administration of medicines

[Guest guest]

Dear Vaidyas

After diagnosis and determination of the exact 'prakruti' (humoral

nature), does the "vaidya" determine a suitable time for administration

of the medicines?

 

In some astrological books it is said that "ashtami" (8th day of the

moon;s phase) is the best day. Do you also take into account the

horoscope of the person as well?

 

Pranams -

 

- Anand

[Guest guest]

Dear Anand

 

Your querry relates to use of Calendar by a vaidya. This author would

address the querry in general terms. Moon is karaka for mind in

astrology, and body-mind connection drives disease as well as

recovery according to finding of modern science. State of the mind

according to phases of the moon is also well known. 90% of influence

on the health of ladies is by their menstrual cycles, governed also

by phases of moon. Though astrology states Sun as Karaka for health,

soul, body, moon drives circulation of all rasas (broaden to hormones

if you wish), liquids through the body, in addition upheavals in

thoughts. Ayurveda takes into account sun movement in zodiac also into account.

 

A Vaidya, in contrast to modern science practitioners, has to use the

sense of time to maximum extent. Thus a particular pulse (Kapha,

Pitta, Vata) is more active during a particular time of day. Four

hours for each pulse. YOu may find details on a old post by Maharshi

ayurved.

 

Vaidya has to keep in mind the season also. There are six seasons

(rutus) of two months each, and each rutu has its own preference of

vitiating doshas. At the junction of two rutus, many patients suffer

common ailments, where body has to adjust to the departing rutu and

new rutu. To give an example, if pitta vitiation is found high in

summer, it being natural, the medication amount may not be high,

since perspiration takes care of this automatically to some extent.

The sweat removes blood impurities. However, if patient is spending

most of the time in air-conditioned room, the vaidya has to enquire

if that is so, and adjust the medication.

 

Both ancient texts and common sense demands that the medicinal herb

parts are collected by Vaidyas when they are ripe enough to give

proper quantity of medicine. Thus Aloe Vera, when used for making

medicines for menstrual problems, is not used till it develops reddish spots on

concave sides. Nature has well defined time span before which, the roots, bark,

seeds will not develop to the extent useful as a medicine. Changes in the plant

according to age are well known to ayurveda and properties changing with time

are also studied. Thus green tamarind is a pitta enhancer, but when it ripens to

reddish color, if soaked in waterfor 2 hours, is a pitta pacifier. Same thing

holds for soaked dates, jaggery etc.

 

Now let us turn to time of making medicine. In ancient life style,

the programme of the year was made mainly by agricultural calendar.

Since making various decoctions requires large amount of fuel, summer

was a preferred season, when dry fodder was available. In forests,

drying tree branches used to provide adequate fuel. When one has to

use the materials available in nature at a particular time of the

year, timing the manufacture of the medicine at that time was a must.

Even today, an eye drop medicine made from Cow urine is made during

first fortnight of month Ashwin (when sky is more or less clear,

night is starry and moon light is available every night). The

medicine is put under moon light every night for a fortnight. This

makes it cooling in the same way as special water (Anshodaka) is

made. The cooling properties are experienced immediately by every

user of this eye-drop medicine.

 

Be it medicine, or food, our ancient acharyas have recognised the

benifits of eating specific foods or fasting during particular lunar

days. Depending on the lunar day, the amount of water element in our

environment is governed. On full moon day, water element is maxiumum,

while on new moon day, it is lowest. The amount of water element is

also governed by month of the year. Thus the height of ice-Sivalinga

in Amarnath cave is maxium on full moon day in March, near Sivarathri

day. The lunar days are also connected to our own mental state,

swinging to extremes on Full moon and new moon days. Hence starting a

medicine on these days should be avoided. This brings an incidence to

the mind. A remedy for lung congestion of a heart patients was given

as drinking three glasses (1500 ml per day) of mixture of cinamon powder,

honey and warm water, in a newpaper article. A patient started it on

a full moon day, without informing his healer. He thought that since

it is so simple a home remedy, it will give only relief and nothing

else. He felt good for two days. He went out for a walk on third day.

When he returned home, he just collapsed by short breath and

congestion had increased. When he was gasping for breath, the sound

of air passing over thick phlegm was clear. He collapsed, no time for

dialing 911, an emergency number for cardiac patients.

 

Acharyas recommend fasting on 11th lunar day, termed Ekadasi in

Indian calendar. Our subconscious mind resides in Agya Chakra and

Anahat Chakra (located near thymus gland, related to heart) on this

particular day. This comes from Astrological+yoga theory. Astrology and Ayurveda

are intimately related, and many Vaidyas practice astrology also, or their

diagnosis is based on natal and dynamic charts.

 

Fasting on Ekadasi day purifies subconscious, according to a well

known yogi. Meditation done on ekadasi day is also more beneficial,

since concentrating on agya chakra and vishuddha chakra yields more

benifits.

 

On eightth day of lunar calendar, subconscious resides close to Nabhi

Chakra (which governs liver), and since every medicine has to pass through

liver, the 8th

day (Kalashtamai) is best suited for starting the medicine. However,

this kind of leisurely approach may be available only in few

diseases. In most cases, the day patient meets Vaidya, he wants to

start the medicine. However, Vaidya can time the events such as Panch

Karma, Flushes which may produce loose motions, excess urinatione etc

according to lunar calendar, so that patient goes through full

detoxification without suffering much.

 

Lastly, a mention must be made of nature's yearly cycles. Thus, if

medicines for fertility are given about six months before Vasant rutu

starts, the chances of pregnancy become highest, since nature also

helps. [On the other hand, in order to avoid accidental pregnancy,

the acharyas recommended Chaturmasa Vratas, observing celebacy in

Ashdha masa etc.] This entire program of medication, food, lifestyle

needs to be regulated by Vaidya, just like computer controlled launch

count down of a giant space shuttle with a mission to Mars.

 

This requires at least superficial knowledge of astrology. In

conclusion, Vaidya is just not only a product of a academic instittute. He

is always a student, learning from everyone possible, while being

polite to acharyas. Since ayurveda delineates nature, cosmos

and environment into human life to such an extent, comparison of

modern science with ayurveda is difficult and will be an insult to

ayurveda.

 

Regards

Dr Bhate

 

ayurveda, "anandpharmacist"

<anandpharmacist> wrote:

> After diagnosis and determination of the exact 'prakruti' (humoral

> nature), does the "vaidya" determine a suitable time for

administration of the medicines?

> In some astrological books it is said that "ashtami" (8th day of

the moon;s phase) is the best day. Do you also take into account the

> horoscope of the person as well?

[Guest guest]

In my studies under an Indian spiritual group,they have a

discipline, fasting days before the new moon and full moon,to

lessen the negative effects the moon has on the mind.

 

It is true that on full moons, there significantly more cases of

violence and distrubances in people and societies.

 

 

ayurveda, "Shirish Bhate"

<shirishbhate> wrote:

> Dear Anand

>

> Your querry relates to use of Calendar by a vaidya

[Guest guest]

Dear Chotawa.

 

True. The mind jumps more on Full moon day as well as New moon day.

With one difference. On full moon days, due to added water element,

it is more imaginative, romantic etc. Hence, if you are planning a

picknic for frolicking, plan it on Full moon day, it will be very

much enjoyed.

 

On the other hand, New moon day is darkness, mind jumps towards dark

things, crime, irritation, violence etc. Light (Teja) is knowledge

and darkness (Tamas) is lack of it. However, one difference is, many

Saints (in India) were born on New moon day and attained Nirvana.

Hence even new moon day affords concentration for medication, if one

has developed abilities to control this jumping monkey called mind.

ON these days (Full/New moon) subconscious resides in extremeties of

our chakra system. And stability is always an issue at extremum of a

mathematical curve.

 

Dr Bhate

 

ayurveda, "chotawa" <chotawa> wrote:

 

> In my studies under an Indian spiritual group,they have a

> discipline, fasting days before the new moon and full moon,to

> lessen the negative effects the moon has on the mind.

>

> It is true that on full moons, there significantly more cases of

> violence and distrubances in people and societies.