Alternative medicine includes practices like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and Yoga that are not considered part of conventional medicine. These practices focus on treating the whole person and use natural therapies to boost health and reduce symptoms. While alternative medicines have fewer side effects than conventional treatments and can lower costs, more scientific research is still needed to prove their effectiveness for certain conditions. The document then provides details on the principles and therapies used in various alternative medicine systems practiced in India.

1. ALTERNATE SYSTEMS FOR
HEALTH PROMOTION AND
MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH
PROBLEMS
JATHEESH K S
MSC.(N) I-SEMESTER
RAKCON

2. INTRODUCTION
Alternative medicines includes various healing process
and therapies that originate from around that are not
based on conventional medicines.

3. DEFINITION
Alternative medicine is group of diverse
medical & health care system, practices &
products that are not generally considered part of
conventional medicine.
 All practices and ideas defined by their users
as preventing or treating illness or promoting
health and well-being are included.”

4. REASONS TO USE ALTERNATIVE
THERAPIES
Poor prognosis
Focus of care is comfort not cure
Desire to be more active in one’s own health care
Reduce side effects of treatment
Reduce side effects of disease
Philosophical or cultural orientation
Less expensive than conventional medicine
Dissatisfaction with or loss of trust in conventional medicine
Desire to treat the disease in a natural way
Decrease the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
Improve the immune system
Improve the quality of life

5. ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS OF
HEALTH
ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM OF INDIA:
AYURVEDA
SIDDHA
UNANI AND TIBBI
HOMEOPATHY
NATUROPATHY
HYDROTHERAPY
YOGA

6. AYURVEDA
(The science of life)
In Sanskrit , the word Ayurveda consist of the
words ayus , meaning “life” and veda , meaning
“realted to knowledge ,or science”
Evolving throughout its history ,Ayurveda
remains an influential system of medicine in
south Asia .The earliest literature of Ayurveda
appeared during the vedic period in India .

7. Contd..
The Sushruta Samhita and the Charaka Samhita were influential works
on traditional medicine during this era .
Ayurvedic practitioners also identified a medicinal preparations and
surgical procedures for curing various ailments and diseases.

8. AYURVEDA
Air (Vayu): It represents the gaseous form of matter present in the
body. It also includes the energy formed by the several movements
within the body like heartbeat, inspiration, and expiration.
Space (Akasha): It represents the hollowness of several parts like
lungs, bones, mouth etc. It helps in completing the process of
transportation and communication.
Fire (Tejas): Fire helps in the transformation and conversion of
various matters in the body. It is responsible to maintain the
temperature of the body, metabolism, sight power, and mental
power.

9. Contd..
Water (Aap): It represents various fluids or liquid elements in the
body such as saliva, gastric juice, lymph, blood, and most
importantly water. Water is one of the most basic &important
elements that help in human survival.
Earth (Prithvi): Everything solid in our body is represented by this
element. Solid helps in stabilizing the water.

10. AIM OF AYURVEDA
“PRAYOJANAM CHASYA – SWASTHASYA SWASTHA
RAKSHANAM ’’
AATURASYA VIKARPRASHAMANAM CHA”
According to charak samhita (an ancient ayurveda text)
ayurveda has two main objectives .
1st is ‘swasthasya swastha rakshanam” i.e. to help the
healthy person to protect & maintain his swasthya (
wellness).
 2nd is “aaturasya vikar prashamanam” i.e. to help a
diseased person to become healthy & to stay healthy forever.

11. Contd..
The aim is to remove the cause of disorders , prevent illness and
harmonize body ,mind and consciousness.
Ayurveda aids in maintain good health , increasing longevity and
overall quality of life .
Alternative Ayurvedic treatments and self help regimens include
:nutrition , herbal remedies , aromatherapy , lifestyle recommendations
,massage treatments ,color /sound therapy ,meditation ,panckarma
(etoxification ),yoga .Ayurveda empowers the individual to take control
of their own health and well being .

12. Diagnosis
In Ayurveda, everything is analysed after considering all the factors and
not just the true cause of any disease or ailment. Just like the treatment,
the concept of diagnosis is also intriguing in Ayurveda. Diagnosis is done
by studying the mental, physical, psychological and behavioural aspects of
the patient.
According to Ayurveda, diagnosis consists of three initial and basic
methods. These methods are used to get a clear understanding of the
patient and the ailment.
1. Questioning
2. Observation
3. Touch

13. According to Ayurveda, each person will be influenced by certain
elements more than others. This is because of their prakriti, or natural
constitution. Ayurveda categorizes the different constitutions into three
different doshas:
Vata dosha, in which the air and space elements dominate
Pitta dosha, in which the fire element dominates
Kapha dosha, in which the earth and water elements dominate

14. Treatment in Ayurvedha
o Shodhana Therapy: It helps in purifying the body by detoxing it using different
ways.
o Shamana Therapy: The therapy uses herbal medication to treat body imbalance.
o Pathya Vyavastha: Several types of diets and activities are prescribed to the
patient in this therapy.
o Nidan Parivarjan: It involves methods that avoid the aggravating factors of a
disease
o Satvavajaya: A psychological impact is put on the mind of the patient to bring will
and courage.
o Rasayana Therapy: It focuses on improving the immune system and strength of
the patient.

15. DIFFERENT AYURVEDIC
THERAPIES
 Ayurvedic Treatment can grossly be divided into Shodhana and
Shamana i.e. purificatory and palliative therapy respectively.
 The shodhana therapy includes procedures that eradicate the vitiated
humors from the body. eg.vamana (emesis), virechana (purgation), vasti
(enema), nasya (nasal errhines).
 The shaman procedure comprises techniques that pacify the doshas or
bring them back to normalcy e.g. deepana (carminative), pachana
(digestive), upavasa (fasting) etc

16. SIDDHA
The siddha medicine is a form of south Indian Tamil traditional medicine a
and part of the trio Indian medicines ayurveda, siddha and unani .
The system is believed to be developed by the 9 nath and 84 siddhas in the
north and 18siddhas in the south called siddhar.
 Siddharas were given the concept that a healthy soul can only be developed
through a healthy body .
 So they developed methods and medication that are believed to strengthen
their physical body and thereby their souls .
 Men and women who dedicated their lives into developing the system were
called Siddharas

17. The normal equilibrium of three humors (vatha ,pitha and kapha )is
disturbed , disease is caused.
The factors which assumed to affect this equilibrium are environment ,
climatic conditions ,diet ,physical activites , and stress . According to the
siddha medicine system ,diet and life style play a major role not only but
also in curing diseases .

18. UNANI
UNANI :As an alternative form of medicine ,unani has found favour in
Asia especially India.
In India these Unani practitioners can practice as qualified doctors ,as
the Indian government approves their practice.
 Unani medicine is very close to Ayurveda .

19. Both are based on theory of the presence of the elements (in unani ,
they are considered to be fire ,water ,earth ,and air ) in the human body .
According to followers of unani medicine , these elements are present
in different fluids and their balance leads to health and their imbalance
leads to illness .

20. HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy is a medical science developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
(1755-1843), a German physician.
According to this theory, the right medicinal substance for a particular
set of symptoms is the one that naturally produces those symptoms in
healthy people.
It is based on the principle that “like cures like”. In simple words, it
means that any substance, which can produce symptoms in a healthy
person, can cure similar symptoms in a person who is sick.
 This idea is referred to as the “Law of Similars“, and was understood
by Aristotle and Hippocrates and mentioned in ancient Hindu
manuscripts. It was Hahnemann, however, who turned it into a science of
healing.

21. Here are examples of this principle:
 An onion is a substance which makes your eyes water and your nose
burn. If you are having an attack of hay fever with watering eyes and a
burning nose, a homeopathic remedy made from onion can relieve it.
 Homeopathic medicines consists of plants, animals & minerals extracts
that are diluted in water or alcohol and vigorously shaken.
It is a system of therapy based on the concept that disease can be
treated with drugs (in minute doses )which are capable of producing the
same symptoms in healthy people as the disease itself . Eg .Thyroidinum
(thyroid hormone) .

22. NATUROPATHY
(Care your Health with NATURE)
Naturopathy uses body's natural healing abilities in prevention and
treatment of disease through a healthy lifestyle.
It builds immunity, improves mental health, and enhances body
functions.
Naturopathy mainly focuses on finding the cause of the disease rather
than merely treating the symptoms of disease.
It uses diet, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, and other
therapies to return the body to a state where it can heal itself.

23. THERAPIES CONSIDER
UNDER NATUROPATHIC
TREATMENT :
1. Nutrition and dietetic
2. Fasting
3. Structural adjustment
4. Hydrotherapy
5. Healthy lifestyle
6. Education

24. Techniques and Benefits of
Different Modalities of Naturopathy
o Diet Therapy
o Fasting Therapy
o Mud Therapy
o Hydrotherapy
o Masso Therapy
o Acupressure
o Acupuncture
o Chromo Therapy
o Air Therapy
o Magnet Therapy

25. HYDROTHERAPY
Hydro- and hydrothermal are traditional methods of treatment used for
treatment of disease and injury by many cultures.
The recuperative and healing properties of hydrotherapy are based on
its mechanical and/or thermal effects.
Generally, heat quiets and soothes the body, slowing down the activity
of internal organs. Cold stimulates and increases internal activity.

26. Water also has a hydrostatic effect. It has a massage-like feeling as the
water gently kneads the body.
Water, in motion, stimulates touch receptors on the skin, boosting blood
circulation and releasing tight muscles.
Hydrotherapy and hydrothermal therapy are chiefly used to tone up the
body to stimulate digestion, the circulation, and the immune system and
to bring relief from pain.

27. YOGA
Yoga derived from Sanskrit word meaning “To Bind”.
It is unity of all the powers of body, mind and spirit based on Hindu
spiritual treatises. Classified on the teachings of Upanishads(Ashtanga
Yoga).
Integrated as eight limbed Yoga: Yams, Niyama, Asanas, Pranayama,
Pratyahara, Dharana, Samadhi.
The goal of Yoga is attainment of physical& mental well being through
mastery of body achieved through exercise, holding of posture, proper
breathing,& meditation.

28. BENEFITS OF YOGA
THERAPY
Yoga therapy shows positive results in treating depression
Deep breathing associated with yoga is beneficial in controlling
premature ventricular complexes .
Yoga therapy shows significant benefits that includes emotional
functions ,fitness variations and psychological benefits . 
It also variations in tension ,mood disturbances ,cognitive function and
gastrointestinal disturbances .
Yoga exercises increases your body ability in using antioxidants .This is
beneficial in the prevention of cancer .
Yoga helps in treating some problems lie asthma ,respiration problems
,back pain ,diabetes mellitus ,arthritis

29. Types of Yoga
Japa Yoga
Karma Yoga
Gyana Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Raja Yoga
Swara Yoga
Kundalini
Nadi

30. Salient Features of Yoga
* Yoga as a Universal Practical Discipline
* Yoga as an Evolutionary Process
* Yoga as a Soul Therapy

31. SOWA-RIGPA
Sowa-Rigpa is a system of medicine that is one of
the oldest medical traditions across the world. The
term Sowa-Rigpa means Knowledge of Healing and
derives its meaning from the Bhoti Language. This
system was reinforced in the TransHimalayan
region and is popular in the Himalayan societies
such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh (Spiti and
Lahoul), Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal
(Darjeeling), Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.

32. ADVANTAGES OF ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINES
• Using therapies to help the patients feel better
• Treat the person as a whole rather than focussing on the disease alone.
• Reducing symptoms or side effects.
• Focuses on prevention
• Natural and healing therapies.
• Provides comfort from touch, talk and time.
• Provides a positive strength
• Boost the immune system.
• Cost effective and affordable

33. DRAW BACKS OF ALTERNATIVE
MODALITIES OF CARE
• Minimal scientific research. When it comes to scientific
proof, evidence is still limited.
• Longer term treatment. Conventional medical procedures
can be quick and easy.
• Not useful in emergency cases.
• Confusing marketing. It’s easy to confuse the words
“natural” and “safe” — but the two are not synonymous.
• Potentially dangerous interactions.

34. REFERNCES
1. https://main.ayush.gov.in/ayush-systems/
2. https://www.everydayhealth.com/alternative-health/the-
basics/are-you-conisderingcomplementary-and-alternative-
medicine.aspx
3.Navdeep Kaur Brar, H C Rawat, ‘Textbook of Advanced
Nursing Practice’, First Edition, Jaypee Brothers Medical
Publishers, Page no. 933-944.
4. GG Reddamma, ‘ Advance Concepts of Nursing Practice’,
First Edition, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, Page no.
529-936