Herbs the Ayurveda Concept
Herbs the Ayurveda Concept:
We know that the plants have life. Each plant is like a person, it has the pain, it has the conscious and thrive in the environment which is suit to the plant. Without the plants sustain of any creature on the Earth is very difficult. How is your feeling when you walk through the woods in the spring? How you feel when you sat quietly in a garden? Such activities gives you a lot of pleasure to your mind. Of course we listen from our ancestors that they were healed some diseases, woods and pains by using leafs from unique plants. At present time in the small villages the peasants are using the herbals for their health purpose. So herbs are remedy to heal every problem of the health without side effects.
Discussion of Herbs Qualities:
We know that each plant has its own unique qualities. Some grow in forests, some are in deserts, some plants in hot areas and some near sea. The growth and quality of the plants depended on their own circumstances. If we let the plants in unnatural conditions, they suffer a lot and not thrive following their qualities. The plants are needed sun rays, adequent water and fertile soil. Then only they can produce medicinal components.
Why we discussing about the plants here, yes there is a purpose that the plants are the main source to the Ayurvedic medicine. The medicinal quality of the tree is the main source to the Ayurveda medicine. Ayurveda is a science of qualities, so we can observe the qualities of the plant and picked herbs from the healthy tree. The freshly picked herbs have more medicinal qualities. We keep the herbs in dry to remove the smell and taste of the herbs.
Dividing the Herbs into Categories:
Here Ayurveda is also called ‘dravya guna shastra’, which means the science of substances and their qualities. There are seven categories. They are
1.Dravya [substance]
2.Guna [attribute ]
3.Rasa[taste]
4.Virya[energy or potency]
5.Vipakasa[post-digestive effect]
6.Prabhava[special effect]
7.Karma[action]
1.Dravya:
It describes about the five elements of the plant. They are the roots, stems, branches, flowers and seeds. These substances are composed with other elements of the herbs and apply to the diseased. There are two types of substances on is organic and another is inorganic. The organic substances can directly work on senses, emotions and living tissues. Inorganic substances act only on the body.
2. Guna:
Every tree has its own qualities. Some plants are useful to make some particular diseases. So the preparation of the medicines is depended on the medicinal quality of the plant.
3. Rasa:
It indicates the taste of the plant leafs, nuts, stem and other parts of the plant. The tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. When the tastes felt in the mouth then stomach associated with kapha and anabolism. The medicine takes in the form of the juice.
4. Virya:
The virya is the basic energy or heating and cooling potential of the plant. For example if we observe the quality of the chilly, it makes very hot. Some may cool the body. So the quality of the plant implies the effect.
5. Vipaka:
Vipaka is the post-digestive effect. This effect is felt on the three waste products of the body. They are urine, feces and sweat. Vipaka is related to vata and catabolism.
Effects of Ayurvedic Herbs:
There are so many herbs in use preparing the Ayurveda medicine. In ancient period the Rishis gathered the herbs and mix them with other herbs and made new medicines and cured the deadly diseases. Every part of the plant contains chemical materials which are useful to the humans. So mixing the herbs cause the chemical reaction and bring new formation to work on the particular diseases. So the ayurvedic herbs are very helpful. They is no side effects by using the Ayurvedic medicine.
Once Swami Sivananda said:
Smile with the flower and the green grass.
Play with the Butterflies, birds and deer.
Shake hands with the shrubs, ferns, and twigs of trees.
Talk to the rainbow, wind,stars and the Sun.
Converse with the running brooks and the waves of the sea.
Speak with the walking-stick.
Develop friendship with all your neighbours, dogs, cats,cows, trees,flowers etc.
Then you will have a wide, perfect, rich, fulll life.
You will realize oneness or unity of life.
This can be hardly described in words.
You will have to feel this youself.