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Review
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philosophizing and as a fresh account of the so-called esoteric practices, meant for transformation of means of perception. The book is relevant to the present times when there is over-all demand for reviewing traditional oriental practices meant for enriching our present cultural life which is overshadowed by mechanistic ideology. This has pushed aside the higher cultural purusuits almost on the periphary by onesided emphasis on gross material prosperity. The book also contains rich bibliography, glossary of Sanskrit-Kashmiri equivalents and also an index.
J.J. Shukla
Chikitsa, Volume I - 1979, pp. English Section 104 pages, Hindi Section 37 pages+39 pages, Published by Dharmatma Tatyaji Maharaj Memorial Medical Relief Trust, Edited by Dr. Shyam Kishore Lal and Dr. Arun M. Parkhe, Price Rs. 35,
There is increasing evidence that more and more serious notice is being taken of India's ancient medical system viz. Ayurved not only in this country, but also in foreign countries. There was a period in the world's medical history when it had reigned supreme even before the Arab took it over after the 7th century A.D. it was being studied in countries like Persia and Egypt. The impression that the teachings of Ayurved had a foundation in Indian superstition was a late western discovery. However, it was realized duridg the last century that only effective herbal remedy against a dread infection like lepracy was known to Ayurved; and about four decades ago, a unique herbal prescription against mal-developed blood pressure was again found to be that indicated by Ayurvedic medicine.
.. With startling advances in the methods and apparatus of modern medical science in its various branches, the opportunity to be more precise along scientific lines, about certain broad indications furnished in Ayurvedic literature and by current practitioners of that ancient medical technique. are coming more and more to the surface. When utilized, it discloses in a growing measure that there was substantial accurate basis for several centuries old claims of Ayurved, both in regard to its general approach to problems of ill health and in respect of treating specific diseases, and that Ayurvedic prescriptions seem to have been founded upon a wide and rational evalution of clinical experience.
It is in this background that we welcome an addition to the literature on the scientific appraisal of Ayurvedic principles and techniques in this volume of research papers, entitled "Chikitsa" Volume 1, 1979, published
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