Ayurveda Therapy
Ayurveda means 'Knowledge of Life'. This system of medicine is derived from philosophical theories propounded in India over 2,000 years ago. More than being a system of treatment this system's thrust is the prevention of disease, through a harmony in body composition. The basic concept of ayurveda is that the body is composed of three principles: pittha, kapha and vatha. These are called the tridoshas. Each dosha is located in a certain organ of the body and is a combination of the five natural resources (earth, fire, water, air and space or ether). Depending on the predominance of a particular dosha, an individual falls into a particular character type and is prone to particular types of diseases. Depending on the analysis of the patient type, ayurveda advises a particular diet, treatment and care. There are different types of treatments in ayurveda.

Given below are some of the herbs used in ayurveda medication:

• Distribution:  A stout herb, 1.5 m. High, grows in temperate and alpine western Himalayas at an altitude of 1,500-4, 200m.  
• Parts used: Roots and whole plant.  
• Properties: The roots are said to be expectorant and resolvent of indurations. In veterinary medicine, the root is used as a tonic and stomachic. The whole plant is used in Vataroga.

Mesua ferrea

• Distribution:   A medium sized or large evergreen tree commonly found in forest of eastern Himalayas, Bengal, Assam, eastern and Western ghats and Andaman Islands ascending up to an altitude of 
  1,500 m.  
• Parts used: Whole plant.  
• Properties: The bark is used as an astringent in combination with ginger, as a sudorific. The leaves and flowers are used in snake bite and scorpion sting. Flower buds are useful in dysentery. The flowers are astringent, stomachic, expectorant and are given (with butter and sugar) in bleeding piles and burning feet. Unripe fruits are used for their sudorific effect. The seed oil is used externally for cutaneous affections and as an embrocation in rheumatism. The leaves are applied to the head in severe colds.

Nardostachys jatamansi  

• Distribution: An erect perennial herb, 10-60 cm. high, with long stout woody rootstock found in Alpine Himalayas at 3,500 to 5,000 m. extending eastwards from Punjab to Sikkim and Bhutan.  
• Parts used: Rhizomes.
• Properties: The root is considered aromatic, bitter tonic, antipasmodic, deobstruent , stimulant, antiseptic diuretic and emmenagogue. It is also used in epilepsy hysteria, chorea, convulsions and palpitation of the heart. Its tincture is used in intestinal colic. Oil from the root is said to promote the growth and blackness of hair. It is used in leprosy and in combination with sesamum oil as a sedative. It is also used in scorpion-sting. The decoction of the root is used in mental disorders, insomnia, diseases of blood and circulatory system.

The plant is used by tribals (Santals) in madness, epilepsy, unconsciousness after child birth, convulsions, small-pox, ulcers, cholera, dry cough and bronchitis. 

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

• Distribution: A large shrub or a small tree, up to 10 m high, occurring wild in the sub-Himalayan region, Madhya Pradesh and southwards to Godavari. It is cultivated in gardens for its fragnant flowers.  
• Parts used: Leaves, flowers, seed and bark.  
• Properties: The leaves are used in fever, rheumatism and as an antimode for reptile venoms. Fresh juice is given with honey in chronic fever. The decoction of the leaves is recommended as a specify remedy for obstinate sciatica. The expressed juice of the leaves is a laxative, diaphoretic, cholagogue, mild bitter tonic and a remedy for intestinal worms in children. Leaves rubbed with water and ginger are used in obstinate intermittent fever. The bark is expectorant. The powdered seeds are used as an application for dandruff and other scalp conditions. The bark in combination with Arjun bark (Terminalia arjuna) is considered to be useful in internal injuries and healing wounds including fractured bones. The plant is used by tribals (Santals) in snake bite, and bites of wild animals like the jackal and dog emaciation, cachexyia, cancer, sores, ulcers, dysentery and menorrhagia.  

Nardostachys jatamansi  

• Distribution: An erect perennial herb, 10-60 cm. high, with long stout woody rootstock found in Alpine Himalayas at 3,500 to 5,000 m. extending eastwards from Punjab to Sikkim and Bhutan.  
• Parts used: Rhizomes.
• Properties: The root is considered aromatic, bitter tonic, antipasmodic, deobstruent , stimulant, antiseptic diuretic and emmenagogue. It is also used in epilepsy hysteria, chorea, convulsions and palpitation of the heart. Its tincture is used in intestinal colic. Oil from the root is said to promote the growth and blackness of hair. It is used in leprosy and in combination with sesamum oil as a sedative. It is also used in scorpion-sting. The decoction of the root is used in mental disorders, insomnia, diseases of blood and circulatory system.

The plant is used by tribals (Santals) in madness, epilepsy, unconsciousness after child birth, convulsions, small-pox, ulcers, cholera, dry cough and bronchitis.  

Ocimum sanctum  

• Distribution: An erect, hairy annual herb, found throughout in India, up to an altitude of 1,800 m in the Himalayas, cultivated also in temples and gardens.  

• Parts used: Leaves, seeds and roots.  

• Properties: Dry leaves are used in ozaena (offensive discharge from the nose) and fungal infections in the form of a snuff. The juice of leaves is diaphoretic, antiperiodic and expectorant and used in catarrhal bronchitis. It also relieves earache and use in skin diseases. Infusions of leaves is used in gastric and hepatic disorders. Juice of fresh leaves, flowers tops and the slender roots are considered to be good antidotes for snake bite and scorpion sting. Seeds are demulcent and used in genito-urninary system disorders. Decoction of the root s in diaphoretic and is given in malarial fever whereas the fresh roots, stem leaves are applied locally in case of mosquito bites. Tribals (Santals) use the plant in fever, dropsy and anasarca, hemiplegia, vomiting, constipation, cholera, cough, postnatal complaints, haemorrhagic septicaemia and dog bite.

Oldenlandia auricularia  

• Distribution : A prostrate or suberect annual, grows wild in western ghats and North-eastern parts in India.

• Parts used: Leaves.

• Properties: Leaves in the form of extract or decoction are used in diarrhoea, dysentery, colitis; also used as an emollient application to abscesses and as a salve for wounds, also said to be useful  in deafness.

Picrorhiza kurroa

• Distribution: A perennial herb, found in Alpine Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim at altitude of  2,700-500m.  

• Parts used: Root.  

• Properties: The plant is used as a bitter tonic, antiperiodic and cholagogue. Roots are stomachic, used in dyspepsia and fever; also used in snake-bite and scorpion sting and in purgative preparations. The root is also used in diseases of liver and spleen including jaundice and anaemia.

Piper Longum  

• Distribution: A slender aromatic climber with perennial woody roots occurring in the hotter parts of India, western ghats, central Himalayas to Assam, Khasi and Mikirhilas of Bengal.  

• Parts used: Fruit and root.  

• Properties: Unripe  fruit is used as an alternative and tonic. A decoction of immature fruit and roots is used in chronic bronchitis, cough and cold. Fruits and roots are used in palsy, gout, rheumatism and lumbago. Fruit is vermifuge and also used after child birth to check post-partum hemorrhage. The fruit is also used as a sedative in insomnia and epilepsy; as a cholagogue in bile duct and gall bladder obstruction, as an emmenagogue and abortifacient. It forms one of the ingredients in various compound preparations used for asthma, anorexia, piles, dyspepsia and also in snuffs used in coma and drowsiness. A compound preparation of p. Longum is also said to be a good remedy for leucoderma. The plant is considered by tribals (Santals) to be useful in splenic disorder, cholera, dysentery, cough and bronchitis, asthma, consumption, puerperal fever and diarrhoea.

how to take care while preparing ayurvedic medicine?
Example:
Nirmala had a problem of asthma since childhood but last month. It had aggravated her breathing phenomenon. She used to require one inhaler in a month but now she is using 3 inhalers despite no respite.

The consulting doctor advised Nirmala to use a peak flow-meter (instrument to measure asthma) regularly and measure it. By regular record she had come to know that after working in the kitchen, her respiratory peak flow rate got reduced while the problem of asthma increased.

Curiosity:  

• What aggravated asthma of Nirmala? 
• How problem was solved?

A detailed family history has revealed that Nirmala's son Pintu has stomach ache, and for which "Vaid Ji" prescribed him ayurvedic medicine "Kadha". "Kadha" had a typical odour which when used affected Nirmala's asthma. It was noticed later when Nirmala stopped preparing "Kadha", within 5-7 days she become normal & shown no sign of asthma.

Expert Comments:

Whenever Nirmala prepared the "kadha" medicine for Pintu, its volatiles with pungent smell spread in the kitchen room. These fumes when inhaled by Nirmala, her respiratory tract got affected and simultaneously increased her asthmatic problem. This was one of the reasons while preparing "Kadha" Nirmala had cough. If a patient of asthma has cough during any activity of work it indicates the possibility of that activity as a precipitating cause of asthma. The doctor says, to avoid asthma Nirmala should have stopped preparing "Kadha", or to adopt one of the following measures: 

• Let someone else in the family prepare it.
• Use a face mask while preparing it.
• Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen.

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