There are many different ancient views of medicine and since there wasn’t a drug store located in every rudimentary town and city-state, plants and other resources became the outdoor medicine cabinet of ancient civilizations. This is especially true when it comes to ancient Greek and traditional Chinese medicine. The Ayurvedic model of health treatments and belief also served as a defining point for many beliefs concerning herbal remedies and healing the body, as well as the mind and soul.
When following the Ayurvedic model, there are three main forces that comprise the heartbeat of the system. The first is called “prana,” which refers to the breath of life. The second deals with “agni,” which means the spirit of light or fire. The third, called “soma,” presents what is believed as the manifestation of harmony and love. Five elements are also associated with this belief in health and healing. The most commonly known is wind, earth, water, and fire, but the lesser-known element called “ether” (which stands for a nothingness that fills all space) was an important part of the ancient Greek concepts.
Another part of this ancient medical way of thinking deals with the balancing of the humors, which are believed to undergo a conversion when introduced to the body. For example, the digestive fire becomes three humors, which play an important role in the health of an individual, as well as the temperament they display. The three humors are also sometimes referred to as the “waste products of digestion.” It is also thought that if digestion were perfect, then there would never be a cause for humoral imbalance. Since there is imbalance, this is when sickness strikes.
In the body, air and ether produce “vata” (wind), while fire creates “pitta,” which is often bile. When earth and water combine, the outcome is “kapha,” which is phlegm. The digestive fire is also responsible for absorbing the energy that comes from food, drink, fresh air, light, spiritual enlightenment, and even sexual satisfaction. It is believed that the digestive fire “feeds” off of these activities, which the body then uses to produce the proper blend of humors.
When studying the Ayurvedic way of dealing with medicine and illness, the chakras become an essential part of the learning. It is because Ayurveda places emphasis on the need to make the chakras (better known as the centers of energy deposited about the body). One approach to strengthen energy levels is to supply certain body parts with the proper herb. Internal use or directly applying an herb to a body part helps to work out the medical kinks in the body. Many believe these methods will also treat organs and glands. Below you will find some of the herbal suggestions associated with various chakras:
Crown Chakra:
Possesses a link to the pineal gland
Suggested Herb: Gotu kola and nutmeg
Brow Chakra (third eye):
Possesses a link to the pituitary gland
Suggested Herbs: Sandalwood and elecampane
Throat Chakra:
Possesses a link to the thyroid gland
Suggested Herbs: Cloves and vervain
Heart Chakra:
Possesses a link to the thymus gland and the heart
Suggested Herbs: Saffron and rose
Solar Plexus Chakra:
Possesses a link to the liver and adrenal glands
Suggested Herbs: Lemon balm and goldenseal
Splenic Chakra:
Possesses a link to the testes and ovaries
Suggested Herbs: Fennel and coriander
Root Chakra:
Possesses a link to the uterus and prostate gland
Suggested Herb: Aswagandha and haritaki