Until recently, traditional medical systems were
considered obscure, esoteric and shrouded in
mysticism.
But now the healing methods of the
East are not only gaining acceptance not just as
an alternative line of
treatment, but are also
being integrated into mainstream healthcare as
complementary systems.
Ayurveda: Ayurveda, literally meaning the science of life,
aims at healing the individual as a whole,
instead of merely at the molecular level. This
ancient healing system is based on the theory
that everything is composed of panchamahabhutas,
or the five basic elements (akaash, jal, vayu,
agni, dharti). The main source of our knowledge
of Ayurveda is the Atharva Veda, which dates
back to around 1200 BC.
Siddha: The basic principles and doctrines of Siddha are
similar to those of Ayurveda. The human body is
considered a conglomeration of three humors,
seven body tissues and waste products. Proper
consistency of these constituents in the body
ensures good health.
Unani: The Unani system of medicine originated in
Greece during 460-377 BC, and was brought to
India by the Arabs and Persians. Unani medicine
is based on the ‘humoral theory’ (relating to
four bodily fluids) with each humor leading to a
specific temperament in a human being. The Unani
system makes use of plants, minerals and animal
products as curative agents to re-establish the
person's original hum oral constitution.
Naturopathy: Popularly referred to as the drug-less treatment
of diseases, Naturopathy is based on the
practice of applying the simple laws of nature
to cure diseases. It pays particular attention
to balanced dietary and living habits, adopting
pacificator measures, and using natural
techniques such as hydrotherapy, cold packs, mud
packs, baths (water, oil & sun), massage, etc.
Yoga: Elements of yoga have been used in traditional
Indian medicine for thousands of years, though
yoga therapy in its present form is a mere 80
years old - created by the marriage of
traditional yoga with modern medicine. Yogic
therapy comprises a wide range of mind/body
practices, ranging from postural and breathing
exercises to deep relaxation and meditation for
promoting positive health and well-being as well
as helping particular medical conditions.
Homeopathy: Homeopathy lays emphasis on strengthening the
immune system and curing like with like.
Homeopathy today enjoys wide acceptability, both
here and abroad, because of its holistic and
intrinsic values, the low cost of medication
coupled with ease of administration and absence
of toxic side effects. An indication of its
popularity lies in the fact that the best
homeopathic medicines are manufactured by German
and American companies. In India there are over
1.5 lakh qualified homeopaths.
Tibetan Medicine: This ancient system of medicine recognizes three
forms of energy in the body -- flame, wind and
bile. An imbalance of these energies in any
organ leads to illness. Inherent in the
medicinal tradition is the use of precious pills
made of herbs and other natural substances and
prescribed according to the calendar.
Reiki: Reiki practitioners believe that we are born
with a certain level of energy, which gets
depleted through our daily activities. If the
energy is depleted at a rate faster than it can
be replenished, it leads to ill health. Reiki
attempts to increase the overall energy stores
of the body by activating the seven chakras.
Chiropracty: Chiropractic is a 5000-year-old non-invasive,
non-surgical approach for managing
ortho-neuro-skeletal disorders, problems of the
spine and other chronic disorders by restoring
normal body function. Circumventing surgery (in
most cases) cuts down recovery time and cost of
treatment virtually by half. Chiropractic is
quite popular in countries like USA, UK,
Australia and Germany.
