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 cures to heal the thoughts and to convey 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 supplies cures / remedy for each units of doshas and therefore the ailments attributable to 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 attention-grabbing to see that Grasp Charaka has not talked about Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – psychotherapy, the third predominant 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 provides examples of Daivavyapashraya and Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa and ends the verse by defining Sattvavajaya Chikitsa as ‘a treatment or approach in which the mind is withdrawn from harmful and unwholesome objects’.
Taking all these contexts in dialogue, we are able to mathematically conclude that the Jnana, Vijnana and many others 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 of as elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa, totally different measures which can be utilized to deal with the thoughts and convey it right into a state of stability.
So, Jnana and many others will be thought of as particular person therapies contributing in the direction of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and collectively contributing in the direction of complete thoughts therapeutic and remedy of psychological problems.
So, we’ll focus on these 5 elements / remedy measures of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa briefly.
5 elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa
1. Jnana – Religious Information / Religious Understanding – Perception oriented remedy method
Jnana is outlined as ‘Adyatma Jnanam’ which suggests non secular data or realizing 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 sport changer in how an individual begins taking a look at himself and the world round himself. It is rather 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 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 in search of psychotherapy to develop and enhance the perception about themselves. This may be achieved by self-monitoring and evaluating frequently which can in flip assist them to adapt to hectic conditions.
The data which helps an individual to grasp and notice that Brahma or absolute atma is the one reality and nothing else is called Adyatma Jnana, which is an important a part of Jnana remedy. The instrument for attaining this Adyatma Jnana in keeping 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 ailments and also will obtain rajas-tamas stability.
Associated Studying – ‘Jnana – spiritual knowledge, role in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
2. Vijnana – Scriptural / Particular Information – Educative method
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 of as crucial testimonials. They symbolize ‘true and unadulterated knowledge’.
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, detrimental 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 unhealthy and likewise imbibe them into their life from Vijnana. The identical data will prepare the individuals concerning the appropriate methods of responding and behaving to numerous stimuli.
Vijnana helps in balancing rajas and tamas doshas of the thoughts. It’s 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 Knowledge – Educative approach and its role in Sattvavajaya Chikitsa’
3. Dhairya – braveness, persistence, controlling energy, persistence – Supportive method
Dhairya is outlined as ‘Dhairyan anunati chestasaha’. It means ‘a state wherein one has capacity to maintain a state of mental balance even though he or she is under an immense stressful situation’.
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 ailments or hardships of life. They want fixed encouragement, by docs, household or mates as a result of their braveness and tolerance energy is simply too low.
The affected person is reassured and counselled commonly as part of dhairya remedy. The doctor ought to put all attainable efforts to exchange the detrimental ideas of the affected person with optimistic ones. He additionally ought to attempt to channelize the thought technique of the sufferers in a optimistic route. Even in fashionable drugs we are able to see that counselling is an important and obligatory a part of psychotherapy. This may be equated with the dhairya part or method of sattvavajaya chikitsa.
The principle intention of dhairya remedy might be to settle down the hyper-excitation and disturbances of the thoughts and likewise to convey power, stability and firmness to the thoughts.
The persistence 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 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 optimistic vibrations to settle down 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 focus to the affected person. This remedy creates a belief worth and likewise a matured stage of consciousness and judgment. It additionally improves a big quantity of persistence and consciousness of self-worth.
Associated Studying – ‘Dhairya / Aashvasana Chikitsa – reassurance and courage therapy, Role 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 technique 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 unhealthy and unwholesome. The doctor also needs to assist the affected person to eliminate unhealthy and undesirable recollections and substitute them with new and good recollections. They need to even be guided how to not create and save recollections of unhealthy experiences, to disregard, forgive, overlook and transfer on.
Herein, as part of remedy, in smriti, the affected person is helped to withdraw and extract the unhealthy recollections 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 individual will study to manage up together with his or her issues and can attempt to steer clear of the unhealthy and detrimental 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 recollections. There are eight causes for enchancment of Smriti in a optimistic route. 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 ailments. Smriti can be wanted to comply with the directions given by the doctor in the direction of commonly taking medicines, way of life adjustments, behavioural adjustments, what to do and what to not, which is the bottom for complete restoration from any ailment. To vary right here
5. Samadhi – focus, restraining the thoughts, meditation – Psycho-philosophical method
Samadhi is outlined as ‘Vishayebhyo Nivruthya Atmani Manaso Niyamanam’ which suggests ‘restraining the mind and detaching it from its association with worldly objects and diverting it towards the atma so as to have it under spiritual control and also meditating on the spiritual dimension of one’s persona’.
The principle intention and purpose 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 attaining and being in a state of unwavering focus.
As a remedy, Samadhi will be included in treating the ailments. The purpose 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 will be achieved by diverting the senses i.e. indriyas in the direction of and into the thoughts i.e. manas in order to attain 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 elements of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa – the Ayurveda model of Psychotherapy. They not solely heal the thoughts however may even instill braveness, persistence, calmness, confidence and stability within the thoughts and can maintain the rajas and tamas elements in a state of stability. They may even improve the sattva attribute of the thoughts.
Due to this fact, sattvavajaya chikitsa with these 5 remedy measures included underneath its umbrella is very helpful in prevention and remedy of psychological problems and balancing the psychological attributes. It additionally strengthens the thoughts and adjustments the angle of pondering, making choices and coping with not solely psychological but in addition psychosomatic problems. It’s of the best ordeal and method in coping with weak minded folks.
Amongst these 5 entities the successive ones are stated 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 are able to perceive that Samadhi is the last word instrument in dealing with psychological problems by Sattvavaja Chikitsa and it encompasses the qualities of all the opposite Jnana and many others strategies. Then again, 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 supreme and customised combos 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 supreme 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 features. That is achieved by the stability of doshas, hormones or neurotransmitters that’s led to by their implementation. These 5 features 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 attributable to them. We will additionally inform that the fundamentals and fundamentals of your complete fashionable psychiatry will be included into these 5 therapies which represent the Sattvavajaya Chikitsa.
Sattvavajaya Chikitsa and these 5 measures ought to be thought of and carried out in complete remedy of psychological problems primarily, but in addition ought to 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 be true. Ayurveda scientific follow isn’t full with out contemplating ‘the mind balance’ and for this to attain, Sattvavajaya Chikitsa is crucial and obligatory instrument.
