NOTICE :
The oldest (7000-5000 BC) codified form of Medicine known to mankind is Ayurveda which means Ayu + Veda= Science of Life. The origin of Ayurveda or the Indian Science of Life is linked with the origin of Universe and developed from out of the various. Vedic hymns describing fundamentals/philosophies about the world and life, diseases and medicines. Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Sangraha are the best compilation of knowledge of Ayurveda documented around 1000 B.C. According to Ayurveda, health is considered a pre-requisite for achieving the goals of life, i.e., dharma, artha, kama & moksha (salvation). Ayurveda takes an integrated view of the physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects of human beings.
According to Ayurveda all objects in the universe including human body are composed of five basic elements (Panchamahabhutas) namely, earth, water, fire, air and vacuum (ether). The combinations of these five elements are represented in the form of Tri Doshas viz. Vata (Ether+ Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Water+ Earth). These three ‘Doshas’ are physiological entities in living beings. The doctrine of Ayurveda aims to keep these structural and functional entities in a functional state of equilibrium which signifies good health (Swastha). Any imbalance due to internal or external factors causes disease and restoring the equilibrium through various techniques, procedures, regimen, diet and medicine constitute the treatment.
The treatment approach in the Ayurveda system is holistic and individualized having preventive, curative, mitigative, recuperative and rehabilitative aspects. The principal objectives of Ayurveda are maintenance and promotion of health, prevention of disease and cure of sickness. During the Samhita period (1500-1000 BC), Ayurveda developed into eight branches called Ashtanga Ayurveda including (1) Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine), (2) KaumaraBhruthya (Paediatrics), (3) GrahaChikitsa (Psychiatry), (4) Shalakya (Eye, ENT& Dentistry), (5) ShalyaTantra (Surgery-Orthopaedics), (6) AgadaTantra (Toxicology and Medical Jurisprudence), (7) Rasayana (Rejuvenation/Gerontology/Geriatrics), (8) Vajeekarana (Infertility/Aphrodisiacs/Sexual medicine). During the last 60 years of development, it has now developed twenty-two specialties.
Siddha system is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India . The term Siddha means achievements and Siddhars were saintly persons who achieved results in medicine. Eighteen Siddhars were said to have contributed towards the development of this medical system. Siddha literature is in Tamil and it is practised largely in Tamil speaking part of India and abroad. The Siddha System is largely therapeutic in nature.
The aim of siddha medicine is to make the body perfect, imperishable and to promote longevity. For the healthy life, Siddhars have mentioned daily and seasonal regimen including dietary habits and also insisted some code of ethics. This is the first system to emphasis health as the perfect state of physical, mental, social, moral and spiritual component of human beings. Also Siddhars lead a simple way of life according to the laws of nature and beyond the narrow divisions of caste, creed, religion, colour and nation.
This principles and doctrines of this system, both fundamental and applied, have a close similarity to Ayurveda, with specialization in Iatro-chemistry. According to this system the human body is the replica of the universe and so are the food and drugs irrespective of their origin. Like Ayurveda, this system believes that all objects in the universe including human body are composed of five basic elements namely, earth, water, fire, air and sky. The food, which the human body takes and the drugs it uses are all, made of these five elements. The proportion of the elements present in the drugs vary and their preponderance or otherwise is responsible for certain actions and therapeutic results.
As in Ayurveda, This system also considers the human body as a conglomeration of three humours, seven basic tissues and the waste products of the body such as faeces, urine and sweat. The food is considered to be basic building material of human body which gets processed into humours, body tissues and waste products. The equilibrium of humours is considered as health and its disturbance or imbalance leads to disease or sickness.
In siddha system, thousands of raw drugs are used. These drugs are categorized into three groups, namely herbal products, metal, mineral products and animal products. Before preparing medicines, siddha physicians laid a great emphasis in purification of raw drugs. More than 80% of the siddha medicines are formulated by herbal products. But in certain life threatening diseases and in many chronic diseases the herbal medicines alone is not much effective. In such conditions, Siddhars enumerated some herbo-metal and herbo-mineral formulations. These types of medicines are prepared by a standard purification and preparatory techniques and the finished product is very minute and it seems to be size of nano microns or even less. So, it can be easily assimilated in our system and never produces any toxicity. Also, these type of medicines are prescribed in a very minimal dose (varies from 20mg to 200 mg) with suitable adjuvant for specific period along with some dietary restriction for the better result.
The Siddha system is capable of treating all types of disease other than emergency cases. In general this system is effective in treating all types of skin problems particularly Psoriasis, STD, urinary tract infections, diseases of liver and gastro intestinal tract, general debility, postpartum anaemia, diarrhoea and general fevers in addition to arthritis and allergic disorders.
The Unani System of Medicine has a long and impressive record in India. It was introduced in India by the Arabs and Persians sometime around the eleventh century. Today, India is one of the leading countries in so for as the practice of Unani medicine is concerned. It has the largest number of Unani educational, research and health care institutions. As the name indicates, Unani system originated in Greece. The foundation of Unani system was laid by Hippocrates. The system owes its present form to the Arabs who not only saved much of the Greek literature by rendering it into Arabic but also enriched the medicine of their day with their own contributions. Unani Medicines got enriched by imbibing what was best in the contemporary systems of traditional medicines in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India, China and other Middle East countries. In India, Unani System of Medicine was introduced by Arabs and soon it took firm roots. The Delhi Sultans (rulers) provided patronage to the scholars of Unani System and even enrolled some as state employees and court physicians. The basic theory of Unani system is based upon the well- known four- humour theory of Hippocrates. This presupposes the presence, in the body, of four humours viz., blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. The human body is considered to be made up of the following seven components are: Arkan (Elements), Mizaj (Temperament), Akhlat (Humors), Aaza (Organs), Arwah (Spirits), Quwa (Faculties), Afaal (Functions), Arkan (Elements)
In this system the entire personality of a patient is taken into account. Each individual has got its own basic structure, physique, make-up, self-defense mechanism, reaction to environmental factors, likes and dislikes. Unani medicine has the following main types of treatment
The concepts and practices of Yoga originated in India about several thousand years ago. Its founders were great Saints and Sages. The great Yogis presented rational interpretation of their experiences of Yoga and brought about a practical and scientifically sound method within every one’s reach. Yoga today, is no longer restricted to hermits, saints, and sages; it has entered into our everyday lives and has aroused a worldwide awakening and acceptance in the last few decades. The science of Yoga and its techniques have now been reoriented to suit modern sociological needs and lifestyles. Experts of various branches of medicine including modern medical sciences are realizing the role of these techniques in the prevention and mitigation of diseases and promotion of health. Yoga is one of the six systems of Vedic philosophy.
Maharishi Patanjali, rightly called "The Father of Yoga" compiled and refined various aspects of Yoga systematically in his "Yoga Sutras" (aphorisms). He advocated the eight folds path of Yoga, popularly known as "Ashtanga Yoga" for all-round development of human beings. They are:- Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. These components advocate certain restraints and observances, physical discipline, breath regulations, restraining the sense organs, contemplation, meditation and samadhi. These steps are believed to have a potential for improvement of physical health by enhancing circulation of oxygenated blood in the body, retraining the sense organs thereby inducing tranquility and serenity of mind. The practice of Yoga prevents psychosomatic disorders and improves an individual’s resistance and ability to endure stressful situations.
For more information. amity.edu/yoga
Naturopathy is an art and science of healthy living and a drugless system of healing based on well-founded philosophy. It is a very old science; a number of references in our Vedas and other ancient texts can be found on it. The morbid matter theory, concept of vital force and other concepts upon which Naturopathy is based are already available in old texts. The revival of Naturopathy started in India by translation of Germany’s Louis Kuhne’s book “New Science of Healing”. Shri D.
Gandhiji was influenced by the book Return to Nature written by Adolf Just and become a firm believer of Naturopathy. Here, it may also be mentioned that modern Naturopathy movement was started in Germany and other western countries with Water Cure (Hydrotherapy) therapy.
As on today, Naturopathy is recognized and well accepted as an independent System of Medicine. Techniques and Benefits of Different Modalities of Naturopathy are Diet Therapy, Fasting Therapy, Mud Therapy, Hydrotherapy, MassoTherapy, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Chromo Therapy, Air Therapy, Magnet Therapy
The main features of Naturopathy are as under:
Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced almost all over the world. In India it has become a household name due the safety of its pills and gentleness of its cure. A rough study states that about 10% of the Indian population solely depend Homoeopathy for their Health care needs and is considered as the Second most popular system of medicine in the Country.
It is more than a century and a half now that Homoeopathy is being practiced in India. It has blended so well into the roots and traditions of the country that it has been recognised as one of the National System of Medicine and plays a very important role in providing health care to a large number of people. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels.
The word ‘Homoeopathy’ is derived from two Greek words, Homois meaning similar and pathos meaning suffering. Homoeopathy simply means treating diseases with remedies, prescribed in minute doses, which are capable of producing symptoms similar to the disease when taken by healthy people. It is based on the natural law of healing- "Similia Similibus Curantur” which means "likes are cured by likes”. It was given a scientific basis by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann ( 1755-1843) in the early 19th century. It has been serving suffering humanity for over two centuries and has withstood the upheavals of time and has emerged as a time tested therapy, for the scientific principles propounded by Hahnemann are natural and well proven and continue to be followed with success even today.
“Sowa-Rigpa” commonly known as Tibetan system of medicine is one of the oldest, Living and well documented medical tradition of the world. It has been originated from Tibet and popularly practice in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia and Russia. The majority of theory and practice of Sowa-Rigpa is similar to “Ayurveda”. The first Ayurvedic influence came to Tibet during 3rd century AD but it became popular only after 7th centuries with the approach of Buddhism to Tibet. There after this trend of exportation of Indian medical literature, along with Buddhism and other Indian art and sciences were continued till early 19th century. Many of these knowledge were further enriched in Tibet with the knowledge and skills of neighboring countries and their own ethnic knowledge. “Sowa-Rigpa” (Science of healing) is one of the classic examples of it. rGyud-bZhi (four tantra) the fundamental text book of this medicine was composed by Yuthog Yonten Gonpo who is believed to be the father of Sowa Rigpa. rGyud-bZhi which is based on indigenous medicine of Tibet enriched with Ayurveda, Chinese and Greek Medicine. In India, this system is widely practice in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling (West Bengal), Dharamsala, Lahaul and Spiti(Himachal Pradesh) and Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sowa-Rigpa is based on the principles of Jung-wa-nga (Skt: panchamahabhutas) and Ngepa-Sum (Skt: Tridosa). Bodies of all the living beings and non living objects of the universe are composed of Jung-wa-nga; viz Sa, Chu, Me, Lung and Nam-kha (Skt: Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu and Akash). The physiology, pathology Pharmacology and metria -medica of this system are established on these theories. Our body is composed of these five Cosmo physical elements of Jung-wa-nga; when the proportion of these elements is in imbalance in our body disorder results. The medicine and diet used for the treatment of disorders are also composed of the same five basic elements. In the body these elements are present in the form of Ngepa-Sum (Skt: Tri-dosa) Lus-sung-dun (Skt: Sapta Dhatu) and Dri-ma-Sum (Skt: Trimala). In drugs, diet and drinks they exist in the form of Ro-dug (Skt: Shast-rasa) Nus-pa (Virya) Yontan (Skt: Guna) and Zhu-jes (Skt: Vipaka). It is in context of this theory that a physician would use his knowledge, skills and experience in treating a patient, using the theory of similarity and dissimilarity (Skt: Samanaya and Vísesa) of five elements. The basic theory of Sowa-Rigpa may be adumbrated in terms of the following five points: The body in disease as the locus of treatment; Antidote, i.e., the treatment; the method of treatment through antidote; Medicine that cures the disease; Materia Medica, Pharmacy & Pharmacology