Recent Advances in Fundamental Principles of Ayurveda (Volume-1)

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Recent Advances in Fundamental Principles of Ayurveda is a multi Author book, in which Authors effort to put all recent advances of Ayurveda of different disciplines at a single platform. In this book the chapters were invited from the scholars of Ayurveda from different discipline and reviewed by the experts of concern discipline respectively. In all chapters, the applied aspect of various concepts of different branches of Ayurveda has been done on scientific basis. It is need of time that all new advances of Ayurveda should be place at single platform. We hope this book will be beneficial for the Ayurveda fraternity, especially for younger generation. This is the first volume of ~book and next successful volumes of this book will be publish in future with interval of time.

Dr. Rani Singh, Associate Professor in. Department of Siddhanta Darshan, IMS, BHU. was born on 1° July, 1966 in village Chiti, district Bulandshahar then and now Gautam. Budh nagar, UP. She is graduated from Tibbia college affiliated with Delhi University in 1989 and post graduated from BHU 2002. She has also been awarded PhD degree from BHU in 2010. From 1989 to 1999 She has worked as private practitioner in Delhi and joined the Deptt. of Basic Principles BHU as Lecturer in 2003 which was renamed as Siddhanta Darshan in 2006. Having 17 years Teaching experience and 14 years Research experience; 11 M.D. degrees awarded and 3 are under her supervision. 3 PhD degrees have been awarded and 5 under supervision. She has published 76 research papers in reputed National and International journals and 16 chapters in the book. She has also delivered 30 guestlectures, keynote and 35 research papers in National and International conferences etc. She has been External examiner in 11 National Universities. She is the Member of various Academic, Admimistrative and research bodies and 9 awards to her credit. She received Best M.D.and PhD award too.

Health and diseases along with therapeutics is a major concern of Ayurveda since antiquity. When the health sciences of the world were in primitive stage, Ayurveda was developed upto a great extent. Its fundamental principles attained a sound scientific background. Science is never static, it remains changing with the pace of time depending upon the available tools and technology of that time. Once upon a time Ayurveda was supposed to be a divine system of health, as history says. Gradually it became a science of common man with the need of time. The Trisutra of Ayurveda developed as Agnivesha Tantra and again got the caliber of Charaka Samhita as an advancement of the Ayurvedic knowledge. With the dew course of time, the extension of knowledge regarding this compendia was done and many chapters of Chikitsa Sthana along with Kalpa and Siddhi Sthana were added. Afterwards many commentaries came in to. existence on the basis of personal experiences of scholars of different era. Today in the era of the science and technology things have been changed up to great extent in science but not in Ayurveda. Although effort have been done from different corner of the globe. As this era is an era of data based or evidence based knowledge, keeping this view in mind, it was my long desire to collect and present this type of work of Ayurveda before the scientific community. So in this book an effort has been made to present the recent advances in Ayurveda. The chapters were invited from the scholars of Ayurveda from different discipline and reviewed by the experts of concern discipline respectively. In all the chapters, the applied aspects of the different concepts of Ayurveda from different disciplines have been done on scientific basis. It is the need of time that the new advances of Ayurveda should be placed at a common plateform. We have done possible efforts to enlist all new researches of Ayurveda, Shalya Tantra, Shalakya Tantra, Kayachikitisa, Balaroga, Prasuti Tantra, Ayurveda Siddhanta Swasthavritta, Rachana Sharira, Dravyaguna etc. in this book. We hope this book will be beneficial for the Ayurveda fraternity, specially for the younger generation. Suggestions and critics will be invited for further improvement. At the last but not least, we extend thanks and wholehearted gratefulness to all the contributors and reviewers of chapters in this book.

Health and healing is a major concern since antiquity. In Sushruta Samhita it is quoted that the creator recalled Ayurveda before the cre- ation of world due to its extensive need, as history reveals. Initially Ayurveda was a divine system of health and disease like other system of medicine in the world. Later on it became a science of common man as enumerated by our ancient sages, while describing the descend of Ayurveda in classics. India is a land of philosophy and our sages by their great vision tried to understand the relation between the nature and the living being which is a matter of curiosity to understand since long while. After a prolong investigation they came to a conclu- sion that whatsoever exists in the nature also exists in the living being especially the human being and postulated a law Yatha Brahmande Tatha Pinde. The scholars of Ayurveda applied that knowledge in the field of medicine and established another concept that is the Concept of Loka Purusha Samya (macrocosm-microcosm continuum). Ac- cording to this the entire concept of health and disease revolve around this very concept. With the pace of time there were many ups and downs in the history of Ayurveda, due to various reasons but it sustained itself somehow because it was a system, related to the life of common man which starts from inception of life or before that. It believes in the deeds of previous life because of having philosophical background. In present era it is facing challenges form inside and outside the country due to the advancement of science and technology. Although it a system of its own kind having its own fundamental principles, even then some efforts have been made to cope with the situation inside and outside country all over the world according to the demand of time. Change is natural phenomenon and unavoidable too, keeping this view the present work has been planned to present the views on recent advances made in different disciplines of Ayurveda. A lot of work has been done in different discipline but it is scattered, and not put at a common place. Few years back a project was done from Ayurveda University Jam Nagar in which the list of MD Thesis on different subjects were prepared. In this book work on different concepts of different disciplines have been done by different workers and with the help of science and technology. Most of the chapters are in form of collection of subject matter amalgamated with science and technology. The matter has been arranged discipline wise alphabetically. At the outset in the section of Dravyaguna, the Concept of Dravya specially the application of herbs is mentioned for the purification of environmental pollution in the present situation of environmental crisis, in scientific way. Possible photos are also given to present the matter on evidence based concept of science in present era. An effort has been made to present views on food and its relation with health and disease. Today in the era of globalization food has also been globalised and its implications are also being observed. In the section of Kaumar Bhritya and Balroga, the matter is also given in scientific way with the help of scientific tools and technology. The concept of dose determination in Ayurveda and modern medicine is well defined and elaborated. The importance of Samskaras is mentioned in Jatakarma Samskara. The Jatkarma Samskara is not only a religious ritual but also have scientific basis. It act as preventive and promotive measure as it enhances the humeral and cellular immunity along with over all development of the child. Now a days Swarna Prashan is becoming very popular in the society due to its various effects. Kaya Chikitsa which is the prominent branch of Ayurveda or in other words it provides the applied aspect to the fundamental principles of Ayurveda. The concept of Ojas is described in detail and compared with modern science concept of immunity. The measure of increasing Ojas can help a lot in the patients of HIV infection is well versed because the Ojas or immunity is depleted in HIV infected patients. So the enhancement of Ojas should be included in the protocol of management of HIV infected patients and other disease too. The Panchakarma therapy which is the fast emerging branch of Kaya Chikitsa due to its efficacy, effectiveness, free from side effect and the adverse effect is also. In Panchakarma therapy chapters, the mat- ter has been presented to understand the mechanism of action with the help of membrane biology. This therapy act at cellular level to eradicate the disease or to maintain the health if done for preventive point of view. This therapy is beneficial in surgical procedures also mainly as preoperative measure. Now it is well accepted throughout the world like Yoga and Kshar Sutra as an alternative remedy in health care system from preventive, promotive and curative aspect of health. Hence the efforts have been made by the scholars to present its scientific basis of Panchakarma therapy before the scientific community for its mechanism of action and effectiveness. In the section of Prasuti Tantra, emphasis has been given that how the Ayurvedic approach can help in reducing mortality rate in present era. The effect of Uttar Basti is indicated in different gynecological disorders, is well versed in the light of modern science along with indication and contra indications. In the section of Rachana Sharira people have tried their best to present their subject matter in scientific way prevailing in present era in applied way. The subject matter is presented with the help of contemporary modern science to understand it in modern perspective as It is the demand of subject because in Ayurveda, the subject matter of Rachana Sharira is described as physioanatomical way. The concept of congenital anomalies is presented in scientific way. An effort has been made to clear the concept of Uttmanga Sharira, da and Pingla and is compared with modern concept of nervous system. It is shown that how energy is created and flowing in the body to strengthen the physical, mental and spiritual health. The structure of uterus which is described in Ayurveda is well presented in modern way. Similarly Marma therapy is also given in advance form. A lot of advancement has been made in Shalya Tantra during the last few decades which is well indicated in the chapters from Shalya Tantra discipline. The Anal structure is described in the light of modern science and its applied aspect in present are mainly the treatment with Kshar Sutra therapy. The application of good anatomical knowledge help in the diagnosis and treatment both. Initially the use of Kshara only was mentioned in Sushruta Samhita, but later on because of the innovative vision of scholars of this branch, Kshar has been presented in form of Kshar Sutra which is used for various anorectal diseases and others too. Different treatment modalities are compared in the treatment of fistula in Ano and remark on benefit of Ayurvedic therapy are made by the scholars. This modality is well accepted in India and abroad. Similarly other non surgical procedure like leech therapy and blood letting etc are also given in scientific way. Shalakya Tantra (Eye, ENT and Dentistry) in Ayurveda is also advanced a lot now a day as its various therapies used to treat different ailment of Eye and ENT diseases. The Kriya Kalpa therapy is quite effective in eye diseases and very popular in practice of Ayurvedic ophthalmology. An attempt has been made to describe the anatomy of eye in the light of modern science. The subject matter of the chapters of this discipline is well versed with scientific vision along with applied aspect. The Fundamental principles of Ayurveda, are formulated after close contact and keen observation of nature, but now a days it requires evidence based explanation. The effort has been made by the scholars to present matter based on evidences. The concept of Kala (time) Is given in applied way. In cellular basis of Panchakarma therapy, it IS explained that how this therapy eradicate waste material at cellular level. The chapter on gurukul system indicate the education system in Ayurveda, during ancient time which has been changed into university system now. In Ayurveda also there was a Guru-Shishya Parampara in teaching and the assessment system was almost same as in other system of knowledge. The Disciples were used to study, staying with the Guru. Spirituality is need of the day now due to increased of evil practices in the society. It helps in promotions of health, prevention and cure of diseases also as a result of harmonious environment in the in the society, is presented in elaborated manner. In the section of Vikriti Vigyan, extensive effort has been made by the author to understand the Ayurvedic view on Jwara (fever) with the help of contemporary modern medical science, so that it can be understood by the scientific world in present era. Every aspect of Jwara is well described taking help of science. Thus all the scholars have tried their best to present their views in the light of contemporary modern science, indicating the recent advancement in their subject.