Vaidya Atreya Smith

Ayurvedic Medicine for Westerners Vaidya Atreya Smith

The majority of books on herbal medicine teach students about individual plants and the disorders they help to correct. The problem with this approach is that people end up using the herbs symptomatically. This textbook teaches about real life problems and which herbs, or combination of herbs, could be used to stop the pathology associated with it. This is done by stopping Dosha Vriddhi (Dosha accumulation) in the Mulasthana (primary location), the Dhatus (tissues) and the Srotamsi (channels). If Dosha pathology is removed the disorders disappear. Ayurveda uses this approach in herbal treatments. This textbook on the "Application of Ayurvedic Treatments Throughout Life" begins with conception and ends with treatments for old age. This volume starts off with a short revision of Dravyaguna, then more information on how to use different herbal preparations. This leads to the foundational treatments of the digestive system and metabolic disorders. Next the subjects of pregnancy, embryology, pediatrics, gynecology, menopause, men's health, Rasayana therapies for the elderly and Vajikarana or fertility therapies are explained with treatment protocols. This is followed by a number of disorders according to Dhatu, or location. Finally, there are 21 new herbal monographs that have been used in this volume in the treatment of various disorders. In addition to these monographs there are new formulas scattered throughout the text when and where as needed.