Ayurveda

Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and a form of alternative medicine. The oldest known ayurvedic texts are the Suruta Samhit and the Charaka Samhit. These Classical Sanskrit encyclopedias of medicine are among the foundational and formally compiled works of ayurveda. By the medieval period, ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments. Current practices derived (or reportedly derived) from ayurvedic medicine are regarded as part of complementary and alternative medicine, and, along with siddha and Traditional Chinese medicine, form the basis for systems medicine. Safety concerns have been raised about Ayurveda; for instance, two U.S. studies found that about 20 percent of Ayurvedic Indian-manufactured patent medicines contained toxic levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic. Other concerns include the use of herbs containing toxic compounds and the lack of quality control in Ayurvedic facilities. In classical Sanskrit literature, Ayurveda was called "the science of eight components" (Sanskrit), a classification that became canonical for ayurveda. They are:

Kya-chikits: "cure of diseases affecting the body" (general medicine) Kaumra-bhtya "treatment of children" (paediatrics) halya-chikits Surgery, "removal of any substance which has entered the body (as extraction of darts, of splinters, etc.)" lkya-tantra "cure of diseases of the eye or ear etc. by sharp instruments" (ophthalmology/ENT[dubious discuss]) Bhta-vidy "treatment of mental diseases supposed to be produced by demoniacal influence" (demonology / exorcism/psychiatry[dubious discuss]) Agada-tantra "doctrine of antidotes" (toxicology) Rasayana-tantra "doctrine of elixirs" Vjkaraa tantra "doctrine of aphrodisiacs

Principles and terminology

Several philosophers in India combined religion and traditional medicinenotable examples being that of Hinduism and ayurveda. Shown in the image is the philosopher Nagarjunaknown chiefly for his doctrine of the Madhyamaka (middle path)who wrote medical works The Hundred Prescriptions and The Precious Collection, among others. The three doas and the 5 elements from which they are composed.Since Ayurveda is really the generic term for "traditional medicine" in India, actual practice may be widely divergent. Descriptively, one may either focus on the historical foundation from the evidence of the earliest ayurvedic texts of the early centuries of the Common Era, or alternatively a description may take an ethnographic approach and focus on the forms of traditional medicine prevalent across India today. Mahbhta Dosha Guna Hinduism Buddhism

History
Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda or "auxiliary knowledge". It is treated as a supplement or appendix of the Vedas themselves, usually either the Rigveda or the Atharvaveda. The samhita of the Atharvaveda itself contains 114 hymns or incantations for the magical cure of diseases. There are various legendary accounts of the "origin of ayurveda", e.g. that the science was received by Dhanvantari (or Divodasa) from Brahma Tradition also holds that a lost text written by the sage Agnivesh, a student of the sage Bharadwaja, influenced the writings of ayurveda.

Scientific appraisal
In studies in mice, the leaves of Terminalia arjuna have been shown to have analgesic and antiinflammatory properties. As a traditional medicine, many ayurveda products have not been tested in rigorous scientific studies and clinical trials. In India, research in ayurveda is undertaken by the statutory body of the Central Government, the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), through a national [52] network of research institutes. A systematic review of ayurveda treatments for rheumatoid arthritis concluded that there was insufficient evidence, as most of the trials were not done properly, and the one [53] high-quality trial showed no benefits. A review of ayurveda and cardiovascular disease concluded that the evidence for ayurveda was not convincing, though some herbs seemed promising. Two varieties of Salvia have been tested in small trials; one trial provided evidence that Salvia lavandulifolia (Spanish sage) may improve word recall in young adults, and another provided evidence that Salvia officinalis (Common sage) may improve symptoms in Alzheimer's patients. Many plants used as rasayana (rejuvenation) medications are potent antioxidants. Neem appears to have beneficial pharmacological properties. Turmeric and curcumin have shown effectiveness in preventing and treating cancer.

Cosmetics in ayurveda

Ayurveda being the Science of life has also emphasized upon its importance by saying, good looks help in boosting the psychological state of mind and makes person feel good about oneself. It has described very systematically, the measures to attain it,maintain it and also to enhance it through proper diet and nutrition, serenity of mind,and other specific measures to take care of different aspects of beauty like :

Complexion Hair care Care of Eyes Foot care Well proportionate growth of body parts Most importantly the post surgical or post pregnancy or post inflammatory conditions of different body parts involved like scratch marks Post inflammatory hypo/hyper pigmentation Post surgical marks,loss of normal texture and body contour are all taken care in Ayurveda with different local medicaments to improve the aesthetic value of the parts involved.

Beauty Management through Ayurveda: Diet and nutrition:

Intake of a balanced diet in terms of nutrients as well as physical form,and its proper digestion and assimilation in the body so that it can nourish all the parts of body to give rise to a healthy body and hence healthy appearance is emphasized in Ayurveda. Since,skin reflects the health of a person, it cannot look healthy and beautiful unless it is properly nourished.

Mode of life:
Regular cleansing of body both internal and external as well as of mind (through meditation) helps clear up the toxins of internal as well as external environment along with some toning up procedures for body and skin like regular physical exercise yogasanas (specific body postures),body massage,facial massage,foot massage also enhance the beauty.

Usefull plants f or cosmetic product in AYURVEDA

TULSI

AELOVERA

AMLA

TERMERIC(HALDI)

NEEM

SHIKAKAI

BRAMHI

REETHA

ROSE