Ayurveda

Ayurveda literally means "Knowledge of life". It is also referred as science of life.It is derived as Upaveda from Atharva veda. The practice of Ayurveda as a form of medicine dates back to 3000 BC. The texts Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam are three major samhitas (compendiums) of Ayurveda. The objective of Ayurveda is preservation of health and treatment of diseases.

There are eight main branches of Ayurveda:

1. Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)
2. Bala Chikitsa Or Koumarbhrutya tantram (Paediatrics)
3. Graha Chikitsa Or Bhootavidyaa (Demonology / Psychology)
4. Urdhvanga Chikitsa(Treatment of disease occurring in head and neck)
5. Shalya Chikitsa(Surgery)
6. Damshtra Chikitsa Or Agada tantra (Toxicology)
7. Jara Chikitsa Or Rasayana tantra (Geriatrics, Anti ageing and rejuvenation therapies)
8. Vrisha Chikitsa Or Vajikarana tantra (Aphrodisiac therapy, treatments for preserving sexual health and assisting natural conception and fertility)

External links

Ayurveda [[1]]