Ayurveda

What is Shilajit Gold?

by Andy Kahn

Shilajit Gold is a unique combination of Shilajeet and Gold ash. Gold is a powerful rejuvenator that helps increase stamina, vigour and vitality.Shilajit gold  mainly contains mono atomic gold or gold bhasma
and shilajeet. Swarna Bhasma rejuvenates the five basic elements of the body, nourishes the body and cures psychic disorders, epilepsy and impotency

Shilajit Gold is a unique combination of Shilajeet and Gold ash. Gold is a powerful rejuvenator that helps increase... more Shilajit Gold is a unique combination of Shilajeet and Gold ash. Gold is a powerful rejuvenator that helps increase stamina, vigour and vitality.Shilajit gold  mainly contains mono atomic gold or gold bhasma and shilajeet. Swarna Bhasma rejuvenates the five basic elements of the body, nourishes the body and cures psychic disorders, epilepsy and impotency

Medicine, India, in the New Dictionary of the History of Ideas

by Dominik Wujastyk

2005 Wujastyk, Dominik. "Medicine: India." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (March 7, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3424300466.html

CONCEPT OF INFLAMMATION (SOPHA)

by Ashok Kumar Panda

                      Inflammation, although first... more                       Inflammation, although first characterized by Cornelius Celsus, But it is well explained in Ayurveda before 6000 years ago. Sopha(Inflammation) is very fundamental to understand the disease process in Ayurveda.    The normal snigdha-sheet- agneya character of Srotas get disturbed by the Vidahi( Irritant) & Abhisandhya dravyas( Channel blockers), as a result there is a disturbed in the transport mechanism of the affected Srotas (Channel). So this retention or accumulation of the fluid is termed as Sopha. According to Ayurveda, Sopha can be a symptom of any disease, an independent disease and a complication of other diseases. The enumerations of Bruhatrayee, Madhav nidana & Bhela Samhita are critical analysed  with the etiology, types, pathogenesis and line of treatment in a meaningful way. The etiological factors are important for the administration of the correct treatment in Sopha  and  Physician should understand the correct srotas involvement  for Antah Sopha & Bahir Sopha.

The folklore medicinal Orchids of Sikkim

by Ashok Kumar Panda

Orchids are widely known for its decorative and aromatic values than medicinal properties. Jivanti , ... more Orchids are widely known for its decorative and aromatic values than medicinal properties. Jivanti ,  Rasna  and four drug of astavarga used in Ayurveda are said to be orchids. There are fifty species of orchids in medicine. Sikkim has identified 523 species of wild orchids. A study was conducted to know the medicinal use of orchids and found 36 species of orchids are used as medicine for different purpose of human health care. The most common uses are for wound healing, inflammatory condition, cough, cold, tonic and aphrodisiac.

Science & Tradition of Bone setting

by Ashok Kumar Panda

Bones are the highest number and hardest structure in our body. The tensile strength of bone is 3000 kg per cm2 more... more Bones are the highest number and hardest structure in our body. The tensile strength of bone is 3000 kg per cm2 more than cast iron (2450kg per cm2) with only one third of its weight. Bones does not break more often considering the amount of forces it is subjected to every day by the muscle action, load transmission etc. But only when the force is too high and occurs suddenly as in road accident, fall, violent blow, trauma etc or when a force is chronic or repetitive as the prolonged standing in case of Policeman, nurses etc or when the natural resistance of bone is eroded by a disease process (tumor, infection), that bone succumbs to insult and break. Bone healing consists of several overlapping phase- Inflammation, soft callus formation, hard callus formation and remodeling. Father of Indian Surgery- Susruta classified twelve types of Kanda bhagna(Fractures) and six types of Sandhi mukta ( dislocations) in Susruta Samhita. He describes all joints, moveable or fixed in the body, bone should be set to their normal position by these setting procedures- traction, compression, bandage and immobilization. The traditional bonesetter has gained such practical experience from their ancestors in a traditional basic. Traditional bone setting (TBS) is quite popular in India.

The paper is Published in Hritage Amruth, Vol-1, Issue-5 December 2005

Review of: Valiathan, The Legacy of Suśruta

by Dominik Wujastyk

2007. Review of: M. S. Valiathan, The Legacy of Suśruta (Hyderabad: Ori-
ent Longman, 2007), in Indian Journal of History of Science, 42(2), 2007, pp.
263–67.

Clinical evaluation of Swertia chirata for the treatment of P. vivax malaria

by Ashok Kumar Panda

Kiratatikta(Swertia chirata) has the proprtyof Jvaragna( Antipyretic) and indicated in the treatment of Sannipata... more Kiratatikta(Swertia chirata) has the proprtyof Jvaragna( Antipyretic) and indicated in the treatment of Sannipata Jvara( Complicated fever) in Ayurveda. A clinical study was conducted and reveals that Swertia chirata has antimalarial parasitic effect in Human..

This study was published in PHYTOMEDICA-2004, Volume-5

An Ancient Medicine in a New World: A Tibetan Medicine Doctor’s Reflection from ‘Inside"

by Eliot Tokar

Tokar, Eliot 2008, "An Ancient Medicine in a New World: A Tibetan Medicine Doctor’s Reflection from ‘Inside’." Tibetan Medicine in the Contemporary World: Global Politics of Medical Knowledge and Practice, Ed. Pordié, Laurent. London: Routledge. 229-248

FROM: “Tibetan Medicine in the Contemporary World" (pub. Routledge)
Edited by Dr. Laurent Pordié.
Awarded the International Convention of Asia Scholars 2009 Book Prize Award

Based on his own Tibetan medicine practice, the author analyzes the rapprochement between Tibetan medicine and the... more Based on his own Tibetan medicine practice, the author analyzes the rapprochement between Tibetan medicine and the industry of complementary and alternative medicine/integrative medicine. Discussed in depth are the social, ethical and medical significance of the transformation of traditional Tibetan medicine in the context of Western (esp. American) normative public health policies. The author shows how in that context, a neo-traditional medical practice can be constructed, that advances the translation of traditional Asian medical concepts and terminology in a way that is intended to be both faithful to traditional theory, and that makes it accessible and useful to the wide spectrum of patients of diverse cultural, language and economic backgrounds found in New York City.

A Tibetan Medical Perspective on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

by Eliot Tokar

Tokar, Eliot 1998, A Tibetan medical perspective on irritable bowel syndrome: building a means of discourse for integrative medicine, Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 4(5): 343-349

This article will compare the diagnostic approaches of Western biomedicine and Tibetan medicine. The biomedical... more This article will compare the diagnostic approaches of Western biomedicine and Tibetan medicine. The biomedical disease irritable bowel syndrome will be used as a case study. It will be contrasted with the multiple nosological categories that could be used in TIbetan medicine to achieve a differential diagnosis for patients with symptoms that are typical of this biomedical disease.

As a result of the grassroots alternative medicine movement, for four decades Americans have increasingly used a wide diversity of natural medical approaches. Among these are ancient systems of traditional natural medicine such as Tibetan medicine. As the use of such medical alternatives expand it is important to consider how they can be best utilized within our society.

The integration of such systems into the existing medical industrial complex is an approach sponsored by powerful voices within the government, academia and the medical industry. Alternatively, many laypeople and health professionals advocate for medical pluralism in order to provide a means for promoting the greatest possible healthcare diversity and freedom. In analyzing the debate between integration and pluralism it is vital to consider how they will each effect the actual practice of traditional natural medical systems as well as the indigenous cultures from which such disciplines originate. This article will draw upon the history of Tibetan medicine to inform the debate between integration and pluralism. Finally, it will pose some critical questions regarding medical reform.

Seeing to the distant mountain: diagnosis in Tibetan medicine.

by Eliot Tokar

Tokar, Eliot, 1999, Seeing to the distant mountain: Diagnosis in Tibetan medicine, Alternative Therapies In Health And Medicine, 5(2): 50-58

To make use of an ancient traditional medical system we must first be able to comprehend the singular concepts and... more To make use of an ancient traditional medical system we must first be able to comprehend the singular concepts and language it utilizes to understand and describe health and illness. The diagnostic procedure is the method by which a person's medical condition is interpreted into the epistemological categories and language of medical science. This article provides a description of traditional Tibetan medical diagnosis, and explains how a Tibetan physician perceives and analyzes a presenting illness. It discusses the spiritual, psychological and physical aspects of the Tibetan medical approach to diagnosis. By addressing these issues we can understand what is unique about this system of alternative medicine and how it can inform other models of medical practice.

Preservation and Progress: Using Tibetan Medicine as a Model to Define a Progressive Role for Traditional Asian Medicine in Modern Healthcare

by Eliot Tokar

Tokar, Eliot. 2007, Preservation And Progress: Using Tibetan Medicine As A Model To Define A Progressive Role For Traditional Asian Medicine In Modern Healthcare, Asian Medicine: Tradition and Modernity, 2(2): 303-314.

The history of Tibetan medicine's development provides an excellent model for planning the appropriate utilization of... more The history of Tibetan medicine's development provides an excellent model for planning the appropriate utilization of 'foreign' medical systems and traditions within a new culture that incorporates progressive approaches for the use of both medical pluralism and integration. This history takes on increasing relevance in the modern world as the practice of Tibetan medicine and other forms of traditional Asian medicine have been spreading in the West where they have been faced with commoditization and the hegemony of biomedicine. In the face of modern globalization, certain key questions have yet to be sufficiently addressed. How can systems of traditional Asian medicine be incorporated into western cultures in a manner that permits them to contribute to our understanding of health and disease while allowing them to retain their own integrity? How can they be utilized to aid in the solution of public health problems that exist in the West? What should be the proper interaction between traditional Asian medical systems (e.g., Tibetan medicine) and biomedicine? To determine the answer to these and other vital questions, we must take into account the many cultural, political, economic and scientific issues that affect the state of both public health and individual healthcare.

A Tibetan medicine doctor's view: Interview with Eliot Tokar

by Eliot Tokar

Laughlin, Matt 2006, Transformation and balance: The principles of Tibetan medicine in the context of American healthcare, Unified Energetics; 1:2, 19-25

This interview explores the nature of the study and the clinical practice of Tibetan medicine. Also included are... more This interview explores the nature of the study and the clinical practice of Tibetan medicine. Also included are topics such as the issues involved in the preservation of ancient forms of medicine in the modern world, medical integration, biopiracy, and the application of intellectual property rights to traditional culture. Eliot Tokar is a traditional Tibetan medicine doctor and internationally experienced writer and lecturer. He practices Tibetan medicine in NYC and is one of the first Westerners to have received extensive textual and clinical training in this field.

Management of Unilateral Loss of Vision Following a Blunt Injury to Eye: A Case Report

by sanjeev rastogi

DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR AMAVATA: INFERENCES FROM A CLINICAL STUDY

by sanjeev rastogi

Constitutional personality typologies in homeopathy and ayurveda

by Selman Repišti

Post-Classical Indian Traditions of Medical Debate and Argumentation

by Dominik Wujastyk

2009, eJournal of Indian Medicine 2(3):67--81.

Discusses post-classical traditions of medical debate in India, with a focus on the Rogārogavāda of Vīreśvara (fl.... more Discusses post-classical traditions of medical debate in India, with a focus on the Rogārogavāda of Vīreśvara (fl. 17th century).

Medical Error Medical Truth: The Placebo Effect and Room for Choice in Ayurveda

by Dominik Wujastyk

2011 Published in the Open Access journal Health, Culture and Society (http://hcs.pitt.edu)

Abstract

I attempt to relativize allopathic medicine, or Modern establishment Medicine (MEM), specifically... more Abstract

I attempt to relativize allopathic medicine, or Modern establishment Medicine (MEM), specifically in the context of the ayurvedic medical system of India, and to promote Daniel Moerman’s concept of the medical “meaning response” as a preferable conceptualization of the phenomena usually subsumed under the name “placebo.” Finally, I suggest that once these steps have been taken, a space opens up in which informed ayurvedic practice – indeed, any human activities aimed at promoting health – may find a valid place.

Keywords: Ayurveda; India; medicine; alternative medicine; establishment medicine; placebo; meaning effect; iatrogenic death; Britain; National Health Service

Working bibliography, from my BibTeX file

by Dominik Wujastyk

updated 11/2011

On the Position of Classical Āyurveda in South Asian Intellectual History According to Global Ayurveda and Modern Research

by Philipp A. Maas

pre-print version of the article published in Horizons: Seoul Journal of Humanities 2,1 (2011), p. 1-14.

Exponents of Global Ayurveda have managed to develop Āyurveda, an ancient native medical system of South Asia, into a... more Exponents of Global Ayurveda have managed to develop Āyurveda, an ancient native medical system of South Asia, into a renowned supplement to Western biomedicine. This commercial and promotional success has been bolstered by a number of characteristic assertions concerning the history of pre-modern Āyurveda. New Age Ayurveda, for example, maintains that Āyurveda is more than five thousand years old, that it is the origin of Greek humoral medicine, and that it is intrinsically connected with the Hindu spiritual tradition of yoga. From an academic perspective, these claims are easily refutable, since they contradict well-known results of modern indological research. Drawing upon these, the present paper sketches the South Asian intellectual history from its beginnings to the classical period, determines the intellectual milieu from which classical Āyurveda originated, describes some of its fundamental medical theories, and reconsiders their historical relationship to ancient Greek humoral medicine.

Errors in Alkaloids of Nelumbo and Nymphaea species

by David L. Spess

I currently have a paper that will be published soon on the psychoactive compounds found in both Nelumbo and Nymphaea... more I currently have a paper that will be published soon on the psychoactive compounds found in both Nelumbo and Nymphaea species. This paper is a long survey article that will set the record straight as to what compounds are found in each genus, and where they are found. First of all Nelumbo species have NO relationship to Nymphaea species. In fact, Nelumbo species are related to Papaver species. This is why Nelumbo is put in a separate family from Nymphaea species based mainly on its genetic and metabolic pathways. The biochemical pathways in the two species are completely different and yield different compounds. Nelumbo species produces alkaloids in the Benzylisoquinoline, Bisbenzylisoquinoline and Aporphine groups. Nymphaea species produces alkaloids in the furano-quinolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloid groups. Nymphaea species DO NOT have the metabolic pathways to produce the alkaloid nuciferine, Nelumbo species can produce this alkaloid. I continually see on internet websites that state nuciferine is found in Nymphaea species which is completely wrong as I have stated above. Nuciferine is a isoquinoline type alkaloid found in Nelumbo species. Read my survey article when published to find out the full details. This survey will give in detail the structure of each compound found, each compounds activity, and in what part of the plant each one is found. This is a separate paper from the one that concentrates on the medicinal aspects of these plants which I have mentioned below