Ayurveda is a traditional medicine system. God Dhanvantri is the god of Ayurveda.

Susrutha Samhita and the Charaka Samhita are the oldest ayurvedic text compiled in Sanskrit. Nagarjuna and Several philosophers in India com ined !induism and ayurveda. Charak In the medieval era ayurvedic practitioners developed surgical and medicinal procedures for medicinal for treatment of various diseases. Ayurvedic medicines are regarded as complementary and alternative medicine. "ight components of Ayurveda #$eferene %ikipedia& In classical literature of Sanskrit' Ayurveda is kno(n as the science of eight components #General medicine& ) *+ya,chikits+- .cure of diseases affecting the ody. #/ediatrics& ) *aum+ra, htya- .treatment of children. #Surgery& ) 0halya,chikits+- .removal of any su stance (hich has entered the ody #as extraction of darts' of splinters' etc.&. #1phthalmology 2 "N3& ) 0+l+kya,tantra- .cure of diseases of the eye or ear etc. y sharp instruments.4du ious ) discuss5 #Demonology 2 exorcism 2 psychiatry& ) 6h7ta#past&,vidy+- .treatment of mental diseases supposed to e produced y past experiences. #3oxicology& ) Agada,tantra- .doctrine of antidotes. #"lixirs& ) $asayana,tantra- .doctrine of $asayana. #Aphrodisiacs& ) 8+j9karaa tantra :uch like the medicine of classical anti;uity' Ayurveda had historically taken the approach of enumerating odily su stances in the frame(ork of the five classical elements #Sanskrit 4maha5pancha huta' vi<. earth' (ater' fire' air and aether. According to Ayurveda' there are seven tissues dhatu. 3hey are plasma #rasa&' lood #rakta&' muscles #masa&' fat #meda&' one #asthi&' marro( #majja&' and semen #shukra&.4=>5 ?urther information- :ah+ h7ta Ayurveda states that a alance of three elemental su stances Dosha is health and im alance as disease. 3he dosha are three and they are 8ata' /itta and *apha. 1ne Ayurvedic theory states that each human possesses a uni;ue com ination of these doshas that define that person@s temperament and characteristics. "ach person has a natural state' or natural com ination of these three elements' and should seek alance y modulating their ehavior or environment. In this (ay they can increase or decrease the doshas they lack or in a undance of respectively. Another vie(' present in the ancient literature' states that dosha e;uality is identical to health' and that persons (ith im alance of dosha are proportionately unhealthy' and that this is not their natural state. /rakriti is one of the important concept in Ayurveda. ?urther information- Dosha In Ayurvedic theory' >A ;ualities 2 characteristics gua' (hich are inherent in all su stances are more accepted. 3hey can e arranged in ten pairs of antonymsheavy2light' cold2hot' unctuous2dry' dull2sharp' sta le2mo ile' soft2hard' non,slimy2slimy' smooth2coarse' minute2gross' viscous2li;uid.4=B5 ?urther information- Guna

"nsuring the proper functions of channels #srotas& that transport fluids is a part of Ayurvedic treatment' ecause the lack of healthy channels is thought to cause diseases. /ractitioners treat y massage (ith oils and S(edana #fomentation& to open up these channels.4=C5 !induism and 6uddhism have een an influence on the development of many of ayurveda@s central ideas ) particularly its fascination (ith alance' kno(n in 6uddhism as :adhyathmaka.4du ious ) discuss54=D5 6alance is emphasisedE suppressing natural urges is seen to e unhealthy' and doing so claimed to lead to illness.4=D5 ?or example' suppressing snee<ing may give rise to shoulder pain.4=F5 !o(ever' people are cautioned to stay (ithin the limits of reasona le alance and measure.4=D5 ?or example' emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake'4=G5 sleep' sexual intercourse.4=D5 /ractice4edit5 Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis y using five senses.4=H5 !earing is used to o serve the condition of reathing and speech.4=>5 3he study of the lethal points or marman marma is of special importance.4=B5 Ayurvedic doctors regard physical and mental existence together (ith personality as a unit' each element having the capacity to influence the others. 1ne of the fundamental aspects of ayurvedic medicine is to take this into account during diagnosis and therapy. Concepts of Dinacharya are follo(ed in Ayurveda. /ractices like 1il pulling are practised. !ygiene is a central practice of ayurvedic medicine. !ygienic living involves regular athing' cleansing of teeth' skin care' and eye (ashing.4=>5 !ead massage is used to apply oils. Ayurveda stresses the use of plant, ased medicines and treatments.4citation needed5 !undreds of plant, ased medicines are employed' including cardamom and cinnamon. Some animal products may also e used' for example milk' ones' and gallstones. In addition' fats are used oth for consumption and for external use. :inerals' including sulphur' arsenic' lead' copper sulfate and gold are also consumed as prescri ed.4=>5 3his practice of adding minerals to her al medicine is kno(n as rasa shastra. In some cases' alcohol (as used as a narcotic for the patient undergoing an operation. 3he advent of Islam introduced opium as a narcotic.4I5 6oth oil and tar (ere used to stop leeding.4=>5 3raumatic leeding (as said to e stopped y four different methodsligation of the lood vesselE cauterisation y heatE using different her al or animal preparations locally (hich could facilitate clottingE and different medical preparations (hich could constrict the leeding or oo<ing vessels. 8arious oils could e used in a num er of (ays' including regular consumption as a part of food' anointing' smearing' head massage' and prescri ed application to affected areas.4=I54page needed5 %hile t(o of the eight ranches of classical Ayurveda deal (ith surgery #0alya,cikits+' 0+l+kya,tantra&' contemporary Ayurvedic theory tends to emphasise that uilding a healthy meta olic system' attaining good digestion' and proper excretion lead to vitality. 4=B5 Ayurveda also focuses on exercise' yoga' and meditation.4>A5 In ayurveda' li;uids may e poured on the patient@s forehead' a techni;ue (hich is called Shirodhara. 3o maintain health' a Sattvic diet is prescri ed to the patient.

Cataract in human eye ) magnified vie( seen on examination (ith a slit lamp. Cataract surgery is mentioned in the Sushruta Samhita in the early centuries of the first millennium AD' as performed (ith a special tool called the ja amukhi salaka' a curved needle used to loosen the o structing phlegm and push it out of the field of vision. 3he eye (ould later e soaked (ith (arm utter and then andaged.4>=5 . /anchakarma4edit5 ?urther information- /anchakarma According to some experts' the practice of panchakarma #Devan+gar9- J&& is a therapeutic (ay of eliminating toxic elements from the ody.4>>5 /anchakarma includes 8amana' 8irechana' 6asti' Nasya and $aktamokshana. /anchakarma is preceded y /oorva karma #/reparatory Step&and is follo(ed y /aschat karma and /eyadi krama. Diagnosis4edit5 Ayurveda has H (ays of diagnosis. 3hey are Nadi #/ulse&' :ootra #Krine&' :ala #Stool&' Linvha #3ongue&' Sha da #Speech&' Sparsha #3ouch&' Druk #8ision&' Aakruti #Appearance&.4>B5 3reatment procedures !istory4edit5 Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda or .auxiliary kno(ledge.. It is treated as a supplement or appendix of the 8edas themselves' usually either the $igveda or the Atharvaveda. 3he samhita of the Atharvaveda itself contains ==C hymns or incantations for the magical cure of diseases. 3here are various legendary accounts of the .origin of ayurveda.' e.g.' that the science (as received y Dhanvantari #or Divodasa& from 6rahma4=>54>C54>D5 3radition also holds that a lost text (ritten y the sage Agnivesh' a student of the sage 6harad(aja' influenced the (ritings of ayurveda.4>F5 3here are three principal early texts on Ayurveda' all dating to the early centuries of the Common "ra. 3hese are the Charaka Samhita' the Sushruta Samhita and the medical portions of the 6o(er :anuscript #also kno(n as the 6heda Samhita&. 3he relative chronology of these texts is not entirely clear. 3he Charaka Samhita is often cited as primaryE although it survives in a recension of a out the Cth or Dth century' it may e ased on an original (ritten et(een =AA 6C" and =AA C"' (hich (ould have predated the other t(o texts. 3he Sushruta Samhita (as (ritten in the Brd or Cth century. 3he 6o(er :anuscript is of particular interest ecause in this case the manuscript itself is ancient' dated to the early Fth century.4>G5 3he earliest surviving mention of the name Sushruta is from the 6o(er :anuscript.4>H5 3he medical portions of the 6o(er :anuscript constitutes a collection of recipes (hich are connected to numerous ancient authorities' and may e ased on an older medical tradition practised during the :aurya period' antedating oth the Charaka and the Sushruta Samhitas. 3he 6o(er :anuscript is also of special interest to historians due to the presence of Indian medicine and its concepts in Central Asian 6uddhism. A. ?. $. !oernle in his

=HIG edition identified the scri e of the medical portions of the manuscript as a native of India' using a northern variant of the Gupta script' (ho had migrated and ecome a 6uddhist monk in a monastery in *ucha. 3he Chinese pilgrim ?a !sien #c. BBG)C>> AD& (rote a out the health care system of the Gupta empire #B>A)DDA& and descri ed the institutional approach of Indian medicine' also visi le in the (orks of Charaka' (ho mentions a clinic and ho( it should e e;uipped.4>I5 1ther early texts' sometimes mentioned alongside the Sushruta' Chakaka and 6heda texts' are the *asyapa and the !arita samhitas' presuma ly dating to the later Gupta period #ca. Fth century&. Ayurvedic authors of the Gth or Hth century include 8ag hata and :adhava.4BA5 Knder(ood M $hodes #>AAH& hold that this early phase of traditional Indian medicine identified .fever #takman&' cough' consumption' diarrhea' dropsy' a scesses' sei<ures' tumours' and skin diseases #including leprosy&..4=>5 3reatment of complex ailments' including angina pectoris' dia etes' hypertension' and stones' also ensued during this period.4B54B=5 /lastic surgery' couching #a form of cataract surgery&' puncturing to release fluids in the a domen' extraction of foreign elements' treatment of anal fistulas' treating fractures' amputations' cesarean sections' and stitching of (ounds (ere kno(n. 4=>5 3he use of her s and surgical instruments ecame (idespread.4=>5 3he field of Ayurveda flourished throughout the Indian :iddle AgesE Dalhana #fl. =>AA&' Sarngadhara #fl. =BAA& and 6havamisra #fl. =DAA& compiled (orks on Indian medicine. 4>H5 3he medical (orks of oth Sushruta and Charaka (ere also translated into the Ara ic language during the Hth century.4B>5 3he Ith,century /ersian physician $ha<es (as familiar (ith the text.4BB5 3he Ara ic (orks derived from the Gupta,era Indian texts eventually also reached a "uropean audience y the end of the medieval period.4B>5 In $enaissance Italy' the 6ranca family of Sicily and Gaspare 3agliaco<<i #6ologna& are kno(n to have een influenced y the Ara ic reception of the surgical techni;ues of Sushruta.4B>5 6ritish physicians travelled to India to see rhinoplasty eing performed y native methods.4BC5 $eports on Indian rhinoplasty (ere pu lished in the Gentleman@s :aga<ine in =GIC.4BC5 Loseph Constantine Carpue spent >A years in India studying local plastic surgery methods.4BC5 Carpue (as a le to perform the first major surgery in the (estern (orld in =H=D.4BD5 Instruments descri ed in the Sushruta Samhita (ere further modified in the %estern %orld.4BD5 Loseph Constantine Carpue ased on this article (as a le to perform the .Indian. method of nose reconstruction and pu lish it in =H=D.E4BF54BG5 Current status4edit5

A typical ayurvedic /harmacy' $ishikesh. India4edit5 According to some sources up to HA percent of people in India use some form of traditional medicines' a category (hich includes Ayurveda.4BH54BI5 In =IGA' the Indian :edical Central Council Act (hich aims to standardise ;ualifications for ayurveda and provide accredited institutions for its study and research (as passed y the /arliament of India.4CA5 In India' over =AA colleges offer degrees in traditional

ayurvedic medicine.4>A5 3he Indian government supports research and teaching in ayurveda through many channels at oth the national and state levels' and helps institutionalise traditional medicine so that it can e studied in major to(ns and cities. 4C=5 3he state,sponsored Central Council for $esearch in Ayurvedic Sciences #CC$AS& has een set up to research the su ject.4C>5 3o fight iopiracy and unethical patents' the Government of India' in >AA=' set up the 3raditional *no(ledge Digital Ni rary as repository of =>AA formulations of various systems of Indian medicine' such as ayurveda' unani and siddha.4CB54CC5 3he li rary also has DA traditional ayurveda ooks digitised and availa le online.4CD5 Central Council of Indian :edicine #CCI:& a statutory ody esta lished in =IG=' under Department of Ayurveda' Ooga and Naturopathy' Knani' Siddha and !omoeopathy #AOKS!&' :inistry of !ealth and ?amily %elfare' Government of India' monitors higher education in ayurveda.4CF5 :any clinics in ur an and rural areas are run y professionals (ho ;ualify from these institutes.4CA5 Sri Nanka4edit5 3ulsi,flo(er #holy asilPa (ell kno(n Ayurvedic her & 3he Sri Nankan tradition of Ayurveda is very similar to the Indian tradition. /ractitioners of Ayurveda in Sri Nanka refer to texts on the su ject (ritten in Sanskrit' (hich are common to oth countries. !o(ever' they do differ in some aspects' particularly in the her s used. 3he Sri Nankan government has esta lished a :inistry of Indigenous :edicine #esta lished in =IHA& to revive and regulate the practice (ithin the country.4CG5 3he Institute of Indigenous :edicine #affiliated to the Kniversity of Colom o& currently offers undergraduate' postgraduate' and :D degrees in the practice of Ayurveda :edicine and Surgery' and similar degrees in unani medicine.4CH5 3here are currently F> Ayurvedic !ospitals and >AH central dispensaries in the pu lic system' and they served almost B million people #approximately == percent of Sri Nanka@s total population& in >A=A. In total there are currently approximately >A'AAA registered practitioners of Ayurveda in the country.4CI54DA5 According to the :ahavamsa' the ancient chronicle of Sinhalese royalty' (ritten in the sixth century A.D.' *ing /anduka haya of Sri Nanka #reigned CBG 6C to BFG 6C& had lying,in,homes and Ayurvedic hospitals #Sivikasotthi,Sala& uilt in various parts of the country. 3his is the earliest documentary evidence (e have of institutions specifically dedicated to the care of the sick any(here in the (orld.4D=54D>5 :ihintale !ospital is the oldest in the (orld.4DB5 :any Sri Nankan hotels and resorts offer Ayurveda,themed packages' (here guests are treated to a (ide array of Ayurveda treatments during their stay.A Standard t(o (eeks program usually com ines Ayurvedic massages (ith $asayana #medical intakes&for detoxing. Among travellers Shirodhara and 6o(l cleaning is very famous. /laces like Aida Ayurveda $esort in 6entota offers a uni;ue flo(er ath just efore guest departure as aromatic experience as (ell as color therapy kno(n as /ushpa Chikithsana. 1utside South Asia4edit5 Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine developed during anti;uity and the medieval period' and as such compara le to pre,modern Chinese and "uropean systems

of medicine. !o(ever' eginning in the =IFAs' Ayurveda has egun to e advertised as .alternative medicine. in the %est. Due to different la(s and medical regulations in the rest of the (orld' the unregulated practice and commercialisation of ayurvedic medicine has raised ethical and legal issues. In some instances' ayurvedic practices or terminology have also een adapted specifically for %estern consumption' nota ly in the case of .:aharishi Ayurveda. in the =IHAsE in some cases' this has involved active fraud on the part of proponents of Ayurveda in an attempt to falsely represent the system as e;ual to the standards of modern medical research.4DC54DD54DF5 Scientific appraisal4edit5

In studies in mice' the leaves of 3erminalia arjuna have een sho(n to have analgesic and anti,inflammatory properties.4DG5 6ark of 3erminalia arjuna As a traditional medicine' many ayurveda products have not een tested in rigorous scientific studies and clinical trials. In India' research in ayurveda is undertaken y the statutory ody of the Central Government' the Central Council for $esearch in Ayurveda and Siddha #CC$AS&' through a national net(ork of research institutes.4DH5 A systematic revie( of ayurveda treatments for rheumatoid arthritis concluded that there (as insufficient evidence' as most of the trials (ere not done properly' and the one high, ;uality trial sho(ed no enefits.4DI5 A revie( of ayurveda and cardiovascular disease concluded that the evidence for ayurveda (as not convincing' though some her s seemed promising.4FA5 3(o varieties of Salvia have een tested in small trialsE one trial provided evidence that Salvia lavandulifolia #Spanish sage& may improve (ord recall in young adults'4F=5 and another provided evidence that Salvia officinalis #Common sage& may improve symptoms in Al<heimer@s patients.4F>5 :any plants used as rasayana #rejuvenation& medications are potent antioxidants.4FB5 Neem appears to have eneficial pharmacological properties.4FC5 4FD5 3urmeric and curcumin have sho(n effectiveness in preventing cancer in vitro'4FF5 ho(ever according to Cancer $esearch K*' .3here is no evidence that Ayurvedic her al medicines can prevent' treat or cure cancer in humans..4FG5 %ithin the last decade' some /u :ed,indexed journals have een pu lished in the field of Ayurveda.4FH54FI5 Kse of toxic metals4edit5 $asa shastra' the practice of adding metals' minerals or gems to her s' may have toxic heavy metals such as lead' mercury and arsenic.4F5 Adverse reactions to her s due to their pharmacology are descri ed in traditional ayurvedic texts' ut ayurvedic practitioners are reluctant to admit that her s could e toxic and that relia le information on her al toxicity is not readily availa leE there is communication gap et(een modern medicine practitioners and Ayurvedic practitioners.4GA5 According to a =IIA study on ayurvedic medicines in India' C= percent of the products tested contained arsenic' and FC percent contained lead and mercury.4BH5 A >AAC study

found toxic levels of heavy metals in >A percent of ayurvedic preparations made in South Asia and sold in the 6oston area' and concluded that ayurvedic products posed serious health risks and should e tested for heavy,metal contamination.4G=5 A >AAH study of more than >BA products found that approximately >A percent of remedies #and CA percent of rasa shastra medicines& purchased over the Internet from oth K.S. and Indian suppliers contained lead' mercury or arsenic.4F54G>54GB5 In >A=> the K.S. Centers for Disease Control and /revention #CDC& stated that Ayurvedic drugs have een linked to lead poisoning on the asis of some cases (here pregnant (omen had taken Ayurvedic drugs and toxic materials (ere found in their lood.4GC5 Ayurvedic proponents elieve that the toxicity of these materials is reduced through purification processes such as samskaras or shodhanas #for metals&' similar to the Chinese pao <hi' although the ayurvedic techni;ue is more complex and may involve prayers as (ell as physical pharmacy techni;ues. !o(ever' these products have nonetheless caused severe lead poisoning and other toxic effects.4G>54GD5 Due to these concerns' the Government of India ruled that ayurvedic products must specify their metallic content directly on the la els of the product'4G5 ut' (riting on the su ject for Current Science' a pu lication of the Indian Academy of Sciences' :. S. 8aliathan noted that .the a sence of post,market surveillance and the paucity of test la oratory facilities 4in India5 make the ;uality control of Ayurvedic medicines exceedingly difficult at this time..4G5