Page 16 - NAMAH-Jul-2021

Namah Vol. 29, Issue 2, 15th July 2021

figure who emerged during the churning
of the ocean, Dhanvantari is supposed to
have incarnated as the son of King Dhanwa,
and learnt Ayurveda from the great sage
Bharadwaja. That is way before Hippocrates.
The point however is not who is greater but
the approaches the two different fathers of
medicine in two different contexts adopted.
We know that Hippocrates initiated the
science of modern medicine through body-
types and a study of the sick and the diseased. But this has come with a heavy cost. This
This process has continued till now. Most of disease-oriented approach has focused us
modern medicine and its theories are based almost exclusively on the sick part while
on a study of the sick. missing out on the totality of the person who
is sick. It has led to a one-sided exclusivist
For example, during this current pandemic, approach to healing, as if we were children
everyone seems to be focused on the virus, solving piecemeal without looking at the
by studying those who have developed larger picture of the cosmic puzzle. Even
the illness. But the large population that children intuitively understand that they
has remained asymptomatic has been left must have at least the feel of the total picture
aside taking it all for granted. But it may before they go about putting the pieces in
be interesting to note why and how some place. We seem to have forgotten even this
(or rather most) have been able to avoid the basic lesson of the most elementary puzzle
illness? solving strategy we learn as children.

Ayurveda, on the other hand, took the approach We are just too busy looking at the virus, the
A
to discover ways and means through which immediate cause and managing the immediate
man can remain healthy, delay ageing, stay full effects while forgetting the man himself who
of vigour and natural vitality, avoid diseases has fallen sick. The ancient Wisdom knew
and even remain young much longer. The that man is not just a body alone, lesser still
western science-based modern approach an organ or a piece of organically developed
thereby led to a multiplication of drugs and flesh and meat. Man is much more and
diseases and hospitals with a focus on cure. he carries within him powerful resources
A lot of money and other interests naturally that can aid his healing processes. But they
got involved, leading to a steady decline work best if we have lived a certain kind of
in the natural health of the human being lifestyle. When few medicines are available,
even though his average life-expectancy man naturally turns towards a healthier
supported by modern pharmacopeia may lifestyle but when we live in the illusion of a
have increased, though of this too there is ready over-the-counter cure then we become
little evidence except from the time of the negligent about developing natural means
Black Plague downwards. of health and healing, which we seem to
have lost due to an over dependence upon

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