Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Grasp Charaka has given 5 greatest ideas for prevention and efficient administration of psychological problems. They’re additionally the very best treatments to heal the thoughts and to carry the doshas of thoughts i.e. rajas and tamas to a state of steadiness. They’re – Jnana, Vijnana, Dhairya, Smriti and Samadhi.
Context and reference
वायुः पित्तं कफश्चोक्तः शारीरो दोषसङ्ग्रहः|
मानसः पुनरुद्दिष्टो रजश्च तम एव च||५७||
There are three sorts of sharira doshas i.e. bodily doshas – they’re, vata, pitta and kapha. The manasika doshas i.e. psychological doshas are two in quantity – they’re, raja and tama. (Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1, Verse 57)
Within the very subsequent verse, Grasp Charaka supplies treatments / remedy for each units of doshas and therefore the ailments brought on by them.
प्रशाम्यत्यौषधैः पूर्वो दैवयुक्तिव्यपाश्रयैः|
मानसो ज्ञानविज्ञानधैर्यस्मृतिसमाधिभिः||५८||
The disturbances and imbalances occurring within the bodily doshas are pacified by daiva vyapashraya i.e. divine therapies and yukti vyapashraya chikitsa i.e. rational therapies. Then again, the psychological doshas are handled with the assistance of –
– Jnana – data of self
– Vijnana – scientific data
– Dhairya – temperance or restraint, braveness
– Smriti – reminiscence and
– Samadhi – focus and focus / focus (Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1, verse 58)
Right here, it’s fascinating to see that Grasp Charaka has not talked about Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – psychotherapy, the third important sort of remedy which Ayurveda has accepted. Later, in Sutra Sthana Chapter 11, verse 54, whereas mentioning three sorts of remedy modalities i.e. daivavyapashraya, yuktivyapashraya and sattvavajaya chikitsa.
त्रिविधमौषधमिति- दैवव्यपाश्रयं, युक्तिव्यपाश्रयं, सत्त्वावजयश्च| तत्र दैवव्यपाश्रयं- मन्त्रौषधिमणिमङ्गलबल्युपहारहोमनियमप्रायश्चित्तोपवासस्वस्त्ययनप्रणिपातगमनादि,युक्तिव्यपाश्रयं- पुनराहारौषधद्रव्याणां योजना, सत्त्वावजयः- पुनरहितेभ्योऽर्थेभ्यो मनोनिग्रहः||५४||
On this context Charaka offers examples of Daivavyapashraya and Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa and ends the verse by defining Sattvavajaya Chikitsa as ‘a remedy or strategy wherein the thoughts is withdrawn from dangerous and unwholesome objects’.
Taking all these contexts in dialogue, we will mathematically conclude that the Jnana, Vijnana and so forth talked about earlier in chapter 1 are the measures included below Sattvavajaya. He has given examples or measures firstly in chapter 1 and outlined Sattvavajaya in chapter 11. He has additionally talked about the phrase Sattvavajaya within the reference given from chapter 11, which he had missed out in chapter 1.
So, the 5 measures – Jnana, Vijnana, Dhairya, Smriti and Samadi can collectively be thought-about as parts of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa, totally different measures which can be utilized to deal with the thoughts and produce it right into a state of steadiness.
So, Jnana and so forth could be thought-about as particular person therapies contributing in direction of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and collectively contributing in direction of complete thoughts therapeutic and treatment of psychological problems.
So, we’ll talk about these 5 parts / remedy measures of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa in short.
5 parts of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa
1. Jnana – Non secular Data / Non secular Understanding – Perception oriented remedy strategy
Jnana is outlined as ‘Adyatma Jnanam’ which suggests non secular data or figuring out about self. Whereas bringing Jnana as a remedy into play in psychological problems, the individual is educated to introspect and look inwards. It’s positively a recreation changer in how an individual begins taking a look at himself and the world round himself. It is extremely necessary to introduce the individual to himself or herself and the life aspect or atman in them and the relation of atman with the larger life vitality i.e. paramatma. Jnana, similar to its different counterparts, is therapeutic in addition to preventive remedy. Jnana additionally means consciousness, conscience, data, knowledge, thought course of or intelligence.
Jnana, as a remedy, goals at enhancing these entities associated to thoughts.
On this remedy, the doctor guides the affected person or wholesome individual searching for psychotherapy to develop and enhance the perception about themselves. This may be achieved by self-monitoring and evaluating regularly which is able to in flip assist them to adapt to demanding conditions.
The data which helps an individual to grasp and notice that Brahma or absolute atma is the one fact and nothing else is named Adyatma Jnana, which is an important a part of Jnana remedy. The device for attaining this Adyatma Jnana based on Grasp Charaka is ‘Satya Buddhi’ i.e. true data. This true data will assist in eliminating one’s egoism which in flip destroys upadha i.e. untoward needs – which is the basis explanation for all types of miseries. By doing so, the individual will do away with all psychological ailments and also will obtain rajas-tamas steadiness.
Associated Studying – ‘Jnana – non secular data, function in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
2. Vijnana – Scriptural / Particular Data – Educative strategy
Vijnana is outlined as ‘Shastra Jnanam’ which suggests scriptural or textual data. Vijnana can also be scientific data. In Ayurveda, the scriptures and texts are thought-about as crucial testimonials. They characterize ‘true and unadulterated data’.
Vijnana is a information in direction of attaining this true data. From a thoughts ‘s perspective, it helps in understanding the nuances and subtleties of the thoughts, the imbalances occurring therein, the stress parts – their causes and triggers. It additionally trains one and improves functionality to manage up with stress, unfavorable feelings and thoughts imbalances.
One will get to be taught the paths of indulgence, attachment or engagement or renunciation with respect to worldly pleasures and likewise to discriminate between good and dangerous and likewise imbibe them into their life from Vijnana. The identical data will practice the individuals concerning the right methods of responding and behaving to numerous stimuli.
Vijnana helps in balancing rajas and tamas doshas of the thoughts. It is going to additionally improve the sattva high quality and likewise assist in eliminating psychological problems. Vijnana is a remedy falling within the class of sattvavajaya and seeing its advantages it may be correlated with Cognitive Behavioural Remedy.
Completely different meanings of Vijnana are – comprehension, notion, judgment, profane understanding, discernment or consciousness. And Vijnana goals at enhancing these virtues.
Associated Studying – ‘Vijnana – Scriptural, Scientific or Worldly Data – Educative strategy and its function in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
3. Dhairya – braveness, persistence, controlling energy, persistence – Supportive strategy
Dhairya is outlined as ‘Dhairyan anunati chestasaha’. It means ‘a state whereby one has capability to take care of a state of psychological steadiness regardless that she or he is below an immense demanding state of affairs’.
We will see that individuals with alpa / hina sattva i.e. weak minds lack braveness and are timid by nature. They have a tendency to blow easy issues out of proportions. They can’t tolerate any sorts of bodily or psychological ailments or hardships of life. They want fixed encouragement, by medical doctors, household or associates as a result of their braveness and tolerance energy is simply too low.
The affected person is reassured and counselled recurrently as part of dhairya remedy. The doctor ought to put all potential efforts to exchange the unfavorable ideas of the affected person with constructive ones. He additionally ought to attempt to channelize the thought means of the sufferers in a constructive path. Even in trendy medication we will see that counselling is an important and obligatory a part of psychotherapy. This may be equated with the dhairya part or strategy of sattvavajaya chikitsa.
The principle intention of dhairya remedy might be to relax the hyper-excitation and disturbances of the thoughts and likewise to carry power, steadiness and firmness to the thoughts.
The persistence and braveness of the affected person could be elevated with the assistance of counselling and meditation that are included in dhairya remedy. With the assistance of this braveness, the individual would collect braveness to tolerate ache, grief and different hardships and challenges that she or he would encounter of their lives.
The sound remedy which is part of thoughts therapeutic periods these days, will help in creating constructive vibrations to relax the thoughts. This may create a pathway in direction of regeneration of braveness and hope within the affected person. From the doctor or therapist’s perspective, dhairya remedy supplies most encouragement, empathy and a spotlight to the affected person. This remedy creates a belief worth and likewise a matured degree of consciousness and judgment. It additionally improves a big quantity of persistence and consciousness of self-worth.
Associated Studying – ‘Dhairya / Aashvasana Chikitsa – reassurance and braveness remedy, Function in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
4. Smriti – reminiscence, recall – Cognitive Strategy
Smriti is outlined as – ‘Smritih Anubhuthartha Smaranam’ which suggests remembering or recalling the item of previous expertise. Right here, the doctor adopts totally different measures to right the reminiscence means of the affected person and likewise to boost and restore the reminiscence.
Reminiscences are recordsdata in our unconscious layers. They floor when wanted. Some could also be good, many could also be dangerous and unwholesome. The doctor must also assist the affected person to do away with dangerous and undesirable reminiscences and substitute them with new and good reminiscences. They need to even be guided how to not create and save reminiscences of dangerous experiences, to disregard, forgive, neglect and transfer on.
Herein, as part of remedy, in smriti, the affected person is helped to withdraw and extract the dangerous reminiscences and hidden conflicts from deep inside, which can be mighty dangerous in the long term and expel them completely. By consistently doing this with will or being guided, the individual will be taught to manage up along with his or her issues and can attempt to stay away from the dangerous and unfavorable feelings, stimuli or triggers and develop a way of positivity inside.
Provided that the individual remembers the true nature of issues, he can do away with his reminiscences. There are eight causes for enchancment of Smriti in a constructive path. This may be readily practiced as a therapeutic measure if the individual has low reminiscence and if she or he requires reminiscence to do away with their ailments. Smriti can also be wanted to comply with the directions given by the doctor in direction of recurrently taking medicines, way of life modifications, behavioural modifications, what to do and what to not, which is the bottom for complete restoration from any ailment. To alter right here
5. Samadhi – focus, restraining the thoughts, meditation – Psycho-philosophical strategy
Samadhi is outlined as ‘Vishayebhyo Nivruthya Atmani Manaso Niyamanam’ which suggests ‘restraining the thoughts and detaching it from its affiliation with worldly objects and diverting it in direction of the atma in order to have it below non secular management and likewise meditating on the non secular dimension of 1’s character’.
The principle intention and objective of samadhi is to get indifferent from varied temptations of trivial nature, unwholesome points of interest, attachment with undesired issues and varied sorts of stressors, to make the individual to appreciate the significance of self and self-worth and diverting the thoughts inwards in direction of the interior self and making an affiliation with the interior self.
Samadhi is taken into account as the final word stage in Yogic practices. It’s a state of reaching and being in a state of unwavering focus.
As a remedy, Samadhi could be included in treating the ailments. The objective might be to reduce the psychological fluctuations and cut back the wavering of thoughts. This may in the end result in enhancement of focus and institution of a tranquilized thoughts. The stage of Samadhi could be achieved by diverting the senses i.e. indriyas in direction of and into the thoughts i.e. manas in order to realize a stage of nonetheless and balanced thoughts. This in the end results in full destruction or cessation of all types of vikaras – ailments and dukhas – grief.
To sum up
The 5 remedy measures detailed above are extremely efficient in remedy of psychological problems and type integral parts of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – the Ayurveda model of Psychotherapy. They not solely heal the thoughts however will even instill braveness, persistence, calmness, confidence and steadiness within the thoughts and can maintain the rajas and tamas elements in a state of steadiness. They will even improve the sattva attribute of the thoughts.
Subsequently, sattvavajaya chikitsa with these 5 remedy measures included below its umbrella is very useful in prevention and treatment of psychological problems and balancing the psychological attributes. It additionally strengthens the thoughts and modifications the attitude of considering, making choices and coping with not solely psychological but in addition psychosomatic problems. It’s of the very best ordeal and strategy in coping with weak minded individuals.
Amongst these 5 entities the successive ones are mentioned to be extremely useful than the earlier in that order. So, Vijnana is best than Jnana, Dhairya is best than Vijgnana, Smriti is best than Dhairya and Samadhi is best than Smriti. With this, we will perceive that Samadhi is the final word device in dealing with psychological problems by means of Sattvavaja Chikitsa and it encompasses the qualities of all the opposite Jnana and so forth strategies. Then again, Jnana is taken into account as having lesser advantages and privileges compared to the opposite 4 measures.
So, the perfect means of planning Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and implementing it’s making very best and customised mixtures of two or extra of those approaches or taking all 5 in consideration in order to offer complete and full profit in coping with the thoughts imbalances as and when wanted. As particular person approaches, they type very best therapies however when successfully mixed, the outcomes might be unparalleled and extra secure.
So, all these 5 steps of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa assist in balancing the psychological signs and normalize the physiological capabilities. That is achieved by the steadiness of doshas, hormones or neurotransmitters that’s caused by their implementation. These 5 elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa as specified by Grasp Charaka include in all of them the opposite therapies suggested for treating the imbalanced thoughts and the ailments brought on by them. We will additionally inform that the fundamentals and fundamentals of the whole trendy psychiatry could be included into these 5 therapies which represent the Sattvavajaya Chikitsa.
Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and these 5 measures must be thought-about and applied in complete remedy of psychological problems primarily, but in addition must be included within the remedy of bodily and psychosomatic problems. It’s because physique and thoughts are the 2 sides of the identical coin. When one is disturbed, it disturbs the opposite one. Equally, when the thoughts is healed, the physique too will get healed and the vice versa can also be true. Ayurveda scientific follow isn’t full with out contemplating ‘the thoughts steadiness’ and for this to realize, Sattvavajaya Chikitsa is an important and obligatory device.
