This document discusses the importance of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicine. It provides an introduction to Ayurveda, explaining that it is an ancient Indian medical system focused on balancing the three doshas (energies) in the body. It describes Ayurvedic practices like diagnosis using the senses and panchakarma cleansing therapies. It emphasizes the importance of medicinal plants in Ayurveda, describing and providing the therapeutic uses of plants like tulsi, eranda, and asoka. The conclusion reiterates that Ayurveda and herbal medicine are very important for modern life and many scientific studies have validated Ayurvedic plants.

1. ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
THEORETICAL BASIS OF
NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION
II
Topic : “ IMPORTENCE OF
AYURVEDA & AYURVEDIC
MEDICINE”
Submission Details
Submitted to :Nasiya. M
Sabarigiri
College of Teacher
Education, Anchal
Submitted by :Rincy. A
Natural Science
Reg. No : 13379015
Submitted on :29.08.2014

2. INDEX
SL.
No
CONTENT PAGE NO
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 PRACTICES 2
3 DIAGNOSIS 2
4 THE THEORY OF BIOENERGIES 3
5 IMPORTANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 4-5
6 IMAGES 6
7 CONCLUSION 7
8 REFERENCE 8

3. INTRODUCTION
Ayurveda can be defined as a system, which uses the inherent principles of
nature, to help maintain heath in a person by keeping the individual’s body, mind
and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.
Ayurveda in a Sanskrit term, made up of the words “ ayus” and “ veda”.
“Ayus” means life and “veda” means knowledge, or science. The term
“Ayurveda” thus means the knowledge of life or ‘the science of life’. According to
The ancient Ayurvedic scholar charaka, “ayu” comprises the mind, body, sense
and the soul.
Widely regarded as the oldest form of health care in the world, Ayurveda is
an intricate medical system that originated in India thousands of years ago. The
fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas- the
ancient India books of wisdom. The Rigveda, which was writer over 6,000 years
ago, contains a series of prescriptions that can help humans overcome various
ailments.
Ayurveda is based on the premise that universe is made up to five elements
air, fire, water, earth, and ether. These elements are represented in humans by three
“doshas”, or Energies. Vata, Pitta and kapha. Every individuals has a distinct
balance, and our health and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the
three doshas (“tridoshas”). Ayur veda suggests specific life style and nutritional
guidelines to help individuals reduce the excess dosha.
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4. CONTENT
Practice
Ayurvedic doctors regard physical and mental existence as well as personality as a unit,
each element having the capacity to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of
Ayurvedic medicine is to take this approach into account during diagnosis and therapy.
Diagnosis
Ayurveda has 8 ways of diagnosis. They are Nadi (Pulse), Mootra (Urine), Mala (Stool), Jihva
(Tongue), Shabda (Speech), Sparsha (Touch), Druk (Vision), Aakruti (Appearance).
Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using the five senses. Hearing is used to observe the
condition of breathing and speech. The study of the lethal points ormarman marma is of special
importance.
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5. The Theories of Bioenergies
If toxins in the body are abundant, then a cleansing process known as
Panchakarma is recommended to purga these unwanted toxins. This fivefold
purification therapy is classifical form of treatment in ayurveda. These specialized
procedures consists of the following.
 Therapeutic vomiting or emesis (vaman).
 Purgation (Virechan)
 Enema (Basti)
 Elimination of toxins through the nose (Nasya)
 Blood letting or detoxification of the blood (Rekta moksha)
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6. IMPORTANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
Indian medicinal plants are the essence of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic
treatment. When used judicially and clocking with the basic principles they
produced miraculous effects. This role cannot be confined to mere curative of
disease but they also used being of human body. Ayurvedic Herbes played
important role in Ayurvedic treatment, from ancient time to this most modern time.
TULASI
Botanical Name : Ocimum Sanctum Linn
Family : Lamiaceae
Vernacular Name : Hindi – Tulasi
English – Indian Basil
Tamil – Marathi
Malayalam – Tulasi
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Branched aromatic herb some time woody hairy leves
Flowers – very small, borne in terminal and ancillary racemes.
Fruits - Subglobose or broadly oblong nut lets.
Therapeutic uses – Kaphaja kasa, Makkalasula, Paksmasata.
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7. Eranda
Botanical Name : Ricinus Communis Linn
Family Name : Euphor biacea
Vernacular Name : Hindi – Erand
English – Castor
Tamil – Amanakad
Malayalam – Avanakku
Botanical Description : An evergreen, glabrous shrub 2-4-5m high.
Leaves : Palmately 7many lobed.
Flowers : In large terminal sub panicled racemes yellowish
Fruits : Capsules, globosely ablong, smooth or cehinate.
Seeds : Oblong, smooth, mottled
Therapeutic Uses
Stipada, parsvasuta, kasa
Asoka
Botanical Name : Saraka asoca
Family Name : Caesalpinoidea
Vernacular Names : Hindi – Asoka
Tamil – Asokam
Therapeutic Uses – Rekta Pradara, Asmari
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8. 6

9. CONCLUSION
The importance of Ayurveda especially medicinal plants in identified in the
modern times by many scholars and scientist. It will be surprising for many to
notice that many of scientific studies conducted on me decanal plants/herbals by
the scientists of other faculties. So Ayurveda & Ayurveda medicine in very much
important to our day to life.
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10. REFERENCE
1. Dr. J.L.N Sastry (MD(Ayu) Sri medical officer C.G.H.S Chennai
2. Pr.K.C Chunekar (Ayu)
3. Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit Dictionary (1899), s.v. "Āyurveda"
4. Kutumbian, P. (1999). Ancient Indian Medicine. Andhra Pradesh,
India: Orient Longman.
5. Textbook of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry", Written by Biren Shah,
page 455. published by Elsevier, year 2009,
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