This book examines the history and evolution of Ayurveda and other indigenous medical traditions in juxtaposition with their encounter with colonial modernity. Through the lens of hereditary folk and Ayurvedic practitioners, it focuses on Kerala's heterogeneous medical traditions and presents them against the backdrop of the geographical, historical, sociocultural, ethnographic and regional contexts in which they developed and transformed. The author explores the world of Kerala's last traditionally trained hereditary practitioners (folk healers, poison therapists, Sanskrit-speaking Muslim Ayurvedic practitioners and the legendary Brahman Ashtavaidyan physicians). He discusses the views of these physicians regarding the marked difference between their personalised ancestral methods of treatment and the standardised version of Ayurveda compliant with biomedicine that is practised by doctors today. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, this book will be useful to researchers and scholars of medical anthropology, health and social medicine, sociology and social anthropology, the history of science and modern Indian history, as well as to medical practitioners interested in alternative and traditional medicine.

The effective yet gentle 'Sukshma' technique, for working with the Marma points at the emotional as well as on the physical level, is fully described in this book. Marma Therapy - the art of treating specific vital points on the human body - is one of the greatest healing secrets of Ayurveda. It can be used to detoxify, strengthen and revitalize the body, for rejuvenation and relaxation or to release blocked energy. The authors explain the theoretical basis of Marma Therapy, and then provide a detailed, fully illustrated guide to its use. For each Marma point, the authors provide information about its significance, the Ayurvedic element it relates to, the most appropriate oils to use, and what it can be used to treat. Clear step-by-step instructions and photographs illustrate the techniques, and advice is also included for self-treatment. The authors explain how to strengthen the Marmas through yoga and use mudras to support and complement Marma treatment. Finally, they describe how to treat common physical and emotional conditions, from headache and back pain, to exam nerves and insomnia.

This book examines the history and evolution of Ayurveda and other indigenous medical traditions in juxtaposition with their encounter with colonial modernity. Through the lens of hereditary folk and Ayurvedic practitioners, it focuses on Kerala's heterogeneous medical traditions and presents them against the backdrop of the geographical, historical, sociocultural, ethnographic and regional contexts in which they developed and transformed. The author explores the world of Kerala's last traditionally trained hereditary practitioners (folk healers, poison therapists, Sanskrit-speaking Muslim Ayurvedic practitioners and the legendary Brahman Ashtavaidyan physicians). He discusses the views of these physicians regarding the marked difference between their personalised ancestral methods of treatment and the standardised version of Ayurveda compliant with biomedicine that is practised by doctors today. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, this book will be useful to researchers and scholars of medical anthropology, health and social medicine, sociology and social anthropology, the history of science and modern Indian history, as well as to medical practitioners interested in alternative and traditional medicine.

This book examines depression as a widely diagnosed and treated common mental disorder in India and offers a significant ethnographic study of the application of a traditional Indian medical system (Ayurveda) to the very modern problem of depression. Based on over a year of fieldwork, it investigates the Ayurvedic response to the burden of depression in the Indian state of Kerala as one of the key processes of the local appropriation or glocalization of depression. More broadly, Lang considers: What happens with the category of depression when it leaves the West and travels to South Asia? How is depression appropriated in a South Asian society characterized by medical pluralism? She explores on the level of ideas, institutions and materialities how depression interacts with and changes local worlds, clinical practice and knowledge and subjectivities. As depression travels from 'the West' to South India, its ontology, Lang argues, multiplies and thus leads to what she calls 'depression multiple'.

A single-source reference on the most important and best-investigated Ayurvedic herbs This book examines the clinical information available on more than 60 Ayurvedic herbs to determine how their use in traditional Indian medicine is supported by modern scientific study. Plants are grouped according to body systems and each entry includes a description, information on the source plant, distribution and traditional use, active chemical constituents, relevant pharmacology, and details of clinical studies and safety findings. This unique book also includes a brief history of Ayurveda, examines the history of drug development and evaluation in ancient India, and identifies current trends resulting from scientific investigation. Worldwide interest in Ayurveda is growing quickly, especially in the United States, Europe, and Japan. But until now, information on Western-style clinical trials on Ayurveda herbs has been scattered and no single source for descriptions, comments, and references has existed. Ayurvedic Herbs presents the first critical validation of Ayurvedic medicine, extensively referenced for physicians and clinicians interested in alternative and adjunctive therapies. This unique book is essential for making informed choices on herb use, offering clinical trial data, results of pharmacological studies, and safety information. Ayurvedic Herbs examines: gastrointestinal agents hepatoprotective agents respiratory tract agents cardiovascular drugs urinary tract drugs antirheumatic agents skin and trauma care agents gynecological agents antidiabetic agents CNS agents rasayana drugs dental and ophthamological agents and much more Ayurvedic Herbs includes cross-references to chapters when a particular plant has more than one indication and watercolor illustrations of twelve major herbs.

People seeking psychiatric healing choose from an almost dizzying array of therapies--from the medicated mud packs of Ayurveda, to the pharmacopeia of Western biomedicine, to the spiritual pathways of the world's religions. How do we choose, what do the treatments offer, and how do they cure? In Mudpacks and Prozac, Murphy Halliburton investigates the very different ways in which Ayurvedic, Western, and religious (Christian, Muslim, and Hindu) healing systems define psychiatric problems and cures. He describes people's embodied experiences of therapies that range from soothing to frightening, and explores how enduring pleasure or pain affects healing. And through evocative portraits of patients in Kerala, India--a place of incredible cultural diversity that has become a Mecca for alternative medicine--Halliburton shows how sociopolitical changes around the globe may be limiting the ways in which people seek and experience health care, with negative effects on our quality of health and quality of life.

People seeking psychiatric healing choose from an almost dizzying array of therapies--from the medicated mud packs of Ayurveda, to the pharmacopeia of Western biomedicine, to the spiritual pathways of the world's religions. How do we choose, what do the treatments offer, and how do they cure? In Mudpacks and Prozac, Murphy Halliburton investigates the very different ways in which Ayurvedic, Western, and religious (Christian, Muslim, and Hindu) healing systems define psychiatric problems and cures. He describes people's embodied experiences of therapies that range from soothing to frightening, and explores how enduring pleasure or pain affects healing. And through evocative portraits of patients in Kerala, India--a place of incredible cultural diversity that has become a Mecca for alternative medicine--Halliburton shows how sociopolitical changes around the globe may be limiting the ways in which people seek and experience health care, with negative effects on our quality of health and quality of life.

Discover A Life-Changing Detoxification and Rejuvenation TherapyThis book has all the science and all the soul you'll need to restore a sustainable sense of self-care in your life." -Joan Borysenko, PhD, NY Times bestselling author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind Psychiatrist Judith E. Pentz, MD, travels to Nagpur, India, to study 5000-year-old Ayurvedic Panchakarma detoxification and rejuvenation therapy in a quest to provide enhanced holistic wellness treatment for her patients. A change at the cellular level. Part travel memoir and part spiritual guide, Cleanse Your Body and Reveal Your Soul is one woman's transformative quest with Ayurvedic Panchakarma (a fivefold detoxification treatment involving massage, herbal therapy, and other procedures) and the profound shifts that led to some sustainable, substantial life changes. Dissatisfied with a mainstream psychiatric practice, Dr. Pentz heads to India, where she undergoes an ancient, rejuvenating cleanse. The tools and practices of Panchakarma. Dr. Pentz's narrative offers a compassionate and compelling path for Western audiences and the Ayurveda-curious. Complete with healing oils, Ayurvedic daily rituals, and yoga poses, she supplements her journey with tips about preventive lifestyle changes that promote sustainable well-being. Inside, find definitions, quizzes and wisdom, as well as chapters like: Cellular Shift: the science behind Panchakarma and cellular change Food As Medicine: tips about one of the central tenets of Ayurveda, food is healing, and maintaining an Ayurvedic diet The Dish on Doshas: facts that illuminate concepts around the three doshas-vata, pitta, kapha-your constitutional and functional intelligence If you have benefited from books like Ayurveda Beginner's Guide, The Ayurvedic Self-Care Handbook, Body Thrive, or Ayurveda and Panchakarma, then Cleanse Your Body and Reveal Your Soul should be your next read.

Introducing Practical Ayurveda, a natural approach to self-healing, herbal remedies, meditation and wellness. Featuring tailored remedies including ayurvedic recipes, natural skincare, yoga, and mindful meditation techniques, this wonderful wellness book is a one-stop guide to all things nature and nurture. New to Ayurveda? No worries, we've got you covered! Ayurveda encompasses a view of the world based on ancient beliefs that everything is connected and that balance is the key to wellbeing. With a core focus on the prevention of disease by adopting anti-inflammatory and clean-eating diets, mindful meditation, and massages, this little self-care book will take you on a breathtaking journey of holistic healing, featuring: -User-friendly book structure explains how to apply Ayurveda to all areas of life. -A self-assessment questionnaire helps you work out your body type. -Step-by-step instructions on massage, meditation, yoga, and home therapies. -Ayurvedic guide to food, with customizable, rebalancing recipes. -A-Z guide to common ailments with recommended Ayurvedic remedies. Discover your Ayurvedic body type through a simple self-assessment questionnaire, and how to apply ayurvedic practises to elements of any lifestyle. Whether it's adjusting your diet to suit your body type; energising your body through yoga; or relaxing your mind with meditation and positive thinking exercises, this all-encompassing health book has something for everyone to love. Featuring tips and tricks on wellness practises designed to uplift the mind, body, and spirit, complemented by healing treatments designed to address, relieve, and help cure a range of common conditions. Whether you discovered this ancient lifestyle practice yourself, through your yoga practice, or as an alternative therapy, use the top tips in this handy herbalist book and apply its wisdom to your modern lifestyle. Fancy a new you this New Years? This carefully curated collection of dietary recommendations, healing remedies, and spiritual practises will show you how to practice Ayurveda at home, and become a better-balanced version of yourself. Make 2022 the year of wellness and healing yourself!

Ayurveda addresses the well-being of the entire being - physical, psychological and spiritual - in an approach to health and healing that is as relevant to the modern world as it was to the ancient world from which it emerged. Herbs and minerals, nutrition and purification, affirmative ways of living are a few of the ways in which Ayurveda treats not just the ailment but the whole person, emphasising prevention of disease to avoid the need for cure. The Ayurvedic principles and practices outlined in this book form a sound basis for accessing optimal health in balance.

The Indian population has used Ayurvedic herbs for centuries, but now modern scientific work has led to recognition and acceptance at a global level. The major cause of the increased popularity of Ayurvedic medicine stems from recent scientific validation and its potential in lifestyle management. This growth in research in India and worldwide has created the need for a resource covering the scientific development of Ayurvedic herbs for practice during the postclassical period. The Modern Ayurveda: Milestones Beyond the Classical Age explores a host of topics essential to understanding the surge of scientific work now being conducted on this ancient practice. A one-point source for the modern explorer attempting to appreciate the transformation of Ayurveda from an empirical to a rationalist understanding, the book enumerates more than 400 Ayurvedic herbs with compiled information including their botanical name, common Ayurvedic name and family, their attributes, chemical constituents, phytochemical markers, pharmacological actions, and their interactions and toxicity. It explores current research methodologies for the evaluation of efficacy and safety of herbal medicine and discusses the contemporary international regulatory status of herbal drugs. Ayurvedic medicine can be better understood and utilized through the application of modern scientific analytical tools for standardization, modern pharmacological tools for safety and efficacy evaluation, and the application of biotechnology to elicit the mechanism of drug actions. Bringing Ayurveda into the 21st century, this volume will inform further progress and open new doors to treatment.

Ayurveda, a Sanskrit word, denotes the Traditional Medicine of India. Translated as the science of life, the term more accurately implies the wisdom in living. Several thousand years old, its ancient roots produced an integrated body of enduring knowledge and practice incorporating medicine, psychology, aesthetics, philosophy, the humanities, and spirituality. Yet, it goes beyond only immediate care of health symptoms and illnesses by suggesting principles and practices for overall self-development and good health. This book offers the reader a concise yet detailed overview of thousands of years of deep thought and clinical work aimed at improving the human condition. Concentrating on healing and prevention, the practice is intended to restore balance and instill better health through consciousness and the connection between body, mind, and spirit. Through Ayurveda, Dr. Ninivaggi offers guidelines toward achieving a better quality of life and health in all areas of one's life.

Ayurvedic Medicine clearly and comprehensively presents the unique theories and traditions of Ayurveda making them accessible to the health practitioner of today. With a brief history of traditional medicine in India and discussion of principles, treatment strategies and traditional Ayurvedic pharmacy and pharmacology, the book offers an essential overview of the culture in which Ayurveda has developed and the scientific basis behind this holistic approach. It details over 100 plant profiles of Ayurvedic herbs, with images of fresh and dried plants, and 50 traditional formulas, including characteristics, usage, combinations, contraindications, and safety and dosage information for each. This essential resource explains the traditional medical system of Ayurveda, and provides guidance to students and practitioners on how to incorporate herbal medicine into their life and practice.

'An excellent masterpiece that brings the ancient timeless wisdom of Ayurveda, in a very simple and practical way, to our modern day-to-day life' - Dr Vasant Lad, Director of The Ayurvedic Institute Ayurveda is a 5000-year-old system of medicine that takes a much needed holistic approach to life and wellbeing. Through balancing the three energy forces in the body known as 'doshas', Ayurveda goes beyond the boundaries of conventional practice to reveal your unique physical, emotional and mental needs. Expert practitioner Geeta Vara BSc and PGDip in Ayurvedic Medicine, gives simple, daily applicable rituals and wisdom that can be personalised to suit you, including guidance on food as medicine, detoxification, movement and meditation. By teaching us to reconnect with our natural bio-circadian rhythms, Ayurveda will lead you out of the doctor's surgery and on a journey towards self-healing. WITH THIS BOOK, YOU CAN: * Discover your mind/body type * Better understand the epicentre of your health - the gut * Learn to identify early signs of imbalance * Transform your diet through taste and mindful eating * Be empowered to take a preventative approach to healthcare * Tackle personal health problems including: stress and fatigue, immune system issues, gastro-intestinal problems, disturbed sleep, migraines, weight management and more

Dr Lad teaches a systematic method for identifying the causes of illness and the stages in which a disease unfolds. This paradigm of cause and effect (etiology and pathogenesis) is the key to understanding how disease can be prevented through awareness of the subtle energetic disturbances that precede structural or functional damage. Sharing from a wealth of clinical experience, Dr Lad presents principles and methods of assessment using a combination of the most helpful Ayurvedic and modern techniques.

Ayurveda is one of the World's oldest and most comprehensive systems of natural medicine, and is particularly useful for addressing the chronic conditions Western medicine finds difficult to treat. This authoritative book provides a comprehensive introduction to Ayurvedic medicine for the practitioner or student. The authors describe the foundations and principles of Maharishi Ayurveda in detail, and drawing on the latest scientific research into its efficacy, show what it can offer clinical medicine in the West. Topics covered include pathogenesis and diagnosis, diet and digestion, toxic build-up, purification therapies, the effects of the emotions and thinking on health, and the practical applications of Transcendental Meditation. This updated and expanded second edition describes specific Ayurvedic treatments for a range of common medical conditions, and also contains information on more general Vedic approaches to health and wellbeing. This book will provide complementary and alternative health practitioners with a solid base on which to build their understanding of Maharishi Ayurveda, and will also be of interest to mainstream health professionals wishing to learn more about the efficacy of this ancient healthcare system.

Discover the principles, therapies, and collected knowledge of a venerable ancient healing system. Ayurveda provides a threefold approach to wellness: 1.) Preventive a concept of health care and personal hygiene meant for every person; 2.) Psychological an approach to dealing with essential and challenging aspects of life; 3.) Curative a medical science with a holistic view of health and disease, offering extensive methods of cure. This comprehensive reference to a natural system of medicine will guide you on your way to addressing specific health concerns and improving overall wellbeing.

Your soul is calling you to step fully into your purpose, your truth, the reason why you're here: your dharma. This book will guide you through the journey and lead you to a life of happiness, abundance, joyful service and fulfilment. Sahara Rose shares her unique approach to discovering your dharma through the Doshas (the Ayurvedic mind-body types) and the chakras (energy centres of the body). Take the 'What's Your Dharma Archetype?' quiz and use your Dharma Blueprint to unlock the code of what you're meant to do next, in your relationships, business and every facet of your life. Discovering your dharma is the most important work you can do. This is the perfect introduction to living in alignment for all spiritual seekers and anyone looking to become more self-aware.

A Peek into Vedic Wellness, as the name suggests, is a peek: a short but succinct initiation into the ancient dietary theory of Vedic wellness and spiritual healing, both for interested readers as well as those who are curious about holistic wellness in general. The book will introduce you to fundamental concepts for mind-body-soul alignment in a question-and-answer format that allows for easy comprehension of this 5,000-year-old medical science from India. A perfect primer for the author's other title, Vedic Transformation. This book contains specific information on dietary balance, stress reduction, improving digestion, and many other health benefits. This life-changing little book is a distinct, preliminary view into Ayurveda, spiritual healing, and Vedic guidance for mind-body-soul alignment that will whet every reader's appetite for knowledge!

By offering an empowering personal program of self-care in recovery, this book provides guidance for everyone affected by widespread modern 'addictiveness'. The book explores Ayurveda's understanding of both the problem of our 'one addiction process' and its solution. It offers holistic techniques that enhance any of the traditional recovery pathways and beyond any of the common diet/exercise dogma from mainstream media. It covers the stress/addictive tendencies of the doshic types, and links this to how stress affects metabolism, the main determinant of health. The program offered in the book is an integration of the philosophy, psychology and physical practices of Yoga and Ayurveda to help people shift their life trajectory. With Yoga of Recovery, author Durga Leela presents a complete resource for working with individuals recovering from addiction.

Enabling yoga teachers to use and integrate Ayurveda principles and practices in their teaching, Tarik Dervish offers practitioners the skills needed to adapt their classes, and deliver workshops and courses that will meet the needs of students throughout the changing seasons and stages of life. The book includes chapters on teaching asana, pranayama and yoga nidra with an ayurvedic approach, how to adapt to the seasons, integrate marma points and courses and lesson planning. Part of Singing Dragon's Yoga Teaching Guides series, Ayurveda in Yoga Teaching is essential for those wanting to deepen their understanding of yoga's sister science - including its authentic historical context - and incorporate Ayurvedic principles in yoga teaching and sequencing.