Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life, 1e

Description

Ayurveda is an ancient system of health care that developed in India several thousand years ago. Allied with the spiritual philosophy of Hinduism, Ayurveda is a practical and inclusive system of health care orientated to the prevention and treatment of disease through the observation of important principles found in biological systems. This unique one-of-a-kind book is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of Ayurveda, and discusses the practical use of therapies such as diet, exercise, yoga, meditation, massage, and herbal remedies. The book also includes detailed information on Ayurvedic pharmacology and pharmacy, clinical methods and examinations, and general treatment protocols. The final section provides a comprehensive materia medica of 50 Indian herbs that include botanical descriptions, traditional Ayurvedic knowledge, constituent data and latest medical research, as well as clinical indications, formulations and dosages.Helpful full-color insert containing photos of the 50 herbs covered, alongside a ruler for scale, allows the reader to quickly identify herbs correctly.Includes useful appendices, including information on dietary and lifestyle regimens, Ayurvedic formulations, Ayurvedic weights and measures, glossaries on Ayurvedic terms, and medical substances.Unique contributions include a discussion of pathology, clinical methods, diagnostic techniques, and treatment methods from an Ayurvedic perspective. Front Cover Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life Copyright Page Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Notes on transliteration Part 1 : Theory and practice of Ayurveda Chapter 1: Foundation Objectives 1.1 Origin of Āyurveda 1.2 Philosophical orientation of Āyurveda 1.3 The pañca kośa: the five sheaths of being 1.4 The cakra system, kundalilnī and astāñga yoga Chapter 2: Theory Objectives 2.1 The Sān˙khya darśana 2.2 The gun.as 2.3 The tridosa theory 2.4 Sthāna: residence of the dosas 2.5 Kāla: timing of the dosas 2.6 Tridosa laksanas: symptomology of the dosas 2.7 Caya and kopa: increase and vitiation of the dosas 2.8 Dosagati: the dosas in association with the gunas 2.9 The sub-dosas: subdivisions within each dosa 2.10 Sub-dosas of vāta 2.11 Sub-dosas of pitta 2.12 Sub-dosas of kapha Chapter 3: Constitution and consciousness Objectives 3.1 Prakrti: the constitution 3.2 Manas prakrti: the constitutional influence upon mind 3.3 Triguna manas: the qualities of the mind 3.4 Manas: the mind 3.5 Citta: consciousness Chapter 4: The physical body Objectives 4.1 Agni: the fire of digestion and metabolism 4.2 Sapta dhātus: the seven supports 4.3 Ojas: the vital essence 4.4 Malas: bodily wastes 4.5 Āma: toxins and wastes 4.6 Srotāmsi: the channels of the body Chapter 5: Āyurvedic living Objectives 5.1 Dinācaryā, sadvrtta and rtucaryā 5.2 Dinācaryā: the daily regimen 5.3 Sadvrtta: good conduct 5.4 Rtucaryā: seasonal regimen 5.5 Hemañta and śirīsa rtucaryā: 5.6 Vasanta rtucaryā: spring regimen 5.7 Grisma and śarat rtucaryā: summer regimen 5.8 Varsa rtucaryā: autumn regimen 5.9 Rtusandhi: transitional periods 5.10 Climatic influences Chapter 6: Pharmacology and pharmacy Objectives 6.1 Dravyguna: definition, scope and background 6.2 Dravya and its classification 6.3 Rasa: the six tastes 6.4 Action of the rasas upon the dosas 6.5 Action of the rasas upon the dhātus 6.6 Action of the rasas upon agni 6.7 Vipāka: post-digestive effect 6.8 Vīrya: energetic qualities 6.9 Karma: therapeutic action 6.10 Prabhāva: spiritual potency 6.11 Bhais.ajya vyākhyāna: principles of pharmacy 6.12 Anupāna: vehicle 6.13 Bhaisajya kāla: dosing strategy Chapter 7: Food and drink Objectives 7.1 Water 7.2 Dairy products 7.3 Fruit 7.4 Vegetables 7.5 Grains and cereals 7.6 Legumes 7.7 Nuts and seeds 7.8 Meat and animal products 7.9 Fats and oils 7.10 Sweeteners 7.11 Alcohol, coffee and tea 7.12 Summary of dietary guidelines and tridosas Chapter 8: Pathology and disease Objectives 8.1 Vikara: disease in Āyurveda 8.2 Pañcavidha kārana: the five causes of disease 8.3 Asātmyeñdriyārtha: sense and sense objects in disease 8.4 Prajñaparādha: crimes against wisdom 8.5 Parināma: seasonal and climactic factors in disease 8.6 Karma and disease 8.7 Āma and disease 8.8 Rogamārgas: the pathways of disease 8.9 Vyādhyāvasthā: the pathogenesis of the disease 8.10 Dvividha roga: the two kinds of disease Chapter 9: Clinical methodology and case history Objectives 9.1 Nidāna: clinical assessment 9.2 Trividha parīksā: three sources of knowledge 9.3 Criteria for physicians, patients and treatment location 9.4 Nidāna pañcakam: the five methods of investigation 9.5 Daśavidha parīksā: ten mehtods of examination 9.6 Dūsyam 9.7 Kālam 9.8 Prakrti 9.9 Vayah 9.10 Balām 9.11 Agni 9.12 Sattva 9.13 Sātmya 9.14 Deśam 9.15 Āhāra Chapter 10: Clinical examination Objectives 10.1 Astāsthāna parīksā: the eight methods of diagnosis 10.2 Akrti parīksā: the observation of build 10.3 Śabda parīksā: voice diagnosis 10.4 Drk parīksā: examination of the eyes 10.5 Sparśa parīksā: palpation 10.6 Mūtra parīksā: examination of urine 10.7 Purīsa parīksā: examination of faeces 10.8 Nādīparīksā: pulse diagnosis 10.9 Jivhā parīksā: tongue diagnosis Chapter 11: Treatment of disease Objectives 11.1 The pañca karmas 11.2 Pūrva karmas: āmapācana 11.3 Pūrva karmas: snehana (oleation) 11.4 Pūrva karmas: svedana (sudation) 11.5 Pañca karma: vamana (emesis) 11.6 Pañca karma: virecana (purgation) 11.7 Pañca karma: vasti (enema) 11.8 Nasya (errhines) 11.9 Rakta moksana (venesection) 11.10 Rasāyana and vajīkarana karma 11.11 Rasāyana karma: kut.īprāveśika 11.12 Rasāyana karma: vātātapika 11.13 Vajīkarana karma: virilisation therapy 11.14 Śamana karma: pacificatory treatment 11.15 Śamana karma: langhana therapy 11.16 Śamana karma: brmhana therapy 11.17 Śamana karma: rūksana therapy 11.18 Śamana karma: snehana therapy 11.19 Śamana karma: stambhana therapy 11.20 Śamana karma: svedana therapy Part 2: Āyurvedic Materia Medica Introduction Agnimañtha, ‘to churn the fire’ Āmalakī, ‘sour’ Arjuna, ‘white’ Aśvagandhā, ‘smelling like a horse’ Balā, ‘strength’ Bhallātaka, ‘piercing like a spear’ Bhrn˙garāja, ‘ruler of the hair’ Bhūnimba, ‘ground nimba’ Bibhītaka, ‘intimidating’ Bilva Brāhmī, ‘consort of Brahmā’ Candana, ‘gladdening’ Citraka, ‘the spotted one’ Devadāru, ‘wood of the gods’ Elā Goksura, ‘cow scratcher’ Gudūcī Guggulu Haridrā, ‘giving yellow’ Harītakī, ‘to colour yellow’ Hingu Jatāmāmsī, ‘braided and fleshy’ Jātīphala, ‘fruit of excellence’ Jyotismatī, ‘luminous’ Kantakāri, ‘thorny’ Kapikacchū, ‘monkey itcher’ Katuka, ‘pungent’ Kāsmānda Kustha, ‘disease’ Kutaja, ‘mountain born’ Mandūkaparnī, ‘frog-leaved’ Mañjistha Mustaka Nāgakeśara, ‘serpent stamens’ Nimba, ‘bestower of health’ Nirgundī Pippalī Punarnavā, ‘once again new’ Śālaparnī, ‘leaves like s’āla Śankhapuspī, ‘conch flower’ Śatāvarī, ‘one hundred roots’ Śilājatu, ‘to become like stone’ Śyonāka Trivrt, ‘thricely twisted’ Uśīra Vacā, ‘to speak’ Vamśa Vāsaka Vidanga, ‘skillfull’ Yavānī Part 3: Appendices APPENDIX 1: Dietary and lifestyle regimens Dietary and lifestyle regimen for vātaja conditions Dietary and lifestyle regimen for pittaja conditions Dietary and lifestyle regimen for kaphaja conditions APPENDIX 2: Āyurvedic formulations Kvātha (decoction) Cūrna (powder) Guggulu: resin Gutikā and vatī: pill Avaleha: confection Taila (medicated oil) Ghrta (medicated ghrta) Asava and arista: (natural fermentations) Bhasma (purified calcinations) APPENDIX 3: Glossary of Āyurvedic herbs, minerals and animal products Botanicals and botanical products Minerals Animal products APPENDIX 4: Āyurvedic weights and measures APPENDIX 5: Glossary of Āyurvedic terms APPENDIX 6: Āyurvedic resources Āyurvedic associations (India) Āyurvedic associations (Europe) Āyurvedic associations (Americas) Āyurvedic education (India) Āyurvedic education (Europe) Āyurvedic education (Americas) Āyurvedic education (Australia) Āyurvedic hospitals (India and Nepal) Āyurvedic products (Europe) Āyurvedic products (Americas) Āyurvedic products (Australia) Āyurvedic booksellers (online) Bibliography and references Index Color Plate Section