Ayurveda is recognized by the World Health Organization, and is currently used by 70-80% of the Indian population. A WHO estimate reveals that around 80% of the global population consumes phyto-medicines and the emphasis on Ayurvedic medicine is slowing shifting from under-developed countries to the developed ones. Recently, Ayurveda has also become increasingly popular in the West. Ayurveda is slowly entering into the mainstream health care being adopted by medical doctors, naturopaths, chiropractors, herbalists and nutritionists.

Basic Concepts of Ayurveda:

Disease in Ayurveda is due to an imbalance of three fundamental elements of the body.
These are VAATA, PITTA and KAPHA.

The entire universe is made of five elements. (Which are not material in the usual sense of the term, and are types of energy.) For identifying them they are called :

• Akaasa (space)

• Vaayu ( air )

• Tejas ( light )

• Ap ( water )

• Prithvi( earth )

VAATA - Human bodies are mainly made of Akasa, Vaayu with a little of Teja, Ap and Prithvi. Vaata is what allows one to interact with the environment. Briefly, Vaata tramsmits sense impressions to the mind and responses to various places of the body , maintains the integrity of the body and proper functioning of its various constituent elements , the sensory organs of touch and sound depend on vaata the waste matter from the body are transported by Vaata. It stimulates Agni and produces joy. It forms the embryo in the womb into particular shapes it is the evidence of life.

PITTA - Is the primary constituent of the living body whose structure is Tejas (luminous light). Its function is balancing and transformative. Its functions in particular are -- vision, digestion, production of heat, hunger, thirst, softness and suppleness of body, lustre, cheerfullness and intelligence.

KAPHA - It is one of the primary constituents of the body, having "water" and "earth" as elements. Function of pitta is conserving and stabilising. It organises the tissues (into their microscopic and macroscopic form).

When the digestive fire (agni) is in a balanced condition, the three doshas -vata, pitta and kapha- are in equilibrium. Waste products (malas) are produced and eliminated normally; and the mind, senses, and consciousness are working harmoniously together. When the balance of any of these systems is disturbed, the disease process begins. Basically, any aggravation of the doshas affects agni (the digestive fire) and produces toxins or ama. Other factors play a role in the formation of ama, as well. Some of these factors are poor digestion of food, improper food combinations and choices, poor drinking water, pollution, pesticides in food, emotional and physical stress or trauma, and so on. These toxins accumulate and spread throughout the body and eventually deposit themselves into the deeper tissues, organs or channels, creating dysfunction and disease.

In diseased condition, the doshas manifest their particular symptoms. These symptoms denote malfunctioning of the doshas. The purpose of treatment of all diseases is to keep the doshas in equilibrium. In Ayurveda there is three steps in treating any diseases, they are samsodhana - cleansing process, samsamana - palliative measures and nidanaparivarjana - treating the causes.

Panchakarma:
Panchakarma is one of the major aspects of Ayurveda. It actually is a group of treatments, five in number, all of which are not commonly practised in all diseases. The panchakarma are virechana, snehavasti, kashayavasti and nasya. Virechana is purging, vasti is enema, which of two kinds done with medicated oils and medicated decoctions and is called snehavasti and kashayavasti respectively. Nasya is instillation of medicines through nose. Virechan - Use of laxatives, this therapy is mainly used in cases of chronic disorders due to Pitta dosha. It involves induced and controlled purgation with the help of medicines. It is used to treat jaundice, chronic helminthes cases etc. Virechan should not be given to the very young or the very old or during pregnancy and should always be administered under a physician's supervision.
Vasti - Medicated Enema, it involves administering medicines as enema. The medicines used can be decoctions, pure / formulated oils, milk etc. It is used to cure arthritis, backache etc. Nasya - Nasal administration of medication, administered through the nose. Medicated powders, decoctions or oil drops are introduced into the nasal passages. They remove residual doshas and toxins from the head and neck area. Nasya is used in cases of migraine, chronic rhinitis, epilepsy etc.

SIRODHARA:
According to Ayurveda, Sirodhara is the best treatment for diseases of the nervous system and for emotional problems such as chronic depression and anxiety (panic) attacks. It is also recommended for chronic headaches, as well as ear, nose and throat problems, and is especially useful for pain management.

The term "Sirodhara" literally translated means head (Sira) and continuous flow (Dhara). During this treatment there is a constant flow of either specific oils or herbal preparations on the forehead. Medicated oil, medicated butter milk , cows milk or human breast milk are allowed to freely flow over the upper part of the fore head continuously for specific periods This process stimulates the part of the brain known as the pineal gland. Among its other functions, the pineal gland produces serotonin and melatonin. These hormones play an important role in each person's emotional balance, and melatonin is also known to have an anti-aging quality.

If to look Ayurevda in very simple manner, we can say when the digestive fire (agni) is in a balanced condition, the three doshas -vata, pitta and kapha- are in equilibrium. Waste products (malas) are produced and eliminated normally; and the mind, senses, and consciousness are working harmoniously together. When the balance of any of these systems is disturbed, the disease process begins. Basically, any aggravation of the doshas affects agni (the digestive fire) and produces toxins or ama. Other factors play a role in the formation of ama, as well. Some of these factors are poor digestion of food, improper food combinations and choices, poor drinking water, pollution, pesticides in food, emotional and physical stress or trauma, and so on. These toxins accumulate and spread throughout the body and eventually deposit themselves into the deeper tissues, organs or channels, creating dysfunction and disease.

Panchkarma has three steps- Purvakarma (preparation before panchkarma), Pradhankarma (main procedures) and Paschatkarma (steps to follow after panchkarma).

Ayurveda is a complete way of life. It is not only about treating sickness - it is based on preventing disease and enhancing health, longevity and vitality. The goal of Ayurveda is to achieve harmony and balance. This is attained without drugs or invasive treatments. It is comprehensive natural method of treatment ranging from diet, herbs, massage to life style counseling and meditation. A balanced diet, herbal remedies, gentle exercise and physical therapies (such as massage) are the main methods used. It also encourages one to a spiritual life- style and the pursuit of self -realization. Yoga is also related to Ayurveda in that Ayurveda shows how Yogic practices can be used on a therapeutic level for treatment of diseases and for maintaining ones health.