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Ayurveda—a historic perspective and principles of traditional health care system in India

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LC Mishra
LC Mishra
LC Mishra
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B B Singh
B B Singh
B B Singh
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Simon Dagenais at Spine Research, LLC
Simon Dagenais
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Abstract

Ayurveda, the science of life, is a comprehensive medical system that has been the traditional system of healthcare in India for more than 5000 years. This medical system was well established around 2500 to 600 BC, when it evolved into 2 schools: the School of Physicians and the School of Surgeons, similar to allopathy. Charak Samhita, Susrut Samhita, and Ashtang Hridaya Samhita are the Senior Triad texts, and Madhav Nidan Samhita, Sarangdhar Samhita, and Bhavprakash Samhita are the Junior Triad texts. Around 600 BC. Ayurveda was branched into internal medicine; pediatrics; psychiatry; surgery; eye, ear, nose, and throat; toxicology; geriatrics; and eugenics/aphrodisiacs. The body is composed of 3 body doshas, 3 mental doshas, 7 dhatus, and malas. The harmony among the body doshas of vata (nervous system), pitta (enzymes), and kapha (mucus) and the gunas, or mental doshas (which are human attributes: satogun [godly], rajas [kingly], and tamas [evil]), constitutes health, and their disharmony constitutes disease. The management of illness requires balancing the doshas back into a harmonious state through lifestyle interventions, spiritual nurturing, and treatment with herbo-mineral formulas based on one's mental and bodily constitution.
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Ayurveda: A historical perspective and principles of the traditional healthc...
Lakshmi-chandra Mishra; Betsy B Singh; Simon Dagenais
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; Mar 2001; 7, 2; ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source
pg. 36
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
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... An ancient medical system from India called Ayurveda offers a comprehensive approach to healthcare, with treatments based on herbal cures, dietary changes, and lifestyle modications. The Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (doshas) in the body must be balanced in order to promote general 7,8 health according to the Ayurvedic philosophy . ...
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