
scientific creation of Charak
rishi.
They are:
- Kaya
chikitsa (Internal
medicine)
- Shalya
tantra (Surgery)
- Shalakya
tantra (Ophthalmology and
few problems related to
cranial nerves)
- Kaumar
bhrutya tantra
(Pediatrics)
- Vish
tantra or Agad tantra
(Toxicology)
- Bhut
vidya (Psychiatry)
- Rasayana
chikitsa ( Rejuvenation)
- Vajikaran
( Aphrodisiac)
We can say, that these are the eight main
branches of specialization, which were known to ancient Indian
ayurvedic scientists. Out of these eight branches Kaya chikitsa
tops the list:
Kaya chikitsa:
Kaya
means the living human body, which
includes body and mind both. It
includes both, the visible body as
well as the subtle body. Our body is
a unique creation of nature. When the
panch mahabhoota (five
universal elements) come together
they create a body which is governed
by three dosha (basic body
constituents) viz. Vaat-Pitta-Kafa.
Our health
solely depends on equilibrium of
these three giants. Imbalance between
these constituents leads to
accumulation of ama (toxins)
into dhatu (body tissues) and mala
(body wastes) channels. This
further leads to illness.
So we can say Kaya
chikitsa is that branch of ashtang
ayurveda, which deals with
treating this imbalance in dosha,
as well as its ill effects on dhatu
and mala chain.
Kaya
chikitsa delves into ascertaining
the root cause of diseases. Kaya
chikitsa is that branch of ashtang
ayurveda, which suggests
directive principles of diagnosis and
treatment for diseased body mind
apparatus. Kaya chikitsa helps
in bringing human life back to
normal.
Ayurvedic
schools of medicine, like Charak,
Atreya and few others have
discussed basic principles of kaya
chikitsa in details, elaborating
various types of therapies. They have
explained the role of cleansing
methods (i.e. pancha karma
(five main radical treatments) for
aggrieved dosha) in addition
to shaman (soothing
treatment).
The importance of Charak sanhita lies in the
fact that it has discussed diagnosis
part of disease in addition to
treatment. Detailed account of
various methods of diagnosis helps ayurvedic
practitioners in diagnosing disease
properly before choosing line of
treatment. Charaka elaborates
various stages of disease and
symptoms observed during these
stages. Thus it’s a valuable
guidance for Nidaan (accurate
diagnosis) and Chikitsa (comprehensive
management) of disease.
Charaka
describes diseases like madhu-meh
(diabetes mellitus), raja-yakshma
(tuberculosis), tamak-shwas (asthama)
and sandhigat-vaat (arthritic
conditions).
In chapter Nidaan-sthana,
Charaka talks about etiology,
pathogenesis and diagnosis of an
illness.
One of the
significant methods of treatment is panch-karma
(five main procedures) which Charaka
includes in kaya chititsa.
This treatment is thorough cleansing
of aggrieved dosha and
bringing body back to normal.
Another unique
subject which kaya chikitsa
talks about is kaya kalpa,
which in literary sense means renewal
of body. According to ayurveda
the human body is made up of three dosha,
seven dhatu and three mala.
Kaya kalpa helps in rebuilding
degenerated/ malnourished/ marasmic
body cells/ tissues after initial
process of cleansing through panch
karma.
To summarize, Ashtang
ayurveda means eight specialized
branches developed to treat human
body in case of disease. Kaya
chikitsa is one of the above
eight branches which includes
diagnosis and treatment choice of
disease in addition to attempt for
‘renewal’ of body.
It’s like pouring new life into
old body vessel after bringing it out
of its state of illness.
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