| Ayurveda is a branch of the Vedas. Originated in | | | | and controls the cell growth and the firmness of the |
| ancient India, 'Vedas' means knowledge and it there | | | | body. Similar to the moon governing the tides.Specific |
| were Vedas written for every aspect of life. | | | | lifestyle interventions are a major preventive and |
| Ayurveda provides an integrated approach to the | | | | therapeutic approach in Ayurveda as well. Each |
| prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle | | | | patient is prescribed an individualized dietary, eating, |
| interventions and a wide range of natural therapies. | | | | sleeping, and exercise program depending on his or |
| Ayurvedic theory states that all imbalance and | | | | her constitutional type and the nature of the |
| disease in the body begin with imbalance or stress in | | | | underlying dosha imbalance at the source of the |
| the awareness, or consciousness, of the individual. | | | | illness.The Ayurvedic practitioner uses a variety of |
| This mental stress leads to unhealthy lifestyles, which | | | | precise body postures, all derived from the age-old |
| further promote ill health. Therefore, mental | | | | discipline of yoga; breathing exercises; and meditative |
| techniques such as meditation are considered | | | | techniques. These postures are used to create an |
| essential to the promotion of healing and to | | | | individualized self-care program to improve both |
| prevention. Artha-Veda unfolds statecraftAyur-Veda | | | | physical health and personal consciousness. In addition, |
| sets forth medicine and healthDhanur-Veda discusses | | | | herbal preparations are added to the patient's diet for |
| military scienceGandharva-Veda illumines music and | | | | preventive and rejuvenative purposes as well as for |
| the artsSthapatya-Veda explains architectureThe | | | | the treatment of specific disorders.In addition to |
| Universe, according to ancient Indian thinking is | | | | mental factors, lifestyle, and dosha imbalance, |
| composed of five basic elements, namely: Prithivi | | | | Ayurveda identifies a fourth major factor in disease: |
| (earth), Apya(water), Teja(fire), Vayu(air) and | | | | the accumulation of metabolic byproducts and toxins |
| Akash(ether). As the human body is similarly | | | | in the body tissues. Ayurvedic physical therapy, called |
| constituted, there is a fundamental harmony | | | | panchakarma, consists of physical applications, |
| between the universe and man, a healthy balance | | | | including herbalized oil massage, herbalized heat |
| between the microcosm and macrocosm. Ayurveda | | | | treatments, and elimination therapies (e.g., therapies |
| describes all physical manifestations of disease as due | | | | to improve bowel movements), which promote |
| to the imbalance of these basic physiological principles | | | | internal cleansing and removal of such toxic metabolic |
| in the body.Ayurveda_2 True medicine, according to | | | | wastes. Certain of the agents used in panchakarma |
| Ayurveda is one, which cures the disease without | | | | therapy are proposed to have free-radical |
| causing any side effect. It is in this aspect that | | | | scavenging, or antioxidant, effects.Free radicals are |
| Ayurveda enjoys an advantage over the modern | | | | naturally occurring atoms or molecules that are highly |
| system of medicine.Health, according to Ayurveda, is | | | | reactive with anything they come into contact with. |
| the natural state of all three aspects of human being | | | | A recently developed theory suggests that free |
| i.e. body, mind and the soul (Indriyas, Manas and | | | | radicals play important roles in causing a wide range |
| atma). In addition, effects of yogic postures and | | | | of degenerative and chronic disorders, including |
| breathing on finger blood flow showed consistent | | | | cancer and aging. Thus, substances with antioxidant |
| changes with various breathing practices, changes | | | | properties may be effective in preventing, or even |
| that were more pronounced in trained yogic | | | | treating, myriad conditions.Ayurveda emphasizes the |
| practitioners. Changes in endocrine hormone | | | | interdependence of the health of the individual and |
| measurements also have been associated with | | | | the quality of societal life. Therefore, measures to |
| certain Ayurvedic practices.Measurement of metabolic | | | | ensure the collective health of society, such as |
| rate, oxygen exchange, lung capacity, and red and | | | | pollution control, community hygiene, the collective |
| white blood cell counts have been found to be | | | | practice of meditation programs, and appropriate |
| associated with general yogic training and in some | | | | living conditions, are supported.In addition, effects of |
| cases with specific asanas (posture). When the | | | | yogic postures and breathing on finger blood flow |
| natural state comes in contact with unhappiness | | | | showed consistent changes with various breathing |
| (Dukhasamayoga) disease result. Ayurveda has eight | | | | practices, changes that were more pronounced in |
| distinct- branches :-1. General medicine | | | | trained yogic practitioners. Changes in endocrine |
| 2. Surgery | | | | hormone measurements also have been associated |
| 3. Ear, nose, throat, eye and mouth diseases | | | | with certain Ayurvedic practices.Measurement of |
| 4. Psychiatry | | | | metabolic rate, oxygen exchange, lung capacity, and |
| 5. Midwifery and pediatrics | | | | red and white blood cell counts have been found to |
| 6. Toxicology | | | | be associated with general yogic training and in some |
| 7. Rejuvenation and tonics and | | | | cases with specific asanas (posture).Ayurveda has |
| 8. AphrodiasicsIt is because of these eight branches | | | | been known to treat people with various chronic |
| that Ayurveda is known as the | | | | diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, chronic |
| Astanga-ayurveda.Ayurveda describes all physical | | | | bronchitis, eczema, psoriasis, hypertension, |
| manifestations of disease as due to the imbalance of | | | | constipation, headaches, chronic sinusitis, and |
| three basic physiological principles in the body, called | | | | non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus In addition, |
| doshas, which are believed to govern all bodily | | | | published studies have documented reductions in |
| functions. Evaluation of these three doshas--vata, | | | | cardiovascular disease risk factors, including blood |
| pitta, and kapha--is accomplished primarily by feeling | | | | pressure, cholesterol, and reaction to stress, in |
| the patient's pulse at the radial artery, which is a | | | | individuals practicing Ayurvedic methods and have |
| detailed and systematic technique called nadi | | | | shown improvement in overall health care utilization |
| vigyan.This evaluation determines the types of herbs | | | | measures among meditators.The "technology" of |
| prescribed, and it guides the physician in the | | | | meditative practices has been subjected to studies |
| application of all other ayurvedic therapies.Vata - is | | | | showing physiological changes of heart rate, blood |
| likened to the wind, which is constantly moving and | | | | pressure, brain cortex activity, metabolism, |
| hence represents the central nervous system.Pitta - | | | | respiration, muscle tension, lactate level, skin |
| the sun, which is a source of energy. It represents | | | | resistance, salivation, and pain and stress responses |
| the digestive system and biochemical | | | | (improvement), and both negative and positive |
| processesKapha - governs the balance of tissue fluid | | | | behavioral effects. |