Hi, need to submit a 2500 words essay on the topic Indian Herbal Medicine.Download file to see previous pages... It concentrates on nutrition and lifestyle and on living as one with the nature. After

Hi, need to submit a 2500 words essay on the topic Indian Herbal Medicine.

It concentrates on nutrition and lifestyle and on living as one with the nature. After identifying the dosha in the person, herbs, roots and spices are mixed and given as medicines in Ayurveda. At the same time, Ayurveda has many treatments that include therapies, massages, and other connected ways of treating that can effectively cure many ailments. Out of all these therapeutic treatments, Panchakarma is the most interesting and effective part of Ayurveda. Panchakarma, considered to be a unique treatment in Ayurveda, is a concept in which preventive and healing therapies with connecting rejuvenation and purification methods are emphasised. It is one of the ancient methods of body cleansing and detoxifying. According to Ayurveda, this therapy is particularly beneficial in treating hemiplegia. Pakshaghata is a stroke, also called hemiplegia, where half of the body gets paralysed and the affected person finds it impossible to move any limb of that side. Usually an incurable and debilitating disease, leaves the patient stricken for life, taking away the patient's dignity, as it forces him to depend on others. Mostly the speech gets impaired and this makes it very difficult for the person, not being in a position even to express himself and here Panchakarma could be very useful.

"The very important branch of Ayurvedic medicine called panchakarma focuses upon detoxification and uses steam baths, oelation (oiling), enemas and emesis (therapeutic vomiting), plus fasting," (Morningstar, 1999, p.11).

Ayurveda reiterates that Panchakarma can improve the condition of the patient in many ways. In Sanskrit, Panch is five and Karma is doing a work, here it is referred to five types of therapeutic measures. In Ayurveda, purification is necessary before any other therapy is done on the patient.

"The logic being that as a cloth needs to be purified or cleaned of impurities and dust before it can be permeated with a new color, similarly the body needs to be purified before it can be permeated with new colors of youthfulness, health and vigor etc. http://chakrapaniayurveda.com/panchakarma2.html

Main intention of the therapy is go bring out the toxic materials collected in the body, due to various reasons, like food habits, usage of toxic and chemical materials and allopathic medicinal intake. The patient will find immediate relief after this treatment and the muscles will be relaxed. There are many ways of doing it, like steam bath, herbal massages, medicinal oil application, and medicated enemas, which are called Basti. Purgation with herbal medicines is called Virechana, emesis through herbs is called Vamana, oil administration through nose is called Nasya. Ayurveda says that all these methods are effective in curing all sicknesses, detected and undetected, especially hemiplegia. It is also claimed that they would help both the physical and mental health of the sufferer.

"Like most complementary therapies, it is particularly helpful in treating stress, but also has a successful record with tuberculosis, arthritis, eczema, diabetes and a variety of other problems," (Jardine, 2002, p.75).

After Purvakarma, a kind of pre-treatment, readies the patient for the further and main therapy of Panchakarma, which will make the body undergo a physical and spiritual change, various methods of panchakarma are applied on the patient. Releasing the toxins trapped in human body, according to Ayurveda, is one of the salient treatments.