Traditional Medicine in Asia

Traditional Medicine in Asia
pashraya Chiktisa. Divine karmas like
prayer, chanting mantras, ablutions,
yagya, wearing precious stones, etc., are
the usual methods of Daivavyapashraya
Chikitsa.
Special mode of treatment
Rasayana
Rasayana (Rejuvenation Therapy) is a
speciality of Ayurveda which mainly deals
with the preservation and promotion of
health. It promotes longevity and prevents
or delays the aging process. Rasayana
promotes resistance against infections and
other causative factors for the disease by
maintaining the equilibrium of Vata, Pitta
and Kapha. 20 The Rasayana, if administered
at an early age, also helps the body
metabolism in such a way that the genetic
predisposition for a particular disease is
avoided and the intensity of the symptoms
of a particular disease is greatly reduced.
Rejuvenation therapy, in addition to
dealing with the preventive and promotive
aspects of health rather than merely with
the disease condition, acts also by
improving micro-circulation in the body
leading to better bio-availability of nutrients
to tissues. The use of Rasayana drugs and
other measures produces longevity,
improves memory, intelligence and good
health, promotes youthfulness, good
lusture, complexion and voice, promotes
optimum strength of the body and the
sense organs, efficiency in talk and humility,
and makes the personality attractive. There
are many Rasayana preparations which are
used according to the psychosomatic
constitution and disease condition of the
patient. The immunomodulatory effect of
Rasayana drugs like Withania somnifera,
Asparagus racemosus and Tinospora
cordifolia is well-established through
scientific parameters. Therefore, adminis-
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tration of Rasayana drugs having an
immunoprotective effect is helpful in
improving the immunity and general wellbeing
of patients.
Panchakarma
Panchakarma (Purification Therapy) deals
mainly with the removal of toxins and waste
materials from the body to purify the
biological system from gross channels to
eradicate the disease completely. It is
helpful in the prevention of disease and
preservation and promotion of health, as
well as the management of psychosomatic,
neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular
and many other chronic, degenerative
diseases and iatrogenic conditions.
Panchakarma plays a vital role in Ayurvedic
therapeutics and occupies an important
place in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
This five-fold purification therapy, a classical
form of treatment in Ayurveda, includes
Vamana (emesis), Virechana (Purgation),
Asthapana (Decoction enema), Anuvasana
(Oily enema) and Nasya (Nasal Insufflation).
21 Under pre-operative management,
the doshas are liquefied by external
and internal oleation by ghee, oil,
massages and fomentation followed by the
main purification processes, which also
include intra-vaginal and intra-urethral
enemas and blood letting, for the elimination
of toxins from the body. Under postoperative
management, various types of
dietetics and disciplined living for a few days
after the treatment have been indicated. In
Ayurveda many treatment methods are
described, i.e., Abhyanga, Tarpana, 13
types of fomentations, etc. In Kerala,
physicians have developed specialized
techniques of Panchakarma, which is
something more than the purification
therapy. The Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal,
and the Arya Vaidyan Rama Variar
Educational Foundation of Ayurveda,