A Brief History of Ayurveda

A Brief History of Ayurveda PDF Author: M.R. Raghava Varier
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190992107
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 204

Book Description
For over two and a half millennia Āyurveda was the mainstream healthcare programme in the Indian subcontinent. However, what was once seen as indispensable, is now often officially described as ‘alternative medicine’. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of proper understanding of the specific culture from which Āyurveda emerged. This is because existing works on the subject have mostly been mere compilations of Āyurvedic practices and focused on classical texts. This book studies the stages of development in the system of Āyurveda and its practice from proto-historic times until British colonization. Using original Pāli and Sanskrit works, archaeological artefacts, as well as oft-neglected medieval epigraphic documents, M.R. Raghava Varier highlights how centuries of privileging Western knowledge has resulted in the sidelining of indigenous learning—a process that accelerated with the advent of colonialism. Further, he makes use of Jain and Buddhist sources to question the assumption that Āyurveda is a purely Hindu or Brahmanical system, thus providing a historiographical frame for conceptually establishing the notion of Āyurveda.

Mapping the History of Ayurveda

Mapping the History of Ayurveda PDF Author: K P Girija
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000481425
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 222

Book Description
This book looks at the institutionalisation and refashioning of Ayurveda as a robust, literate classical tradition, separated from the assorted, vernacular traditions of healing practices. It focuses on the dominant perspectives and theories of indigenous medicine and various compulsions which led to the codification and standardisation of Ayurveda in modern India. Critically engaging with authoritative scholarship, the book extrapolates from some of these theories, raising significant questions on the study of alternative knowledge practices. By using case studies of the southern Indian state of Kerala – which is known globally for its Ayurveda – it provides an in-depth analysis of local practices and histories. Drawing from interviews of practitioners, archival documents, vernacular texts and rare magazines on Ayurveda and indigenous medicine, it presents a nuanced understanding of the relationships between diverse practices. It highlights the interactions as well as the tensions within them, and the methods adopted to preserve the uniqueness of practices even while sharing elements of healing, herbs and medicine. It also discusses how regulations and standards set by the state have estranged assorted healing practices, created uncertainties and led to the formation of categories like Ayurveda and nattuvaidyam (indigenous medicine/ayurvedas). Lucid and topical, the book will be useful for researchers and people interested in social medicine, history of medicine, Ayurveda, cultural studies, history, indigenous studies, and social anthropology.

The Roots of Ayurveda

The Roots of Ayurveda PDF Author: Various
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 9780140448245
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 454

Book Description
Ayurveda, the ancient art of healing, has been practiced in India for more than two thousand years and survives today as a living medical tradition whose principles are at the heart of many "alternative" therapies now used in the West. This "science of longevity" has parallels with Buddhist thought, and advocates a life of moderation through which the three humors of the body will be brought into balance. The writings selected for this volume are taken from Sanskrit medical texts written by the first Ayurvedic physicians, who lived between the fifth century b.c. and the fourteenth century a.d. Here readers will find wide-ranging and fascinating advice on the benefits of garlic therapy, prayers for protection against malevolent disease deities, surgical techniques, exercise regimens, the treatment of poisons, the interpretation of dreams, and more. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic Medicine PDF Author: Sebastian Pole
Publisher: Singing Dragon
ISBN: 1848191138
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 399

Book Description
This resource brings the unique theories and traditions of Ayurveda alive so that they are accessible to the complementary health practitioner of today. This book offers a clear, accessible and yet detailed guide to Ayurvedic herbalism. It encompasses a brief history of the growth of Ayurveda, a discussion of its fundamental principles, treatment strategies as well as the energetic approach of traditional Ayurvedic herbal pharmacy and pharmacology.

The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies

The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies PDF Author: Vasant Lad, M.A.Sc.
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307815919
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 338

Book Description
Based on the ancient healing tradition from India that dates back thousands of years, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies offers natural alternatives to conventional medicines and treatments with practical advice and easy-to-follow instructions. Dr. Vasant Lad, a leading authority in this field, has created an invaluable guide to treating common ailments and chronic problems with strategies tailored to your personal needs based on your dosha. Dr. Lad first explains the principles behind the science of Ayurveda, exploring the physical and psychological characteristics of each of the three doshas, or mind-body types--vata, pitta, and kapha. Once you have determined which type or combination of types you are, Dr. Lad helps you to begin your journey to the ultimate "state of balance" and well-being. Dr. Lad explains why certain imbalances often result in illness and shows you how to restore your body to natural order. You'll learn which traditional Ayurvedic remedies--herbal teas and formulas, essential oils, meditation, yoga--offer relief from a variety of conditions, such as cold and flu symptoms, headaches, toothaches, sore throats, high cholesterol, vision problems, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Lad also shows you how to use diet and specific Ayurvedic techniques to prevent future illness and to promote body consciousness and healthy living. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies enables us all to experience the benefits of Ayurveda's healing properties that have been refined over thousands of years. All of the herbs, foods, and oils Dr. Lad recommends can be found in local health food stores or through mail-order catalogs. Complete with an extensive glossary and resource list, this is the definitive guide to natural, safe, and effective remedies, everyday keys to a lifetime of vitality and well-being.

A Hand Book of History of Ayurveda

A Hand Book of History of Ayurveda PDF Author: R. Vidyanath
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Medicine, Ayurvedic
Languages : en
Pages : 486

Book Description


The Roots of Ayurveda

The Roots of Ayurveda PDF Author: D. Wujastyk
Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN: 9780140436808
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 412

Book Description
Ayurveda, the ancient art of healing, has been practiced in India for more than two thousand years and survives today as a living medical tradition whose principles are at the heart of many "alternative" therapies now used in the West. This "science of longevity" has parallels with Buddhist thought, and advocates a life of moderation through which the three humors of the body will be brought into balance. The writings selected for this volume are taken from Sanskrit medical texts written by the first Ayurvedic physicians, who lived between the fifth century b.c. and the fourteenth century a.d. Here readers will find wide-ranging and fascinating advice on the benefits of garlic therapy, prayers for protection against malevolent disease deities, surgical techniques, exercise regimens, the treatment of poisons, the interpretation of dreams, and more.

Doctoring Traditions

Doctoring Traditions PDF Author: Projit Bihari Mukharji
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022638313X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 387

Book Description
There is considerable interest now in the contemporary lives of the so-called traditional medicines of South Asia and beyond. "Doctoring Traditions, "which examines Ayurveda in British India, particularly Bengal, roughly from the 1860s to the 1930s, is a welcome departure even within the available work in the area. For in it the author subtly interrogates the therapeutic changes that created modern Ayurveda. He does so by exploring how Ayurvedic ideas about the body changed dramatically in the modern period and by breaking with the oft-repeated but scantily examined belief that changes in Ayurvedic understandings of the body were due to the introduction of cadaveric dissections and Western anatomical knowledge. "Doctoring Traditions" argues that the actual motor of change were a number of small technologies that were absorbed into Ayurvedic practice at the time, including thermometers and microscopes. In each of its five core chapters the book details how the adoption of a small technology set in motion a dramatic refiguration of the body. This book will be required reading for historians both of medicine and South Asia.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda PDF Author: Robert Svoboda
Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN: 9780140193220
Category : Longevity
Languages : en
Pages : 344

Book Description
Ayurveda, The Universal Healing Art. More Than A Medical System. Developed From The Vedas, India&Rsquo;S Ancient Books Of Wisdom, Ayurveda Combines Physical, Psychological And Spiritual Therapies In An Approach To Health That Is As Relevant To The Modern World As It Was To The Ancient World When It First Became Part Of India&Rsquo;S Collective Consciousness. Here Is A Definitive Handbook Of A Health Care Both Sensible And Sublime, That Is Still Alive And Well Itself&Mdash;The Author Is The First Westerner To Graduate From An Indian Ayurvedic College. Utilizing Herbs And Minerals, Proper Nutrition And Purification And, Above All, Affirmative Ways Of Living, Ayurveda Treats Not Just The Ailment But The Whole Person And Emphasizes Prevention Of Disease To Avoid The Need For Cure. Its Ancient Message Has Helped Spread The New Holistic Thinking In The West, Encouraging Us To Become &Lsquo;Stewards Of Life&Rsquo; In Order, Now, To Give Civilization Itself A Chance To Heal.

History of Ayurveda … a heritage of healing

History of Ayurveda … a heritage of healing PDF Author: Poliklinika-Harni
Publisher: Fivestar
ISBN:
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 91

Book Description
The word ‘veda’ means knowledge.The evolution of the Indian art of healing and living a healthy life comes from the four Vedas namely : Rig veda , Sama veda , Yajur veda and Atharva veda .Ayurveda attained a state of reverence and is classified as one of the UpaVedas - a subsection - attached to the Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda contains not only the magic spells and the occult sciences but also the Ayurveda that deals with the diseases, injuries, fertility, sanity and health. Ayurveda incorporates all forms of lifestyle in therapy. Thus yoga, aroma, meditation, gems, amulets, herbs, diet, astrology, color and surgery etc. are used in a comprehensive manner in treating patients. Treating important and sensitive spots on the body called Marmas is described in Ayurveda . Massages, exercises and yoga are recommended.