A Brief Overview of the Ayurvedic Herbal System – by Jessica Lane
In India, the art of herbalism is almost as old as that of China. Ayurveda means “science of life” and each individual taking responsibility for his or her own good health is the emphasis of this medical system. Developed from the Vedas, India’s four books of ancient wisdom, herbal formulas are derived from sixty-seven different healing herbs; some of which are easily recognized in Western culture, senna, ginger and cinnamon. The oldest book of Indian wisdom, the Big Veda, dates back to approximately 2500 BC and contains detailed descriptions of such procedures as amputations and eye surgery. Today, modern science recognizes one of the ancient, Big Veda herbs, Rauwolfia serpentina, or snakeroot, as the source of reserpine, and is used in Western medicine to control high blood pressure.

Indian medicine benefited from the influence of its many invaders throughout the centuries. Major influence from Persians in 500 BC and the Mongols in the 14th century included the medical knowledge of Galen (court physician to Roman general Marcus Aurelius) and Avicenna, (the most famous of Arab physicians, AD 980-1037) who was particularly knowledgeable in tropical medicinal herbs. In the nineteenth century, the British brought Western medicine and with typical colonial fervor, shut down all the Ayurvedic schools of medicine in 1833. Fortunately, the ancient knowledge survived and thrived, and today, an estimated seventy percent of Indian and Pakistan peoples utilize Ayurvedic physicians and their prescribed methods of healing.

Ayurvedic herbalism views illness as arising from an imbalance in the whole and places emphasis on the holistic approach of combining appropriate remedies for body, mind, and spirit. This includes diet, herbs, and also light, fresh air, physical exercises, sexual pleasures and meditation. As in Chinese medicine, the individual is linked with the cosmos. At the center of Ayurvedic belief is the influence of three primal forces: prana, the breath of life, agni, the spirit of fire and light, and soma, harmony and love. There are also five elements: earth, air, water, fire, and ether (a nebulous “nothingness” that fills all spaces – Ether was known to the ancient Greeks). Together the primal forces and elements influence all bodily parts and functions. An abbreviated breakdown follows: Five elements are converted by agni, the digestive fire, into three waste products, or humors, which influence health and temperament.

1. the first humor, vata (wind), produced by air and ether-controls the melancholy temperament

2. the second humor, pitta (bile) produced from fire – controls the choleric temperament

3. the third and final humor, kapha (phlegm) produced by earth and water – controls the phlegmatic temperament.

Ayurvedic categorizes foods by six tastes and these tastes act on the body to increase or decrease the three humors. If intake of food overemphasizes any of the humors, imbalance of the body results and illness follows. Diet should contain a mixture of all six tastes and in case of illness, one, or the other taste can be temporarily stressed to restore balance to the whole. There is such importance placed on the proper combination of the six tastes for growth and development that children are regularly given herbal formulas or pills that contain the tastes in proper balance.

Due to the complexity of the Ayurvedic system, I have again abbreviated the following information in the interest of time and space. There are many good books listed on Amazon (use the link in Gift Horse Gallery) for those who wish to pursue this subject more thoroughly than the scope of this article allows for.
Briefly then:

1. sweet taste (cashew nuts, rice, sweet potato) increases body fluids, especially milk and semen and reduces toxins related to pitta – an excess of kapha (phlegm) as in colds suggests avoiding sweet foods.

2. Sour taste (lemon, cranberry, spinach) reduces vata and increases kapha and pitta; they stimulate digestion. Too much results in muscle weakness and ailments related to excess pitta such as ulcers and liver problems.

3. Salty taste (mineral salts, seaweed) increases kapha and pitta; they help retain fluid and clean the body’s ducts, by attracting water, they loosen toxins; they are used as expectorants, but too much can cause premature aging, impotence or skin problems.

4. Pungent taste (horseradish, cloves, basil) increases vatta and pitta and reduces kapha; they are stimulating, warming, relieve colds, obesity, lethargy, and depression. Excess can lead to burning sensations, thirst, and nervous exhaustion.

5. Bitter taste (watercress, artichoke, endive, turmeric) increases vata, reduces pitta and kapha; they stimulate digestions, absorb phlegm and clean the digestive tract of toxins; used in fevers and skin diseases.

6. Astringent taste (sage, bilberries, dried strawberry or raspberry leaves) increase vata and decrease pitta and kapha; they are drying and are used for heavy menstruation and diarrhea; excess astringent foods are over drying, leading to stiff joints and constipation.

Ayurvedic medicine also places stress on the balance of the energy centers of the body – the chakras. There are eight aligned straight down the center of the body starting at the crown of the head all the way to the base torso Chakras are linked to organs and glands through the body and stimulation of the chakras is by the external and internal use of the properly associated herbs.

Next month we will have a quick look at Egyptian, Greek, Islamic and Roman herbalism followed by a more detailed view of the dominant herbal practices of North America, which are a combination of European and native North American systems. Then we will be ready to begin looking at individual North American herbs, their medicinal effects and how you can apply this knowledge to the care and wellbeing of your companion, athletic or working horse. Spring will be arrived by then and you will be able to roam fields and woods looking for herbs; first identifying them through their blossoms and as we proceed through summer and fall, you can follow the individual plants as they progress through their cycle of growth, maturity and dieback. If you are serious about learning herbal lore and want to harvest some herbs for your own use, I strongly recommend the Audubon Field Guide to North American Wildflowers – Eastern or Western Edition depending upon where you reside in North America. This invaluable book will allow you to identify herbs by their blooms – one of the easiest ways to familiarize yourself with these remarkable healing gifts of nature. Until next month, take care and be sure to check out the latest offerings at the Gift Horse Gallery.

Until next month, health and happiness to you and your precious animal companions.  Jessica Lane

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