Panchabhoutik Treatment

Using Principals of five basic elements

As per Ayurveda and Indian philosophy the universe, every living and non living matter is made of five elements.

They are earth, water, fire, air and space they collectively known as Panch mahabhoota ( five elements).

Panchmahabhuta theory states that everything in physical creation is composed of these five elements.

Space (Aakash) –" Seeking abundance within"

Ether is described as the space. Space is everywhere and touches everything. It is the receptivity and non-resistance to what is true. Talking about the human body many spaces are aspects of the space element. The spaces in the mouth, nose, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, abdomen, thorax, capillaries, blood vessels all are spaces.

Air ( Vayu) – " Weightless yet moving"

All movements involve air as an element. The nature of the element themselves determine the nature of physiology. It is mobile and dynamic. Within the human body, air is present in the form of pulsations of heart, lungs and every movement of body. Air is also present in the form of oxygen, which is the basis for all energy transfer reactions, air is indirectly required to produce energy, which is the basic requisite for one's survival.

Fire (Agni) – " Portrays energy and vitality"

The source of fire and light in the solar system is the sun. In human body pitta represents fire, fire is present in the form of energy that binds atoms together, converts food to fat and muscle, in short fire denotes metabolism. In addition, fire creates impulses of nervous reactions and even our thought process. Fire (pitta) works in digestive system as well as in the grey matter of the brain, where fire manifest as intelligence. Fire also activates the retina to perceive light therefore body temperature, thinking etc are all the functions of the fire.

Water (Jal) - "Brings in Tranquillity and Peace"

The liquid state is represented by water, Water is the prerequisite for the survival of living creatures, including humankind. About 70% of the human body is made up of water, required for smooth functioning. In addition to water, fluids including our blood and lymph move between our cells and through our vessels, secretions of digestive juices, cytoplasm of cells are manifestation of jala mahabhoot in human body. The body temperature is also regulated. Water is a form without stability.

Earth (Prithvi) – "Denotes poise and stability"

Earth represents the solid state of matter in the planet. It symbolizes stability, permanence and rigidity. Life is possible on this planet because the earth holds all living and non living substances to its solid surface. The human body consists of bones, teeth, cells and tissues, all solid parts of body are the manifestations of the Earth. Earth is regarded as a stable substance.
Earth, and everything on it, is the product of different combinations of these five basic elements.
Just as chemistry and physics use specific technical terms to classify matter, Ayurveda uses the characteristics of the five elements (pancha mahabhutas) to identify various objects. If something is classified as "fire" it does not mean that it is literally a fire. It means that the object displays the characteristics of fire, like combustion, heat and so on. Similarly, if an item is classified as "water" or "earth" it means it is moist, cool and sticky or heavy, solid and stable.

Panch mahabhuta theory and its application in Ayurveda-

In Ayurveda, the place in which to determine the elements around us is not a science laboratory, but the human body.

We use our senses of hearing, taste, touch, sight and smell to identify the surrounding elements and their qualities. The pancha mahabhutas theory classify, all of the objects found on Earth and the natural cycles experienced on it like days, seasons and life itself, in a very sophisticated method. This is because the elements dominate at particular times, depending on the conditions experienced and observed.

For example, the human lifecycle is divided into childhood, where physical growth takes place (water and earth), adulthood where activity and change occur (fire), and old age where mobility becomes impaired and the body begins to weaken (space and air). The year is divided into four seasons – winter when it is cold and rainy (water, earth); spring when new growth occurs and it becomes warmer (water, fire); summer when it is hot and dry (fire, air); and autumn when it is windy and cool (air and space).

This Panchbhoutik system of classification becomes a powerful method for considering the way man interacts with his environment. The elegance of this science lies in the simplicity of the basic concepts, and the powerful analytical tool they provide for internal (body-mind) and external (environmental) assessment.

The elements (mahabhutas) have certain qualities, attributes and impacts on the body and mind. All objects and substances are a mixture of the five elements, but they have one dominant element that allows them to be identified and classified. The "five element" theory explains the similarity between humans and the natural world surrounding them.

In human body these five basic elements are in their biological form, are of three kinds known as tridosha ( Vata, Pitta, Kapha).

Vata- Aakash (space) + Vayu (air)
Pitta- Agni ( Fire)
Kapha- Jala (water) + Prithvi (earth)

The three humors are responsible for the functioning of the human organism. As per Ayurvedic principles balance of tridoshas is indicative of health and imbalance is responsible for diseases. Ultimately the equilibrium of these five elements in the body denotes health while their imbalance or disturbance denotes disease.

Panchbhoutik treatment

Renowned Ayurveda scholar Vaidya Datar Shastri from Sangli Maharashtra (India) started first, practicing Ayurveda with panch bhoutik perspective and concept. Since than many Ayurveda students adapted this miracoulous method successfully. As opposed to Naadi pariksha (pulse diagnosis) he developed special technique of Naad pariksha (sound examination) which supports to understand disease as per Panchbhuta theory. Panchbhoutik treatment is not different from Ayurveda. Neither it is a seperate branch of Ayurveda. It is a different approach to understand diseases and their management based on panchmahabhuta theory.

In Ayurveda, it is said that components and functioning of the nature is similar to our body components and its functions . All diseases are due to imbalance of Panch mahabhootas and all healing solutions like medicine, particular diet , regime, procedures are panchbhoutik, this is the simplest concept of treatment yet difficult to understand and intervene it, which requires regular practice. The basic elemental compatibility or similarity between Earth and humans clarifies why substances found in the natural world (plants, herbs, foods) are usually harmonious with the human system. They can be easily absorbed and cause no adverse reactions or side effects (if consumed in appropriate quantities) because they are fundamentally the same in character and composition. This is why foods and herbs are able to heal the human body. Vegetation can repair and restructure humans because they share a common elemental basis.

Panchbhoutik treatment considers various aspects like health, diet, exercise, profession, environment, wheather in which patient lives and herbs produced, drugs, preparation of medicines, diagnosis and treatment based on panchmahabhuta theory.