Description
Ayurveda is a traditional healing system native to the Indian subcontinent. Contemporary practices derived from Ayurvedic traditions are now considered alternative medicine. Ayurveda is a discipline of the Upaveda, or "additional knowledge," from the Vedic tradition. The origin of Ayurveda is therefore found in the Atharvaveda. Several legends attribute the origin of Ayurveda to Dhanvantari (or Divodasa), who received it directly from Brahma. Herbal and mineral-based medicines are frequently used in Ayurvedic practices. Animal products such as milk, butter, and yogurt are also used in a number of Ayurvedic preparations. The origins of Ayurveda are uncertain, but proponents claim it developed in India over three thousand years ago. Ayurveda is originally based on ancient Sanskrit texts, the Charaka Samhita and the Susruta Samhita. The Charaka Samhita is primarily a long philosophical text, supplemented with a wealth of hygienic and medical information. The Susruta Samhita, on the other hand, is best known for its many detailed descriptions of surgical procedures. Despite the fact that these texts still form the foundation of Ayurveda, development has not stood still. Trade relations with China, contacts with Persia via the Mughal Empire (16th and 17th centuries), and later with England and the rest of the Western world led to frequent adaptations of Ayurvedic practices to the prevailing views on illness and health.
Ayurvedic treatments.
