1. What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is one of the great gifts of the sages of ancient India to mankind. It is one of the oldest scientific medical systems in the world, with a long record of clinical experience. The word “Ayu” means all aspects of life from birth to death. The word “Veda” means knowledge or learning. Hence Ayurveda indicates the science by which life in its totality is understood.

2. What is TRIDOSHA?

TRIDOSHA means three humoral factors which are responsible for performing all activities in the body. In Ayurveda diagnosis is based on tridosha. It also denotes your body type or body constitution. Every individual has specific bodytype (Know thyself ). If you know your body type and follow its does and doesn't, you can lead a healthy long life.

3. Is it necessary to follow vegetarian diet while taking Ayurvedic treatment?

Yes, it is advisible to follow vegetarian diet while taking Ayurvedic treatment. Ancient Ayurvedic and Yogic texts mentioned three types of diet namely Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasika diet on the basis of nutrition of mind through food. Vegetarian diet mostly considered as a Sattvika diet and non-vegetarian diet is considered as a Rajasika or Tamasika diet.

4. What is Charak Samhita ?

The Charaka Samhita is the oldest of the three and was probably first compiled around 1500 BC. It is considered the prime work on the basic concepts of Ayurveda. Charaka represents the Atreya School of physicians. It is a systematic work divided into eight Sthanas or sections, which are further divided into 120 chapters.

5. What is Susruta Samhita ?

Sushruta represents the Dhanwantri School of surgeons, and is considered in Ayurveda to be the father of surgery. Even a great American society of surgeons is named after Sushruta. In the Sushruta Samhita there are sophisticated descriptions of diseases and surgical instruments.

6. What about Panchamahabhuta ?

Ancient Indian philosophy is of opinion that all materials, living or non-living are made of five fundamental elements called Panchamahabhutas, representing five fundamental categories of matter. These are: * Akasha (ether) * Vayu (air) * Teja (fire/energy) * Jala (water), and * Prithvi (earth) All material on this earth contains Panchamahabhutas in different proportion.

7. I want to know more about Panchkarma therapy.

Panchakarma is a Sanskrit word that means "five actions" or "five treatments". This science of purifying the body is an ancient branch of Ayurveda. Panchakarma is the cornerstone to Ayurvedic management of disease. Pancha Karma is the process, which gets to the root cause of the problem and re-establishes the essential balance of 'Tridosha' (three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha) in body. Pancha Karma is not only good for alleviating disease but is also a useful tool in maintaining excellent health. Ayurveda advises undergoing Pancha Karma at the seasonal changes in order to clean the body and improve the digestion and metabolic processes.

8. How many & which are the specialization branches in Ayurveda ?

THE EIGHT BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA - Kaya Chikitsa (General medicine) - Shalya Tantra (Surgery) - Shalakya Tantra (Diseases of Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat) - Kaumarbhritya (Children diseases, obstetrics and Gynecology) - Agada Tantra (Toxicology) - Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry) - Rasayana (Rejuvenation), and - Vajikarana (Aphrodisiac/sexology).

9. what are the types of Prakriti or body type?

There are two distinct, yet inter-related, classifications of a person in Ayurveda. The first relates to the body, and the second to the mind. Your nature is determined by this combination of body and mind types, and is known as your prakriti. Prakriti means “nature”. Knowing your prakriti helps you to tailor a personal diet and lifestyle that can prevent disease and physical disorders, and obtain peace of mind.There are 7 pakriti types in ayurveda. And they are:

• vata
• pitta
• kapha
• vata-pitta
• vata-kapha
• pitta-kapha
• vata-pitta-kapha

10. What is Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda?

In Ayurveda, a disease is diagnosed with the help of three fingers which denotes the specific aggravation of DOSHAs. Ayurvedic experts are more capable in diagnosing a disease with the help of pulse examination.

11. What are the methods of diagnosis in Ayurveda?

There are three main methods mentioned in Ayurveda for diagnosing the Dosha imbalance and disease process in a person. They are – 1. Darsana Pareeksha – By observing the patient’s physical signs and symptoms, Example – colour of skin, hair, eyes, behavior, body condition etc. 2. Prasna Preeksha – By asking minute questions regarding the imbalance of each Doshas. 3. Sparsana Pareeksha – By touching the patient. The pulse diagnosis, palpation, percussion and auscultation are included in this method.

12. Is Ayurveda as a system of medicine very slow in effective action?

Ayurveda can treat very rapidly…especially, the common cold, infections, fever. The speed at which the effective herb medicines act will also depend on diet and lifestyle. That is why in Ayurveda Ahaara (food) and Vihaara (daily routine activities/lifestyle), are given first prior to taking medicines (Aushadha).

Also it is important to add, that if a medicine is taking a longer time to be effective, it is because Ayurveda is treating the root of the problem. It is not to be assumed that Ayurveda in general takes a long time

13. Are Ayurvedic medicines free of side effects?

Yes. Ayurvedic medicines are natural and safe ,they have no side effects. Since they are prepared form herbs & minerals after proper processing according to classical ayurvedic methods of manufacturing.

14. What are the benefits of an Ayurvedic Massage?

These are the benefits of Massage: - 1. Massage relieves stress and relaxes the mind, body and soul. 2. Massage releases trapped energy, pain, frustration and problems. 3. Massage helps relieve pain. 4. Massage increases blood flow. 5. Massage loosens muscle fibers, scars, and adhesions, increasing flexibility and strength. 6. Massage stimulates the release of brain chemicals that lift the mood and strengthens the immune system 7. Massage increases lymphatic circulation aiding in the elimination of toxins. 8. Massage speeds the delivery of nutrients to damaged tissue. 9. Massage strengthens the muscular contractions of the digestive system, which aids in the elimination of toxins. 10. Massage stimulates the body processes in a 100% non-invasive way to help prevent future health problems.

15. Does Ayurveda suggests any food habbits for better life?

Ayurveda is a medicinal discipline that concentrates a lot on healthy living rather than treatment of sickness. A healthy body is capable of resisting power to face any kind of issues coming its way from some foreign element. This is the reason, why ayurveda suggests in taking preventive steps and increasing the immunity to regulate the performance of body organs.

16. Is there any rationale behind integrting ayurveda and western madicine?

Because of multidimensional wide range of efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment, where certain disease conditions or symptoms become refractory to conventional treatment, a harmonised approach of these two systems of health care has proven to be successful and fruitful. Sometimes Ayurveda helps for a synergistic activity while at other places to antagonise and minmise the toxicity of modern drugs.

17. Does ayurvedic system of medicine have plus points over conventional medicinal system?

Being holistic and disease eradicative with principles of individualised treatment, condusive to socio-economic conditions of India and with availability of abundance of formulations for any particular disease, use of food items as medicine and lifestyle rules, Ayurveda enjoys a better place in respect of prevention and cure of the disease is concerned in comparison to western medical system.

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