Dhanvantari is an avatar of Vishnu from the Hindu tradition and God of Ayurvedic medicine. Dhanvantari was an early Indian medical practitioner and one of the world’s first surgeons. Based on Vedic traditions, he is regarded as the source of Ayurveda. He perfected many herbal based cures and natural remedies and was credited with the discovery of the antiseptic properties of turmeric and the preservative properties of salt which he incorporated in his cures.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Eight disciplines of Ayurveda treatment, called Ashtangas (Devanāgarī: अष्टांग), are given below:
- Internal medicine (Kaaya-chikitsa)
- Paediatrics (Kaumarabhrtyam)
- Surgery (Shalya-chikitsa)
- Treatment of diseases above the clavicle (Salakyam)
- Demonic possession (Bhuta vidya): Bhuta vidya has been called psychiatry.
- Toxicology (Agadatantram)
- Prevention diseases and improving immunity and rejuvenation (rasayana)
- Aphrodisiacs and improving health of progeny (Vajikaranam)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Massage is the practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical (anatomical), functional (physiological), and psychological purposes and goals. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle" or from Latin massa meaning "mass, dough". In distinction the ancient Greek word for massage was anatripsis, and the Latin was frictio.
Massage involves acting on and manipulating the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different recognized massage modalities. The most cited reasons for introducing massage as therapy have been client demand and perceived clinical effectiveness.
In professional settings massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor. The massage subject may be fully or partly unclothed. Parts of the body may be covered with towels or sheets.
Use of both bhasma (Residue after incineration – calcined preparation) as well as in pishti (powdered gem or metal) form along with appropriate herbs for treatment of critical ailments is a medicinal preparation in Ayurveda and to some extent Unani (both Indian branches of medical science using natural curative methods. The procedures for preparing these medicines are time-consuming and complicated.
Bhasma is a calcined preparation in which the gem or metal is converted into ash. Gems or metals are purified to remove impurities and treated by triturating and macerating in herbal extracts. The dough so obtained is calcinated to obtain the ashes.
HINGUVACHADI CHOORNA – in flatulence, pain of chest and sides, indigestion, pain of urinary bladder, anus, vagina and hip . in tastelessness, hiccough, cough, breathlessness, colic, abdominal distension, piles and hernia.
JADAMAYADI CHOORNA – for local application in rheumatic diseases with burning and swelling.
KACHORADI CHOORNA – in severe headache, burning sensation of eyes and head, sleeplessness and insanity. applied as a paste in suitable media or rubbed on to the vertex.
KARPOORADI CHOORNA – (Big) in tuberculosis, cough, breathlessness, vomiting, tastelessness, hiccough, and sprain.
KARPOORADI CHOORNA – (Small) in cough and loss of taste.
RAJANYADI CHOORNA – given in gastritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, jaundice, anaemia, cough. improves strength, nourishment and lusture to the body. good for children.
RASNADI CHOORNA – in common cold. to rub the scalp with in inflammation of throat, palate, ears, nose etc., due to cold and congestive type of head ache, and convulsions, the powder made into a paste is applied to the vertex. Application of a little powder to the dry scalp after bath will prevent common cold.
SHADDHARANA CHOORNA – Arthritis. skin diseases, including leprosy, piles, indigestion and constipation.
THALEESAPATRADI CHOORNA - in loss of taste, poor digestion, vomiting, cough, breathlessness, and pain of the sides of chest.
ABHAYARISHTA – in piles & constipation – a laxative - improves digestive power.
AMRITHARISHTA – in all kinds of fevers at any stage.
ARAGWADARISHTA – in skin diseases like leucoderma, leprosy, infected and unclean wounds.
ARAVINDASAVA – in diseases of children like gastritis, fever, leanness, tastelessness and anaemia.
ARDRAKASAVA – indigestion, vomiting.
ASOKARISHTA – in excessive menstrual discharges, bleeding, menstrual disorders.
ASWAGANDHARISHTA – loss of memory, lethargy, leanness, relieves weakness of tissues.
AYASKRITHI – in diabetes mellitus, anaemia, reduces excess fat
BALARISHTA – in all rheumatic and nervous disorders, gives nourishment and strength to the body, improves digestive power.
BRINGARAJASAVA – in cough and breathlessness, aphrodiasic, gives strength and nourishment, makes infertile women fertile.
CHANDANASAVA – in leucorrhoea and spermatorrhoea. Also in dysurea.
CHAVIKASAVA – in weak digestion, anaemia and gastritis.
DANTHYARISHTA – laxative. improves digestion, relieves diseases of liver and spleen.
DASAMOOLARISHTA – gives strength and nourishment to the body, promotes energy, corrects seminal defects, nourishes tissues.
DEVADARVARISHTA – in diabetes, rheumatic ailments, gastritis, piles, dysuria, major skin diseases.
DHANWANTHARISHTA – in rheumatic and nervous disorders, fracture of bones, hernia, in diseases of vagina, post delivery treatment.
DHATHRYARISHTA – in diabetes.
DRAKSHARISHTA – gives strength and nourishment to the body. laxative, improves digestion
DRAKSHASAVA – has all qualities mentioned for Draksharishta.
DURALABARISHTA – has all the qualities of Abhayarishta, more laxative.
ELADHYARISHTA – in skin eruptions, allergy, chronic fever, infected sinuses, cough, breathlessness, fistula and diabetic eruptions and boils, venereal diseases.
JEERAKADYARISHTA - in post delivery care. Also in gastritis and indigestion.
KANAKASAVA – in cough, breathlessness, tuberculosis, complication of chest injury, chronic fever.
KHADIRARISHTA – in all types of skin diseases. Also in tumors, cancers and diseases of spleen.