Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Grasp Charaka has given 5 finest rules for prevention and efficient administration of psychological problems. They’re additionally the perfect treatments to heal the thoughts and to deliver the doshas of thoughts i.e. rajas and tamas to a state of stability. 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 offers 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. Alternatively, 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 primary 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Chikitsa and ends the verse by defining Sattvavajaya Chikitsa as ‘a remedy or method during which the thoughts is withdrawn from dangerous and unwholesome objects’.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 of as elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa, totally different measures which can be utilized to deal with the thoughts and produce it right into a state of stability.
So, Jnana and so forth will be thought of as particular person therapies contributing in direction of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and collectively contributing in direction of complete thoughts therapeutic and remedy of psychological problems.
So, we are going to talk about these 5 elements / remedy measures of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa in short.
5 elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa
1. Jnana – Non secular Data / Non secular Understanding – Perception oriented remedy method
Jnana is outlined as ‘Adyatma Jnanam’ which implies non secular data or understanding about self. Whereas bringing Jnana as a remedy into play in psychological problems, the particular person 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 vital to introduce the particular person to himself or herself and the life ingredient or atman in them and the relation of atman with the larger life power 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 bettering these entities associated to thoughts.
On this remedy, the doctor guides the affected person or wholesome particular person searching for psychotherapy to develop and enhance the perception about themselves. This may be achieved by self-monitoring and evaluating frequently which is able to in flip assist them to adapt to worrying conditions.
The data which helps an individual to know and notice that Brahma or absolute atma is the one fact and nothing else is named Adyatma Jnana, which is a necessary a part of Jnana remedy. The instrument for attaining this Adyatma Jnana in line with 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 reason behind all types of miseries. By doing so, the particular person will eliminate all psychological ailments and also will obtain rajas-tamas stability.
Associated Studying – ‘Jnana – non secular data, position in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
2. Vijnana – Scriptural / Particular Data – Educative method
Vijnana is outlined as ‘Shastra Jnanam’ which implies scriptural or textual data. Vijnana can also be scientific data. In Ayurveda, the scriptures and texts are thought of as crucial testimonials. They symbolize ‘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 elements – 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 in addition to discriminate between good and dangerous and in addition imbibe them into their life from Vijnana. The identical data will practice the individuals in regards to the right methods of responding and behaving to varied stimuli.
Vijnana helps in balancing rajas and tamas doshas of the thoughts. It’s going to additionally improve the sattva high quality and in addition 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.
Totally 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 method and its position in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
3. Dhairya – braveness, endurance, controlling energy, endurance – Supportive method
Dhairya is outlined as ‘Dhairyan anunati chestasaha’. It means ‘a state whereby one has capability to keep up a state of psychological stability despite the fact that she or he is below an immense worrying scenario’.
We will see that individuals with alpa / hina sattva i.e. weak minds lack braveness and are timid by nature. They have an inclination 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 mates 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 doable 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 fashionable drugs we will see that counselling is a necessary and obligatory a part of psychotherapy. This may be equated with the dhairya part or method of sattvavajaya chikitsa.
The primary purpose of dhairya remedy might be to settle down the hyper-excitation and disturbances of the thoughts and in addition to deliver energy, stability and firmness to the thoughts.
The endurance and braveness of the affected person will be elevated with the assistance of counselling and meditation that are included in dhairya remedy. With the assistance of this braveness, the particular person 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 classes these days, may also help in creating constructive vibrations to settle down 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 offers most encouragement, empathy and a focus to the affected person. This remedy creates a belief worth and in addition a matured degree of consciousness and judgment. It additionally improves a major quantity of endurance and consciousness of self-worth.
Associated Studying – ‘Dhairya / Aashvasana Chikitsa – reassurance and braveness remedy, Position in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
4. Smriti – reminiscence, recall – Cognitive Strategy
Smriti is outlined as – ‘Smritih Anubhuthartha Smaranam’ which implies remembering or recalling the thing of previous expertise. Right here, the doctor adopts totally different measures to right the reminiscence means of the affected person and in addition to boost and restore the reminiscence.
Reminiscences are information 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 eliminate dangerous and undesirable reminiscences and change 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 continuously doing this with will or being guided, the particular person will be taught to manage up along with his or her issues and can attempt to steer clear of the dangerous and unfavorable feelings, stimuli or triggers and develop a way of positivity inside.
Provided that the particular person remembers the true nature of issues, he can eliminate 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 particular person has low reminiscence and if she or he requires reminiscence to eliminate 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 method
Samadhi is outlined as ‘Vishayebhyo Nivruthya Atmani Manaso Niyamanam’ which implies ‘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 in addition meditating on the non secular dimension of 1’s character’.
The primary 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 particular person to comprehend 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 attaining and being in a state of unwavering focus.
As a remedy, Samadhi will be included in treating the ailments. The objective might be to reduce the psychological fluctuations and scale back the wavering of thoughts. This may finally result in enhancement of focus and institution of a tranquilized thoughts. The stage of Samadhi will 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 finally 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 elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – the Ayurveda model of Psychotherapy. They not solely heal the thoughts however may also instill braveness, endurance, calmness, confidence and stability within the thoughts and can preserve the rajas and tamas elements in a state of stability. They may also improve the sattva attribute of the thoughts.
Subsequently, sattvavajaya chikitsa with these 5 remedy measures included below its umbrella is very helpful in prevention and remedy of psychological problems and balancing the psychological attributes. It additionally strengthens the thoughts and modifications the attitude of considering, making selections and coping with not solely psychological but additionally psychosomatic problems. It’s of the very best ordeal and method in coping with weak minded folks.
Amongst these 5 entities the successive ones are mentioned to be extremely helpful than the earlier in that order. So, Vijnana is healthier than Jnana, Dhairya is healthier than Vijgnana, Smriti is healthier than Dhairya and Samadhi is healthier than Smriti. With this, we will perceive that Samadhi is the final word instrument in dealing with psychological problems by way of Sattvavaja Chikitsa and it encompasses the qualities of all the opposite Jnana and so forth strategies. Alternatively, Jnana is taken into account as having lesser advantages and privileges compared to the opposite 4 measures.
So, the best method of planning Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and implementing it’s making best and customised mixtures of two or extra of those approaches or taking all 5 in consideration in order to supply complete and full profit in coping with the thoughts imbalances as and when wanted. As particular person approaches, they type 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 stability of doshas, hormones or neurotransmitters that’s led to by their implementation. These 5 facets of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa as specified by Grasp Charaka comprise 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 your entire fashionable psychiatry will be included into these 5 therapies which represent the Sattvavajaya Chikitsa.
Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and these 5 measures needs to be thought of and applied in complete remedy of psychological problems primarily, but additionally needs to be included within the remedy of bodily and psychosomatic problems. It is 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 medical follow isn’t full with out contemplating ‘the thoughts stability’ and for this to realize, Sattvavajaya Chikitsa is an important and obligatory instrument.
