The main classical Ayurveda texts begin with accounts of the transmission of medical knowledge from the Gods to sages, and then to human physicians.
In Sushruta Samhita Sushruta wrote that Dhanvantari, Hindu god of Ayurveda, incarnated himself as a mythical king of Varanasi and taught medicine to a group of physicians, including Sushruta Ayurveda therapies have varied and evolved over more than two millennia Therapies are typically based on complex herbal compounds, minerals and metal substances (perhaps under the influence of early Indian alchemy or rasa shastra)
Ancient Ayurveda texts also taught surgical techniques, including rhinoplasty, kidney stone extractions, sutures, and the extraction of foreign objects
Ayurveda names three elemental substances, the doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and states that a balance of the doshas results in health, while imbalance results in disease
The Treatments
SIRODHARA "Siro” means “head” and “dhara” is the continuous flow of liquid. This treatment is mainly applied in cases of insomnia, memory loss, headache, mental tension and certain skin diseases Sirodhara is the best treatment for diseases of the nervous system and for emotional problems such as chronic depression and anxiety (panic) attacks. It is also recommended for chronic headaches, as well as ear, nose and throat problems, and is especially useful for pain management. During this treatment there is a constant flow of either specific oils or herbal preparations on the forehead. Medicated oil, medicated butter milk, milk allowed to freely flow over the upper part of the fore head continuously for specific periods This process stimulates the part of the brain known as the pineal gland. Among its other functions, the pineal gland produces serotonin and melatonin. These hormones play an important role in each person's emotional balance, and melatonin is also known to have an anti-aging quality
ABHYANGAM Special type of oil massage in which strokes are given according to the diseases for 45 minutes per day for 14 days. This treatment is very useful for Obesity, especially for Diabetic gangerene (a condition due to lack of blood circulation in the extremities of the body)
YONI PRAKSHALANAM Herbal oils and infusions are introduced into the vagina. This treatment helps alleviate gynaecological disorders and has a purifying effect throughout the genital region
UDVARTHANAM In this treatment, special herbal powders are applied to the body in a synchronised massage by 2 therapists for 30-45 minutes daily for a period of 14-28 days. This treatment is also known as “powder massage”. It is a good remedy for overweight, hemi- and tetraplegia, skin diseases, poor circulation and other Kapha disorder
SNEHAPANAM Literally this means the oral intake of medical oils or ghee. The quantity is steadily increased in the course of treatment that usually takes 8-12 days. Snehapanam serves both as a treatment in its own right and as preparation for a course of purification. This treatment is very effective against osteoarthritis, psoriasis, chronic constipation and haemorrhoids etc
UROVASTHI Like Kativasthi, special warm oil is applied and allowed to act for 45 minutes – applied in this case to the thorax. Urovasthi is effective against asthma and other complaints of the respiratory organs, heart disease and muscular pain in the chest region
KATIVASTHI In this treatment, specially prepared warm medicinal oils are applied to the lower back. There they are contained in a ring of herbal dough and are allowed to act for 45-60 minutes Kativasthi is a very good treatment for all kinds of backache and spinal problem
