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In Modern medicine, diagnosis is the identification of disease once it is
appeared. In contrast, diagnosis in Ayurveda implies a moment-to-moment
monitoring of the interaction between order (health) and disorder
(disease). The disease process is a reaction between the bodily humors (doshas)
and tissues (dhatus) and is influenced by the environment.
The diagnosis method in
Ayurveda is called Astha Sthana Pariksha (Eight-Point Diagnosis).
It involves an assessment of the state of the doshas as well as various
physical signs . The
Nadi pariksha
Pulse diagnosis
Mutra pariksha
Urine examination
Vata/sparsha
Nervous system assessment
Pitta/drik
Assessment of digestive fire
and metabolic secretions
Kapha/akriti
Mucous and mucoid secretions
assessment
Mala pariksha
Stool examination
Jihva pariksha
Tongue examination
Sabda pariksh
Examination of body sounds.
Ayurvedic Methods of
Treatment
Ayurvedic treatment attempts to
establish a balance among the bodily humors of vata, pitta, and kapha, as
well as improve digestion and elimination of ama.
Traditional Ayurvedic
practitioners determine a person's constitutional type before they start
treatment. Drugs are prescribed based on the patient's body type as well
as on what disease or disturbance of the doshas they are suffering from.
An Ayurvedic physician then considers all aspects that might affect the
patient's health, including their activities, the time of the day, and the
season. In other words, patients are looked at as individuals as well as
in relation to their environment. Ayurvedic therapy often begins with
shodhana (cleansing) in which toxins, emotional or physical, are
eliminated or neutralized. Without this first step, the toxins will only
be pushed deeper into the tissues.
Shodhana follows shamana
(palliative treatment) to reduce the intensity of a disease and balance
the disordered doshas. At last , rasayana (rejuvenation therapy) is
used to maintain health and reduce the negative effects of disease.
Attention to mental nurturing and spiritual healing are important in
Ayurveda, and this is collectively known as sattvavajaya
Ksud-nigraha
(Fasting), Trut-nigraha (Observing thirst), Vyayama (Yoga
exercise), Atapa-seva (Sun-bathing),Maruta-seva(Breathing
exercise and meditation).
Panchakarma
Panchakarma
is a high profile process of internally cleaning and purifying the
entire human body, as described in Ayurvedic Science. It aims not only to
cure the disease but also to prevent the further recurrence of the
particular disease. Only healthy men can take this therapy. Children and
elderly people are weak. Women by nature don't require Panchakarma
therapy.
There are five steps to
complete the process.
Vaman (Emesis)
Vamana is a medicated emesis
therapy which removes Kapha toxins collected in the body and the
respiratory tract. This is given to people with high Kapha imbalance.
Daily treatment involves loosening and mobilizing the toxins in an effort
to finally eliminate them.
Vamana is beneficial in
bronchial asthma, chronic allergies, hay fever, vitiligo, psoriasis,
hyperacidity, chronic indigestion, nasal congestion, edema, obesity,
psychological disorders, and skin disorders.
Virechan
(Purgation)
Virechana is medicated
purgation therapy which removes Pit ta toxins from the body that are
accumulated in the liver and gall bladder. It completely cleanses the
gastro-intestinal tract. It is a safe procedure without side effects. The
beneficial effects of Virechana are in following conditions: chronic
fever, diabetes, asthma, skin disorders such as herpes, paraplegia,
hemiplegia, joint disorders, digestive disorders, constipation,
hyperacidity, vitiligo, psoriasis, headaches, elephantiasis and
gynecologicaldisorders.
Basti (Enema)
As
per modern understanding basti is enema.Basti (Enema) is considered
as the most important step of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses
the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha,
through the colon. Basti is also highly beneficial as a rejuvenating
treatment. Medicated oil or ghee and an herbal decoction is given as enema
to clean the colon and increase the muscle tone. This procedure is usually
applied for 8 to 30 days, based on the medical condition of a person.Basti
is beneficial in following conditions hemiplegia, paraplegia, colitis,
convalescence, cervical spondylosis, irritable bowel syndrome,
constipation, digestive disorders, backache & sciatica, hepatomegaly &
splenomegaly, obesity, piles, sexual debility & infertility.
Navan/Nasya
(Nasal Administration)
It is the administration of
medicated oil through the nose to cleanse accumulated Kapha toxins from
the head and neck region. Based on the medical condition of a person, it
can be given up to 30 days. Nasya is beneficial in following conditions:
trigeminal neuralgia, Bel's
Palsy, improves memory & eye sight, insomnia, elimination of excess mucus
hyper pigmentation in the face, pre-mature graying of hair, clarity to
voice, headaches of various origin hemiplegia, loss of smell and taste,
frozen shoulder, migraine, stiffness of the neck, nasal allergies ,
neurological dysfunctions, sinusitis.
Rakta Moksha (Blood
Cleansing)
Raktamokshana is procedure to
cleanse the blood and is advised only in very rare conditions. It is not
advisable during general Panchakarma.
Panchakarma Diet
Panchakarma is ineffective if
special detoxification diet is not given along with the treatments.
The panchakarma process is
still practiced today, after more than 3000 yrs, without changing the line
of treatment. Many Panchakarma centers have opened in large and small
cities all over India and Sri Lanka, where specially qualified Ayurvedic
practitioners provide the panchakarma treatment. In Sri Lanka and South
India, there is still big Ayurvedic Centers exists, Kerala is ahead in
Panchakarma Therapy with world class facilities.
Ayurvedic Philosophy
Types of Vata Dosha
Types
Pitta Dosha
Types
of Kaphha Dosha
Ayurveda
Ayurvedic Literature
Charaka
Samhita
Sushruta
Samhita
Ashtanga
Hridayam and Ashtanga Sangraha
The Lesser Three Classics of
Ayurveda
Sharngadhara Samhita
Bhava
Prakasha
Madhava
Nidanam
Recent
Ayurvedic Literature
Indian
Materia Medica
Official Publications
Ayurvedic Philosophy for Disease Progression and Therapy
Accumulation
Aggravation
Overflow
Initial Manifestation of
Disease (Purvarupa)
Appearance of Disease (Rupa)
Disease Eruption
Ayurvedic Methods of Treatment
Panchakarma
Vaman (Emesis)
Virechan
(Purgation)
Basti (Enema)
Navan/Nasya
(Nasal Administration)
Rakta Moksha (Blood Cleansing)
Panchakarma Diet
Some Important Concepts In Ayurveda
Balanced & Imbalanced of Doshas
Sapta Dhatu(Seven
Vital Elements)
Ayurvedic Drugs
Tridoshas
Synergy
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