The Philosophy Of Natural Medicine - Dravya-guna Shastra In Ayurveda

Origin & History of Natural Medicine

Ayurveda's medicinal theory is known as dravya-guna-shastra, the science of substances and their medicinal properties (herbal actions). Literally translated, Dravya-Guna Shastra means "the science of matter and qualities."

The theory is a medicinal application of a broader philosophical framework known as hylomorphism (or matter-formism). First systematically articulated by Aristotle, hylomorphism is a cornerstone of what is often referred to as Aristotelian metaphysics.

In essence, matter-formism holds that all substances are composites of two principles: matter (dravya) and internal forces (gunas). The internal forces within a substance shape its essential characteristics (qualities or accidents), which manifest as the properties observed in all things.

Importance

One could say that dravya-guna-shastra / hylomorphism forms the basis of western civilization.

In the West, Aristotle synthesized hylomorphism into the sciences, mental health (the virtues), Greek medicine, and into a philosophical basis for rational thought itself (see Feser, the Last Superstition for an analysis of this).

Aristotle's pupil, Alexander the Great, conquered the Indus River Valley, importing Hellenic culture and medicine to India. One hundred years later, Agnivesa composed the Caraka Samhita, Ayurveda's main canon, which makes heavy use of hylomorphism to form the new theory of dosha, guna and taste that became the foundation of Ayurveda.

However in the East, the use of hylomorphism is limited to Ayurveda. The broader culture of Buddhism and Yoga reject the idea that forms are real, believing that only matter/energy exist. This is why Indian philosophies take a more mystical approach to reality (because of the rejection of forms), where Ayurveda and the West take a more realist approach.

Similarity

Because of knowledge sharing and common philosophy, the Ayurvedic medical canon has great similarity to Greek medicine (Unani Tibb) to the point where many nearly equivalent statements can be found.

Unani Tibb is arabic for "Medicine of Iona," the name for one of the Greek isles.

Though Aristotle was the first to write hylomorphism down, it is also very likely that these theories were developed and shared along ancient Silk Road trading routes with contributions from many cultures.

See Avicenna's Canon of Medicine, or Galen earlier, for more details on Greek medicine.

What is Natural Medicine?

When we say Ayurveda is natural, we mean that Ayurveda focuses on the nature or essence of substances.

Ayurveda's concern is the nature of the body, diseases, and remedies.

Modern medicine focuses on the material.

To some degree, nature and material are opposites. This makes Ayurveda's approach and the approach of western medicine somewhat opposite too.

Nature refers to what a substance can do (it's activity or powers), and material refers to its constituents.

To have a nature simply means to act in a certain way. A ball's nature is to bounce - this is how it behaves or acts. An eraser erases. Both are made of the same material (rubber) but behave differently due to form.

But what gives things their nature? For that, we have to understand what western philosophy calls the soul.