Apart from the eight classical branches of Ayurveda, some other indigenous systems have survived as an integral part of the medical knowledge of ancient India. Different schools of thought developed in the course of the evolution of Indian medical science. And over years of practice, many of them got incorporated into each other and evolved into different branches of their own. Besides, some of them assimilated other traditional medical sciences, which came into India from other countries and developed into a separate stream of medical science.
UNANI
Unani owes its origin to Hippocrates. It arrived in India during the 10th century AD. Like Ayurveda, Unani medicine's approach is holistic, treating the patient in relation to his/her environment and mental status.According to the Hippocratic theory, a perfect balance of elements, humors, and temperament are vital for keeping a healthy body. The theory also says that every individual has an inherent power of self-preservation. The four humors in the body are, blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. The behavioral patterns of an individual are determined by the dominance of the different humors in the body.
Most the diagnosis in the Unani medicine is done through pulse. Pathological tests of urine and stool are considered very important too. The final diagnosis is arrived through the findings from pulse as well as the pathological tests.
Diet plays an important role in Unani. During illness non-vegetarian food is a taboo. The stress is more on fruits and vegetables. While simple diseases are treated with diet restrictions during the initial stages, the complex ones are supplemented with drugs. The drugs are categorized according to their potency and efficacy.The therapies are varied. Methods such as Turkish bath, massage, purging, exercise, venesection, cupping diaphoresis, are used in this medical system and come under regimental therapy. Diet therapy treats ailments by monitoring the intake and the quality of the food.Treatment through herbal drugsis called pharmoco therapy. Like in Ayurveda, herbs and other natural substances figure predominately in the Unani therapy too. Since the drugs are essentially derived from natural ingredients, the treatments do not have the danger of any side effects.
SIDDHA
Siddha is another form of ancient Indian medicine with its roots tracing back to the southern parts of India. Legends say that Lord Shiva handed down the knowledge to Goddess Parvati, who in turn passed it on to Nandideva, another mythological character. The medical system then got handed down to gurus and has existed over the millenniums.
Siddhi in Tamil, a South Indian language, means perfection. And those who have attained an intellectual level of perfection are called Siddhas. In ancient Tamil Nadu it is believed eighteen such Siddhas lived during different periods. The Siddha system of medicine, therefore, was written in different periods.
The unique aspect of this system is that this form of medicine aims at the immortality of both the soul and body. According to Hindu philosophy there are two modes of salvation for humans. One is the salvation of the metaphysical self and the other is the physical salvation with the body rendered immortal. The immortality of the perishable body may sound strange to a rational mind but the aim had the effect of setting very high standards of medicine.
Like all the traditional Indian medicines, Siddha also is based on the concept of Man as a part of the universe and therefore a harmony exists between the two. The therapies are based on body humors and other characteristics, which exist in other Indian medicine.
Siddhas have developed a longevity discipline called kayakalpa. Something akin to Gerontology of modern medicine. More than the medicine, it is the discipline of life that the Siddha system advocates for longevity. Controlling the breathing and diet are methods suggested in this system. Meditation and yoga are also significant aspects of the Siddha system.
PRANIC HEALING
Pranic healing is another ancient Indian medicine, which is being revived today. Like other Indian medicines this system also has traveled outside India. Prana means energy. It denotes the vital energy or life force, which exists in all life forms. The physical body and the energy body are closely related. When one gets affected it gets echoed in the other also. Thus, a disease can be detected in the energy body much before it manifests into the physical body. The difference between the other forms of medicines and pranic healing is that the pranic healer tries to concentrate on the affected area of the energy body while the others focus on the physical body.
The charkas and nadis (places of vital organs and the blood vessels in the body) are significant features of this system of medicine. For perfect health, the chakras are to be balanced and the nadis free flowing. Any imbalance causes a disorder.
The healer scans the aura to determine the condition of the chakras and the nadis. Energy leaks are detected and sealed and a cleansing process is done for the affected chakras. The healer gets his/her energy for healing from the natural elements: air, sun and sound. The fourth element is the divine prana, which is received by the healer through his/her spiritual cord.
The system's origin is not exactly established to any one source. Indian rishis and Chinese Taoists, figure among others as ancient Pranic healers. The aspect of aura, however, is common to almost all kinds of religion and regional saints and deities, since all scriptures and legends mention a glow of light over the heads of these godly personalities.
AROMA THERAPY AND REIKI
Aromatherapy, which uses the curing powers of various aromas prepared from natural ingredients, Reiki, which is a form of energy healing, are some of the alternative cures the modern public resorts today.
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