Ayurveda
Ayurveda
From time immemorial, mankind has sought to retain health and youth in its quest for immortality. Tireless effort and ceaseless thought have been devoted to this pursuit over the millennia. The great Read more...
History of Ayurveda
The history of Ayurveda, the science of life, with its myriad beginnings, has no conclusion. Transcending time and narrator, this ancient lore of health, in which fact and fantasy as well as scien Read more...
Mythological origins
According to Hindu mythology, Ayurveda is believed to have originated as a ray of enlightenment in the cosmic consciousness of Brahma – the creator of the Universe. The self-existent creator Read more...
Schools of treatment in Ayurveda
Dhanwantari and his disciples specialized in Salya Chikitsa (surgery) and formed the school of surgery. Susruta belonged to this school. Punarvasu Atreya who was the disciple of Bharad Read more...
Historical evidence
The history of indigenous Indian health science is probably as old as the Indus Valley Civilization dating back to 3000 BC. The remains of deer antler and bitumen found in Harappa testify to t Read more...
Ayurveda Philosophy
The emergence of different schools of Sanskrit philosophy like Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Vedanta and Mimamsa was another landmark in the history of the science of I Read more...
Word Ayurveda originates
More than a thousand years after the advent of the Atharva Veda came the age of the Samhitas (compendiums). Regarding the origin of the word Ayurveda, the term Ayurveda first appears in the Sa Read more...
Charaka Samhita
This is the earliest literature on Indian medicine and health. The book is written in the form of the teachings of Atreya as imparted to his pupil Agnivesa.
According to the Bower Manusc Read more...
Susruta Samhita
This book written by Susruta who was a pupil of the sage Dhanwantari, is a compilation of the latter’s teachings. The revised version by Nagarjuna, which is the one now available to us, also Read more...
Ashtanga Hrudaya
One of the principal texts of Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine and health, is the Ashtanga Hrudaya (the essence of the eight sections). It was composed by Vagbhata. Born in a Brahmin fa Read more...
Ayurveda and Buddhism
Ayurveda, the Indian system of Medicine and Health, received a lot of encouragement during the Buddhist period, ie., roughly between 500 BC and 600 AD. The Buddhist mendicants in their long journe Read more...
Ayurveda physician, code of conduct
Medical career was not open to all in those days. Only a young man of good family and who possessed intelligence, courage and a good memory was eligible to study medicine. It was also customary for a Read more...
Philosophy of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, an enigmatic yet enthralling science of health replete with information about life, remains shrouded in antiquity. Yet it offers a sublime view of India, encapsulating the quintessence o Read more...
Panchabhuta
Even as Ayurveda, the science of life and health, reveals the cosmic equations, it views the human body as the stage set for the interaction between the human and the cosmic.
In the human bod Read more...
Dosha
The mystique of human body has intrigued both epicureans and philosophers for ages. In Ayurveda the body is considered to be a blend of the five basic elements: Sky, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
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Vata
As Vata is composed predominantly of Akasa (space) and Vayu (Air) elements, it has the power of mobility and also keeps the other two humors in motion, according to Ayurveda, the science of life and h Read more...
Pitta
The Pitta is responsible for the generation of heat and the digestion of food. According to Charaka it is a hot, slightly unctuous, mobile fluid with an acidic taste and the smell of raw meat.
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Kapha
According to Ayurveda, the science of health and life, Kapha provides the body with stability, strength and resistance to disease. It is white transparent, sweet - saline, dense, slimy, heavy and Read more...
Dhatu
Though the English translation of the Sanskrit word Dhatu as ‘body tissue’ does not convey all the subtleties of its meaning, it is used here in that sense. According to the Indian sci Read more...
Mala
Malas are the waste substances expelled from the body in its healthy condition. The three important Malas are Purisha (faeces), Mutra (urine) and Sweda (sweat). In general, these are eliminated by the Read more...
Pathology
Diseases and causes have been mentioned in the classical texts of Charaka, Susruta and Vagbhata and also in Sarangadhara’s compendium. Madhava Nidana is a well known book on diag Read more...
Madhava Nidana
Madhava (in his book Madhava Nidana) enlists five aspects of diagnosis known as Nidana Panchaka or aetiological pentad. They are Purvarupa (prodromal symptoms) Rupa (manifested symptoms) Samprapti (pa Read more...
Swastha Vrutta
In Ayurveda Swastha Vrutta emphasizes the maintenance of positive health. A sound daily routine (dinacharya) is essential for its achievement. For gaining strength, complexion and vitality, exerci Read more...
Dravya
Ayurvedic pharmacology is termed Dravya vignan – ‘the science of drugs’. The Dravya or drug is Panchabhautik or composed of Panchabhutas / five elements. Ayurvedic pharmacology i Read more...
Jamgama
Jamgama or animal sources are the material collected from various sources in the animal kingdom – honey, milk products, fat, bile, bone, bone marrow, tendon, horn, flesh, blood, semen, excreta, Read more...
Bhauma
Gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, iron and their oxides, arsenious sulphide, arsenious disulphide, salt, calcium, antimony and so on are the mineral sources known as Bhauma used in Ayurveda. Read more...
Audbidha
Audbidha are the materials taken from vegetable sources and used in the Pharmacology of Ayurveda. There are four vegetable sources :
1. Vanaspati : Trees that bear fruit witho Read more...
Dravya : Stages of transformation
Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka and Prabhava are the various stages of transformation a drug or Dravya undergoes before it has its ultimate effect or Karma or action on the body. Read more...
Rasa
The Guna (quality) of a substance or drug is represented by its Rasa. The Dravyas are classified into six categories according to the six Rasas.
1. Madhura Rasa (sweet)
Sweet taste promotes ha Read more...
Guna
The physical and chemical properties of a Dravya, which promote healing or improves health are also termed its Guna. Vagbhata has identified twenty of these Gunas. Read more...
Veerya
According to Ayurveda, there are two Veeryas – Ushna (hot) and Sheeta (cold). Ushna Veerya reduces Vata and Kapha. Sheeta Veerya drugs have a soothing and nourishing effect. Read more...
Vipaka
According to Ayurveda, during digestion, each of the six Rasas undergoes a transformation due to the action of digestive juices in the intestinal tract. The transformation of one Rasa into ano Read more...
Purification of Dravyas
Dravyas derived from animal, vegetable and mineral sources are purified before they are used in the preparation of drugs. For this different kinds of refining methods are followed in Ayurveda. Mac Read more...
Swarasa
Parts of herbs are cut into small pieces and with the help of a press the swarasa or extract is obtained. Dravyas of a semi-woody nature are cut into small pieces, crushed and then ground into a p Read more...
Kashaya
Kashaya means ‘decoction’ or extract. There are more than 1000 kinds of Kashayas. Parts of herbs are cut into small pieces and then boiled in water in an earthen vessel till the liquid is Read more...
Combination medicines
There are also certain very popular combination medicines in Ayurveda, the science of health – mixtures of different drugs that produce the same result. The purpose of such combinations is t Read more...
Classification of drugs
Drugs have been grouped into several categories according to their pharmacological actions and therapeutic uses. Some of the most popular therapeutic classifications mentioned in the classical texts a Read more...
Panchakarma
In Ayurveda, rejuvenation or Rasayana Chikitsa is the golden way to attain longevity and health. An elaborate description of this process of revitalization can be found in the classical texts. ‘ Read more...
Panchakarma therapy
According to the Charaka school, the pentad of Panchakarma includes :
1. Vamana (emesis therapy)
2. Virechana (purgation therapy)
3. Nasya (n Read more...
Components of Panchakarma
According to classical texts of Ayurveda, Panchakarma therapy for eliminating toxins from body and regaining or maintaining health is performed in three stages :
Purvakarma (preparatory procedu Read more...
Purvakarma
The science of health and life, Ayurveda divides Purvakarma procedures broadly into three – Pachana, Snehana and Swedana.
Pachana (digestion)
In this kind of Purvakarma, drugs are admin Read more...
Bahya Snehana
The concept of Bahya Snehana or external oleation in Ayurveda treatment explained.
1. Pichu
Pichu is a palliative treatment for health problems in the cranial region. The treatment is named a Read more...
Swedana
Though Swedana procedures are a pre-requisite for Panchakarma, they also give relief from health problems like asthma, catarrh, hemiplegia and many other diseases caused by Vata disorders.
There Read more...
Navarakizhi
Navarakizhi is used not only as part of the Panchakarma but also as an effective treatment for hemiplegia and health issues caused by Vata disorders. It is also known as Pindasweda.
In thi Read more...
Bashpasweda
Ooshmasweda or Bashpasweda is another treatment method of ayurveda for attending certain health problems. The patient is made to either sit or lie supine in a specially made sauna box, with only t Read more...
Avagahasweda
The patient is made to sweat while sitting in a tub filled with a warm medicinal decoction prepared using suitable herbs for each health problem. According to Ayurveda, this kind of sweda is good Read more...
Patrasweda
In Ayurveda, finely chopped leaves of herbs warmed in medicated oil are placed on a piece of linen and a fist - sized bundle made. This is used for fomentation. This treatment is good for health probl Read more...
Vamana
Vamana is a purificatory process in Ayurveda intended mainly for the expulsion of vitiated Kapha. This is a painless drug induced emetic process. Vamana cures diseases or health problems like Read more...
Virechana
Purgation therapy in Ayurveda
Virechana is for the elimination of Pitta related toxins from the body to regain health. This process of cleansing is carried out in the small intestine and other Read more...
Nasya
Errhine therapy in Ayurveda
The application of medicated oil or powders through the nostrils is called Nasya. The main types of Nasya are Virechana Nasya, Dhmana Nasya, Brumhana Nasya and Shama Read more...
Vasti
Therapeutic enema
The word Vasti means bladder. Traditionally, cow or buffalo urinary bladders were filled with medicated liquids and used for enema. This is how the ayurveda treatment obtained its Read more...
Raktamokshana
Bloodletting therapy of Ayurveda
According to Susruta, certain diseases are caused by vitiation of the blood. These can be treated effectively by letting out the vitiated blood. Susruta an Read more...
Leeching
Bloodletting or Raktamokshana is also done using blood sucking acquatic worms of the class Hirudinea. By way of preparation, the area where the leech is to bite must be cleaned and dried. After a drop Read more...
Prabhava
Usually the effect of a drug on the human body is determined by its five elemental and pharmacological properties. But according to Ayurveda, there are some drugs that possess specific properties Read more...