Changes

Satvavajaya Chikitsa is one of the treatment modality in Ayurveda. This type of treatment is focused at controlling the ever wondering mind that has a potential to develop variety of health disorders in a human. There are certain illnesses which are caused by the disturbances in one's mind and thus can not be cured until the the causative agent, the mid, is treated or controlled. In such situations, pharmacological treatments may not work effectively. Thus a treatment modality which can handle the manas (mind) related component in the diseases or which can help to manage psychological disorders had been developed and known as Satvavajaya chikitsa in Ayurveda.  

Satvavajaya Chikitsa (Samskrt: सत्वावजय चिकित्सा) is one of the treatment modalities in [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)]]. This type of treatment is focused at controlling the ever wondering mind that has a potential to develop variety of health disorders in a human. There are certain illnesses which are caused by the disturbances in one's [[Manas (मनः)|manas (मनस् mind)]] and thus can not be cured until the the causative agent, the mind, is treated or controlled well. In such situations, pharmacological treatments may not work effectively. Thus a treatment modality which can handle the manas (mind) related component in the diseases or which can help to manage psychological disorders was developed and it is known as Satvavajaya chikitsa in Ayurveda.  

== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

Satvaaajaya chikitsa is one of the fundamental treatment modalities among Daivavyapashraya and yuktivyapashraya chikitsa. This treatment approach is meant exclusively for the “manah” or mind and its related attributes.

Satvavajaya [[Chikitsa (चिकित्सा)|chikitsa]] is one of the fundamental treatment modalities among 3 modalities of treatment in Ayurveda ,the others being [[Daivavyapashraya Chikitsa (दैवव्यपाश्रया चिकित्सा)|Daivavyapashraya]] and yuktivyapashraya chikitsa. This treatment approach is meant exclusively for the “[[Manas (मनः)|manas]]” or mind and its related attributes.

The term “Sattva” means mind or intellect and “avajay” means to withdraw or to overcome, thus literally, Sattvaavajay means, to withdraw the mind from unwholesome objects or to overcome difficulties of mind. finding a correct balance between satva, raja and tamas, meaning to increase the satva guna by diminishing the other two doshas of manah, encompasses satvavajaya chikitsa method.  In comparison with modern sciences, satvavajaya chikitsa can be mildly co-related to the Psychiatric aspect of the human body.

The term “Satva” has been used to refer 2 different things in Ayurveda. [[Sattva (सत्त्वम्)|Sattva]]  is one of the [[Trigunas (त्रिगुणाः)|trigunas]] that are the qualities of mind. And also, Satva means mind.

 

The term “Avajay” means to withdraw or to overcome,  

 

Thus literally, Satvavajaya means, to withdraw the mind from unwholesome objects or to overcome difficulties of mind. finding a correct balance between [[Sattva (सत्त्वम्)|sattva]], [[Rajas (रजः)|rajas]] and [[Tamas (तमः)|tamas]], meaning to increase the satva guna by diminishing the other two doshas of [[Manas (मनः)|manas]].  In comparison with modern sciences, satvavajaya chikitsa is equivalent to cognitive behavior therapy and psychotherapy.  

== Definition ==

== Definition ==

<blockquote>सत्त्वावजयः- पुनरहितेभ्योऽर्थेभ्यो मनोनिग्रहः|| (cha.sut.11.56)</blockquote>''“ahitebhyo”'' means harmful, unhealthy. “''Artha”'' means object of sensory organs''. “Mano nigraha”'' refers to controlling the mind. Thus, the chikitsa method that restraints the mind from the desires of harmful objects by preferably increasing the sattva guna(property of the mind) is known as the Satvaavajaya chikitsa.

Acharya Charaka in [[Charaka Samhita (चरक संहिता)|Charaka Samhita]] describe the term Satvavajaya as follows,  <blockquote>सत्त्वावजयः- पुनरहितेभ्योऽर्थेभ्यो मनोनिग्रहः|| (cha.sut.11.54)</blockquote>''अहितेभ्यो “ahitebhyo”'' means harmful, unhealthy.  

== Functions of mind - Physiology and pathophysiology ==

अर्थेभ्यो “''Artha”'' means object of sensory organs and mind. (See next section for details)

These are the fundamental functions of the mind or basic physiology,<blockquote>इन्द्रियाभिग्रहः कर्म मनसः स्वस्य निग्रहः| ऊहो विचारश्च, ततः परं बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते||२१||</blockquote>Indriyabhinighraha – denotes control over one’s senses, and thought process.

Uhya – the ability to analyze or being able to speculate is uhya.

Thus, the [[Chikitsa (चिकित्सा)|chikitsa]] method that restraints the mind from the desires for unwholesome objects by increasing the [[Sattva (सत्त्वम्)|sattva]] guna (good quality of the mind) is known as the Satvaavajaya chikitsa.

Vichara  - Thinking, decision making, or having a controlled thought process means vichara.  

 

 

 

 

Vichara  - Thinking, decision making, or having a controlled thought process means vichara. 

 

It is clear from above that manas has the potential to generate and even control any action, thought, emotion of a person. Therefore when the any of these components ar eresponsible for causing any illness in a person, satvavajaya becomes an important modality of treatment along with other therapeutic aspects.  

== Manasa dosha  treatment aspects ==

== Manasa dosha  treatment aspects ==

As there are shareera doshas Vata, pitta and kapha, there are manasa doshas which are rajas and tamas. Attaining a balance between rajas, tamas and satva guna with various methods as enlisted below encompasses Savavajaya chikitsa techniques.

Doshas means defects in something. As there are shareera [[Doshas (दोषाः)|doshas]] namely, Vata, pitta and kapha, there are manas doshas which are [[Rajas (रजः)|rajas]] and [[Tamas (तमः)|tamas]]. Attaining a balance between [[Rajas (रजः)|rajas]], [[Tamas (तमः)|tamas]] and [[Sattva (सत्त्वम्)|sattva]] guna is the target of Satvavajaya chikitsa. Various methods that can help to achieve this balance and specifically increase the sattva guna are employed in Satvavajaya chiktsa. Some of them are listed below as described in Charaka samhita.

 

with various methods as enlisted below encompasses Savavajaya chikitsa techniques.

 

<blockquote>मानसो ज्ञानविज्ञानधैर्यस्मृतिसमाधिभिः||(cha.sut.1.58)</blockquote>

ज्ञानम् अध्यात्मज्ञानं, विज्ञानं शास्त्रज्ञानं ^[१] , धैर्यम् अनुन्नतिश्चेतसः, स्मृतिः अनुभूतार्थस्मरणं, समाधिः विषयेभ्यो निवर्त्यात्मनि मनसो नियमनम्||५८||

Jnyana – here jnyana denotes knowledge of self.

Jnana – here jnana denotes knowledge of self.

Vijnyana – vijnyaa denotes knowledge of shastras(doctrines)

Vijnana – vijnyaa denotes knowledge of shastras(doctrines)

Dhairya -  means courage or strength

Dhairya -  means courage/ strength/ steady conduct or patientce

Smriti – means memory or capacity to remember.

Smriti – means memory or capacity to remember.

Samadhi – denotes meditation

Samadhi – denotes meditation

These methods convey the idea of basi principles of satvaavajaya chikitsa.

These methods convey the idea of basic principles of satvaavajaya chikitsa.

== Application of Satvaavajaya chikitsa concerning certain diseases ==

== Application of Satvaavajaya chikitsa concerning certain diseases ==

== References ==

== References ==