Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a comprehensive system of medicine, more than 5,000 years old and based on a holistic approach rooted in Vedic culture. Its conspicuous use of the word veda, or knowledge, reveals its role in early Hinduism and describes its hallowed place in India. Ayurveda also had a tradition of surgery. Two early texts of Ayurveda are the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita. Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The great ...

Including:

• Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad
• Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology
• Ayurveda - Qualities
• Ayurveda - The Five Elements
• Ayurveda - Doshas
• Ayurveda - Vata
• Ayurveda - Pitta
• Ayurveda - Kapha
• Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine
• Ayurveda - Historically
• Ayurveda - Today
• Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine
• Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia - Ayurveda

Herbs to the Rescue

To counter negative planetary influences, Ayurveda suggests the use of multi-faceted herbs that not only provide curative relief to various physical afflictions but are also endowed with the preventive power to combat planetary interference.

Venus

Hydrocotyle asiatica (Mandukparni)

Jupiter

Swertia Chirata (Chirata)

Sun

Aegle Marmelus

Ketu

Withania Somnifera (Aswagandha)

Saturn

Nyetanthes arbortristis (Shefali)

Desmostachya bipinnata (Dhuva)

Mars

Hemidesmus indicum (Anantmool)

Rahu

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Mercury

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Moon

Cueumis Satirus

Cucumber (Khirika)

(See also: Herbs, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Ayurvedic physicians were traditionally supported by their patients and the communities they worked in, with a minority gaining royal patronage. Under the centralised governments systems established by the Mughals and subsequent British rule in India, many Ayurvedic physicians were paid small stipends by the state. But when the British government in India began to establish hospitals and organised state-wide healthcare institutions, leading eventually to the Indian Medical Service, Ayurveda was not included. In the early 20th century, Ayurve ...

See also:

Ayurveda, Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad, Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology, Ayurveda - Qualities, Ayurveda - The Five Elements, Ayurveda - Doshas, Ayurveda - Vata, Ayurveda - Pitta, Ayurveda - Kapha, Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurveda - Historically, Ayurveda - Today, Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine, Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia II - Ayurveda - Today

Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine

Today, you may think in this technologically advanced society, (as I sit by my computer writing this, and you sit by yours reading it) there are a whole range of patented chemical drugs tailored for all ailments, so why use herbal medicines?

Herbs are as effective for healing today as they were in our grandmothers' day, and for thousands of years before that. We may live in a very different world today but the human body hasn't changed, in fact it's often struggling to cope with ifs new modern environment.

Read more here: » Herbal Medicine: Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine

Ayurveda - the way life could be, should be!

Imagine a culture thousands of years ago, a great civilisation known as Indus. So advanced was the culture, that they had superior architecture, engineering, education and commerce. Above all, it was a spiritual place where all living creatures were respected and the vulnerable were protected, even the animals.

He who regards kindness to humanity as the supreme religion and treats his patients accordingly, succeeds best in achieving the aims of life and obtains the greatest happiness.

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Ayurveda - the way life could be, should be!

Organic Gardening

What has organic gardening to do with spiritual healing? Allow me a few moments of your time and I shall tell you. A centre such as we are developing will be a place of tranquillity, comfort and revival, both spiritual and physical. I suppose this could be achieved without the benefit of nature on the doorstep but nature itself is a healer, and can offer so much to the troubled spirit. Let us take a stroll through a year in the garden of our healing centre, where visitors will be encouraged to enjoy their surroundings as much, or as little, as they so desire.

Read more here: » Organic Gardening: What has organic gardening to do with spiritual healing?

Permaculture

Permaculture is a system for designing sustainable human environments It can be practised by anyone on any scale from a balcony or small town garden to farms and villages.

"Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should, therefore, accept only those things necessary for oneself, which are set aside as one's quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong."

Isa Upanishad

Read more here: » Permaculture: Permaculture - a system for sustainable human environments

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word derived from two roots: ayur, which means life; and veda, which means knowledge. It has its roots in ancient vedic literature. Ayurveda, a system of diet, healing and health maintenance, is probably the oldest science of life, just like the science of Yoga.

Read more here: » Ayurveda � an introduction - I

Ayurveda and Yoga can be called sister sciences of 'self-healing and self-realisation'. Both evolved from a Vedic background in ancient India, based on the same philosophy, sharing many practices. Ayurveda, the 'yogic form of healing', is aimed at bringing us back into harmony with our true Self or Atman . The great Ayurvedic teacher Charaka defines Ayurveda as the harmony of body, prana , mind and soul. Patanjali defines yoga as controlling the mind in order to realise the Purusha .

(See also: Ayurveda, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Ayurveda: The science of Ayurveda, like the science of Yoga, was inspired and developed by the great masters and seers of ancient India. The origin of Ayurveda and Yoga are common to play a highly complimentary role in spiritual evolution and the maintenance of physical well-being and vitality. Ayurveda is, perhaps, the oldest science of life, a system of diet, healing and health maintenance that is deeply spiritual in origin.

Read more here: » Ayurveda � an introduction - II

On Dhanteras , Hindus worship Lord Dhanwantari, the deity of health and healing. Dhan is wealth or Lakshmi - so the goddess of wealth and prosperity is also prayed to.

Every household buys something new. But we tend to forget the real meaning of wealth which is sound health. Lord Dhanwantari also symbolises the spirit of knowledge and nature, including all about herbs and medicinal plants.

(See also: Dhanteras, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Agastya Malai (Agastyakoodam), a peak of 1868 m in the Western Ghats. This mountain falles in the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala and the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu, south India. It is a pilgrim centre, where devotees come to worship sage Agasthyar. Agasthyar was a Dravidian sage, and is considered to be one of the seven Rishis (Saptarishi) of Hindu mythology. The Tamil language is considered to be a boon from Agasthyar. There is a full size statue of Agasthyar at the top of the ...

Including:

• Agastyamalai - Rare Herbs and Medicinal Plants
• Agastyamalai - How to reach there
• Agastyamalai - External link

Read more here: » Agastyamalai: Encyclopedia - Agastyamalai

Unaani (in Arabic, Hindustani, Persian, Pashtu, Urdu etc) means Greek. It is also used to refer to Graeco-Arabic Medicine [1] or Unani medicine (see below) based on the teachings of Hippocrates [2]. Unani - Unani medicine. Though the threads which comprise Unani healing can be traced all the way back to Claudius Galenos, 2th century AC, the basic knowledge of Unani medicine as a healing system was collected by Hakim Ibn Sina (known as Avicenna). The time of origin is dated at circa 980 AD in Persia. ...

Including:

• Unani - Unani medicine

Read more here: » Unani: Encyclopedia - Unani

David Frawley (born 1950) is one of the few Westerners to be recognized by a major Hindu sect in India as a Vedacharya or teacher of the ancient wisdom. In 1991, under the auspices of the Hindu teacher Avadhuta Shastri, he was named Vamadeva Shastri (वामदेव शास्‍त्री), after the great Vedic Rishi Vamadeva. In 1995, he was given the title of Pandit along with the Brahmachari Vishwanathji awar ...

Including:

• David Frawley - Partial bibliography

Read more here: » David Frawley: Encyclopedia - David Frawley

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) of the Family Lamiaceae is also known as Albahaca, St. Joseph's Wort, and Sweet Basil. It is a tender low-growing annual herb, originally native to tropical Asia. It grows to between twenty and sixty centimetres tall, with opposite, light green, silky leaves one and a half to five centimetres long and one to three centimetres broad. It tastes somewhat like cloves, with a strong, pungent, sweet smell. Basil is very sensitive to co ...

Including:

• Basil - Basil the herb
• Basil - Other basils
• Basil - Growing basil
• Basil - Cultural aspects

Read more here: » Basil: Encyclopedia - Basil

It could be said that the simple essence of ayurveda is knowledge and awareness of the qualities of nature – called gurvadi gunah. By understanding the qualities inherent in the environment, in foodstuffs, in activities, etc., one gains an appreciation of their effects on the individual constitution through the principle of similarities; i.e., that similarities cause increase while dissimilarities cause decrease. Thus hot qualities in the environment or diet wi ...

See also:

Ayurveda, Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad, Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology, Ayurveda - Qualities, Ayurveda - The Five Elements, Ayurveda - Doshas, Ayurveda - Vata, Ayurveda - Pitta, Ayurveda - Kapha, Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurveda - Historically, Ayurveda - Today, Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine, Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia II - Ayurveda - Qualities

According to the ancient Sankhya theory of cosmology, on which ayurveda is based, the "five great elements" (Panchamahabhuta); combine in different proportions to form the material world. Each element possesses different amounts of the above-mentioned gunas; thus each element has its unique qualitative nature. The elements are: Akasha – aether Vayu or Pavan – air or wind Agni or Tejas – fire Ap or Jala – water) < ...

See also:

Ayurveda, Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad, Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology, Ayurveda - Qualities, Ayurveda - The Five Elements, Ayurveda - Doshas, Ayurveda - Vata, Ayurveda - Pitta, Ayurveda - Kapha, Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurveda - Historically, Ayurveda - Today, Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine, Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia II - Ayurveda - The Five Elements

The 3 main doshas (medical humours) are Vata (resembles the classical element air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water). All bodily processes are believed to be governed by a balance of the 3 doshas. Whichever dosha appears to dominate a person's behavior and physique is called his constitution type. Each constitution type has particular strengths and susceptibilities. See also four humours Ayurveda - Vata. Vata, composed of air, governs all movement in the mind a ...

See also:

Ayurveda, Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad, Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology, Ayurveda - Qualities, Ayurveda - The Five Elements, Ayurveda - Doshas, Ayurveda - Vata, Ayurveda - Pitta, Ayurveda - Kapha, Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurveda - Historically, Ayurveda - Today, Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine, Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia II - Ayurveda - Doshas

At the closing of the initiation, the guru gave a solemn address to the students where the guru directed the students to a life of chastity, honesty, and vegetarianism. The student was to strive with all his being for the health of the sick. He was not to betray patients for his own advantage. He was to dress modestly and avoid strong drink. He was to be collected and self-controlled, measured in speech at all times. He was to constantly improve his knowledge and technical skill. In the home of the patient he was to be courteous and modest, ...

See also:

Ayurveda, Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad, Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology, Ayurveda - Qualities, Ayurveda - The Five Elements, Ayurveda - Doshas, Ayurveda - Vata, Ayurveda - Pitta, Ayurveda - Kapha, Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurveda - Historically, Ayurveda - Today, Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine, Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia II - Ayurveda - Historically

The Charaka and Sushruta Samhitās are compendiums of two traditions rather than texts authored by single authors. A third tradition is that of the Kāshyapas. Some plant remedies of ayurveda are also mentioned in the earlier Vedic literature 2nd millennium BC. Both the Sushruta and Charaka Samhitās are the product of several editorial hands, having been revised and supplemented over a period of several hundred years. The scholar Vāgbhata, who lived in Sind at the beginning of the 7th century AD, produced a grand synthesis of earlie ...

See also:

Ayurveda, Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad, Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology, Ayurveda - Qualities, Ayurveda - The Five Elements, Ayurveda - Doshas, Ayurveda - Vata, Ayurveda - Pitta, Ayurveda - Kapha, Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurveda - Historically, Ayurveda - Today, Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine, Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia II - Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad