Indian Traditional Medical Approaches

INTRODUCTION

Traditional medicine has a long history. It is the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. What makes traditional medicine attractive is that it is – ► accessible, ► affordable, ► It is also culturally acceptable and trusted by large numbers of people. India has a rich heritage of medical wisdom derived from the Vedas that prevailed as Ayurveda. This was further enriched by the ancient Saints (Rishi's) with Siddha system and Yoga practices. These were the principle medical practices of the country for centuries, forming part of Indian ethos and culture. Unani Tibb that was known from period of Hippocrates came to India during 8th Century A D. subsequently, the Western medicine that is based on biomedical concepts, commonly known as Allopathy, came to India and also got assimilated into the Indian medical practice. Homeopathy, a system developed in Germany in 18th century quickly gained popularity and has got blended with the Indian traditional medical practices due to similarity in its holistic medical philosophy and principles. Naturopathy, a drug less system of healthy living practices of all civilizations got organized and also become part of the medical pluralism of the country. Thus, there evolved a unique medical paradigm with traditional practices along with the Bio medicine. After Independence, the Government started supporting all the medical systems for their growth, thereby offering the public a choice for their routine health care need. Because of this as now there are public patronage and institutional support to widen the strength of these systems in curative, preventive, promotive aspects of health care. Keeping this fact in view the Government is encouraging a pluralistic approach in health care where every medical system is allowed to grow on the basis of its evident strength.

The word Ayurveda derived from AYU and VEDA. AYU means life VEDA means science or knowledge. Ayurveda means the science of life. Charaka defines "That science is designated as Ayurveda which deals with advantage and disadvantage as well as happy and unhappy states of life along with what is good and bad for life, its measurement and the life itself (Charaka Sutra 1 - 4)" Ayurveda embraces all living things, human and diseases, Vriksha Ayurveda the science dealing with plant life, its growth and diseases. It is amply clear that Ayurveda is not only a system of medicine but also a way of life for complete positive health and spiritual attainments.

The term Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root ‗YUJ‘, meaning ‗to join‘ or ‗to yoke‘ or ‗to unite‘. As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature. The aim of Yoga is Self-Realization, to overcome all kinds of sufferings leading to 'the state of liberation'. This is one of the oldest sciences of the world, which originated in India. Yoga is very useful for preserving and maintaining one's physical and mental health and also for 'spiritual evolution'. The practice of Yoga is believed to have started with the very dawn of civilization.

Naturopathy advocates aiding human system to remove the cause of disease i.e. toxins by expelling the unwanted and unused matters from human body for curing diseases. Nature is the greatest healer. The human body itself has the healing power to prevent itself from disease and regain health if unhealthy. In Naturopathy, it is not the disease but the entire body of the patient which is caused and is renewed. Some important treatments of naturopathy are: Mud pack, Mud Bath, Spinal Bath, Spinal Spray Bath, Steam Bath, Sauna Bath, Sun Bath, Wet Sheet Pack, Chest Pack, Abdomen Pack, Magnet Therapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Reflexology, Physiotherapy Treatments - Exercise Therapy and Electro Therapy. Naturopathic doctors treat their patients holistically i.e. taking into consideration their individual biochemistry, bio mechanics and emotional predispositions.

Unani-tibb or Unani Medicine is a form of traditional medicine practiced in Middle- East and South-Asian countries. It refers to a tradition of Greco-Arabic medicine, which is based on the teachings of Greek physician Hippocrates and Roman physician Galen and developed into an elaborate medical system in middle age era. It originated in Greece almost 2500 years back, which is herbo- animo- mineral in origin (Approximately 90% herbal, 4-5% animal and 5-6 % mineral). Unani physicians give prime importance to diet and the state of digestion in a person, in both health and disease. Specific dietary regimens are recommended while treating patients according to their temperament. In

The word Siddha has its origin in the Tamil word Siddhi which means "an object to be attained" or "perfection" or "heavenly bliss".Siddha medicine is claimed to revitalize and rejuvenate dysfunctional organs that cause the disease. Kayakarpam, a special combination of medicine and life style, Varmam therapy, Vaasi (Pranayamam) and Muppu the universal Salt are the specialities of Siddha system of medicine. Thus this system connects both spiritual and physical and treats the person as a whole i.e. it concentrates the physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing of an individual.

The word ‗Homeopathy‘ is derived from two Greek words hómoios (similar) and páthos (suffering). This means in Homeopathy natural diseases are treated with substances that produce effects similar to the suffering. Homeopathy can be defined as a ―dynamic, holistic and vitalistic system of individualistic drug therapeutics, based on the law of similars, potentially capable to cure diseases that are curable and relieves symptoms of incurable nature‖.

These systems are based on definite medical philosophies and represent a way of healthy living with established concepts on prevention of diseases and promotion of health. The basic approach of all these systems on health, disease and treatment are holistic. The knowledge and qualification of practitioners have a direct bearing on patient safety. However, in many developing countries, traditional medicine knowledge and skills have been transferred from generation to generation orally, making it difficult to identify qualified practitioners. To restore the belief of masses in traditional medicine there is need to have qualified practitioners, quick and accurate diagnosis and dissemination of the vast literature available in our vedas on traditional medicine.

1. V. Subhose, P. Srinivas, and A. Narayana (2005). ―Basic principles of pharmaceutical science in Ayurvěda,‖ Bulletin of the Indian Institute of History of Medicine, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 83–92 2. B. Ballabh and O. P. Chaurasia (2007). ―Traditional medicinal plants of cold desert Ladakh-Used in treatment of cold, cough

3. M. M. Pandey, S. Rastogi, and A. K. S. Rawat (2008). ―Indian herbal drug for general healthcare: an overview,‖ The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine, Vol. 6, No. 1, p. 3. 4. B. Patwardhan, D. Warude, P. Pushpangadan, and N. Bhatt (2005). ―Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine: a comparative overview,‖ Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 465–473. 5. R. P. Samy, S. Ignacimuthu, and A. Sen (1998). ―Screening of 34 Indian medicinal plants for antibacterial properties,‖ Journal of Ethno pharmacology, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 173–181. 6. R. P. Samy and S. Ignacimuthu (2000). ―Antibacterial activity of some folklore medicinal plants used by tribals in Western Ghats of India,‖ Journal of Ethno pharmacology, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 63–71. 7. V. P. Kamboj (2000). ―Herbal medicine,‖ Current Science, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 35–39. 8. T. Rabe and J. Van Staden (1997). ―Antibacterial activity of South African plants used for medicinal purposes,‖ Journal of Ethno pharmacology, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 81–87. 9. D. John (1984). ―One hundred useful raw drugs of the Kani tribes of Trivandrum forest division, Kerala, India,‖ International Journal of Crude Drug Research, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 17–39. 10. D. J. H. Veale, K. I. Furman, and D. W. Oliver (1992). ―South African traditional herbal medicines used during pregnancy and childbirth,‖ Journal of Ethno pharmacology, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 185–191.

Assistant Professor, Physical Education, Guru Nanak Girls College, Yamunanagar