Adravyabhuta Chikitsa Non-pharmacological Remedies In Ayurveda

By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Adravyabhuta Chikitsa consists of all these remedies whereby no drug or pharmacological method is concerned. A = no, Dravyabhuta = drug / pharmacological dependent, Chikitsa = therapy. So, adravyabhuta chikitsa means ‘non-drug or non-pharmacological remedies / remedy’. These remedies could also be in numerous types –

• Bodily actions
• Psychological / psychological actions
• Religious actions
• Spiritual actions and many others

Adravyabhuta Chikitsa is complementing remedy in some ailments however can be a mainstay method or part of it in some situations. Instance – Aside from medicines and dietetic regimens, historic treatises have advocated and in addition emphasised fixed indulgence in bodily actions and workouts, as in santarpanottha rogas i.e. ailments prompted as a consequence of over-nutrition like in prameha (diabetes), sthaulya (weight problems) and many others.
Learn – Chikitsa: Treatment Types, Ayurvedic classification

Can we deal with the ailments with out medicines?

Completely sure. It’s stated that something – a fabric or non-material is skillfully chosen, can be utilized to deal with the ailments and something which might achieve this would fall underneath the purview of an efficient remedy / therapy.

It isn’t that every one that’s ‘non pharmacological’ can deal with ‘all ailments’. It’s selective and consists of talent and expertise to implement the identical in remedy. Some ‘non-drugs’ can remedy some ailments for which they’re designed and so they will not be appropriate to deal with the opposite ailments or to deal with the identical illness in another particular person. So, adravyabhuta chikitsa can also be a ‘customized drugs’, like ‘what fits you doesn’t go well with me!’.

How does it work?

How does one thing which is a non-drug could be thought of as a remedy?

As per the definition of drugs, something which brings concerning the stability (samyavastha) of the dhatus needs to be thought of as chikitsa i.e. therapy or remedy. If one thing which isn’t a medication can obtain this goal, we are able to undoubtedly name it a medication.

Components of complete therapy – In each illness, when the therapy procedures are defined, Ayurveda has at all times comprehensively targeted on proper kind of aushadha i.e. medicines, ahara (weight-reduction plan) and viharas (way of life/conduct). Viharas are non-pharmacological interventions. Amongst synonyms of drugs – Pathya (that which is healthful for the channels of transportation within the physique), Prayaschitta (atonement) and Hita (useful) are the synonyms of bheshaja (drugs). All these are non-drug types which outline therapy. These synonyms spotlight the significance of non-pharmacological remedy. Pathya additionally consists of weight-reduction plan rules that are within the type of substance, however these that are formless and serve the aim of pathya shall be included on this dialogue.
Learn – Importance Of Diet (Pathya) For Specific Diseases

The physicians ought to discover this technique of therapy since it’s also cost-effective and really important many instances. Adravyabhoota and Dravyabhuta Chikitsa shall be skillfully mixed in order to acquire most advantages in healing and preventive elements of the therapy. It may be used alone or together in therapy of each bodily and psychological problems and thus would cowl a broad spectrum. Meditation, Yoga and Marma therapies additionally fall underneath the umbrella of adravyabhuta chikitsa.
Learn – Health Benefits Of Yoga: Mind And Body

Likewise the energies derived from Solar, Water and Air and different parts of nature had been used for therapeutic functions within the historic days. The forces of nature had been additionally thought of as Gods and had been worshipped. Rituals like fireplace sacrifices, oblations and many others had been additionally finished for creating therapeutic affect. They’re adopted even at this time. They can be included in daivavyapashraya chikitsa i.e. divine therapies however being non-medicinal are included in adravyabhuta chikitsa. Adravyabhuta Chikitsa in Nija Rogas (somatic ailments) – As already stated, these therapies are additionally included within the therapy of somatic problems, as in psychological problems. These therapies are talked about in each yuktivyapashraya chikitsa (rational remedy) and in addition daivavyapashraya chikitsa (divine therapies)
Learn – Daiva Vyapashraya Chikitsa – Divine Therapies of Ayurveda

For psychological problems

Adravyabhuta Chikitsa in Manasika Rogas (psychological problems) – Grasp Charaka has suggested the under talked about to be adopted within the therapy of psychological remedy –

1. Gyana – religious data
2. Vijyana – scriptural data
3. Dhairya – nurturing persistence
4. Smriti – evoking reminiscence
5. Samadhi – meditation

All these fall within the territory of adravyabhuta chikitsa. It’s administered utilizing measures (upaya) that are formless (amurta) which incorporates the under talked about strategies –

• creating terror or concern (bhaya darshana)
• stunning / surprising (vismapana)
• making one to neglect (vismarana)
• inflicting agitation (kshobhana) or exhilaration (harshana)
• threatening to kill (vadha)
• tying up an individual (bandhana)
• inducing sleep (swapna)
• mild therapeutic massage / touching (samvahana) and many others

These measures are defined within the context of chapter coping with therapy of unmada (psychoses) and apasmara (reminiscence problems).

Adravyabhuta Chikitsa and Trividha Chikitsa

Trividha chikitsa i.e. threefold remedies are common methods utilized in Ayurveda to comprehensively deal with many bodily, psychological or psychosomatic problems. They’re –

1. Daivavyapashraya Chikitsa – religious therapies
2. Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa – rational therapies (together with remedies, medicines, dietetic regime)
3. Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – psychotherapy

Amongst these three codecs of therapy, divine therapies and psychotherapy are formless remedies and don’t use any substance for the aim of therapy. Due to this fact most measures included in daivavyapashraya and sattvavajaya chikitsa fall underneath adravyabhuta chikitsa.
Learn – Mental And Spiritual Benefits Of Fasting

Adravyabhuta Chikitsa and Chaturvidha Chikitsa

Grasp Sushruta has talked about 4 sorts of remedies, adopted to comprehensively deal with the ailments. They’re samshodhana – cleaning therapies, samshamana – palliative remedies, ahara –weight-reduction plan and achara – conduct and way of life modifications. Amongst these, achara shall be included in adravyabhuta chikitsa. Alternatively we are able to inform that many measures of adravyabhuta chikitsa fall underneath the umbrella of achara.
Learn – Achara Rasayana – Behavioral Therapy For Calm Mind And Long Life

Adravyabhuta Chikitsa and a few types of Shamana

Shamana means palliative remedies remedies. The under talked about shamana measures shall be thought of as adravyabhoota chikitsa since no substance is utilized in these types of therapy –

• Kshudha (nigraha) – controlling or pacifying the starvation (fasting)
• Trshna (nigraha) – controlling or pacifying thirst
• Vyayama – getting indulged in train
• Atapa – publicity to warmth of the solar
• Maruta – publicity to the wind
  Learn – How To Do Fasting? A Step By Step Guide For You

Adravyabhuta Chikitsa and Upashaya

Upashaya is like shamana. It’s administered with a hope of pacifying a illness, if it does, it’s continued and the identical upashaya turns into chikitsa i.e. therapy for that illness. If it doesn’t, the doctor would search for an alternate method. If it aggravates the illness, it’s thought of as anupashaya and the measure is discontinued. Upashaya is considered when a illness just isn’t correctly recognized or when there are lots of ailments and it’s tough to make an correct prognosis. In a means upashaya works on the logics of ‘trial and error technique’. It’s one among the many 5 diagnostic instruments nidana panchaka.

18 sorts of upashaya have been defined in Ayurveda treatises. Three sorts of strategies are used within the context of upashaya i.e. aushadha – drugs, ahara – meals and vihara – actions. They might be both much like or antagonistic to the reason for the illness, illness or each. The permutations and mixtures make up for 18 sorts of upashaya.

Amongst these viharaja upashayas associated to actions shall be thought of underneath adravyabhuta chikitsa. They’re –

• Hetu viparita vihara – actions antagonistic to the causative elements
• Vyadhi viparita vihara – actions antagonistic to the illness
• Hetu-Vyadhi viparita vihara – actions antagonistic to each trigger and the illness
• Hetu viparitarthakari vihara – actions much like the causative elements
• Vyadhi viparitarthakaria vihara – actions much like the illness
• Hetu-Vyadhi viparitarthakari vihara – actions much like each trigger and the illness

Learn – Upashaya Anupashaya – Pacifying And Non-Pacifying Factors Of Disease

Gist of Non-pharmacological Therapies extracted from Ayurveda classics

Adharaniya Vegas – Ayurveda enlists 13 physique reflexes which shouldn’t be forcibly withheld when the physique is making an attempt to specific them. If they’re suppressed they are going to result in many ailments. If they don’t seem to be suppressed they might contribute in the direction of complete well being. Under talked about are these urges which shouldn’t be suppressed forcibly –

• Vata – fart and belch
• Vit – feces
• Mutra – urine
• Kshavathu – sneeze
• Trt – thirst
• Kshudha – starvation
• Nidra – sleep
• Kasa – cough
• Shrama shvasa – exertion dyspnea
• Jrmbha – yawning
• Ashru – tears
• Chardi – vomiting
• Retas – ejaculation

Right here no drugs or substance is used for upkeep of well being. However it’s suggested to not withhold these naturally manifesting urges.
Learn – Do Not Suppress Body Urges: Charak Samhita Sutrasthana 7th chapter

Dharaniya Vegas

Equally there are some urges which needs to be managed and withheld. They’re primarily the psychological expressions / feelings. They’re –

Dinacharya / Rtucharyokta Vihara

Bodily actions suggested to be practiced on each day foundation within the context of dinacharya i.e. each day routine like strolling, train, waking up early within the morning and many others shall be thought of as non-pharmacological therapies. Likewise the actions suggested to be finished or practiced throughout each season within the context of rtucharya i.e. seasonal regimen additionally have to be thought of.

Different inclusions

Nidana Parivarjana – holding away from the etiological elements (causative elements of a illness) Sadvrtta – observance of excellent conducts and noble deeds
Achara Rasayana – all these acts and deeds which might bestow the advantages of rasayana (rejuvenators, immune modulators, anti-ageing medicines)
Langhana – all sorts of lightening therapies besides shodhana – cleaning therapies,  deepana – digestive fireplace kindling medicines and therapies, and pachana – ama digesting medicines / therapies
Niragni sweda – all 10 sorts of sudation therapies whereby the contact of fireplace or warmth generated from the hearth should not used
Vyyama – train – helps in making the physique agency, steady and powerful, will increase endurance – other than many different advantages
Nidra – sleep – is claimed to be one of many upastambha i.e. supporting pillar for upkeep of well being in a complete means, is therapeutic in emaciation sufferers
Brahmacharya – celibacy – is one more upastambha i.e. supporting pillar for upkeep of well being in a complete means, helps in having stability of wholesome semen and sperms in males, it bestows longevity and can also be thought of as an vital pathway for salvation
Sankalpa – willpower or choice to get indulged in intercourse is claimed to be one of the best aphrodisiac Vajikarana Viharas – some actions, regimens and conducts are talked about to have aphrodisiac impact within the chapter of Vajikarana
Vidya – data / knowledge is claimed to be one of the best among the many brmhana – bulk promoter / promotes bodily and psychological nourishment
Vata, Pitta, Kapha hara Viharas – regimens / actions to stability / pacify vata, pitta and kapha Harsha – exhilaration is the basis of cheer or delight
Prashama – tranquility is claimed to be one of the best among the many pathyas i.e. healthful regimes – these useful and conducive for the channels of the physique
Tattva Avabodha – understanding the fundamentals, reality and actuality is claimed to be one of the best among the many Harshana – these which promote happiness / bliss
Indriyajaya – management over one’s senses / self management is one of the best amongst these which promote delightfulness
Nivrutti – means freedom (from liabilities), that is thought of to be one of the best amongst these which induce / bestow nourishment of the physique
Vayu – contemporary air is claimed to be one of the best amongst these which give very important power – prana
Dhee, Dhairya, Atmadi Vijnanam – These are the threefold remedies most well-liked and extremely advocated as the primary line of method in the direction of dealing with psychological problems. That is the idea of psychotherapy in Ayurveda. Dhee means selling the mind of the particular person, dhairya means putting in braveness within the minds of the affected person and atmadi vijnana consists of making the particular person to grasp the idea of self-worth and offering counseling. These measures are used within the fashionable psychiatry additionally.
Learn – Counselling – Types, Benefits, Myths And Facts

Examples of Adravyabhuta Chikitsa

Sl No	Illness	Adravyabhuta Chikitsa	That means
1	Jwara / fever	Langhana, Vishnu Sahasra Nama   Bandha, aveshana, pujana and many others in bhutabhishangaja jwara	Fasting, Chanting varied (1000) names of Lord Vishnu or chanting the identify of Lord Vishnu 1000 instances Tying up the affected person / arresting, driving out / scaring out, worship and many others in fevers prompted as a consequence of evil spirits
2	Raktapitta / bleeding problems	Shita upachara	Chilly comforts
3	Urustambha – stiffness / spasticity of thighs	Tarana, Vyayama	Swimming in opposition to the present of the river, bodily train, strolling on gravel and many others to alleviate kapha
4	Atikrisha / emaciation	Nidra, harsha, sukha shayya, sukha and many others	Sleep, being joyous, snug bedding, being in a state of enjoyment and many others
5	Atisthula / weight problems	Vyayama, jagarana, vyavaya and many others	Indulgence in bodily and psychological workouts, vigil (wakening throughout night time time), indulging in sexual act and many others
6	Prameha / Diabetes	Vyayama	Train, naked foot strolling, strolling
7	Rajayakshma / Tuberculosis	Yagjya	Fireplace sacrifices
8	Unmada / Madness, Psychoses	Ashwasana, Bhaya, Trasana, Pratidwandwa Chikitsa, Rudra Puja – in therapy of Nija Unmada   Mantra ucchara and many others – in therapy of agantuja unmada	Counseling and assurance, creating concern / terror within the thoughts of the affected person, creating sudden terror, therapy by mutually contradictory psychic elements and worshiping Lord Shiva / Rudra – in treating madness / psychoses attributable to endogenous causes (doshas) Chanting sacred / spiritual hymns and different spiritual actions – in treating madness / psychoses attributable to exogenous causes
9	Shanka Visha / suspicious poisoning	Mantra ucchara, Aswasana	Chanting holy / spiritual / sacred hymns, counseling the sufferers and many others
10	Atisara / diarrhea	Harshana – in bhayaja atisara Ashwasana – in shokaja atisara	Exhilarating – within the therapy of diarrhea attributable to concern Counseling – within the therapy of grief induced diarrhea (each these diarrheas will be in contrast with psychological diarrhea)
11	Madatyaya / Alcoholism	Gandharva, Sahayascha praharshanah, harshani kriya	Indulgence in music, pleasing and pleasant corporations, psychotherapy
12	Atattvabhinivesha / Psychic perversion	Vijgnana, dhairya, smrti, samadhi	Mates of the affected person ought to instill understanding, persistence, reminiscence and energy of focus

Additionally,

The under talked about measures (non-pharmocological) are thought of to be upayantras i.e. accent devices and therefore helpful within the therapy of ailments –

• Harsha – exhilaration
• Pravahana – straining for evacuation
• Kala – time issue
• Bhaya – concern

The under talked about non-drug therapies shall even be included in adravyabhuta chikitsa –

Abstract

Adravyabhuta Chikitsa don’t comprise of any herbs, medicines, meals or substances to deal with the ailments. Being non-pharmacological therapies they do have an effect (constructive affect) on the physique components and their capabilities. A few of them have their therapeutic affect on the physique and thoughts. A few of these non-drug therapies assist in stopping ailments, some in upkeep and stability of well being and lots of others in curing the ailments – at bodily, psychological or each ranges.

At bodily stage they assist in upkeep of bodily well being and in addition to keep up dhatu samya i.e. stability of physique tissues. They assist in balancing the physique doshas and thus hold all of the capabilities in a state of stability. Instance – train, sleep, and fasting, not withholding physique’s pure urges and many others. These non-drug therapies that are primarily carried out for upkeep of psychological well being helps in enhancing the sattva attribute of the thoughts and stability imbalanced rajas and tamas attributes on the similar time. This helps in prevention and remedy of assorted psychological issues and ailments. Instance – psychotherapy, counseling, exhilaration, encouragement, meditation, pleasant corporations and many others.

The imbalance of bodily doshas and psychological doshas could affect one another sooner or later of time. Due to this fact the non-pharmacological measures used at bodily stage would assist in psychological stability and treating psychological problems and vice versa. The non-pharmacological therapies together with spiritual actions and divine therapies primarily act on the idea of prabhava – special effect which can’t be defined logically. These actions additionally improve and promote sattva attribute of the particular person. It is usually believed that these therapies have an effect on the cosmic rays of various planets (graha) and thus is believed to please the exogenous forces.

From illness and their therapy perspective – Even based on the trendy analysis, train helps in controlling the blood glucose ranges and in addition improves insulin sensitivity. It helps in stopping the related issues equivalent to cardiovascular harm. Ayurveda too has given significance to the inclusion of train in lots of metabolic ailments together with prameha / madhumeha vis-à-vis diabetes mellitus. In a research it was discovered that varied sorts of workouts viz cardio, resistance, Yoga, endurance kind and many others confirmed useful impact in T2DM (Srijit Das et al).

By all these we are able to see that adravyabhuta chikitsa are vital a part of the Ayurveda therapy protocol, be it in case of psychological problems or bodily problems or psychosomatic problems. Most of those measures are additionally adopted within the fashionable period, some owing to the practices which have descended by means of the timeline of evolution and a few after having been proved by means of scientific exams and analysis works (although many of those haven’t gone underneath the hammer of scientific exams and have been discarded as absurd and ineffective). In most of them the religion or belief is the working issue and lots of are stated to work on the idea of particular impact for which no scientific precept or foundation has been explored. However what’s vital is that any therapy with or with out type ought to present remedy or assist in stopping the ailments or in upkeep of well being. An excellent and skillful mixture of dravyabhuta (remedies whereby supplies like medicines, weight-reduction plan and many others are used) and adravyabhuta (non-drug) chikitsa is one of the simplest ways in the direction of comprehensively coping with many ailments in scientific apply. When finished so, the primary goal of therapy i.e. dhatusamya will be undoubtedly achieved to an ideal extent.
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