Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a time-honored traditional system of medicine in India, which elucidates the origins of various ailments, imparts knowledge of life, and advocates the enhancement of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It is regarded as the fifth Veda, believed to be an upaveda of Atharvaveda. Numerous references to health, diseases, and their treatments, including the use of non-materialistic approaches like sunrays, fasting, mantras, etc., can be found in these Vedas. The comprehensive documentation of Ayurvedic knowledge can be traced back to texts such as 'Brahma Samhita,' 'Ágniveshatantra,' 'Susrut Samhita,' 'Bhela Samhita,' among others.

According to Ayurveda, good health is considered fundamental for achieving life's goals - Dharma (duties), Arth (finance), Kama (materialistic desires), and Moksha (salvation). Ayurveda emphasizes the significance of Tri-danda, a conscious combination of Satva (mind), Atma (real self), and Shareer (the body), which is essential for human existence, similar to how a tripod supports a table. This integrated approach has been instrumental in the enduring appeal of Ayurveda across the ages.

Ayurveda posits that the human body is composed of five basic elements, the Pancha Mahabhootas: Prithvi (earth), Jal (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air), and Akash (ether), along with the real self. These elements serve as the foundational components of Tridosha - the three groups of factors contributing to health and disease, known as Vata (ether + air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (earth + water). Ayurveda also elucidates the Saptadhatu, the seven tissue systems, and Mala, the metabolic end products.

Moreover, Ayurveda emphasizes the basic connection between individuals and nature, asserting that the human body is influenced by daily cosmic changes, seasons, and the environment. As a result, Ayurveda provides guidelines for daily regimens, seasonal routines, and dietary concepts to promote a healthy life. This underscores Ayurveda's holistic system approach, highlighting the interaction between different bodily systems and the interplay between the body and the environment.

Recognizing the constraints of printing in ancient times and its status as an applied science, Ayurvedic texts predominantly focus on practical aspects. One of Ayurveda's notable contributions to modern science is its understanding of 'Functional Anatomy' or Shareer, which holds significant potential for discoveries in System Biology.

Yoga & Naturopathy

Yoga:

The term "Yoga" originates from the Sanskrit word "yuj," meaning "to unite or integrate." Yoga, as a philosophy, revolves around the union of an individual's consciousness with the universal consciousness. Initially systematized by Maharshi Patanjali in the form of Yogsutra, Yoga is fundamentally a way of life. It encompasses eight key components, known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga: restraint (Yama), observance of austerity (Niyama), physical postures (Asana), breathing control (Pranayama), restraining of sense organs (Pratyahara), contemplation (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana), and deep meditation (Samadhi).

The practice of Yoga has the potential to elevate both social and personal behavior. It contributes to physical well-being by improving the circulation of oxygenated blood throughout the body, managing the functions of the sense organs, and fostering a sense of tranquility and serenity in the mind and spirit. Additionally, the discipline of Yoga has proven to be beneficial in preventing certain psychosomatic diseases, improving individual resistance, and enhancing the ability to cope with stressful situations. It serves as a promotive, preventive, rehabilitative, and curative intervention to enhance overall health status.

Yoga literature describes various postures aimed at improving health, preventing diseases, and aiding in the recovery from illnesses. Selecting and practicing physical postures judiciously and correctly is essential to derive the benefits of disease prevention, health promotion, and therapeutic use.

Recognizing the significance of Yoga, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014. Annually, the Prime Minister of India leads the nation in the celebration of International Yoga Day (IDY).

Naturopathy:

Naturopathy draws upon the healing traditions of various cultures, rooted in the principle of natural healing. It seamlessly integrates principles and practices into people's lifestyles, emphasizing a close connection with nature.

This cost-effective, non-pharmacological therapy employs natural materials to promote healthcare and healthy living. Naturopathy revolves around the theories of vitality, enhancing the body's self-healing capabilities, and adhering to principles of healthy living. It is a globally practiced and acknowledged system that focuses on health preservation and illness management.

Advocating harmony with nature across physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions, Naturopathy offers significant promotive, preventive, curative, and restorative potentials. The approach stimulates the body's inherent ability to recover by utilizing the five elements of nature – Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Ether. It calls for a return to nature, urging individuals to embrace a simple lifestyle in harmony with themselves, society, and the environment.

Naturopathy encourages "Better Health" through natural therapeutics, fasting, diet, yoga, and physical culture. Known for its effectiveness in chronic, allergic, autoimmune, degenerative, and stress-related disorders, Naturopathy operates from a holistic perspective. The practice emphasizes simple eating and living habits, incorporates purificatory measures, and utilizes hydrotherapy, cold packs, mud packs, baths, massages, fasting, and other natural methods.

Unani

Unani Medicine (Tibb.) is a holistic medical system offering comprehensive solutions for various conditions of the human body, encompassing preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare. Developed across different regions globally, this system integrates observations and experiments from various civilizations, with its fundamentals, diagnosis, and treatment modalities grounded in scientific principles.

The foundational framework of Unani Medicine is rooted in the Hippocratic theory of four Humors. According to this theory, any imbalance in the equilibrium of humors results in disease, and the treatment approach focuses on restoring this humoral equilibrium. Central to Unani philosophy is the belief in Medicatrix Naturae (Tabiat Mudabbira-i-Badan) as the supreme force governing physiological functions. It provides resistance against diseases and facilitates natural healing.

A pivotal principle in Unani Medicine is the concept of temperament (Mizäj), which categorizes human beings, diets, drugs, etc., into four qualitative types: hot and dry, hot and wet, cold and wet, and cold and dry. Diseases arise from a pathological shift in temperament, and treatment involves reversing this abnormal temperament to the normal state using drugs and diets of the opposite temperament.

The four humors (Akhlät) - blood (Dam), phlegm (Balgham), yellow bile (Safrä’), and black bile (Sawdä’) - are regarded as the essential liquid substances supporting biological processes in living organisms. These humors play a crucial role in life, nutrition, growth, sensation, movement, and reproduction. Human temperament is commonly identified by the dominant humor: sanguineous (Damwi), phlegmatic (Balghami), choleric (Safräwi), and melancholic (Sawdäwi). This classification extends to diets, drugs, environmental factors, etc.

The Unani system emphasizes the science of maintaining health (Hifzän-ISihhat), emphasizing the understanding and preservation of health in a positive and individualized manner. Various guidelines contribute to this approach, including Regimens for Seasons (Tadäbir-i Mavasim), Regimens for age groups (Tadäbir-i Asnän), Regimens for Pregnancy (Tadäbir-i Hamal), Regimens for Travelers (Tadäbir-i Musäfir), and others. Unani Medicine is a diverse and scientifically rooted medical system, encompassing ancient wisdom and contemporary understanding to provide a holistic approach to healthcare.

Siddha

The Siddha system of medicine is an ancient healing tradition in India, credited to eighteen Siddhars including figures like Agasthiyar, Thirumoolar, Bogar, and Patanjali. This system, recorded in the Tamil language, has evolved systematically with an emphasis on individualized treatment, considering factors such as patient characteristics, environment, age, sex, race, habits, mental framework, habitat, diet, appetite, physical condition, and physiological constitution during diagnosis. The examination involves observing the tongue, body color, speech, eyes, touch, stool, urine, naadi (pulse), and digestion status.

A distinctive feature of the Siddha system is its use of specially processed metals and minerals, like mercury, silver, arsenic, lead, and sulfur, in treating infectious diseases without side effects. It excels in providing effective therapy for conditions such as Psoriasis, Rheumatic disorders, Chronic liver disorders, Benign prostate hypertrophy, bleeding piles, peptic ulcers, and various non-psoriatic Dermatological disorders.

Varmam, a unique treatment in the Siddha system, involves applying oil and massage therapy to treat Vatha diseases. Yoga, introduced by Patanjali Muni among the Siddhars, is detailed in Siddha system medicine, proving effective in maintaining youthfulness and vitality.

Over the past six decades, Siddha medical education has seen continuous development, leading to the establishment of the National Institute of Siddha in Chennai. This apex Institute offers post-graduate teaching in eight specialties, leading to the M.D(S) Degree. The specializations include Maruthuvam (General Medicine), Pura Maruthuvam, Varma Maruthuvam, Siddher Yoga Maruthuvam, Kuzhanthai Maruthuvam (Paediatrics), Gunapadam (Pharmacology), Noi Nadal (Pathology), and Nanju Maruthuvam (Toxicology).

Sowa Rigpa

"Sowa-Rigpa," commonly known as Amchi medicine, stands as the traditional medicinal system in various Himalayan regions. Translating to 'Science of healing' or 'Knowledge of healing' in the Bhoti language, the practitioners are referred to as Amchis. Sowa-Rigpa traces its origins to Bhagwan Buddha in India, with the foundational textbook (rGyud-bZi/ Chatush Tantra) first taught near Bodh Gaya in Sudarshan Van. While rooted in Indian Ayurvedic fundamentals like Panch Maha Bhuta, Tri Dosh, and Sapt Dhatu, the philosophical underpinnings of Sowa-Rigpa are steeped in Buddhist principles.

In practice, Sowa-Rigpa extensively utilizes Himalayan plants, minerals, and natural resources. Functioning as a science, art, and philosophy, Sowa-Rigpa adopts a holistic approach to healthcare, emphasizing harmony and understanding between human beings and the universe or the environment. Diagnostic techniques such as pulse and urine examinations are specialized, aligning with the key Buddhist principles of altruism, karma, and ethics.

Homeopathy

"Homeopathy" emerged as a scientific system of drug therapeutics through the pioneering work of the German Physician, Dr. Christian Frederick Samuel Hahnemann, in 1805. Hahnemann's journey into Homoeopathy began when, while translating a medical treatise by Scottish physician and chemist, William Cullen, from English to German in 1790, he encountered a footnote attributing the fever-curing property of Cinchona to its astringent (decongestant) qualities.

Doubtful of Cullen's assertions regarding Cinchona's effectiveness in curing malaria, Hahnemann conducted self-experiments by repeatedly taking doses of cinchona tincture. To his surprise, he experienced symptoms such as fever, shivering, and joint pains, similar to those of malarial fever. Through a series of experiments, Hahnemann hypothesized that a substance causing specific symptoms in healthy individuals could also treat similar symptoms of diseases. This observation led to the coining of the term "homeopathy," derived from the Greek words ὅμοιος hómoios, meaning "-like," and πάθος páthos, meaning "suffering."

Based on this principle, Hahnemann formulated the key concept of Homoeopathy, known as the Law of Similars. He systematically developed this principle into an experimental science using inductive reasoning, involving exact observation, correct interpretation, rational explanation, and scientific construction. Homeopathy, under Hahnemann's guidance, evolved into a comprehensive and logical therapeutic approach.