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20 notes
Dravya — The Concept of Substance in Ayurveda
Dravya is the foundational ontological category in Ayurveda — the substrate of all matter, action, and quality. Understanding dravya is prerequisite to understanding pharmacology.
Guna — 41 Types of Qualities in Ayurveda
Guna is the second padartha. Ayurveda recognises 41 gunas grouped into 5 categories. Mastery of the 20 sharira gunas (gurvadi) is essential for clinical practice.
Asthi — Bones in Ayurveda vs Modern Anatomy
Sushruta counts 300 asthi against modern anatomy's 206. The discrepancy comes from inclusive classification (teeth, nails, cartilage) and developmental stages. Understanding Sushruta's asthi classification opens up unique Ayurvedic surgical reasoning.
Agni — The 13 Types of Digestive Fire
Agni is the single most important concept in Ayurvedic physiology. 13 agnis classify the metabolic transformations from gut to cellular level. Mastery of agni states (4 types) is the foundation of diagnosis and treatment.
History of Ayurveda — From Brahma to Modern Era
Ayurveda traces back ~5000 years through three epochs: Vedic, Samhita (classical), and Sangraha (compendium). Modern era brings statutory regulation (CCIM 1970, NCISM 2020) and Kerala's Ashtavaidya lineage tradition.
Rasa Panchaka — Five Pharmacological Properties
Every dravya is characterised by 5 attributes: Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka, Prabhava. These are the doctor's decision-making framework for prescription. Master rasa panchaka and you can predict drug action without rote memorisation.
Dashemani — 10 Groups of Drugs by Charaka
Charaka classifies 500+ drugs into 50 dashemani (groups of 10 herbs each grouped by therapeutic action). This is functional pharmacology — herbs grouped by what they treat, not by botanical family. Mastering dashemani is the most efficient way to remember Charakian materia medica.
Parada (Mercury) — Shodhana and Marana
Parada (mercury) is the central rasa-dravya. Without proper shodhana (purification, 8 steps) and marana (incineration), parada is toxic. Rasashastra's entire safety system rests on these procedures. Modern toxicology validates the chemistry behind classical purification.
Nidana Panchaka — Five Diagnostic Tools
Nidana Panchaka is Madhava's diagnostic framework: 5 lenses through which every disease is examined. Master this and you have a structured approach to every case — from chronic disease to acute presentation.
Dinacharya — Complete Daily Regimen
Dinacharya is the daily routine Ayurveda prescribes for swastha (health) maintenance. From brahma muhurta wakeup to nidra, every hour has prescribed activity. Modern lifestyle medicine validates many dinacharya components.
Garbhini Paricharya — Antenatal Care in Ayurveda
Garbhini paricharya is Ayurveda's antenatal care protocol — month-by-month for 9 months of pregnancy. Each masa has specific diet, lifestyle, and herbal recommendations. Modern obstetrics increasingly recognises overlap with maternal nutrition science.
Lehana Vidhi — Infant Feeding and Nutrition
Lehana is Ayurveda's protocol for stage-by-stage introduction of solids to infants. From exclusive breast milk through suvarnaprashana to mixed feeding, the protocol balances doshic effect with developmental capacity.
Visha Chikitsa — Poison Management Principles
Agada Tantra is Ayurveda's toxicology. Sushruta's 24-step visha chikitsa is the most refined snake-bite treatment in classical medicine. Kerala maintains the world's strongest living visha-chikitsa tradition.
Deergha Jeeviteeya Adhyaya — Longevity Chapter Summary
Charaka opens his Samhita with this chapter on longevity (Sutra 1). The entire system of Ayurveda is set out here: definitions of swastha and roga, the doctrine of ayus and its 4 types, doshic theory, treatment principles. This is the most important single chapter in Ayurveda literature.
Kiyanta Shiraseeya — Classification of Diseases
Sutra Sthana 17 of Charaka — Kiyanta Shiraseeya Adhyaya — gives the systematic classification of diseases. Five major categorisations: by dosha, by location, by aetiology, by chronicity, by curability. This is the conceptual map of all roga in Ayurveda.
Prameha Chikitsa — Diabetes Management Protocol
Prameha is Charaka's 20-subtype classification of urinary disorders that maps closely to modern diabetes spectrum. Treatment is staged: nidana parivarjana → langhana → deepana-pachana → specific shamana → rasayana → lifelong pathya. The Ayurvedic approach addresses metabolic syndrome holistically.
Yantra and Shastra — Surgical Instruments of Sushruta
Sushruta describes 101 yantras (blunt instruments) + 20 shastras (sharp instruments) for surgical practice. The classification by purpose + design is remarkably systematic. Modern surgical instruments often mirror Sushruta's descriptions.
Netra Roga — Ayurvedic Ophthalmology Overview
Shalakya Tantra covers ENT + ophthalmology + dental. Netra Roga (eye disease) is its most developed subdiscipline. Sushruta enumerates 76 eye diseases by anatomical part. Treatment includes anjana (collyria), netra tarpana, vidalaka, and surgical procedures.
Vamana Karma — Complete Procedure and Indications
Vamana is therapeutic emesis — controlled vomiting to expel aggravated kapha + ama. The complete procedure spans 7-10 days: poorva karma (preparation), pradhana karma (procedure), paschat karma (recovery). Mastery requires understanding patient selection, dose escalation, and complication management.
Basti Karma — Types, Preparation, Administration
Basti is rectal/enema therapy — the most powerful Panchakarma. Two main types: niruha (decoction) and anuvasana (oil). Karma basti (30-basti protocol) and Yoga basti (8-basti) are classical regimens. Critical for vata-vyadhi management, fertility, neurology.