दैनिक जीवन में आयुर्वेद- Ayurveda in Daily Life

Prof. P.B.A. Venkatacharya, National Dhanvantari Ayurveda Awardee was worked as a professor of Kayachikitsa in all the three Government Ayurvedic Colleges of combined Andhra Pradesh state. He was born on 21.10.1943 and hailed from traditional Ayurvedic family and his motto was 'Ayurveda first and the rest is next’. He started his professional career as Medical Officer in the department of AYUSH and served as Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Professor and Research Officer. He guided several Postgraduate scholars and worked specially on muscular dystrophy, oral Ayurvedic drugs to achieve anesthesia and management of post operative cases with Ayurvedic drugs. More than 50 publications are there to his credit. He was an eminent speaker and chaired several National and International seminars. He was also the editor for the journal of ISM&H and Sanjeevani Ayurveda journal, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. In 54 years of professional career, he relentlessly strived to create a collaborative research environment and acted as a bridging force between ancient and modern systems of medicine.

The ultimate aim of human beings is to attain the four types of Purusartha viz. Dharma (virtue), Artha (money), Kama (desire) and Moksa (salvation). Attainment of these four types of Purusartha can be possible with the body only, and thus everyone has to preserve the health status of the body carefully to live healthy, happy and one hundred years comfortably. In order to live healthily everyone should follow certain rules and regulations prescribed by Acaryas of Ayurveda. Those who follows the prescribed rules only can fulfil the objectives of the life. Nature has provided miraculous herbs to the humans for preserving their health simultaneously with their creation. These herbs are classified into two types as food substances and medicinal substances. The substances which we are using daily as food are also possessing medicinal values and these substances help in preserving the health of humans. The foods what we are consuming daily in our food such as cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk, milk products and the other condiments useful for preparing various food items are all meant for preservation of health only. We can say confidently that such a well-planned, tasty, dietary rules are mentioned only in Ayurveda which are not found in any other society in the world. It is wonder that we are consuming such a valuable food substance in our daily life even without our knowledge. These substances have health care as well as properties of curing many diseases. Similarly, we can find many medicinal herbs in the neighbourhood of our house, and in the villages. If we know about their properties then those herbs can be used as first aid in the initial stage of disease and can cure common ailments.

Keeping this in mind, the medicinal properties and therapeutic uses of commonly available herbs are described in this booklet. If we go to the doctor even for common diseases then he may prescribe higher antibiotics and there is every possibility of getting another disease. So, it is better to use these simple remedies to treat common ailments like fever, cold, cough, dyspepsia etc. According to the principles of Ayurveda, an ideal treatment is that which has to cure the present ailment completely without causing any newer disease. The purpose of writing this booklet is to provide the readers with useful information ' about the medicinal values of the most commonly available herbs and foods and to make use of them in their lives whenever necessary.

Because of the lack of knowledge of the medicinal properties of the herbs available to us; and due to the negligence of government and the indifference of the researchers, we are losing the patent rights of our precious medicines. We have already lost the patent rights for the most qualitative herbs like neem, turmeric and ginger etc. If this trend continues, then there is a danger of losing the patent rights of Tulasi, Brahmi etc. also. So, it is our responsibility to protect our herbal resources and the health and welfare of our nation.

The medicinal properties mentioned in this booklet are intended for the general public and can be used in the respective ailments. There may be various reasons for the manifestation of diseases and they should be treated according to the cause. Therefore, if anyone does not get relief from these simple recipes, they should immediately contact a qualified Ayurvedic physician.

My heartfelt thanks to Shri Shivaji Memorial Committee and Shri Rama Mohana Rao for encouraging me in compiling this book. Thanks to everyone who cooperated.

**Contents and Sample Pages**