Development and regional adaptation of the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia
Dr. P. Ram Manohar, Research Director of the Ayurvedic Trust in Combatore writes about the development and regional adaptation of the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia.
Ayurveda is much more than just wellness massages - word has probably gotten around among experts by now. For good reason, the European Academy of Ayurveda now offers a degree course in Ayurvedic medicine. However, Ayurveda is also much more than just medicine, which often only intervenes when damage has already occurred. It is therefore worth taking a closer look at health resources from an Ayurvedic perspective.
At the heart of Ayurvedic health education is conscious awareness and sensitivity to the diverse influences that promote or disrupt the balance of life forces. There are no general rules for this, as there are always new combinations of influences. The basis of conscious perception is the development of self-knowledge and openness to external and internal processes. A variety of methods have been developed for this purpose, which can be used in everyday life. All activities in life should have the right measure, which Ayurvedic doctors do not define in general terms, but always with regard to the individual person and their current situation. For example, the right amount of food is that which can be consumed without feeling heavy and burdened. This can change in an individual person within a few hours, e.g. due to stress and tension or emotional strain, the digestive capacity can be drastically reduced.
What possibilities does Ayurvedic medicine offer? At the European Academy of Ayurveda, you will gain a sound insight into the Ayurvedic view of health and illness.
Find out which methods have proven effectivefor the treatment of ailments and how they can usefully complement medical practice.
The 1st part of the basic course, open to all interested parties.
The seminar offers you a well-founded introduction to Ayurvedic medicine.
The 2nd part of the basic course, together with part 1, forms the basis of every certified training at the European Academy for Ayurveda.
Ayurveda also sees itself as a health system that aims to help people avoid becoming ill in the first place. The Sanskrit term for health is svasthya, which literally means "resting in the self". In this sense, health is a functioning self-reference, a situation in which a person knows they are in harmony with themselves. This includes knowledge of one's own constitution with its strengths and weaknesses and the affirmation of this individual being. Important dimensions of Ayurvedic health education are
Humans do not live in isolation, but are embedded in the rhythms of nature, in particular day and night and the seasons. Today we know that many organ functions are controlled circadian, which should actually be taken into account in our lifestyle.
Ayurveda recommends daily self-massage, which refreshes and revitalizes the body and leads to a positive relationship with one's own body.
From an Ayurvedic point of view, it is very detrimental to health if natural bodily functions are suppressed, in particular excretion (faeces, urine, semen, vomiting), yawning, belching, hunger and thirst, crying, sleeping and the need to breathe intensively. The basic principle here is to let nature take its course.
This area includes a variety of measures: Using collyrium for the eyes, inhaling fragrant incense, cleansing the body, especially the tongue, gargling with oil, massaging the scalp and ears with oil, massaging the whole body (including the feet) with oil, bathing, wearing clean clothes and flower garlands, wearing gemstones and jewelry, caring for the hair, beard and nails, using appropriate footwear and sun protection.
A healthy diet is always a type-appropriate diet that is varied, fresh and tasty. As it caters to the individual's inclinations, it generally requires no effort to implement it in everyday life. "The tongue is the best Ayurvedic doctor", according to ancient texts. In addition, there is the development of an eating culture that involves consciously tasting and enjoying food in a pleasant environment.
According to Ayurveda, many health disorders are caused by deposits of metabolic products that have not been fully processed or excreted. It is therefore recommended to take regular spa treatments. The aim of these is to regenerate and cleanse the body. The so-called "Pancakarma treatment" includes massages, heat applications, intake of herbal extracts, diet and other measures and is used both preventively and curatively.
Ayurveda knows special recipes and pharmaceutical preparations that are not primarily used therapeutically, but are intended to strengthen the organism and keep it young.
The specific view of Ayurveda, which is concerned with the right balance in all areas of life, is particularly evident here. Physical activity is generally viewed positively and recommended as a means of developing stamina and strength. The effects of regular exercise are: "lightness, the ability to fulfill one's duties, perseverance, the ability to respond appropriately to difficult situations, reduction of imbalances in the vital forces and a boost to the digestive fire." (Caraka Samhita 1.7.32) At the same time, the classical texts strongly warn against overexertion, as this can lead to unpleasant symptoms such as exhaustion, fatigue, circulatory problems or fever.
Many activities of daily life lead to tension and cramping, which are the precursors to manifest illnesses. In addition to the aforementioned self-massage, Ayurveda recommends the breathing and physical exercises of yoga.
Ayurveda's view of the human being assumes that the core of every person's personality is free from illness. This self is the source of all life energy. Meditative processes open up access to the inner source of strength, promote conscious perception, develop relaxation, serenity and inner stability and also lead to the physiological activation of regeneration mechanisms. Meditation should therefore be a natural part of daily life. The lively inner relationship with oneself also serves as a catalyst for many other health-promoting behaviors and promotes self-motivation.
Dr. P. Ram Manohar, Research Director of the Ayurvedic Trust in Combatore writes about the development and regional adaptation of the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia.
How can the effect of Ayurvedic treatments be proven using scientific methods? Reflections by Ram Manohar, internationally renowned Ayurvedic physician and pharmacologist.
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Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede, Head of Studies Ayurveda Medicine, presents Ayurveda as a holistic health system in the Naturopathy Report.
Ayurveda has a whole spectrum of very effective measures for the particularly common diseases in the head area such as migraine, tonsillitis and hay fever. In the Naturheilkunde Journal, Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede and Prof. S.N. Gupta explain these in a comprehensible manner.
Oil massages, steam baths and treatments with pinda sveda (herbal stamps) are among the Ayurvedic treatments that can usefully complement traditional physiotherapy. An article by Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede in Praxis Physiotherapie.
Elmar Stapelfeldt describes for the specialist magazine CO'MED how colds are classified and treated in Ayurveda.
Elmar Stapelfeldt describes for the specialist magazine CO'MED how the entire body is freed from toxins with a treatment concept in the Indian art of healing.
Sascha Kriese writes about Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis - a skill that requires a great deal of empathy.
The authors Kerstin Rosenberg and Petra Wolfinger look at the menopause in women from an Ayurvedic perspective.
An article about Ayurveda's approach to autoimmune diseases by Theresa Sita Rosenberg.
Principal Ingelore Weidner (right) and Lilli Auer
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