Indian Medical Techniques

Ayurveda Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:12:00 +0530

Lately, Indian Ayurvedic spas have become popular, otherwise people have known only “steam bath”, “Sun bath” etc. but it’s ancient origin has given a different voyage of success.

The practices of Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Spa are based on a simple system of healing that called VAAT, PITT, KUF. Accordic to the father of Ayurveda – Maharishi Charak – our body works only in these 3 components. And Ayurvedic Spa has many “Jadi-butiya” (the plant medicine) that made it unique in this world.

In the past few years India have emerges as a land of Medical Tourism and with the growing demand for Ayurveda there are now many Hotels/Natural treatment centres/Ayurveda Ashrams are now offering Ayurvedic treatments and it has been very well trusted by foreign incomers.

Chemistry of Ayurvedic Spa

Ayurvedic treatments penetrates deep and cleanse the entire body and remove deeply embedded toxins while bringing balance to the body. A comprehensive treatment from a genuine Ayurvedic spa can literally add years to your life. A study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine showed that the Ayurvedic treatments are successfully reduce fat soluble toxins by about 50%. This study was the first published study on humans to demonstrate that a specific detoxification regimen can significantly reduce levels of lipophilic toxicants in the blood, toxicants that are known to be associated with chronic disorders.

SWINE FLU

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:41:00 +0530

After a long time I am back again. Now, this time I would be writing on the disease which are mushrooming these days, like anything. And we (Human race) are in a big trouble created by these disease. Well it looks like common flu but it facades new horrible name like SWINE, what a swine has got to do with this, Yes I am talking about one troubling disease and that is SWINE FLU.

Further Studies on Insulin makes some hopes for Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 12:13:00 +0530

New researches made hope for diabetic pateints because scientists have discovered a vital clue of how insulin works in human body bringing them closer to finding a cure for diabetes. An Australian PhD student, Freddy Yip, has solved a problem of how insulin prompts fat and muscle cells to absorb glucose, a problem which has been plaguing researchers for more than half a century. "While we're certainly not saying we've found a way to cure diabetes, we are saying we've found a pretty significant clue," David James, head of the Diabetes Programme at the Garvan Institute for Medical Research, was quoted in 'Herald Sun' on Wednesday. Since the discovery of insulin by Banting and Best in 1920s scientists have been battling to discover how it actually works, said Professor James. "Then along comes Freddy Yip, doing his PhD, who unveils a completely novel action of insulin, one which we believe plays a fundamental role in glucose uptake," he added. The new findings, published in the journal 'Cell Metabolism', focuses on two interesting problematic processes affecting diabetics -- insufficient production of insulin in the pancreas after a meal, insulin resistance and the faulty uptake and storage of glucose in fat and muscle cells, it said. "In the cell we have series of motor proteins that have the ability to move other molecules from one place to another along intracellular railroad tracks," Yip said. "I have discovered that insulin activates a specific kind of motor protein known as Myo1c, which in turn performs a critical role in glucose uptake" he said.

Diabetes - new facade

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 17:32:00 +0530

Diabetes is the disease which doesn't wait for any age limit it captures you in any age. Live with this disease is very tough, albeit it would not possible for any one, it will be important for you to participate in your own care. This will help put you in charge of controlling the disease's progress. You can find information about it in a number of places, but the best place to start is with your own physician. Your doctor will encourage you to practice self-care since you are responsible for how you live your life. By the way self-care for diabetes extends to those who haven't been diagnosed as well.

If you are in the risk category for developing diabetes you need to keep a close eye on what is happening to your body and watch for symptoms of diabetes. Schedule regular appointments for checkups with your doctor. Diabetics that have been diagnosed must be diligent with their care so that they maintain their health and avoid the complications that happen so frequently as a result of diabetes.

Some of the things that a person with diabetes can do to practice self-care are -

see their doctor regularly,
have a yearly eye examination to check for any of the related eye conditions that can occur when a person has diabetes,
have a regular yearly dentist appointment,
stop smoking,
eat a healthy and balanced diet,
take proper care of the feet, since diabetes will affect the amount of blood circulation that reaches the feet.

When a person begins the process of self-care and assisting in the management of their diabetes they feel as though they have more say in their care and more control.

There are a variety of additional sources, such as a Diabetes Care Center, that can provide assistance in getting medical information. A diabetic care center is provides information to help you with the many aspects of your medical condition, including: planning a well balanced diet; administering medication; planning which medical checkups are necessary; and lending emotional support to you and your family. Diabetes Care Centers are also actively involved in researching cure for diabetes.

Diabetes, a genetic disease, can manifest itself in the later years of life, especially if an individual is over weight and does not practice healthy diet and exercise habits. If you are prone to the risk factors for diabetes either as a result of genetics or due to your lifestyle, schedule an annual checkup so that early detection of diabetes is possible.

Source: Fact about Diabetes

Medical Tourism and Ayurveda

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 7 Sep 2008 02:43:00 +0530

Future is now waiting for boom!!!

A new field having lots of opportunities to the mass of peoples across the globe and waiting to rock the two old fixed fields - Medical & Tourism.

Where this new terminology came from??? Medical tourism is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of traveling across international borders to obtain health care.

It is also called medical travel, health tourism or global health-care.

(source : economist Operating profit Aug 14th 2008)

Very beautiful explanatory picture designed by economist, is showing how an American with plastered hand roaming across the countries with spending holidays.

Origination of this field? In US, the expenses of medical treatment is very high but in many developing countries these expenses are very low. They enjoy the treatment as well as holidays in very cheap prices and return to their home with huge saving, it makes them happier.

Right now, this seed is being sprouted into the pot and new apical bud is start to growing. Many fields will benefited by this, if is it so, So....

why the field of Ayurveda being untouched???

Diabetes - an ayurvedic way of treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:57:00 +0530

As I wrote earlier that diabetes is a metabolic disorder which comprised with Kapha in which agni leads to diminish the functioning parts of our body and constantly depreciate the strength, and leads towards high blood sugar.

Treatment techniques related to diabetes, it has many approach. First, they address diet modification, eliminating sugar and simple carbohydrates, and emphasizing complex carbohydrates.

Diabetes - caused by insufficient level of Insulin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:14:00 +0530

Disease Name: - Diabetes Mellitus.

Common Name: - Diabetes Mellitus simply called Diabetes

Caused BY: - Diabetes is a kind of problem which would be happened by the insufficient levels of the hormone INSULIN in our body or we can say it is a syndrome characterized by disordered metabolism and abnormally high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) which results the insufficient levels of the hormone insulin.

Symptoms: The following symptoms are only appeared when blood sugar elevated mildy: -

The excessive urine production also called polyuria which caused by high blood glucose levels.
Feel to drink more n more (excessive thirst), increased fluid intake (polydipsia). It helps to compensate for increased urination,
Vision has affected, it blurred because increased glucose level effects on the eye's optics.
Sudden weight loss.
Lethargy (state of being lazy).

Diabetes has 3 kinds: -

Type 1,
Type 2, and
Gestational diabetes.

MORE MEDICINAL AND AYURVEDIC PLANTS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 03:08:00 +0530

Know more about the Neem and other medicinal plants as well as Ayurvedic plants.

Plants are the very essential parts of our environment (atmosphere) if it was not here, the existence of life is not possible. The thousands of lakhs of plants (trees) makes our environment inconvenient to the human being. After human being get civilized he frequently uses the matters from the nature like stones are used for making weapons, dry branches of trees was used for making home, etc.

When human being faced many diseases he discovers the medicine too. And that medicines were made by the plants. Healing, wounding, cut off in the skin etc.

Each n every plant exist in the nature except the dangerous plants founded in Jungle of South Africa are used as a medicinal plants. Most of them are very much essential for all disease like Neem (we consider it in some last posts).

Uses of NEEM - Azadirachta indica

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 02:07:00 +0530

As we already know that Neem is the multipurpose tree, its leaves and to the some extent its Oil was used in Ayurveda as well as in other medicinal systems like Siddha* and Unani Tibb*. {*Siddha - the system of medicine practised in some parts of south India. *Unani Tibb - the Greco-Persian system of medicine}. Its polyherbal preparations containing all five parts of the plant, i.e., leaves, bark, flower, fruit, and root, and is called panchang in Ayurveda. The uses of these parts as medicinal properties are found in "Charak-Samhita" and "Susruta-Samhita". And by the uses of its different parts as a medicine, aptly given its name in Sanskrit "sarva roga nivarin" (in English meaning 'the curer of all ailments'). Various uses of its parts are as follows:-

Leaves of Neem:- In Ayurveda, leaves are used in curing neuromuscular pains. And commonly used in treatment of chickenpox, malaria, in storage of grains etc. If anyone diseased with chickenpox or warts, paste of its leaves should apply all over the skin and also by bathing in water with neem leaves gives good result of cure. Taking in the form of tea when patient suffers from malaria will give immediate result.
Oil of Neem:- Oil has been obtained from the seed of the neem tree due to its insecticidal and medicinal properties it has een used for several years in cosmetics and pest control. Its excellent moisturizing and various compound containing property uses in making shampoos, toothpaste, creams and lotion etc.
Seed:- The residual part of seed after extraction of oil mixes with the soil increases the enrichment of soil with organic matter and also increases the nitrogen presence.
Twigs of Neem:- Used as a toothbrushes.
Bark and roots:- In powdered form it used for control fleas.

It also has anti-bacterial property that fight against the skin infections like acne, psoriasis, scabies, eczema etc. and also used in treating allergies, ulcers, hepatitis, diabetes, AIDS, cancer, heart disease and several other diseases.

STORIES ADDED IN NEEM'S HISTORY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 1 Jun 2008 17:36:00 +0530

The story goes back to 2000 B.C. when its leaves were first founded at excavation mohanjodaro's in the era of australoid and dravidian The many stories muttered in the past of Ancient Indian History, it has been considered this tree to be of divine origin. Few are here:

Few drops of Amrita (Ambrosia, the elixir of immortality) was droped on the Neem trees which was carried by The Garuda (part human and part bird : creature from Hindu Mythology) to the heaven.
In other story, Amrita was sprinkled by Indira (the celestial kind) on the earth, which gave rise to the neem tree
In another instance neem tree is related to Dhanmantri (the Aryan god of medicine).
It was also mentioned that the sun god took refuge in the neem tree to escape from the awesome poer of demons. etc.......

Neem - tree from heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 1 Jun 2008 16:43:00 +0530

Neem - The Divine Tree

It is the tree and the one among of trees which are known in the Indian Subcontinent (OR in the native part of India) and most part of the World, also called as "Nim" (नीम) and plenty of beneficial properties for mankind. And its leaves was first founded at the time of proto-Dravidian culture at the site of Mohanjodaro (now in Pakistan) at 2000 B.C. Also some evident were found from Hindu mythology, the Aryans has great attachment with neem, they thought this tree has origin from heaven.

"Gift of God", the panacea for all disease, "Heal all", "Village Pharmacy" - healing versatility and "Nature's drugstore" these are the different names of Neem. In Sanskrita it is called "arista" means 'perfect, impeccable and imperishable' because of its multipurpose properties. Also it is old saying in Sanskrit for Neem 'nimba' word arose from 'nimbati syasthyamdadati' which means 'to give good health'.

According to the database of ayurveda, Neem has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 4000 yrs. The Ancient Indian found many therapeutic used for the tree and also been observed that Neem could survive in very dry and arid conditions. Its leaves, seeds and bark contains antiviral, antipyretic, antiseptic chemicals which acts against ulcer, fungus etc.

HEART & ITS DISEASES:-

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 2 May 2008 06:58:00 +0530

(NOTE:- in this article many words are used as roman English) Heart is very essential organ in our body. It maintains the blood circulation to all body parts and transport the fresh oxygen through the body parts. Its working is very much critical as its property.

The heart is a muscular organ, in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions. The heart of a vertebrate is composed of cardiac muscle, an involuntary muscle tissue which is found only within this organ.

Fact: - The average human heart beating at 72 BPM, will beat approximately 2.15 billion times during a lifetime spanning 60 years.

Use of Stethoscope: -

Doctor checks the normal heart beat with the help of stethoscope in one minute.

About the Heart: -

Heart is the organ located at center of the chest. A normal dis-functioning of heart is said to be the heart disease. Emotions play a very hard role in the functioning of heart, jealousy, short tempered nature etc. gives bad feeling to the mind which also hurts the functioning of heart. And humbleness gives the strengtheness to the heart. And sometimes like in Hindi Movie a pain generate from the centre of the chest which were originated from the Heart. Such condition is called Angina Pectoris.

Reason for Angina Pectoris:-

Angina Pectoris or just angina refers to a pain in the centre of the chest which comes from the heart. It is the name given to a tight pain felt in the chest that occurs when insufficient oxygen is being carried in the blood to the muscles of the heart. Stable angina pectoris usually occurs when the demand for oxygen cannot be met during exertion. Unstable angina pectoris can occur at any time, including at rest. Angina pectoris is a fairly common condition in men over the age of 50 years (although it can start as young as age 30). In women, it generally starts after the menopause.

Some other reasons are 1. श्रमजन्य (Angina of effort). 2. आम्दोस्हज हृदय शूल (Spasmodic Angina). 3. भ्रम्जन्य हृद्याशूल (Angina Innocence) etc.

TREATMENT OF ALLERGY: -

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:32:00 +0530

Normally, instead of any treatment the patient has precautioned that he must avoid or keep distance from all those subjects or substances which creates the allergies to him. But, now many technologies were come and many medicines or treatment were made by the scientists. Allergy is the disease which is very unique to the human health because this disease is not so called comes under the disease lists, it is said to a disorder of human immunity system. About the treatment of allergy, know more about

ASTHMA DUE TO ALLERGENS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:35:00 +0530

Know more about Allergy to the our brother blog...... Ooooops sorry..... its a sister blog. See at the right side, links are present. Todays topics are:-

Asthma due to allergens
Anaphylaxis

Asthma due to allergens: - Many asthmatics have severe aggravation in their condition due to allergies to certain allergens. Common allergens causing asthma are:

Plant pollens
Fungi
House dust
Food articles
Insects
Animals
Occupational Allerges.....?????

Anaphylaxis: - An acute stage of allergy. Know more .... click here...

Allergy: A Disorder of Immune System

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:24:00 +0530

As I written in last post that I will start posts (information) about the treatment & various techniques, which were used in home, against to the diseases. NOT against to severe diseases but if we don't look out on these diseases it will become severe one. Topic of today is Allergy, very common and simple disorder of our immune system against allergens (present in environment). Now question arises what are these,.... allergens??? Before this we have to know about brief knowledge about Allergy.

Allergy: - It is a disorder of our immune system against those environmental substances which are non-acceptable by our immune system like odour/smell (odour/smell of flower), allergy against food materials etc... (A simple definition)

Biologically: - Allergy is one of four forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.

Our body's immune system is familiar to many environmental substances, if un-familiar substances are faced by our immune system then Allergy may occur.

In condition of Allergy, if our body comes in contact of foreign substance, our body release chemical like Histamin etc, which are responsible to the changes in our immune system.

What are the causes of Allergy?
How many types of Allergies?

And many more topics are present in our site click here....

ADMINISTRATOR'S DESK

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:21:00 +0530

Hello viewers, Thanks for visiting my blogs, now you'll get some new information about home techniques of medicines. Yes, our grandma, how she were using very few techniques and cure our fever and other diseases.

YOGA : Iyengar yoga

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 5 Apr 2008 07:13:00 +0530

A specific type of yoga may help improve stability and balance in women over age 65, possibly helping them to avoid falls, a preliminary study reports. After nine weeks of participating in an Iyengar yoga program designed for senior citizens, 24 elderly females had a faster stride, an increased flexibility in the lower extremities, an improved single-leg stance and increased confidence in walking and balance. Improving balance and stability through yoga could help reduce the risk of falling.

Subjects demonstrated improved muscle strength in lower extremities, which helps with stability. There was also a pronounced difference in how pressure was distributed on the bottom of the foot, which helps to maintain balance.

In other report it has been cleared that falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma among people aged 65 and older. Almost a third of older adults suffer some type of fall each year.

The program was crafted specifically for elderly people who have had little or no yoga experience. The Iyengar technique, which is known for the use of props such as belts and blocks, was chosen to help participants gradually master the poses while building their confidence.

Researchers also found that some participants who had unrelated back and knee pain were pain-free by the end of this course. Iyengar yoga affects the function of the foot to improve balance and stability and prevent falls.

YOGA synonyms AYURVEDA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:19:00 +0530

AYURVEDA describes about exercise or YOGA to make our body fit and healthy, it was the simple lines describes by any one now take a look to our SHASTRA what they told us about YOGA (an exercise). According to CHARAK SAMHITA "the work done by our body which makes our body toned and it may increase the strength and power of our body, all those works comes under this category are known as exercise or YOGA. This type of exercise would have been done in well manner".

These type of exercises makes our body healthy, fit, it gives tone to our muscles, laboriousness, cleanliness, grasping power. It will decrease the obesity and I think there isn't any other way (taking obesity decreasing pills or any other type of drugs which helps to decrease the obesity or fat of our body) to decrease the obesity better than the exercises.

Rivals are also afraid with the person who regularly exercising. AGING would not attack on them early, the muscles of that person are toned.

A person who does exercise regularly will never touched by any illness like a small animal like deer, never comes around the king of jungle - THE LION.

3 CONSTITUENTS OF OUR BODY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:43:00 +0530

According to Ayurveda –“Our body is made up of 3 constituents DOSH, DHATU (metal) & MAL (stool). The meaning of DOSH accordance with our body is VAAT, PITT & KUFF, they are said to be DOSH because these are collectively make our body unclear. DHATU means RAS (juice), RAKT (blood), MAANS (meat), MAID, ASTHI (the bare bones), MAJJA (bone marrow), & SHUKRA (semen), they are collectively called as DHATU because they meant our body. And MAL (stool), means all the excreta of human being, these are said to be MAL because the presence of these material in our body increases the hygiene. Therefore, the mixture of these 3 is builds our body. And more importantly the balance roles of these 3 constituents are responsible for our healthy body. The importance of hygiene and cleanliness in our life is not left to any one. Because a healthy body always reach to their AIM.

Ayurveda is a Science of life. The main reason of ayurveda is to “defend the health of healthy person and resolve (or give medical treatment) to the unhealthy person.” – according to MAHARSHI CHARAK.

The Importance of Healthy Life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 2 Mar 2008 19:43:00 +0530

Human Life has its unique place in nature. The uniqueness of his routine is also written in "Shastras". The Charak Samhitha describes the 3 requirements of human (human life): -

Pranaikshana
Dhanaikshana
Parlaukaikshana

The Pranaikshana has the greater place than the other two. The Reason of its greatness is " If the human looses his soul (live) than nothing is worth full for him, and also without his soul or PRAAN he is unable to collect the materials like DHAN for his normal life". But if a person is always ill than he is unable to live happy. AYURVEDA is the that life - Science , where the description of illness & healthy life were given. The varnan (description) of healthy life is given by Charak Samhitha - "joy in life is called for healthy but in other side the sadness is called for illness".

For All Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:41:00 +0530

Hello, All my active readers of this blog. My self Lahas Ram Pankaj some words are from my side direct to you all now. Thanks for reading my blog. Till now you read in this blog about some ancient medical (Indian Medical) techniques and also history which are unshaded to the world. But now you will come to know about much-n-more shaded truths about history of Indian Medical Techniques and about Ayurveda as well.

EIGHT BRACHES OF AYURVEDA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:12:00 +0530

These eight branches of Ayurveda are also called Ashthanga:

Internal medicine - Kayachikitsa
Surgery - Shalya Tantra
Ears, eyes, nose and throat - Shalakya tantra
Pediatrics - Kaumarabhritya Tantra
Toxicology - Agada Tantra
Purification of the genetic organs - Bajikarana (or Vajikarana) Tantra
Health and Longevity - Rasayana Tantra
Spiritual Healing/Psychiatry - Bhuta Vidya

Ayurveda in 20th Century

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:37:00 +0530

All physicians (Ayurvedic) are began to organize or unite into professional associations and to promote their case for national recognition and funding. This began to become a reality after Indian independence in 1947.

Ayurveda is now a statutory, recognised medical system of health care like other medical systems existing in India. The Central Council of Indian Medicine {CCIM} governs and recommends policies for the research and development of the system. An Encyclopedia on Ayurveda - Ayushveda.com been developed to promote the knowledge of Ayurveda worldwide.

In India, practitioners in Ayurveda undergo 5 and 1/2 years of training including 1 year of internship in select Ayurveda Medical Schools wherein they earn the professional doctorate degree of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery[B.A.M.S.]. A Bachelor's degree with a major in Science [Physics, Chemistry, Biology] and a minor in Sanskrit is desirable for candidates interested in taking up the course.

Select institutions like the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, offer higher doctorates and postgraduate training such as MD [Ayurveda] which includes a 3 year residency and a dissertation similar to the MD/MS degrees in modern systems of medicine.

Institutes and practitioners

Practitioners of Ayurveda have been appointed as Honorary Ayurvedic Physician to the President of India. Every year on the occasion of Dhanvantari jayanti, a prestigious Dhanvantari Award is conferred on a famous personality of Medical Sciences including Ayurveda. Kerala is the leading state in India that promotes research and practices of Ayurveda. This has been attributed to Kerala's well established Ayurveda centers, Ayurveda pharmaceutical companies, and Ayurveda medical colleges. For example, there are many Ayurvedic centers (known as Vaidya shalas) all over Kerala. Besides Kerala, others also promoting Ayurveda are Gujarat, Maharastra, and Karnataka.

AYURVEDIC MASSAGE AND PANCHKARMA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:30:00 +0530

PANCHKARMA (the five actions or modalities) is a collection of purification techniques that Ayurveda prescribes for some diseases and for periodic cleansing. A course of Pancharkarma typically includes a short-term dietary prescription, massage, herbs, and may include purgatives, sweat baths, medicated enemas, and nasal cleansing.

Ayurvedic massage is a form of treatment for various age related and other common disorders. Some of the advantages which can be cited are pain relief, improved circulation, stress relief, better sleep, flexibility, athletic performance and emotional benefit. Massage therapy can soothe pain, relax stiff muscles, and reduce the swelling that accompanies arthritis. Advocates claim that, with ayurvedic massage, deep-seated toxins in the joints and tissues are loosened and released into the system for elimination through natural toxin-release processes. There are several different types of ayurvedic treatments such as panchakarma, marma massage and abhyangam. Ayurvedic massage is especially developed in Sri Lanka and the Indian state of Kerala.

TRIDOSHA SYSTEM

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:24:00 +0530

The central concept of Ayurvedic medicine is the theory that health exists when there is a balance between three fundamental bodily humours or doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Vata is the impulse principle necessary to mobilize the function of the nervous system
Pitta is the energy principle which uses bile to direct digestion and hence metabolism into the venous system.
Kapha is the body fluid principle which relates to mucous, lubrication and the carrier of nutrients into the arterial system.

All Ayurvedic physicians believe that these ancient ideas, based in the knowledge discovered by the Rishis and Munis, exist in harmony with physical reality. These Ayurvedic concepts allow physicians to examine the homeostasis of the whole system. People may be of a predominant dosha or constitution, but all doshas have the basic elements within them.

The philosophy of Ayurveda

The emergence of different schools of Sanskrit philosophy like Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Vedanta and Mimamsa was another landmark in the history of Indian medicine. The principles expounded in these philosophies facilitated the development within Ayurveda of its theory of humoral pathology which propounds that the human body is composed of Tridoshas, the three humors – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When these are in equilibrium they are called the Tridhatus. The body in which these three humors are in a state of equilibrium enjoys perfect health; their disequilibrium causes ill health.

Disease management in Ayurveda

The principles of Ayurvedic pharmacology are fundamentally different from those of other systems of medicine, especially evidence-based medicine. Most Ayurvedic medicines are prepared form herbs.

Shamana and Shodhana are the two concepts of disease management in Ayurveda. Shamana means alleviation. Shamana methods mitigate the disease and its symptoms. Shodhana means elimination and Shodhana methods aim at the elimination of the basic cause of disease.