12
Ayurveda
: Ancient Heritage in the Age of Globalisation
Their state of balance is health and state of imbalance is
ill-health.
Dhaatu
, translated as “sustainers”, are seven in
number–
rasa
(plasma),
rakta
(blood),
maamsa
(muscle),
meda
(fat),
asthi
(bone),
majja
(marrow) and
sukra
(reproductive principle).
Mala
, translated as “impurities”,
are three in number –
sveda
(sweat),
mutra
(urine) and
pureesha
(faeces). These three factors are all related to
the nutritive process that goes on and on in our body and
notmainly to the anatomical parts. The factor that initiates
the basic and carry on with the advanced metabolic
activities is our digestive fire –
agni
.
Mind
is considered to be the link between the
body and the consciousness, by
Caraka
. According to him
body and mind share a mutually depending relationship,
so that afflictions on one affect the other. That is why
roga
,
the Sanskrit word for disease, actually means “that which
afflicts the body and the mind”.
Spirit
is unaffected by any physical or mental
changes. It is considered as an “observer”. But it carries
certain impressions from the previous births to manifest
positively, on health, or negatively, as ill-health.
Concept of Health:
Health is when all these three components of life
are in a normal state.
Susruta
gives the best definition of
a healthy state, i.e. when the
dosha
are in a state of
