Author: Advait
Publisher: Advait
ISBN:
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 43
Book Description
The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Ayurveda Have you been searching for proven natural remedies for Achieving Everlasting Health Holistically??? Has your search lead you to Ayurveda??? But, you don't know where to start and are waiting to be initiated into the Amazing world of Ayurvedic Healing....Then this book is for you. Discover :: Ayurveda 101 - Ayurveda Basics for The Absolute Beginner This Book will teach you everything you need to know about Ayurveda as a Beginner. Here's a sneak peak at the contents of the book; #Origin of Ayurveda #Ashtaanga Veda - The Eight branches of Ayurveda #Panch Maha Bhuta’s - The Five Fundamental Elements #The Three Dosha’s and Your Prakriti - Vata – Pitta – Kapha #The Tri-Dosha test for determining your Prakriti #Sapta-Dhatu - The Seven Body Tissues #Jathar-Agni - The Digestive Fire #Trayodasha Vega - The 13 Natural Urge’s
Ayurveda 101
Author: Advait
Publisher: Advait
ISBN:
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 43
Book Description
The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Ayurveda Have you been searching for proven natural remedies for Achieving Everlasting Health Holistically??? Has your search lead you to Ayurveda??? But, you don't know where to start and are waiting to be initiated into the Amazing world of Ayurvedic Healing....Then this book is for you. Discover :: Ayurveda 101 - Ayurveda Basics for The Absolute Beginner This Book will teach you everything you need to know about Ayurveda as a Beginner. Here's a sneak peak at the contents of the book; #Origin of Ayurveda #Ashtaanga Veda - The Eight branches of Ayurveda #Panch Maha Bhuta’s - The Five Fundamental Elements #The Three Dosha’s and Your Prakriti - Vata – Pitta – Kapha #The Tri-Dosha test for determining your Prakriti #Sapta-Dhatu - The Seven Body Tissues #Jathar-Agni - The Digestive Fire #Trayodasha Vega - The 13 Natural Urge’s
Publisher: Advait
ISBN:
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 43
Book Description
The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Ayurveda Have you been searching for proven natural remedies for Achieving Everlasting Health Holistically??? Has your search lead you to Ayurveda??? But, you don't know where to start and are waiting to be initiated into the Amazing world of Ayurvedic Healing....Then this book is for you. Discover :: Ayurveda 101 - Ayurveda Basics for The Absolute Beginner This Book will teach you everything you need to know about Ayurveda as a Beginner. Here's a sneak peak at the contents of the book; #Origin of Ayurveda #Ashtaanga Veda - The Eight branches of Ayurveda #Panch Maha Bhuta’s - The Five Fundamental Elements #The Three Dosha’s and Your Prakriti - Vata – Pitta – Kapha #The Tri-Dosha test for determining your Prakriti #Sapta-Dhatu - The Seven Body Tissues #Jathar-Agni - The Digestive Fire #Trayodasha Vega - The 13 Natural Urge’s
Ayurveda
Author: Bālakr̥shṇa (Ācārya)
Publisher: Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.
ISBN: 9788189235567
Category : Medicine, Ayurvedic
Languages : en
Pages : 252
Book Description
Publisher: Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.
ISBN: 9788189235567
Category : Medicine, Ayurvedic
Languages : en
Pages : 252
Book Description
Modern Ayurveda
Author: Ali Cramer
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 164152524X
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 324
Book Description
Ancient wisdom for balancing busy modern lives. Ayurveda is an ancient South Asian system of holistic health and wisdom that's been practiced throughout the world for thousands of years. It teaches us to live in harmony with the world around us by balancing our naturally-occurring physical and mental tendencies with the limitations of our lives. Modern Ayurveda introduces you to the basics of the Ayurvedic way of eating and lifestyle choices, with everything from recipes and morning meditations to daily routines, personalized yoga practices, and more. Every recommendation in this book is designed to make Ayurveda doable and accessible for busy people today. You will discover your dosha — the particular type of energy that governs your natural tendencies — and how to work with it for optimum well-being in body and mind. Modern Ayurveda offers: An ever-evolving way of being—Build your own flexible program of complete self-care on a foundation of small actions. 7-day plans—Kickstart your journey into the Ayurveda way with a 1-week activity and eating plan for your dosha. What's your type?—Take the test to find out whether your dosha type is Kapha (strong, honest, nurturing), Pitta (athletic, charismatic, authoritative), or Vata (willowy, spontaneous, visionary). Ayurveda will empower you to make simple changes that fit easily into your everyday life.
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 164152524X
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 324
Book Description
Ancient wisdom for balancing busy modern lives. Ayurveda is an ancient South Asian system of holistic health and wisdom that's been practiced throughout the world for thousands of years. It teaches us to live in harmony with the world around us by balancing our naturally-occurring physical and mental tendencies with the limitations of our lives. Modern Ayurveda introduces you to the basics of the Ayurvedic way of eating and lifestyle choices, with everything from recipes and morning meditations to daily routines, personalized yoga practices, and more. Every recommendation in this book is designed to make Ayurveda doable and accessible for busy people today. You will discover your dosha — the particular type of energy that governs your natural tendencies — and how to work with it for optimum well-being in body and mind. Modern Ayurveda offers: An ever-evolving way of being—Build your own flexible program of complete self-care on a foundation of small actions. 7-day plans—Kickstart your journey into the Ayurveda way with a 1-week activity and eating plan for your dosha. What's your type?—Take the test to find out whether your dosha type is Kapha (strong, honest, nurturing), Pitta (athletic, charismatic, authoritative), or Vata (willowy, spontaneous, visionary). Ayurveda will empower you to make simple changes that fit easily into your everyday life.
Handbook of Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda
Author: Bridgette Shea
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1620556170
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 329
Book Description
A comprehensive reference tool for maximizing healing of the mind, body, and spirit through a holistic synergy of Chinese medicine and Ayurveda • Details the foundational principles of each tradition and the many concepts they share, such as qi and prana, meridians and nadis, and energy centers and chakras • Provides tools for self-assessment including a primer on tongue diagnosis and a mental, emotional, and physical constitutional questionnaire • Offers breathing exercises, dietary regimens, herbal recommendations, and guides for detoxification, including safe and gentle at-home cleansing Chinese medicine and Ayurveda are two of the oldest healing systems in use today. Each is a complete art, in and of itself, and has profoundly contributed to the health and well-being of millions of people around the world. Drawing on their shared roots and spiritual principles, Bridgette Shea, L.Ac., MAcOM, shows how these two practices integrate seamlessly, with the two traditions’ individual strengths harmonizing to form a practical basis for prevention, wellness, detoxification, and treatment. The author explains the foundational principles of both Chinese medicine and Ayurveda in detail, providing the reader with a working understanding of both disciplines. She examines shared concepts such as qi and prana, meridians and nadis, and energy centers and chakras. She explores the strengths of each practice, such as the clinical efficiency of diagnosis and the use of acupuncture for pain relief, improving fertility, and stress reduction in Chinese medicine and the dietary, detoxification, and spiritual guidance of Ayurveda, including the detox branch of Ayurveda known as Panchakarma. Moving beyond theory into practical application, she explores the Elements, known as the Five Phases and the Panchamahabhutas, and how they affect our well-being. She provides tools for self-assessment including a primer on tongue diagnosis and a mental, emotional, and physical constitutional questionnaire. Offering treatment and prevention strategies that draw from both disciplines, she encourages the reader to implement an integrated practice of these two systems in daily life or clinical practice. She details breathing exercises, dietary regimens, herbal recommendations, and guides for detoxification, including safe and gentle home cleanses, all rooted in the holistic synergy between Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Sharing case studies that highlight the interconnectedness of these approaches, Shea provides a comprehensive guide for self-healing of body, mind, and spirit and a practitioner’s resource to cross-reference complex questions with respect to both healing traditions.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1620556170
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 329
Book Description
A comprehensive reference tool for maximizing healing of the mind, body, and spirit through a holistic synergy of Chinese medicine and Ayurveda • Details the foundational principles of each tradition and the many concepts they share, such as qi and prana, meridians and nadis, and energy centers and chakras • Provides tools for self-assessment including a primer on tongue diagnosis and a mental, emotional, and physical constitutional questionnaire • Offers breathing exercises, dietary regimens, herbal recommendations, and guides for detoxification, including safe and gentle at-home cleansing Chinese medicine and Ayurveda are two of the oldest healing systems in use today. Each is a complete art, in and of itself, and has profoundly contributed to the health and well-being of millions of people around the world. Drawing on their shared roots and spiritual principles, Bridgette Shea, L.Ac., MAcOM, shows how these two practices integrate seamlessly, with the two traditions’ individual strengths harmonizing to form a practical basis for prevention, wellness, detoxification, and treatment. The author explains the foundational principles of both Chinese medicine and Ayurveda in detail, providing the reader with a working understanding of both disciplines. She examines shared concepts such as qi and prana, meridians and nadis, and energy centers and chakras. She explores the strengths of each practice, such as the clinical efficiency of diagnosis and the use of acupuncture for pain relief, improving fertility, and stress reduction in Chinese medicine and the dietary, detoxification, and spiritual guidance of Ayurveda, including the detox branch of Ayurveda known as Panchakarma. Moving beyond theory into practical application, she explores the Elements, known as the Five Phases and the Panchamahabhutas, and how they affect our well-being. She provides tools for self-assessment including a primer on tongue diagnosis and a mental, emotional, and physical constitutional questionnaire. Offering treatment and prevention strategies that draw from both disciplines, she encourages the reader to implement an integrated practice of these two systems in daily life or clinical practice. She details breathing exercises, dietary regimens, herbal recommendations, and guides for detoxification, including safe and gentle home cleanses, all rooted in the holistic synergy between Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Sharing case studies that highlight the interconnectedness of these approaches, Shea provides a comprehensive guide for self-healing of body, mind, and spirit and a practitioner’s resource to cross-reference complex questions with respect to both healing traditions.
Ayurveda
Author: Sahara Rose Ketabi
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1465471111
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 407
Book Description
“A must-read for anyone coming to Ayurveda for the first time or as a readable brush-up for all. Sahara offers a contemporary explanation of Ayurvedic wisdom that resonates with today’s readers.”-Deepak Chopra Discover your Ayurvedic Dosha (mind-body type) and find foods, self-care practices, yoga poses, and meditations that are tailored to your unique needs. Best-selling author Sahara Rose Ketabi makes Ayurveda accessible with this contemporary guide to the world’s oldest health system. Originating in India over 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga. It’s the age-old secret to longevity, digestive health, mental clarity, beauty, and balance that’s regaining popularity today for its tried-and-trued methods. Sahara Rose revitalizes ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with a modern approach and explains how adjusting the timing of your meals; incorporating self-care practices such as dry-brushing, oil-pulling and tongue-scraping; eating the correct foods for your digestive type; and practicing the right yoga and meditation practices for your unique personality will radically enhance your health, digestion, radiance, intuition, and bliss. With Idiot’s Guides: Ayurveda, you will: • Discover your unique Dosha and learn how it is reflected in your physiology, metabolism, digestion, personality, and even in your dreams. • Learn how your body’s needs change according to the season, environment, and time of day • Find ways to regain luster, passion and flow in your life • Enjoy easy-to-make, plant-based recipes • Establish an Ayurvedic morning and nighttime ritual for optimal balance • Learn how to balance your chakras according to your Dosha • Use Ayurvedic herbs and spices to heal digestive issues, skin problems, hormonal imbalance, and other ailments With plenty of fun facts, holistic humor, and sacred knowledge from Sahara that will help you seamlessly integrate Ayurveda into your lifestyle.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1465471111
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 407
Book Description
“A must-read for anyone coming to Ayurveda for the first time or as a readable brush-up for all. Sahara offers a contemporary explanation of Ayurvedic wisdom that resonates with today’s readers.”-Deepak Chopra Discover your Ayurvedic Dosha (mind-body type) and find foods, self-care practices, yoga poses, and meditations that are tailored to your unique needs. Best-selling author Sahara Rose Ketabi makes Ayurveda accessible with this contemporary guide to the world’s oldest health system. Originating in India over 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga. It’s the age-old secret to longevity, digestive health, mental clarity, beauty, and balance that’s regaining popularity today for its tried-and-trued methods. Sahara Rose revitalizes ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with a modern approach and explains how adjusting the timing of your meals; incorporating self-care practices such as dry-brushing, oil-pulling and tongue-scraping; eating the correct foods for your digestive type; and practicing the right yoga and meditation practices for your unique personality will radically enhance your health, digestion, radiance, intuition, and bliss. With Idiot’s Guides: Ayurveda, you will: • Discover your unique Dosha and learn how it is reflected in your physiology, metabolism, digestion, personality, and even in your dreams. • Learn how your body’s needs change according to the season, environment, and time of day • Find ways to regain luster, passion and flow in your life • Enjoy easy-to-make, plant-based recipes • Establish an Ayurvedic morning and nighttime ritual for optimal balance • Learn how to balance your chakras according to your Dosha • Use Ayurvedic herbs and spices to heal digestive issues, skin problems, hormonal imbalance, and other ailments With plenty of fun facts, holistic humor, and sacred knowledge from Sahara that will help you seamlessly integrate Ayurveda into your lifestyle.
A Handbook of Common Medicinal Plants Used in Ayurveda
Author: Dr. Bharti Chaudhry
Publisher: Kojo Press
ISBN: 8193380576
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 113
Book Description
Medicinal plants have long been used in traditional cultures all over the world and are increasingly becoming popular as natural alternatives to synthetic medicines. The high cost and side-effects of modern drugs, multiple drug-resistance and lack of curative treatment for chronic diseases has rekindled interest in the traditional systems of medicine. Ayurveda is the oldest and most widely practiced traditional system of India, known for its preventive, restorative and holistic mode of treatment. Many medicinal plants used in Ayurveda are effective against many chronic diseases of skin, hepatic disorders, rheumatic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, respiratory ailments, cognitive disorders and other immunological and lifestyle diseases. The traditional uses of many medicinal plants have been scientifically authenticated by several experimental studies on model animals, human cell lines and clinical trials. The handbook provides illustrated descriptions of 30 common medicinal plants used in Ayurveda, including botanical names, names of the family, common English and Hindi names, the plant parts used, brief description of the plants, major phytochemicals, therapeutic potential and medicinal uses. The introductory chapter deals with the importance of medicinal plants in Traditional systems of medicine and gives a brief overview of the concepts and terminology of Ayurveda system of medicine. A special feature is a glossary that defines the medical terms that have been used in the book for easy comprehension. The handbook provides the reader valuable information about the traditional as well as current uses of selected medicinal plants. It is addressed to undergraduate and postgraduate students of botany, teachers, academicians, researchers, practitioners of traditional and alternative medicine and all those interested in herbal medicine. The book will generate interest in the rich diversity of medicinal plants used in the Ayurveda system of medicine and the importance of preventive, holistic healing in management of health and disease.
Publisher: Kojo Press
ISBN: 8193380576
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 113
Book Description
Medicinal plants have long been used in traditional cultures all over the world and are increasingly becoming popular as natural alternatives to synthetic medicines. The high cost and side-effects of modern drugs, multiple drug-resistance and lack of curative treatment for chronic diseases has rekindled interest in the traditional systems of medicine. Ayurveda is the oldest and most widely practiced traditional system of India, known for its preventive, restorative and holistic mode of treatment. Many medicinal plants used in Ayurveda are effective against many chronic diseases of skin, hepatic disorders, rheumatic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, respiratory ailments, cognitive disorders and other immunological and lifestyle diseases. The traditional uses of many medicinal plants have been scientifically authenticated by several experimental studies on model animals, human cell lines and clinical trials. The handbook provides illustrated descriptions of 30 common medicinal plants used in Ayurveda, including botanical names, names of the family, common English and Hindi names, the plant parts used, brief description of the plants, major phytochemicals, therapeutic potential and medicinal uses. The introductory chapter deals with the importance of medicinal plants in Traditional systems of medicine and gives a brief overview of the concepts and terminology of Ayurveda system of medicine. A special feature is a glossary that defines the medical terms that have been used in the book for easy comprehension. The handbook provides the reader valuable information about the traditional as well as current uses of selected medicinal plants. It is addressed to undergraduate and postgraduate students of botany, teachers, academicians, researchers, practitioners of traditional and alternative medicine and all those interested in herbal medicine. The book will generate interest in the rich diversity of medicinal plants used in the Ayurveda system of medicine and the importance of preventive, holistic healing in management of health and disease.
Ayurveda Wisdom
Author: Cybéle Tomlinson
Publisher: Conari Press
ISBN: 9781573247160
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 196
Book Description
A guide to balanced living based on the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda teaches readers how to use diet, meditation, exercise, and temperature regulation to achieve overall health and wellness. Original. 20,000 first printing.
Publisher: Conari Press
ISBN: 9781573247160
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 196
Book Description
A guide to balanced living based on the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda teaches readers how to use diet, meditation, exercise, and temperature regulation to achieve overall health and wellness. Original. 20,000 first printing.
A Brief History of Ayurveda
Author: M.R. Raghava Varier
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190992107
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 263
Book Description
For over two and a half millennia Āyurveda was the mainstream healthcare programme in the Indian subcontinent. However, what was once seen as indispensable, is now often officially described as ‘alternative medicine’. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of proper understanding of the specific culture from which Āyurveda emerged. This is because existing works on the subject have mostly been mere compilations of Āyurvedic practices and focused on classical texts. This book studies the stages of development in the system of Āyurveda and its practice from proto-historic times until British colonization. Using original Pāli and Sanskrit works, archaeological artefacts, as well as oft-neglected medieval epigraphic documents, M.R. Raghava Varier highlights how centuries of privileging Western knowledge has resulted in the sidelining of indigenous learning—a process that accelerated with the advent of colonialism. Further, he makes use of Jain and Buddhist sources to question the assumption that Āyurveda is a purely Hindu or Brahmanical system, thus providing a historiographical frame for conceptually establishing the notion of Āyurveda.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190992107
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 263
Book Description
For over two and a half millennia Āyurveda was the mainstream healthcare programme in the Indian subcontinent. However, what was once seen as indispensable, is now often officially described as ‘alternative medicine’. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of proper understanding of the specific culture from which Āyurveda emerged. This is because existing works on the subject have mostly been mere compilations of Āyurvedic practices and focused on classical texts. This book studies the stages of development in the system of Āyurveda and its practice from proto-historic times until British colonization. Using original Pāli and Sanskrit works, archaeological artefacts, as well as oft-neglected medieval epigraphic documents, M.R. Raghava Varier highlights how centuries of privileging Western knowledge has resulted in the sidelining of indigenous learning—a process that accelerated with the advent of colonialism. Further, he makes use of Jain and Buddhist sources to question the assumption that Āyurveda is a purely Hindu or Brahmanical system, thus providing a historiographical frame for conceptually establishing the notion of Āyurveda.
The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies
Author: Vasant Lad, M.A.Sc.
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307815919
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Based on the ancient healing tradition from India that dates back thousands of years, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies offers natural alternatives to conventional medicines and treatments with practical advice and easy-to-follow instructions. Dr. Vasant Lad, a leading authority in this field, has created an invaluable guide to treating common ailments and chronic problems with strategies tailored to your personal needs based on your dosha. Dr. Lad first explains the principles behind the science of Ayurveda, exploring the physical and psychological characteristics of each of the three doshas, or mind-body types--vata, pitta, and kapha. Once you have determined which type or combination of types you are, Dr. Lad helps you to begin your journey to the ultimate "state of balance" and well-being. Dr. Lad explains why certain imbalances often result in illness and shows you how to restore your body to natural order. You'll learn which traditional Ayurvedic remedies--herbal teas and formulas, essential oils, meditation, yoga--offer relief from a variety of conditions, such as cold and flu symptoms, headaches, toothaches, sore throats, high cholesterol, vision problems, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Lad also shows you how to use diet and specific Ayurvedic techniques to prevent future illness and to promote body consciousness and healthy living. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies enables us all to experience the benefits of Ayurveda's healing properties that have been refined over thousands of years. All of the herbs, foods, and oils Dr. Lad recommends can be found in local health food stores or through mail-order catalogs. Complete with an extensive glossary and resource list, this is the definitive guide to natural, safe, and effective remedies, everyday keys to a lifetime of vitality and well-being.
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307815919
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Based on the ancient healing tradition from India that dates back thousands of years, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies offers natural alternatives to conventional medicines and treatments with practical advice and easy-to-follow instructions. Dr. Vasant Lad, a leading authority in this field, has created an invaluable guide to treating common ailments and chronic problems with strategies tailored to your personal needs based on your dosha. Dr. Lad first explains the principles behind the science of Ayurveda, exploring the physical and psychological characteristics of each of the three doshas, or mind-body types--vata, pitta, and kapha. Once you have determined which type or combination of types you are, Dr. Lad helps you to begin your journey to the ultimate "state of balance" and well-being. Dr. Lad explains why certain imbalances often result in illness and shows you how to restore your body to natural order. You'll learn which traditional Ayurvedic remedies--herbal teas and formulas, essential oils, meditation, yoga--offer relief from a variety of conditions, such as cold and flu symptoms, headaches, toothaches, sore throats, high cholesterol, vision problems, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Lad also shows you how to use diet and specific Ayurvedic techniques to prevent future illness and to promote body consciousness and healthy living. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies enables us all to experience the benefits of Ayurveda's healing properties that have been refined over thousands of years. All of the herbs, foods, and oils Dr. Lad recommends can be found in local health food stores or through mail-order catalogs. Complete with an extensive glossary and resource list, this is the definitive guide to natural, safe, and effective remedies, everyday keys to a lifetime of vitality and well-being.
Recipes for Immortality
Author: Richard S Weiss
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199715009
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
Despite the global spread of Western medical practice, traditional doctors still thrive in the modern world. In Recipes for Immortality, Richard Weiss illuminates their continued success by examining the ways in which siddha medical practitioners in Tamil South India win the trust and patronage of patients. While biomedicine might alleviate a patient's physical distress, siddha doctors offer their clientele much more: affiliation to a timeless and pure community, the fantasy of a Tamil utopia, and even the prospect of immortality. They speak of a golden age of Tamil civilization and of traditional medicine, drawing on broader revivalist formulations of a pure and ancient Tamil community. Weiss analyzes the success of siddha doctors, focusing on how they have successfully garnered authority and credibility. While shedding light on their lives, vocations, and aspirations, Weiss also documents the challenges that siddha doctors face in the modern world, both from a biomedical system that claims universal efficacy, and also from the rival traditional medicine, ayurveda, which is promoted as the national medicine of an autonomous Indian state. Drawing on ethnographic data; premodern Tamil texts on medicine, alchemy, and yoga; government archival resources; college textbooks; and popular literature on siddha medicine and on the siddhar yogis, he presents an in-depth study of this traditional system of knowledge, which serves the medical needs of millions of Indians. Weiss concludes with a look at traditional medicine at large, and demonstrates that siddha doctors, despite resent trends toward globalization and biomedicine, reflect the wider political and religious dimensions of medical discourse in our modern world. Recipes for Immortality proves that medical authority is based not only on physical effectiveness, but also on imaginative processes that relate to personal and social identities, conceptions of history, secrecy, loss, and utopian promise.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199715009
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
Despite the global spread of Western medical practice, traditional doctors still thrive in the modern world. In Recipes for Immortality, Richard Weiss illuminates their continued success by examining the ways in which siddha medical practitioners in Tamil South India win the trust and patronage of patients. While biomedicine might alleviate a patient's physical distress, siddha doctors offer their clientele much more: affiliation to a timeless and pure community, the fantasy of a Tamil utopia, and even the prospect of immortality. They speak of a golden age of Tamil civilization and of traditional medicine, drawing on broader revivalist formulations of a pure and ancient Tamil community. Weiss analyzes the success of siddha doctors, focusing on how they have successfully garnered authority and credibility. While shedding light on their lives, vocations, and aspirations, Weiss also documents the challenges that siddha doctors face in the modern world, both from a biomedical system that claims universal efficacy, and also from the rival traditional medicine, ayurveda, which is promoted as the national medicine of an autonomous Indian state. Drawing on ethnographic data; premodern Tamil texts on medicine, alchemy, and yoga; government archival resources; college textbooks; and popular literature on siddha medicine and on the siddhar yogis, he presents an in-depth study of this traditional system of knowledge, which serves the medical needs of millions of Indians. Weiss concludes with a look at traditional medicine at large, and demonstrates that siddha doctors, despite resent trends toward globalization and biomedicine, reflect the wider political and religious dimensions of medical discourse in our modern world. Recipes for Immortality proves that medical authority is based not only on physical effectiveness, but also on imaginative processes that relate to personal and social identities, conceptions of history, secrecy, loss, and utopian promise.