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 very best cures 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 cures / therapy for each units of doshas and therefore the illnesses 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 attention-grabbing to see that Grasp Charaka has not talked about Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – psychotherapy, the third important sort of therapy which Ayurveda has accepted. Later, in Sutra Sthana Chapter 11, verse 54, whereas mentioning three sorts of therapy 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 provides examples of Daivavyapashraya and Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa and ends the verse by defining Sattvavajaya Chikitsa as ‘a therapy or strategy wherein the thoughts is withdrawn from dangerous and unwholesome objects’.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 on talked about earlier in chapter 1 are the measures included underneath 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 elements 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 on might be thought-about as particular person therapies contributing in the direction of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and collectively contributing in the direction of complete thoughts therapeutic and treatment of psychological problems.
So, we are going to talk about these 5 elements / therapy measures of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa in short.
5 elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa
1. Jnana – Non secular Data / Non secular Understanding – Perception oriented therapy strategy
Jnana is outlined as ‘Adyatma Jnanam’ which suggests religious 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 himself and the world round himself. It is extremely essential to introduce the individual to himself or herself and the life factor or atman in them and the relation of atman with the larger life power i.e. paramatma. Jnana, identical 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 looking 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 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 software 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 explanation for all types of miseries. By doing so, the individual will eliminate all psychological illnesses and also will obtain rajas-tamas steadiness.
Associated Studying – ‘Jnana – religious 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 be scientific data. In Ayurveda, the scriptures and texts are thought-about as essential testimonials. They characterize ‘true and unadulterated data’.
Vijnana is a information in the 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, unfavourable feelings and thoughts imbalances.
One will get to study 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 prepare the individuals in regards to the appropriate methods of responding and behaving to varied 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.
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 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 keep up a state of psychological steadiness though she or he is underneath 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 not tolerate any sorts of bodily or psychological illnesses 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 frequently as part of dhairya remedy. The doctor ought to put all attainable efforts to switch the unfavourable ideas of the affected person with constructive ones. He additionally ought to attempt to channelize the thought strategy of the sufferers in a constructive course. Even in fashionable 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 goal of dhairya remedy will probably 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 might 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, can assist in creating constructive vibrations to relax the thoughts. This may create a pathway in the 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 Method
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 appropriate the reminiscence strategy of the affected person and likewise to boost and restore the reminiscence.
Recollections are recordsdata in our unconscious layers. They floor when wanted. Some could also be good, many could also be dangerous and unwholesome. The doctor also needs to assist the affected person to eliminate dangerous and undesirable reminiscences and exchange 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 always doing this with will or being guided, the individual will study to manage up along with his or her issues and can attempt to steer clear of the dangerous and unfavourable feelings, stimuli or triggers and develop a way of positivity inside.
Provided that the individual remembers the true nature of issues, he can eliminate his reminiscences. There are eight causes for enchancment of Smriti in a constructive course. This may be readily practiced as a therapeutic measure if the individual has low reminiscence and if she or he requires reminiscence to eliminate their illnesses. Smriti can be wanted to observe the directions given by the doctor in the direction of frequently taking medicines, way of life adjustments, behavioural adjustments, what to do and what to not, which is the bottom for whole restoration from any ailment. To vary 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 the direction of the atma in order to have it underneath religious management and likewise meditating on the religious dimension of 1’s character’.
The principle intention and objective of samadhi is to get indifferent from numerous temptations of trivial nature, unwholesome points of interest, attachment with undesired issues and numerous sorts of stressors, to make the individual to understand the significance of self and self-worth and diverting the thoughts inwards in the direction of the internal self and making an affiliation with the internal self.
Samadhi is taken into account as the last word stage in Yogic practices. It’s a state of reaching and being in a state of unwavering focus.
As a therapy, Samadhi might be included in treating the illnesses. The objective will probably be to reduce the psychological fluctuations and scale 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 might be achieved by diverting the senses i.e. indriyas in the 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 – illnesses and dukhas – grief.
To sum up
The 5 therapy measures detailed above are extremely efficient in therapy of psychological problems and kind integral elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – the Ayurveda model of Psychotherapy. They not solely heal the thoughts however may also instill braveness, persistence, calmness, confidence and steadiness within the thoughts and can hold the rajas and tamas elements in a state of steadiness. They may also improve the sattva attribute of the thoughts.
Subsequently, sattvavajaya chikitsa with these 5 therapy measures included underneath its umbrella is extremely helpful in prevention and treatment of psychological problems and balancing the psychological attributes. It additionally strengthens the thoughts and adjustments the attitude of pondering, making choices and coping with not solely psychological but additionally psychosomatic problems. It’s of the very best ordeal and strategy 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 last word software in dealing with psychological problems via Sattvavaja Chikitsa and it encompasses the qualities of all the opposite Jnana and so on strategies. Alternatively, Jnana is taken into account as having lesser advantages and privileges compared to the opposite 4 measures.
So, the best means of planning Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and implementing it’s making splendid and customised combos 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 kind splendid therapies however when successfully mixed, the outcomes will probably be unparalleled and extra secure.
So, all these 5 steps of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa assist in balancing the psychological signs and normalize the physiological features. That is achieved by the steadiness of doshas, hormones or neurotransmitters that’s led to by their implementation. These 5 features of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa as specified by Grasp Charaka comprise in all of them the opposite therapies suggested for treating the imbalanced thoughts and the illnesses brought on by them. We will additionally inform that the fundamentals and fundamentals of the whole fashionable psychiatry might be included into these 5 therapies which represent the Sattvavajaya Chikitsa.
Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and these 5 measures ought to be thought-about and applied in complete therapy of psychological problems primarily, but additionally ought to be included within the therapy 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 be true. Ayurveda scientific follow just isn’t full with out contemplating ‘the thoughts steadiness’ and for this to realize, Sattvavajaya Chikitsa is crucial and obligatory software.