Medicine of the Gods: Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is an Asian medical system which has its beginnings in India during approximately the sixth century bce and thrives even to the present-day.

Medical ideas underpin a great deal of Eastern thought especially Tantrism, alchemy, yoga and the science of love. The book is not intended as a series of health tips or as a textbook for the clinical practice of medicine, which in the Ayurveda tradition requires at least seven years intensive training. The book is aimed at students and lovers of South Asian culture, perhaps also anthropologists and others with a need for a straightforward introduction to the core principles of another scientific tradition.

The author was for several years an advanced student in the department of Oriental studies of Oxford University where his teacher was the late Professor B K Matilal, one of the foremost experts on Asian rational thought and logic.

Praise for first edition:

‘The author's main purpose, introducing ancient Indian medical theory in a . . . trustworthy manner . . . while at the same time being intellectually challenging, is quite well served by this book.’ Rahul Peter Das in Traditional South Asian Medicine Vol 6 2001

Ayurveda is an Asian medical system which has its beginnings in India during approximately the sixth-century BCE and thrives even to the present-day. Medical ideas underpin a great deal of Eastern thought especially Tantrism, alchemy, yoga and the science of love. The book is not intended as a series of health tips or as a textbook for the clinical practice of medicine, which in the Ayurveda tradition requires at least seven years intensive training. The book is aimed at students and lovers of South Asian culture, perhaps also anthropologists and others with a need for a straightforward introduction to the core principles of another scientific tradition.

The author was for several years an advanced student in the department of Oriental studies of Oxford University where his teacher was the late Professor B K Matilal, one of the foremost experts on Asian rational thought and logic.

Praise for first edition:

‘The author's main purpose, introducing ancient Indian medical theory in a . . . trustworthy manner . . . while at the same time being intellectually challenging, is quite well served by this book.’ Rahul Peter Das in Traditional South Asian Medicine Vol 6 2001

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Medicine of the Gods: Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is an Asian medical system which has its beginnings in India during approximately the sixth century bce and thrives even to the present-day.

Medical ideas underpin a great deal of Eastern thought especially Tantrism, alchemy, yoga and the science of love. The book is not intended as a series of health tips or as a textbook for the clinical practice of medicine, which in the Ayurveda tradition requires at least seven years intensive training. The book is aimed at students and lovers of South Asian culture, perhaps also anthropologists and others with a need for a straightforward introduction to the core principles of another scientific tradition.

The author was for several years an advanced student in the department of Oriental studies of Oxford University where his teacher was the late Professor B K Matilal, one of the foremost experts on Asian rational thought and logic.

Praise for first edition:

‘The author's main purpose, introducing ancient Indian medical theory in a . . . trustworthy manner . . . while at the same time being intellectually challenging, is quite well served by this book.’ Rahul Peter Das in Traditional South Asian Medicine Vol 6 2001

Ayurveda is an Asian medical system which has its beginnings in India during approximately the sixth-century BCE and thrives even to the present-day. Medical ideas underpin a great deal of Eastern thought especially Tantrism, alchemy, yoga and the science of love. The book is not intended as a series of health tips or as a textbook for the clinical practice of medicine, which in the Ayurveda tradition requires at least seven years intensive training. The book is aimed at students and lovers of South Asian culture, perhaps also anthropologists and others with a need for a straightforward introduction to the core principles of another scientific tradition.

The author was for several years an advanced student in the department of Oriental studies of Oxford University where his teacher was the late Professor B K Matilal, one of the foremost experts on Asian rational thought and logic.

Praise for first edition:

‘The author's main purpose, introducing ancient Indian medical theory in a . . . trustworthy manner . . . while at the same time being intellectually challenging, is quite well served by this book.’ Rahul Peter Das in Traditional South Asian Medicine Vol 6 2001

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Medicine of the Gods: Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine

Medicine of the Gods: Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine

by Mogg Morgan
Medicine of the Gods: Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine

Medicine of the Gods: Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine

by Mogg Morgan

Paperback(UK ed.)

$20.00 
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Overview

Ayurveda is an Asian medical system which has its beginnings in India during approximately the sixth century bce and thrives even to the present-day.

Medical ideas underpin a great deal of Eastern thought especially Tantrism, alchemy, yoga and the science of love. The book is not intended as a series of health tips or as a textbook for the clinical practice of medicine, which in the Ayurveda tradition requires at least seven years intensive training. The book is aimed at students and lovers of South Asian culture, perhaps also anthropologists and others with a need for a straightforward introduction to the core principles of another scientific tradition.

The author was for several years an advanced student in the department of Oriental studies of Oxford University where his teacher was the late Professor B K Matilal, one of the foremost experts on Asian rational thought and logic.

Praise for first edition:

‘The author's main purpose, introducing ancient Indian medical theory in a . . . trustworthy manner . . . while at the same time being intellectually challenging, is quite well served by this book.’ Rahul Peter Das in Traditional South Asian Medicine Vol 6 2001

Ayurveda is an Asian medical system which has its beginnings in India during approximately the sixth-century BCE and thrives even to the present-day. Medical ideas underpin a great deal of Eastern thought especially Tantrism, alchemy, yoga and the science of love. The book is not intended as a series of health tips or as a textbook for the clinical practice of medicine, which in the Ayurveda tradition requires at least seven years intensive training. The book is aimed at students and lovers of South Asian culture, perhaps also anthropologists and others with a need for a straightforward introduction to the core principles of another scientific tradition.

The author was for several years an advanced student in the department of Oriental studies of Oxford University where his teacher was the late Professor B K Matilal, one of the foremost experts on Asian rational thought and logic.

Praise for first edition:

‘The author's main purpose, introducing ancient Indian medical theory in a . . . trustworthy manner . . . while at the same time being intellectually challenging, is quite well served by this book.’ Rahul Peter Das in Traditional South Asian Medicine Vol 6 2001


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781869928377
Publisher: Mandrake
Publication date: 09/21/2020
Series: Mandrake Ancient Science
Edition description: UK ed.
Pages: 148
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.32(d)

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 9

Ayurveda and the West 11

Another Way of Seeing 12

The Basis of Life 12

The ‘Five Elements’ (pañcamah€bh™ta) 18

The Gunas: Three Strands of the Mind 21

The Tissues of the Body 23

2 Health and the Origin of Disease 25

The Three Humour Theory 27

The Ecology of the Humours 31

The Indian Seasons and the Cycle of Humours and Tastes 33

Possible European Cycle of Humours and Tastes 35

The Functions of the Three Humours 37

3 Temperament and Constitution 39

The Unctuous or Watery Type

(shlesmala or kaphaja) 40

The Fiery Type (pittala) 42

The Air Type (vataja) 43

Mental Temperament 45

4 Common diseases of Ayurvedic medicine and their ancient antecedents 49

Diseases of the Vedic ‘system’ 53

I. The Yákshma/Takmán Complex of Diseases 53

1. Yákshma 53

2. J€y€nya 57

3. Kshetriy€ 57

4. Rápas (Disease) 57

5. Hriddyotá, Harimán 57

6. Balâsa (swellings) 58

7. Takmán 58

8. Kasa 59

II Other Internal Diseases 59

1. Amîvâ 59

2. Víshkandha-Sámskandha 59

3. Udára (Dropsy) 60

4. Únmadita and únmatta 60

5. Krími (Worms) 60

6. (Urine retention) 61

III External Diseases 61

1. (Fractures) 61

2. Haemorrhage, especially menorrhagia 61

3. Skin disorders 62

The New Diseases of Ayurvedic Times 63

Ayurvedic diseases and their possible social significance 63

1. Shosha (Consumption) 64

2. Prameha (Diabetes) 69

3. Tumours & Cysts 75

4. Leprosy 76

5. Epilepsy 78

6. Piles 78

7. Renal Calculus 80

Conclusion 81

5 Food 84

Sushruta’s catalogue of meats 84

Charaka’s catalogue of meats 88

Charaka’s catalogue of cereals 94

Rationality and Ayurvedic medicine 98

The formal analysis of taste 101

The Range of Ayurvedic experience 106

Conclusion 112

Appendix

Sushruta’s catalogue of meats 115

Charaka’s catalogue of meats 123

Bibliography 131

Index 143

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