AYURVEDIC PULSE TECHNIQUE

Ancient Indian Art of Ayurvedic Pulse Technique

Ayurveda is an ancient medical science of the world. Ayurveda means “science of life”, i.e. the science that imparts the knowledge of life. Life is defined as a constant combination and union of mind, body, self (Atma), sensory and motor organs.

The pulse is an important tool for understanding the mind-body of an individual. It is vital to understand the normal pulse and its mechanism. The pulse changes with age, sex, constitution, time of day, season, activity, meals, and the state of mind of the individual.

In modern science, the pulse is called the mirror or index of the heart, whereas Ayurvedic physicians described the pulse as the mirror of the whole body. Every substance in the universe, including the human body, consists of an aggregate of five basic elements – solids (Prithvi), liquids (Jala), gases (Vayu), energy (Agni) and space (Akasha). All living organisms are composed of the same basic elements organized into three basic biological humors as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Gases and space combine to form Vata, energy and liquid turn into Pitta. Liquids and solids combine to form Kapha. The harmonious working of these three biological forces or intelligences is health, and their conflict is disease.

All the movements in the body, including transmission of nerve impulse, cardiac contractions, generation of pulse waves, movement, transportation, and communication are the functions of Vata.

All the enzyme systems in the body, the body energy, and energy for cardiac contraction, pulse propagation, transformation, tissue metabolism, digestion, assimilation, and hormone regulation are derived from Pitta.

Kapha is predominantly responsible for the immunity, structure, stability, cohesion, binding, lubrication of various organs and tissues, including the heart and blood vessels.

As all the fluids, blood and organs of the body are composed of the same basic biological elements (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) alteration in the structure or function of any organ is reflected immediately in all body fluids, including blood, and hence these changes can be assessed by close examination and analysis of the pulse.

The benefits of pulse reading are - detection of imbalances at an early stage, detecting the cause of imbalance, and restoring balance through proper herbal supplements, diet, daily and seasonal routine, yogic postures, breathing exercises, meditation technique and some natural physiological cleansing processes or detoxification programs.

“Pulse, like a lamp, throws light on all the physiological and pathological states discovered in human being”.(Raavana Tantra)