ABOUT NATURAL ANCIENT REMEDIES
Ancient Remedies
Ancient remedies had been popular and was in widespread use during the period of Vedas in India. We won't get involved in the historical controversy of determining the period of Vedic literature. Vedic literature is undoubtedly regarded as the oldest literature in all over the world. Get familiar with medicinal herbs, natural herbal remedies and various pharmaceutical preparations and dietary items of the old pristine times of Indian Civilization.
Ayurvedic Medicine is also called Ayurveda. It is a system of medicine that originated in India several thousand years ago. The term Ayurveda combines two Sanskrit words: ayur, which means life, and veda, which means science or knowledge. Ayurveda means "the science of life."
Ayurveda is a whole medical system which integrates and balances the body, mind, and spirit (thus, it is considered "holistic"). This balance is necessary for contentment and good health. Ayurveda also proposes treatments for specific health problems. A primary aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease. This helps re-establish the harmony and balance necessary for optimal health.
Ayurveda has long been the main system of health care in India. About 70 percent of India's population lives in rural areas; about two-thirds of rural people use Ayurveda and medicinal plants to meet their primary health care needs. In addition, most major cities have an Ayurvedic college and hospital. There are 587,536 registered traditional medical practitioners, 2,860 hospitals providing Ayurvedic treatment, and 22,100 dispensaries for traditional medicine in India. This allows over 500 million people in India to rely solely on Ayurveda today.
Ayurveda and variations of it have also been practiced for centuries in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. The professional practice of Ayurveda in the United States began to grow and became more visible in the late 20th century.
Professional Accreditation
Practitioners of Ayurveda have various types of training. Some are trained in the Western medical tradition (such as medical or nursing school) and then study Ayurveda. Others may have training in naturopathic medicine, a whole medical system, either before or after their Ayurvedic training. Many study in India, where there are more than 150 undergraduate and more than 30 postgraduate colleges for Ayurveda. This training can take up to 5 years.
Reliance on Herbs
According to World Health Organization report, over 80% of the world population relies on plant-based traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs.
In Ayurveda, the distinction between food and medicine is not as clear as in Western medicine. Food and diet are important components of Ayurvedic practice, and so there is a heavy reliance on treatments based on herbs and plants, oils (such as sesame oil), common spices (such as turmeric), and other naturally occurring substances.
Currently, some 5,000 products are included in the "pharmacy" of Ayurvedic treatments. Historically, plant compounds have been grouped into categories according to their effects. For example, some compounds are thought to heal, promote vitality, or relieve pain. The compounds are described in many texts prepared through national medical agencies in India. The following are examples of commonly used herbs:
· The spice turmeric has been used for various diseases and conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's
disease, and wound healing.
· An extract from the resin from a tropical shrub (Commiphora mukul, or guggul) has been used for a variety of
illnesses. In recent years, there has been research interest in its use to lower cholesterol.
· The essential oil extracted from Holy Basil is used as counteract depression and mental stress.
India has 16 agro-climatic zones, 45,000 different plant species, and 15,000 medicinal plants. The Indian Systems of Medicine have identified 1,500 medicinal plants, of which 500 species are mostly used in the preparation of drugs. These medicinal plants contribute to 80% of the raw materials used in the preparation of Ayurvedic Medicine.
Ancient Remedies - Ayurvedic Herbal in Vedas: Herbs have been popular and in use during ancient Vedic period. Herbs were known by the name 'Bhesaja' and herbalists were known by the name 'Bhisaka'. Medicinal herbs were given in the form of different herbal formulations.
Five herbal formulations are regarded as the elementary pharmaceutical preparations in ayurvedic medicine - expressed juice, paste or powder, decoction, cold infusion, hot infusion or tea. All of the advanced herbal preparation methods were derived from these five primary methods.
Five primary ayurvedic herbal formulation methods are found in Vedic literature as ancient remedies but their nomenclature and the exact terminology could not be found.
Ancient Remedies - Vedic Herbal Formulations: Ancient Remedies And Expressed Juice: Fresh and juicy or succulent herbs was taken and cut into small pieces, then the juice is expressed by pressing in a piece of cloth. Other more hard or woody herbs were first dipped in water and then their paste or decoction was prepared and filtered though a cloth to get expressed juice. Expressed juice had to be consumed immediately or within few hours.
Somarasa As King Of Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: Soma was considered as the most important herbal remedy in Vedic literature. Its expressed juice was used. If fresh Soma was not available, the stored Soma was cut into small pieces, and paste was prepared in mortar and pestle, water is added to its paste and then it was filtered by expressing in a cloth.
Paste And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: The plant Silachi or Laksha was a great herb for wounds and injury resulting from arrows, axe or sticks. The paste of Laksha was used for topical application.
Decoction And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: Avaya was a toxic herb. Its expressed juice was boiled to remove its toxicity. This decoction was called Karambha and it was used to remove toxic discoloration of skin.
Kshirapaka: Kshirapaka is the decoction of herbs prepared in equal quantities of milk and water.
Fermentation And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: The description of various kinds of wines is available in Vedas and indicates that people knew the process of fermentation.
The word 'Arista' is used in Atharvaveda for those medicinal wines that were used in various disorders. And we have the same term 'Arista' in ayurvedic medicine for those fermented autogenous alcohol containing preparations of herbs.
Hot Infusion or Herbal Tea: Some herbs were given by preparing their hot infusion or tea. The addition of salt or sugar or jaggery or honey was common as adjuvant for improving taste.
Herbal Oils And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: Many herbs were processed with oils or fats to get herbal oils. Herbal oils were used for topical application over skin and for internal use.
Vedic Dietary Preparations: Vedic people knew very well about milk, curd, butter, clarified butter and various kinds of wines. Wines were used for intoxication as well for their medicinal purpose along with herbs.
Milk And Its Derivatives: Curd is mentioned at several places in Vedas.
The books of 'Shatapatha Brahmana' mentions the term 'Gharmadudha' for a liquid made by mixing milk and curd.
The word 'Maitravaruni' is used for cheese in Vedas and 'Payasya' is used for cheese in Ayurvedic literature.
The term 'Vajina' was used for whey or buttermilk.
Navanita was used for butter.
Clarified butter or Ghee is a preparation of animal fat derived from boiling the butter. 'Aajya', 'Ghrita' and 'Ayuta' was used for clarified butter.
'Amiksha' word is used for sour milk or split milk.
Cereals And Beans: Yava (Oat) was described in Rigveda. Yava, Masha and Tila (Sesame seeds) were mentioned in Atharvaveda. Yajurveda has the description of Masha, Tila, Brihi, Mudaga, Khalva, Priyangu, Shyamala, Neerava, Godhuma and Masura.
Roasted cereals were known such as pop corn of present time. 'Laja' was roasted paddy. 'Parivapa' was roasted black grams.
Flour of roasted food grains was known as 'Saktu'. It is still popular in country region of India.
Gruels or soups were also popular and were made with cereals like rice and beans.
Germinated grains were also used in food like Tokma (germinated paddy grains).
Cooked rice was also well known in ancient times of Vedas.
'Masara' was the beverage prepared by mixing yeast, grapes with water that is used to boil rice and millets. So ferments and fermented products were widely in use.Blades of grass was also used as a food item.
Ayurvedic Medicine is also called Ayurveda. It is a system of medicine that originated in India several thousand years ago. The term Ayurveda combines two Sanskrit words: ayur, which means life, and veda, which means science or knowledge. Ayurveda means "the science of life."
Ayurveda is a whole medical system which integrates and balances the body, mind, and spirit (thus, it is considered "holistic"). This balance is necessary for contentment and good health. Ayurveda also proposes treatments for specific health problems. A primary aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease. This helps re-establish the harmony and balance necessary for optimal health.
Ayurveda has long been the main system of health care in India. About 70 percent of India's population lives in rural areas; about two-thirds of rural people use Ayurveda and medicinal plants to meet their primary health care needs. In addition, most major cities have an Ayurvedic college and hospital. There are 587,536 registered traditional medical practitioners, 2,860 hospitals providing Ayurvedic treatment, and 22,100 dispensaries for traditional medicine in India. This allows over 500 million people in India to rely solely on Ayurveda today.
Ayurveda and variations of it have also been practiced for centuries in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. The professional practice of Ayurveda in the United States began to grow and became more visible in the late 20th century.
Professional Accreditation
Practitioners of Ayurveda have various types of training. Some are trained in the Western medical tradition (such as medical or nursing school) and then study Ayurveda. Others may have training in naturopathic medicine, a whole medical system, either before or after their Ayurvedic training. Many study in India, where there are more than 150 undergraduate and more than 30 postgraduate colleges for Ayurveda. This training can take up to 5 years.
Reliance on Herbs
According to World Health Organization report, over 80% of the world population relies on plant-based traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs.
In Ayurveda, the distinction between food and medicine is not as clear as in Western medicine. Food and diet are important components of Ayurvedic practice, and so there is a heavy reliance on treatments based on herbs and plants, oils (such as sesame oil), common spices (such as turmeric), and other naturally occurring substances.
Currently, some 5,000 products are included in the "pharmacy" of Ayurvedic treatments. Historically, plant compounds have been grouped into categories according to their effects. For example, some compounds are thought to heal, promote vitality, or relieve pain. The compounds are described in many texts prepared through national medical agencies in India. The following are examples of commonly used herbs:
· The spice turmeric has been used for various diseases and conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's
disease, and wound healing.
· An extract from the resin from a tropical shrub (Commiphora mukul, or guggul) has been used for a variety of
illnesses. In recent years, there has been research interest in its use to lower cholesterol.
· The essential oil extracted from Holy Basil is used as counteract depression and mental stress.
India has 16 agro-climatic zones, 45,000 different plant species, and 15,000 medicinal plants. The Indian Systems of Medicine have identified 1,500 medicinal plants, of which 500 species are mostly used in the preparation of drugs. These medicinal plants contribute to 80% of the raw materials used in the preparation of Ayurvedic Medicine.
Ancient Remedies - Ayurvedic Herbal in Vedas: Herbs have been popular and in use during ancient Vedic period. Herbs were known by the name 'Bhesaja' and herbalists were known by the name 'Bhisaka'. Medicinal herbs were given in the form of different herbal formulations.
Five herbal formulations are regarded as the elementary pharmaceutical preparations in ayurvedic medicine - expressed juice, paste or powder, decoction, cold infusion, hot infusion or tea. All of the advanced herbal preparation methods were derived from these five primary methods.
Five primary ayurvedic herbal formulation methods are found in Vedic literature as ancient remedies but their nomenclature and the exact terminology could not be found.
Ancient Remedies - Vedic Herbal Formulations: Ancient Remedies And Expressed Juice: Fresh and juicy or succulent herbs was taken and cut into small pieces, then the juice is expressed by pressing in a piece of cloth. Other more hard or woody herbs were first dipped in water and then their paste or decoction was prepared and filtered though a cloth to get expressed juice. Expressed juice had to be consumed immediately or within few hours.
Somarasa As King Of Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: Soma was considered as the most important herbal remedy in Vedic literature. Its expressed juice was used. If fresh Soma was not available, the stored Soma was cut into small pieces, and paste was prepared in mortar and pestle, water is added to its paste and then it was filtered by expressing in a cloth.
Paste And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: The plant Silachi or Laksha was a great herb for wounds and injury resulting from arrows, axe or sticks. The paste of Laksha was used for topical application.
Decoction And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: Avaya was a toxic herb. Its expressed juice was boiled to remove its toxicity. This decoction was called Karambha and it was used to remove toxic discoloration of skin.
Kshirapaka: Kshirapaka is the decoction of herbs prepared in equal quantities of milk and water.
Fermentation And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: The description of various kinds of wines is available in Vedas and indicates that people knew the process of fermentation.
The word 'Arista' is used in Atharvaveda for those medicinal wines that were used in various disorders. And we have the same term 'Arista' in ayurvedic medicine for those fermented autogenous alcohol containing preparations of herbs.
Hot Infusion or Herbal Tea: Some herbs were given by preparing their hot infusion or tea. The addition of salt or sugar or jaggery or honey was common as adjuvant for improving taste.
Herbal Oils And Ancient Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies: Many herbs were processed with oils or fats to get herbal oils. Herbal oils were used for topical application over skin and for internal use.
Vedic Dietary Preparations: Vedic people knew very well about milk, curd, butter, clarified butter and various kinds of wines. Wines were used for intoxication as well for their medicinal purpose along with herbs.
Milk And Its Derivatives: Curd is mentioned at several places in Vedas.
The books of 'Shatapatha Brahmana' mentions the term 'Gharmadudha' for a liquid made by mixing milk and curd.
The word 'Maitravaruni' is used for cheese in Vedas and 'Payasya' is used for cheese in Ayurvedic literature.
The term 'Vajina' was used for whey or buttermilk.
Navanita was used for butter.
Clarified butter or Ghee is a preparation of animal fat derived from boiling the butter. 'Aajya', 'Ghrita' and 'Ayuta' was used for clarified butter.
'Amiksha' word is used for sour milk or split milk.
Cereals And Beans: Yava (Oat) was described in Rigveda. Yava, Masha and Tila (Sesame seeds) were mentioned in Atharvaveda. Yajurveda has the description of Masha, Tila, Brihi, Mudaga, Khalva, Priyangu, Shyamala, Neerava, Godhuma and Masura.
Roasted cereals were known such as pop corn of present time. 'Laja' was roasted paddy. 'Parivapa' was roasted black grams.
Flour of roasted food grains was known as 'Saktu'. It is still popular in country region of India.
Gruels or soups were also popular and were made with cereals like rice and beans.
Germinated grains were also used in food like Tokma (germinated paddy grains).
Cooked rice was also well known in ancient times of Vedas.
'Masara' was the beverage prepared by mixing yeast, grapes with water that is used to boil rice and millets. So ferments and fermented products were widely in use.Blades of grass was also used as a food item.
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