Ayurvedic Medicine 

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 ‘faults’ 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 individual’s 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:

•Massaging of the body and including the pressure points (marmas)

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

•Inhaling (including incense)

•Application to skin

•In baths

•Spritzing

•Agni-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 is referred to in the ancient scripts, especially the Sushruta Samhita as Siravedhana (refer to reference section).

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- the Indian martial arts which was taken to China by Buddhist monks and traders and which later developed into Shaolin Temple Boxing.

Like the decline of Buddhism in India, its place of origin, and the meteoric rise in other countries such as China, Korea and Japan etc. Ayurvedic acupuncture and marma therapy in general declined in practice in India and was delegated to remote areas, especially Sri Lanka and Northern India, near the Himalayas. Buddhism still has a great influence in these two areas. Marma therapy (and acupuncture) is practiced by a small number of southern Indians, especially Tamils who articulate between Kerala and Sri Lanka. Like many indigenous systems around the world (eg Australian aboriginal medicine), Ayurvedic acupuncture and Marma therapy are generally practised secretely, away from main stream society. There is a grave danger that in this format, it risks extinction. Today this knowledge is becoming more and more accessible as academics research into ancient, and lost systems.

Modern Ayurvedic Acupuncture commenced in Australia in 1970 when Indian-born Gurukal GP Scaife emigrated there from India. The system was made accessible to Western society and was further developed for Western practice. It was later developed academically and proper research methods were utilised. Today, Ayurvedic acupuncture, although capturing the essence of the Indian system, is a modern system of Ayurvedic Acupuncture which like Ayurveda itself is 'an open and endless science'. In conjunction with institutions in India, modern research on its practice and history continues.

The pioneering research and teaching work of Dr. Frank Ros, Prof. Dr. Avinash Lele, and Prof. Dr. Subhash Ranade (from the International Academy of Ayurveda in Pune, India) on Marma therapy (of which Ayurvedic acupuncture is a system) will ensure future establishment and acceptance internationally for this extremely effective but much neglected system of Indian healing.

How it Works

What disorder a nail (or other sharp instrument) may cause by traumatically injuring a marma, an acupuncture needle can cure by stimulating the body into healing rather than disease when that marma is gently needled. It is the amount of trauma (dosage) that dictates whether the instrument

1. kills
2. inhibits functions (pain killing, anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic) or
3. stimulates the organism into repair.

This is known as the Arndt-Schutz Law and Hormesis Law of Science and toxicology. Consequently, a warrior (kshatriya) and an acupuncturist (suchika) use similar tools, albeit for opposite reasons!

Marmas connect with internal organs and systems via a series of ducts or energy network called nadis. These energy channels carry Prana to each marma.

Using Ayurvedic Acupuncture to balance the function of organs, elements, to increase Agni (digestive fire) or even to balance the Tridoshas- Vata, Pitta or Kapha although primarily necessary is regarded as treatment of a physical nature, mainly affecting the physical body (although undoubtedly, it may affect in some connected way our emotions and thoughts). Although this treatment is generally carried out as standard by an Ayurvedic Acupuncturist, the main holistic aim for Ayurvedic Acupuncture is always to balance all levels of the Self, not just the physical. Ayurveda believes that most diseases start in the psychological or emotional levels, gradually manifesting themselves more and more until they reflect very physical symptoms of which we are well acquainted and which as groups form the recognized diseases classified in conventional medicine. In this way not only will a patient be able to say "I feel better"(physically), but will eventually say "I am emotionally stronger, more assertive, more confident I am thinking more clearly and my aims or goals are higher". This higher level or enlightened thinking is called Sattvic in Ayurveda and is always considered desirable.

AKASHIC BALANCING

The main purpose for Ayurvedic Acupuncture is the principle termed Akashic Balancing. Ayurvedic Acupuncture's main objective is to bring about health to all three levels of the Self. Utilizing specific acupoints or marmas of the body much like selecting a number of herbs to produce a balanced Ayurvedic herbal formula, can assist the body's own bio computer to balance itself and achieve homoeostasis. In Akashic Balancing or Etheric Balancing , we treat the Physical Body (Sthula sharira) first, by needling the appropriate points according to the patient's constitution/ aggravated humour (dosha), unbalanced Elements or organs.

Once the patient has responded appropriately after one or more treatments, the Astral Body (Sukshma sharira) is then treated by Ayurvedic Acupuncture, working on the emotions and astral levels such as the nadis, chakras etc. Lastly, when the Physical and Astral bodies have responded positively and the patient has improved in health, the Causal Body (Karana sharira) is then treated. This causes a total balance of the body including the physical mental and psychological/spiritual levels and including the koshas or five major subtle sheaths.

In Akashic Balancing it is believed that each human consists of three bodies (shariras) each one more subtle or etheric (akashic) than the previous and that there are three separate consciousness 'bio-computers' synergistically working together to produce total health. Suchi Karma gently stimulates these 'computers' into action, which results in total health.

Ayurvedic Acupuncture encourages gentle manipulation of the needles. Stimulation of the marmas or points is mostly carried out by the direction of the needle puncture and flow of the underlying channel (nadi) rather than strong physical manipulation by the practitioner, which would result in an entirely different outcome. The Consciousness of the patient is gently stimulated or encouraged to act in the healing process by Ayurvedic Acupuncture. Consciousness (chitta), has the intelligence (buddhi) to act and react (balance the organism) appropriately according to what is best for the individual person and is the best allay of the practitioner and patient.

In summary, Ayurvedic Acupuncture aims for three major principles in practice:

1. Oneness. This is the goal of treating the patient in a synergistic way (ekada- as one), attempting to balance both opposites (dvandva). Often, the energy in the channels of the right side of the body may be greater or less than the ones on the left side. Consequently, it is the practitioner's task to balance this imbalance in the patient. The patient and practitioners are both as opposite poles, yet their task is to work in a synergistic, cooperative way (oneness) in order to achieve the desired results. It is the duty of the practitioner to assist in the empowerment of the patient. It is the principle to be at one with oneself and at one with our surroundings and others. Oneness is the principle of Holistic treatment.
2. Gentleness. This is the goal of treatment using the most gentle or soft way (mrdu) as appropriate to the patient's constitution or the presenting dis-ease. Needling is gently carried out, in order to stimulate the inner healing potential of the body and to avoid aggravating Vata.
3. Continuity. Ayurvedic Acupuncture believes that all therapeutic actions function best when there is a resultant continuity or flow (sru). Flow is the quality of Prana and of Water, the Element of flow. It is in allowing Prana to flow appropriately that will result in the achievement of health. Consequently needling of a number of points in combination produces better results than needling a different and individual point each day.

MAJOR CLINICAL PRINCIPLES OF AYURVEDIC ACUPUNCTURE

AYURVEDIC ACUPUNCTURE REFERENCES

"Marma points (Ayurvedic pressure points); the origin of Acupuncture."

Marma points are important pressure points on the body, much like the acupuncture points of Traditional Chinese Medicine. One finds the first reference to them in the Atharva Veda and they are elaborately dealt with by Sushruta. Like the Chinese acupuncture points, Marma points are measured by the finger units (Anguli) relative to each individual. Their size is measured by finger inches and their location determined by them."

Prof. Dr. Subhash Ranade. PhD. (1993) Natural Healing Through Ayurveda. Passage Press. Utah USA (pp 161-)

“Siravedhana and Marma Chikitsa were very prevalent and highly accepted therapies during RgVeda and AtharvaVeda and flourished during Samhita period. It is amazing to read the details of treatment which Sushruta described in the Sushruta Samhita…  I am sure that after reading this book, the concept of Marma and Siravedhanam [acupuncture] will be better understood and finally it will be clear to the whole world that Acupuncture, as we understand today is one of the components of age-old Shalya Chikitsa and is the Indian study of the Dhanvantari School .”

Dr.H.S.Sharma ( Exdean Gujarat University ) Vedic Health Care System (Clinical Practice of Sushrutokta Marma Chikitsa and Siravedhana-highlighting Acupuncture) Profs.Drs. R.L.Shah, B.K.Joshi, G.Joshi. New Age Books New Delhi . 2002 FOREWORD

“Chinese literature of Acupuncture when decoded answers to it. In fact 24 channels (meridians) of Chinese Acupuncture are nothing else than Sushruta’s 24 Dhamanis while points on channels are 700 Siras of Sushruta… In fact, this knowledge has already got passed to the nearby countries around India mainly during ‘Buddha’ period and got stored as in cold storage. It is not a coincidence that almost all Buddhist countries have this knowledge and it is the Indian fortune that the origin of this knowledge [of acupuncture]is from India .”

Profs. Drs. R.L.Shah, B.K.Joshi, G.Joshi. Vedic Health Care System (Clinical Practice of Sushrutokta Marma Chikitsa and Siravedhana-highlighting Acupuncture). New Age Books New Delhi . 2002 (p.viii)

"Acupuncture and Ayurveda. The science of acupuncture has its roots in the Vedas. The first reference of acupuncture is found in Rig-Veda and at that time separate text was available which was known as ‘Suchi Veda’. Unfortunately this text is not available today. During ancient period, bamboo or wooden Suchi- needles were used for acupuncture. Sushruta has mentioned the art of acupuncture under Vyadhana or Bhedana Karma. During ancient times needles made of wood were used, later on various metal needles were used for this purpose.”

Prof/Drs. Avinash Lele, Subhash Ranade and Dr. David Frawley. Secrets of Marma. International Academy of Ayurveda Publishing, Pune India. (pg. 11).

“Sushruta in Sharira sthana 8 ‘Siravyadha’ has advised puncturing the channels (sira) by using needles, which are as small as ‘vrihi’ (vrihi is the outer cover of the rice grain which is pointed at both ends. This means that the acupuncture needle should be as pointed as vrihi. Needles now available of this caliber are of no 26.” 

Prof/Drs. Avinash Lele, Subhash Ranade and Dr. David Frawley. Secrets of Marma. International Academy of Ayurveda Publishing, Pune, India. (pg. 98).

There is proof that acupuncture has been practiced in ancient Egypt, Persia, India, Sri Lanka, many parts of Europe and South America, and even by the North American Indians."

Dr. John Veltheim. Acupuncture. Hill of Content. Melbourne. Australia. (p.1)  

MARMA PUNCTURE

" It is said that acupuncture existed even when metal was not found. In that period, sharp edged stones were used instead of needles. In the beginning the needle made of bone or bamboo was used.

Even today, Eskimo people are using this small type of stones, and certain type of people of South Africa and Brazil [Amazon Indians] are using small arrows [blow darts] on certain acupuncture points to cure diseases.

During the last moment of life of Bhisma Pitamah, Arjuna made a bed of arrows for him as per his desire. There is every possibility of these particular points to be the acupuncture points and so naturally there was no pain. It is also said that Acupuncture is a god-given gift to mankind."

Dr. Prakash.G. Shah. MBBS. (1991) Acupuncture Cure of Common Diseases. B. Jain Publishers. New Delhi, India. (p.2)

" No detailed mention was made of India which has had acupuncture for the past 7000 years. If we go back to the Indian medical classics, known as the Vedas, said to be written about 7000 years ago, we find "needle therapy" [Suchi karma] mentioned there. One volume of the Vedas, known as the Suchi Veda, translated as the "art of piercing with a needle" was written about 3000 years ago and deals entirely with acupuncture. The Indians have both body acupuncture and ear acupuncture. Thus in India, an entire system of treating every type of disease by the ear alone was [also] developed."

Dr. Chandrashekhar Thakkur . (1985)The Ear, Gateway To Balancing The Body. Wexu.M. Aurora Press, Santa Fe, NM .(pp 187,189).

"Acupuncture and moxibustion have been used in many other regions of the world since pre-historic times. It was well developed in Northern India and Sri Lanka before the Christian era.

Some scholars believe that acupuncture probably evolved in prehistoric times out of the modifications of the principles of Ayurveda near the snowy bleaks of the Himalayas, where no herbs were available."

Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya. (1994). Clinical Acupuncture. B. Jain Publishers. New Delhi, India. (pp.17,369)

" When in former periods of history, India and China were one big cultural unit, the teaching of the Five Elements was developed out of the knowledge of the Veda, and with it the Ayurveda as the medicine for the people. The Marma-therapy, namely Acupuncture is a special technique of the former. Acupuncture and the medical philosophy on which it is based, is not purely of Chinese origin. The texts of Veda which are dated still further back than the first Chinese ones as well as the contemporary Ayurvedic texts (2000 BC) give many hints that these thoughts were already moved much earlier. Thus it can be assumed that Acupuncture was practiced already 5000 or 10000 years ago, long before the Mahabharata war which had destroyed a worldwide culture of high standards in a cultural context that comprised at least both the regions of India and China today."

Dr. Dietrich Kluber M.D. (1994) Acupuncture and Its Indian Roots. Lichtwortverlag, Kuddeworde. Germany. (p. 79).

"It is interesting to note that acupuncture was practiced in India in ancient times, known as 'Suchi Chikitsa'. Taxilla [acupuncture] needles of different sizes and made up of iron, copper and bronze have been found. Thus from the evidences available, we come to the conclusion that in India acupuncture as a method of treatment is…as old as in China."

Prof. Dr. C.L. Nagpal. Modern Acupuncture. I.A.T.R.I., Jaipur India.( pp 3,4).

"Ancient texts by Charaka, Sushruta and Vriddha Vagbhatta, we find details of what is known as "Suchi Chikitsa" akin to acupuncture. The Ayurvedic texts also describe some 107 points on the human body called 'Marmas' where the needles were inserted. Further, various types of needles were described as 'suchikas/koorchas' in 'Shastra Kosha'. "

Prof. Dr. C.L. Nagpal. Modern Acupuncture. I.A.T.R.I., Jaipur India.( preface).

Note: Suchi Chikitsa and Suchi Karma are interchangeable terms, both meaning 'needling therapy' or 'needling treatment'.

"In his writings, Dr. Concon correctly identifies traditional acupuncture as originally a Vedic art, subsequently passed along with Sanskrit grammar to the Tibetans and then to the Chinese."

Drs. Scott and Linda Treadway. PhD. Ayurveda and Immortality. Celestial Arts, Berkeley. California USA. (preface).

"[Ayurveda] This highly developed knowledge of medicine received patronage of kings. Thereafter, the time came when ambassadors went to East Asian countries, including Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and Indonesia. Amongst them were some of the Buddhist monks who preached and practiced the Ayurvedic system of medicine also. They developed the 'Marma Chikitsa' and it was recognized as Acupuncture technique of treatment for curing various diseases."

Dr. S.D. Ojha. PhD. Acupuncture Marma and Other Asian Therapeutic Techniques. Dr. D.G. Thatte. Chaukhambha Orientalia. Varanasi India.(preface)

"In ancient India there was a similar treatment to acupuncture or moxibustion and even treatment by massage as well. In the old texts of Buddhism, the words acupuncture and moxibustion appeared sporadically, and the famous physician of India, Giba [Jivaka] is said in one of the texts such as the Chikitsa Vidya to have been born with an acupuncture needle in the right hand and a drug container in the left hand in about the 5^th century B.C."

Dr. Yoshiaki Omura. MD. Acupuncture Medicine- Its Historical and Clinical Background. Japan Publications. Japan (p.15).

"Sri Lanka appears to possess an indigenous form of therapeutic acupuncture. Numerous documents on Sinhalese Buddhist and Ayurvedic medicine written on palm-leaf attest to the ancient use of fine acupuncture needles (22 recorded types). A study done by Laxman Devasena entitled Some Traditional Sri Lankan Medical Techniques Related to Acupuncture, 'reveals a system of great breadth and long history. In Sri Lanka even today many practitioners use these ancient techniques both on humans and animals."

"According to Dr. V. Dharmalingam, there exists a small group of Siddha and Ayurvedic practitioners in South India who use gold and copper needles to acupuncture certain vital points."

Dr. Robert Svoboda and A. Lade. (1995). Tao and Dharma. Lotus Press, WI. USA (p.144)

"If the physician comes across a patient suffering from syncope, then… Needling [acupuncture] and Burning [moxibustion] … are helpful in bringing about consciousness."

Drs. Sharma R. and B. Dash. Charaka Samhitta. Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series, Varanasi, India. (p.412)

" In India, acupuncture was in use several millenia before Christ and is still flourishing today."

Dr. Chandrashekhar Thakkur . (1985)The Ear, Gateway To Balancing The Body. Wexu.M. Aurora Press, Santa Fe, NM .(p.4).

  "The Vedic therapeutic methods in India date back to the prehistoric era. Many Chinese travellers had come to India and have written extensively about the local treatment practices. Some of the Indian authors even said that people learnt Acupuncture from Indian experts at Takshashila University [circa 400 BC]. It is also said that Ayurvedic texts consisted of Acupuncture principles and that [most of] these are lost due to unfavorable circumstance in India [ such as natural calamities and various wars]."

Prof. Dr. P.H. Kulkarni. (1985) Probable Links Between Ayurveda and Acupuncture. Pune University. Poona, India (p.1) and in The Lost Secrets of Ayurvedic Acupuncture (1994). Dr. F.Ros. Lotus Press, WI USA (p.3.)  

“ AYURVEDIC ACUPUNCTURE (Bhedan Karma)

In the  three major Ayurvedic texts, discussions of surgery and marma points also involved Ayurvedic acupuncture or “needling”, and moxibustion. The use of needles was used for both surgical and non-surgical healing. Very little information about Ayurvedic acupuncture is available  in India today. It was first recorded in the Suchi Veda (science of needling) about 3000 years ago.”

Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia. Ayurveda Holistic Center Press, NY. USA. (pg 556) 

"In Sri Lanka too, these modalities were closely related and acupuncture-moxibustion is called vidum-pilissum."

Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya. (1994) Clinical Acupuncture. B.Jain Publishers New Delhi India. (p.707)

" Be mindful of what the pulse reveals

Before thou doest apply

The needle-science of Iswara

Revealed in the days gone by."

Ancient Sri Lankan Ola Manuscript, circa 300 B.C.

Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya. Clinical Acupuncture . B. Jain Publishers, India (p.363)