Ayurveda (1)

*Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is a system of Hindu traditional medicine native to

the Indian subcontinent and a form of alternative medicine.

* The oldest known Ayurvedic texts are the Suśrutha Saṃhitā and the Charaka
Saṃhitā. TheseClassical Sanskrit texts are among the foundational and formally
compiled works of Ayurveda.

* Dhanvantari is the god of Ayurveda .

* By the medieval period, Ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal

preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments .

* Practices that are derived from Ayurvedic medicine are regarded as part of
complementary and alternative medicine and along with Siddha Medicine forms the
basis for systems medicine

Origin (2)

* Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda or "auxiliary knowledge" in Vedic tradition.

* It is treated as a supplement of the Rigveda, some believed that Atharva-Veda is the

prime origin of Ayurveda.

* The samhita of the Atharvaveda itself contains 114 hymns for the magical cure of
diseases.

*, Ayurveda evolved from the Vedas. There are various legendary accounts of the
"origin of Ayurveda"

Eight components of Ayurveda (3)

*Kāya-chikitsā (General medicine) – : "cure of diseases affecting the body"

*Kaumāra-bhṛtya (Pediatrics) – : "treatment of children".

*Śhalya-chikitsā (Surgery) – : "removal of any substance which has entered the body.
(as extraction of darts, of splinters, etc.)"

*Śālākya-tantra (Ophthalmology / ENT/Dentistry) – : "cure of diseases of the teeth, eye,

nose or ear etc. by sharp instruments" .

*Bhoot (ghost)-vidyā (Demonology / exorcism / psychiatry) – : treatment of mental

diseases.
*Agada-tantra:Gada (Toxicology) – means Poison. "doctrine of antidotes".

*Rasayana-tantra (Anti Agings) – Rasayana-tantra: doctrine.

*Vājīkaraṇa tantra (Aphrodisiacs) – That increases sexual desire.

Diagnosis (4)
Ayurveda has 8 ways of diagnosis.
*Nadi (Pulse)
* Mootra (Urine)
*Mala (Stool)
* Jinvha (Tongue)
* Shabda (Speech)
* Sparsha (Touch)
* Druk (Vision)
* Aakruti (Appearance)

* Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using the five senses. Hearing is used
to observe the condition of breathing and speech. The study of the lethal points or mar-
man mar-ma is of special importance.

Natural medical substances used (5)

* Ayurveda stresses the use of plant-based medicines and treatments.

Eg; cardamom and cinnamon

* Some animal products may also be used, for example milk, bones.

* fats are used both for consumption and for external use.
*
Minerals, including sulphur lead, copper sulfate and gold are also consumed as
prescribed.

* This practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known as rasa shastra.

* alcohol was used as a narcotic for patients undergoing operation, oil and tar were
used to stop bleeding.

* liquids may be poured on the patient's forehead, a technique which is

called shirodhara.