Ayurveda: The Ancient Indian Science of Healing

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Item Code: IDE954
Publisher: Pan Macmillan India
Author: Ashok Majumdar
Edition: 2004
ISBN: 1403922349
Pages: 447 (Color Illus: 16 with B & W Figures: 27)
Cover: Paperback
Other Details 9.5" X 7.2"
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Book Description
From the Jacket:

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.

About the Author:

Dr Ashok Majumdar is a senior Ayurvedic practitioner based in New Delhi. He was formerly consultant to WHO in Indonesia. He completed his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi.

He hails from a family of Ayurvedic physicians, imbued with its traditions for the past ten generations. He completed his post-graduation in Ayurveda at the Postgraduate Institute of Indian Medicine, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

Dr Majumdar has authored two books on holistic medicine, Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra: Implication in Ayurveda and Home Remedies in Ayurveda.

Excerpts from Review:

This book is certainly a great deal more dependable and historically accurate than many Ayurvedic books currently in print. It can safely be given to students in the history or anthropology of medicine as a course textbook....

Prof. Dominik Wujastyk
Welcome Library, London
Review in the Newsletter of IASTAM

Dr Majumdar's effort is commendable... (His) sincerity of purpose is evident throughout the book.

Dr Sunil K Pandya
Book Review, Indian Journal of History of Science
published by the Indian National
Science Academy, Delhi

It was my pleasure to read Ayurveda: The Ancient Science of Healing written by Dr Ashok Majumdar. He has presented Ayurvedic principle and practices in modern scientific terminology in proper and correct perspective.

I am sure this book will be of much interest for Ayurvedic students and scholars as well as for doctors of modern medicine and scientists who want to know this ancient medical system.

Dr S K Mishra
Ex-Ayurvedic Adviser and
Honorary Special Commissioner (ISM)
Government of India

CONTENTS

Forewordvii
Preface to the Second Editionix
Preface to the First Editionxi
List of Abbreviationsxii
Majumdars - Ten Generations in the Service of Ayurveda

xiv
1.Basic Scientific Concept of Ayurveda1
• Ayurveda: Its Brief Fundamental Concepts 1
• The Reason Why Ayurveda is Scientific and Not Based on Assumptions

4
2.General Introduction6
• Evolution of Ayurveda7
• Present Status8
• Chronological Dates

10
3.Eight Specialised Subjects in Ayurveda12
• 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 Philosophy29
• General Concept of the Physical World29
• Building Blocks of Existence: The Panchabhuta

34
5.Bioregulating Principles: Tridosha41
• Tridosha (Vayu, Pitta and Kapha), The Bioregulating Principles and Their Characteristics41
• Temperaments and Constitutions: The Prakriti44
• Physical Properties of Bioregulating Principles (Tridosha)48
• Location of the Three Bioregulating Principles (Doshas) in the Body50
• General Functions of the Normal Bioregulating Principles: The Tridosha (Vayu, Pitta and Kapha)53
• Causes of Derangement of Doshas, the Bioregulating Principles63
• Functions of the Deranged Doshas64
• Accumulation of the Doshas66
• Diseases and Disorders Mainly Caused by the Doshas66
• Prakriti and Vikriti Assessment83
• Finally What is Vata, Pitta and Kapha in Brief?

98
6.The Interior of the Body and the Digestive Processes101
• Agni, the Biological Fire102
• Dhatu (Tissues)109
• Malas 114
• Srotas (Channels)116
• The Nourishment of the Body117
• Relationship among Doshas, Dhatu and Malas

120
7.Understanding Tastes: Rasas122
• Dravyas123
• Rasas125
• Guna135
• Virya140
• Vipaka141
• Prabhava143
• Karma143
• Charaka's 50 Groups of Drugs144
• Susruta's 37 Groups of Drugs153
• Drugs Grouping by Charaka for Panchakarma Theory161
• Drugs Action (Karma) on Various Systems of the Body162
• Comparative Statement of the Groups of Drugs Described by Charaka and Susruta164
• Some Groups of Drugs Based on Physical Qualities Widely Used for Therapeutic Practice166
• Drugs and Foodstuffs having Predominant Rasas

167
8.Pathology in Ayurveda171
• Definition of a Disease (Roga)171
• Disease in the Body171
• Classification of Diseases172
• The Role of Doshas, The Bioregulating Principles in Diseases173
• Causative Factors of a Disease174
• Pathogenesis of a Disease or Sat-Kriyakalas176
• The Real Cause of a Disease (Spiritual Aspect)

178
9.Diagnostic Methodology in Ayurveda: Nidana180
• Steps in Diagnostic Methodology

183
10.General Principles of Treatment: Chikitsa194
• Samsodhana Therapy195
• Samsamana Therapy196
• Ahar and Vihar

197
11.Ancient Indian Body Purification Therapy: The Panchakarma Therapy200
• 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 Therapy220
• Asava and Arista221
• Arka222
• Avaleha and Paka222
• Kwatha Churna222
• Guggulu222
• Grita222
• Churna223
• Taila223
• Lavaa Kshara223
• Lepa223
• Vati and Gutika223
• Varti, Anjana and Netrabindu224
• Sattva224
• Pisti224
• Bhasma224
• Parpati226
• Mandura226
• Lauha226
• Kupipakva Rasayana226
• Rasa Yoga

227
14.Rasa Shastra: Minerals, Metals and Gems in Ayurvedic Therapy228
• Classification

230
15.Pulse in Ayurveda: Nadivigyana248
• Origin in the Ancient Texts248
• Development of the Pulse Science in the Hand of Later Physicians249
• Concept of Pulse in Association with Nadi Chakra Systems of Yoga and Tantra250
• Appearance of Independent Treatises on Pulse250
• Incorporation of 'Holding the Pulse' Assumes a Prominent Place in Works on Clinical Methods of Examination251
• Present-Day Status of the Science of Pulse in Ayurveda

251
16.Concept of Nadi in Ancient Texts255
• Introduction

255
17.Prana: The Life Factor260
• Prana and Tridosha264
• Respiratory Centres and Nervous Control of Respiratory Movements

265
18.Health Village/Resort According to Ayurvedic Principles - A Proposal267
• Natural Food267
• Spiritual Performance268
• Yoga268
• Psychological Deterioration268
• Deterioration of Lifespan268
• The Project of a Proposed Health Village/Resort269
• Research and Development Block

269
19.A Concise Survey of the Ancient Texts in India Related to Science270
• Pre-Vedic Period271
• Vedic Period271
• The Vedic Literature272
• Vedangas275
• Nastic Darsanas277
• Sad-Darsanas278
• Samkhya279
• Yoga280
• Nyaya Darsana285
• Vaisesika Darsana285
• Mimamsa286
• Vedanta (Uttar Mimamsa)286
• Chikitsa Shastra286
• Mahakavyas (Epics)286
• Purana287
• Tantra Shastra

288
20.Globalisation of Ayurveda

292
Appendices297
Appendix I: Ayurvedic Institutions in India299
Appendix II: Indian Medicine Central Council Regulations324
Appendix III: Chapters in Major Texts of Ayurveda341
Appendix IV: Website information from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy343
Appendix V: Commonly used Medicinal Plants in Ayurveda

355
Glossary of Sanskrit Terms

403
Bibliography

411
Index415

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