SYNOPSIS


Ayurveda, the science of life and longevity is an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine, which has emerged as an important form of holistic therapy throughout the world. Its essence is the conjunction of the body and the mind and their coordination that achieves optimal health and happiness.

This book is a resource of information on Ayurveda and presents a comprehensive study in an easy-to-understand style. A simplified exposition of complicated theories with minimal use of technical vocabulary, makes the book intelligible to scholars and general readers alike. It reiterates that Ayurveda is not based on mere assumptions but on pure scientific facts. It is built upon the concept of Tridosha, the three bioregulatory principles that sustain the human body.

The distinguishing features of this book are its classification of diseases, focus on causative factors and a discussion on various forms of therapy and treatment. The attention paid to detail should make it ideal for students of Ayurveda and all those interested in this system.

CONTENTS

 

	Foreword	vii
	Preface to the Second Edition	ix
	Preface to the First Edition	xi
	List of Abbreviations	xii
	Majumdars - Ten Generations in the Service of Ayurveda	xiv
1.	Basic Scientific Concept of Ayurveda	1
	• Ayurveda: Its Brief Fundamental Concepts	1
	• The Reason Why Ayurveda is Scientific and Not Based on Assumptions	4
2.	General Introduction	6
	• Evolution of Ayurveda	7
	• Present Status	8
	• Chronological Dates	10
3.	Eight Specialised Subjects in Ayurveda	12
	• Kaya Chikitsa (Therapeutics; Practice of Medicine)	12
	• Shalya-Tantra (Surgical Knowledge)	13
	• Shalakya-Tantra (Eye and ENT)	18
	• Agada-Tantra (Toxicology)	19
	• Bhuta-Vidya (Psychiatry)	20
	• Kaumarabhritya (Paediatrics and Gynaecology)	21
	• Rasayana-Tantra (Science of Vitality and Geriatrics)	22
	• Vajikarana-Tantra (Science of Sexual Disorders)	26
4.	Natural Philosophy	29
	• General Concept of the Physical World	29
	• Building Blocks of Existence: The Panchabhuta	34
5.	Bioregulating Principles: Tridosha	41
	• Tridosha (Vayu, Pitta and Kapha), The Bioregulating Principles and Their Characteristics	41
	• Temperaments and Constitutions: The Prakriti	44
	• Physical Properties of Bioregulating Principles (Tridosha)	48
	• Location of the Three Bioregulating Principles (Doshas) in the Body	50
	• General Functions of the Normal Bioregulating Principles: The Tridosha (Vayu, Pitta and Kapha)	53
	• Causes of Derangement of Doshas, the Bioregulating Principles	63
	• Functions of the Deranged Doshas	64
	• Accumulation of the Doshas	66
	• Diseases and Disorders Mainly Caused by the Doshas	66
	• Prakriti and Vikriti Assessment	83
	• Finally What is Vata, Pitta and Kapha in Brief?	98
6.	The Interior of the Body and the Digestive Processes	101
	• Agni, the Biological Fire	102
	• Dhatu (Tissues)	109
	• Malas	114
	• Srotas (Channels)	116
	• The Nourishment of the Body	117
	• Relationship among Doshas, Dhatu and Malas	120
7.	Understanding Tastes: Rasas	122
	• Dravyas	123
	• Rasas	125
	• Guna	135
	• Virya	140
	• Vipaka	141
	• Prabhava	143
	• Karma	143
	• Charaka's 50 Groups of Drugs	144
	• Susruta's 37 Groups of Drugs	153
	• Drugs Grouping by Charaka for Panchakarma Theory	161
	• Drugs Action (Karma) on Various Systems of the Body	162
	• Comparative Statement of the Groups of Drugs Described by Charaka and Susruta	164
	• Some Groups of Drugs Based on Physical Qualities Widely Used for Therapeutic Practice	166
	• Drugs and Foodstuffs having Predominant Rasas	167
8.	Pathology in Ayurveda	171
	• Definition of a Disease (Roga)	171
	• Disease in the Body	171
	• Classification of Diseases	172
	• The Role of Doshas, The Bioregulating Principles in Diseases	173
	• Causative Factors of a Disease	174
	• Pathogenesis of a Disease or Sat-Kriyakalas	176
	• The Real Cause of a Disease (Spiritual Aspect)	178
9.	Diagnostic Methodology in Ayurveda: Nidana	180
	• Steps in Diagnostic Methodology	183
10.	General Principles of Treatment: Chikitsa	194
	• Samsodhana Therapy	195
	• Samsamana Therapy	196
	• Ahar and Vihar	197
11.	Ancient Indian Body Purification Therapy: The Panchakarma Therapy	200
	• How Does Body Purification Therapy Work?	201
	• Panchakarma Therapy	202
12.	Weights and Measures in Ancient India: Man Pariksha	214
13.	Pharmaceutical Preparations Used in Ayurvedic Therapy	220
	• Asava and Arista	221
	• Arka	222
	• Avaleha and Paka	222
	• Kwatha Churna	222
	• Guggulu	222
	• Grita	222
	• Churna	223
	• Taila	223
	• Lavaa Kshara	223
	• Lepa	223
	• Vati and Gutika	223
	• Varti, Anjana and Netrabindu	224
	• Sattva	224
	• Pisti	224
	• Bhasma	224
	• Parpati	226
	• Mandura	226
	• Lauha	226
	• Kupipakva Rasayana	226
	• Rasa Yoga	227
14.	Rasa Shastra: Minerals, Metals and Gems in Ayurvedic Therapy	228
	• Classification	230
15.	Pulse in Ayurveda: Nadivigyana	248
	• Origin in the Ancient Texts	248
	• Development of the Pulse Science in the Hand of Later Physicians	249
	• Concept of Pulse in Association with Nadi Chakra Systems of Yoga and Tantra	250
	• Appearance of Independent Treatises on Pulse	250
	• Incorporation of 'Holding the Pulse' Assumes a Prominent Place in Works on Clinical Methods of Examination	251
	• Present-Day Status of the Science of Pulse in Ayurveda	251
16.	Concept of Nadi in Ancient Texts	255
	• Introduction	255
17.	Prana: The Life Factor	260
	• Prana and Tridosha	264
	• Respiratory Centres and Nervous Control of Respiratory Movements	265
18.	Health Village/Resort According to Ayurvedic Principles - A Proposal	267
	• Natural Food	267
	• Spiritual Performance	268
	• Yoga	268
	• Psychological Deterioration	268
	• Deterioration of Lifespan	268
	• The Project of a Proposed Health Village/Resort	269
	• Research and Development Block	269
19.	A Concise Survey of the Ancient Texts in India Related to Science	270
	• Pre-Vedic Period	271
	• Vedic Period	271
	• The Vedic Literature	272
	• Vedangas	275
	• Nastic Darsanas	277
	• Sad-Darsanas	278
	• Samkhya	279
	• Yoga	280
	• Nyaya Darsana	285
	• Vaisesika Darsana	285
	• Mimamsa	286
	• Vedanta (Uttar Mimamsa)	286
	• Chikitsa Shastra	286
	• Mahakavyas (Epics)	286
	• Purana	287
	• Tantra Shastra	288
20.	Globalisation of Ayurveda	292
	Appendices	297
	Appendix I: Ayurvedic Institutions in India	299
	Appendix II: Indian Medicine Central Council Regulations	324
	Appendix III: Chapters in Major Texts of Ayurveda	341
	Appendix IV: Website information from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy	343
	Appendix V: Commonly used Medicinal Plants in Ayurveda	355
	Glossary of Sanskrit Terms	403
	Bibliography	411
	Index	415

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