Submitted by Armen Hareyan on Sep 10th, 2004
In India, generations of Yogis and Scholars have contemplated their life in timeless fashion to realize that there is a meaning to life and some purpose beyond the human sufferings. They were even convinced that there is a way to escape the tragic problems of life by diverting our mind to something more interesting and everlasting. They were also moved by the suffering they saw around them and wanted that the human being should be free from sufferings and ignorance, to set him on the road to freedom and live healthy . In ancient days, most of the Yogis and Sages used to live in forests. They use to eat whatever is provided by the Nature in its natural form. Not only that the ever changing climate could not harm them a bit. They use to apply holy ash of Havana on their body to keep away the germs and bacteria. The great Yogis and Scholars gave rational interpretations of their experiences and brought these within every one s reach by making a practically designed and scientifically prepared method of healthy living. Hence, the science of Yoga emerged to counter all these problems and human sufferings.
In the ancient days, Medicine was dominated by magical and religious beliefs which were an integral part of almost all ancient cultures and civilizations. Although primitive man may be extinct, his progeny - the so called "Traditional Healers" , are found everywhere. They live close to the people and their treatment are based on various combinations of religion, magic and empiricism.
The greatest Physician in Greek medicine was Hippocrates, who is often called the "Father of Medicine". He studied such things as climate, water, air, clothing, habits of eating and drinking and the effect they have in producing diseases. The Greeks believed that matter was made up of four elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water and the same is applicable to body also. They also believed that the equilibrium among these elements maintains normal health status.
Medicine has moved from organism to organ and from organ to cell and from the cell to molecular properties. Despite spectacular bio-medical advances and massive expenditures, the death rate and the life expectancy in the developed countries have remained unchanged. Medicine, as practiced today has begun to be questioned and criticised. High technology medicine seems to be getting out of hand and leading health systems in wrong directions. There is an increasing concern about the cost and allocation of health resources, but the efficacy of modern medicine is fundamentally questioned through various points of view. Contemporary medicine is no longer solely an art and science for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It is also the science for prevention of disease and promotion of health. With increasing recognition of the failure of existing health services to provide health care, alternative ideas and methods to provide health care have been considered and tried in large scale in the recent past.
The sacred land of India, from the time immemorial contributed in its own way to the better living of mankind. Yoga and Naturopathy are the two of its kinds which can be the only answer to the rising levels of health care problems.
In recent times there is a growing awareness among the people about the efficacy and utility of Yoga and Nature Cure in keeping one fit at physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual planes. These systems are emerging as the effective methods and means to improve the total personality and to build a healthy society. Above all, these systems are adopted as a way of life rather than a mode of treatment.
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Dept. of AYUSH
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India
Source:
AYUSH, India 