Body-Mind-Spirit Integrative Medicine

he book "Body mind spirit" Integrative Medicine in Ayurveda, Yoga and nature cure produced by the well known author professor Ram Harsh Singh is a comprehensive writer up on the subject touching a wide range of related topics. Integrative medicine is an approach to life, health and cure taking into consideration the life as an unified continuum of physical body mind spirit in one sweep. The present book attempts to identify this central idea in practice of popular traditional health sciences like Ayurveda Yoga and Nature Cure. The ancient concept of body-mind-spirit continuum in the field of health care and cure is re-catching the attention of medithinkers globally once again and hence it is necessary to say that it is not a new ancient view of thought, rather it is one of the most ancient view points which formed the basic matrix of the practice of medicine in ancient India.

The book is presented in 65 brief and reader friendly chapters divided in five sections dealing with 1. Ayurvedic-Medicine and its quantum logic, 2.Nature Cure and Biopurification, 3.Yoga physiology, 4.Yoga therapy and 5.Parapsychology and occult experiences. The book describes in details the fundamental principles of Ayurveda identifying the nature of body-mind-spirit continuum in the genesis of life process, health disease, diagnostics and cure. The subsequent sections deal with yoga and Nature cure in real practice settings. The last section summarises the current trends in study and practice of parapsychology and quantum healing which is gradually gaining scientific support and evidence.

Born on January 10, 1942 Prof. Ram Harsh Singh graduated in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery from prestigious Banaras Hindu University in 1961 with throughout top rank career. He did his Ph.D. and D. Litt under the supervision of Padmashri Prof.K.N Udupa and was awarded Doctorate of medicine Honoris Causa by Medicine Alternativa, Alma Ata jin 1983. He was elected fellow of National Academy of Indian medicine, jewel Member of all India Ayurveda Academy and was appointed National Professor by and was appointed National Professor by the Department of AYUSH. Govt. of India in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of Ayurvedic medicine besides many other awards and prizes including Hari Om Ashram Award, IASTAM Award, Capt Srinivas Murthy Meal and Vd. R.N. Sharma National Ayurvedic Research Award. He was been the member of National commission on History of science and Chairman scientific advisory committee of CCRAS. Prof. Singh joined the Faculty of Ayurveda at Banaras Hindu University in 1964 and served this institution for four decades as Professor Head Kayacikitsa & Dean, Faculty of Ayurveda at B.H.U. Subsequently (2003-2006) he served as the Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan Ayurveda University. Presently he is Professor Emeritus and senior Ayurveda Physician at University Hospital, BHU, Prof. Singh has published over a dozen important books on Ayurveda and over 200 research papers. He has contributed chapters to the prestigious volumes on History of Medicine in India & History of Technology in India published by INSA. He has produced 100 MDs and 30 Ph. Ds under his guidance.

The classical Indian medical system called Ayurveda is one of the ancient sciences that have exerted its influence since ancient times till today. The tradition of Ayurveda dates back to the Vedas and has developed though the ages. Ayurveda is not merely medical sciences, but, as the word suggests, a science of life, that aims at granting man a life of a hundred years with full of health and happiness. Ayurveda talks of both and the mind and considers the disease as a psychosomatic phenomenon. The doctrine of tridosas is a very important theory that goes like a thread running through anatomy and physiology, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Ayurveda advocates the importance of Dharma the righteous behaviour and advices to lead and ethical way of life in order to enable one to live a happy and healthy life. Some of the characteristics of Ayurveda are the various forms of pariksas like prakrti-pariksa, the materia medica, the pharmaceutics and rasayana therapy. The medical treatment of Ayurveda has proved to be effective and has therefore been acknowledged all over the world in recent decades as an alternative medicine, complimentary to the modern one. Like Ayurveda the system of Yoga has also become popular and the therapy based on the Yogic exercises is being used as complimentary to Ayurveda.

It is well known that the philosophy of Ayurveda has a close relation with the system of Sankhya philosophy. However, it appears to have been influenced also by the Buddhist philosophical thought that postulates the doctrine of existential suffering, and shows the way to get out the cycle of the suffering. There are some concepts common to Buddhist philosophy and Ayurveda. For instance, one may have a glance over the first chapter of the Sarira Sthana of the Caraka Samhita, where there his an elaborate discussion on the fact of the suffering in life, using some of the terms, such as vedana, trsna, sparsa etc. related to the wellknown Buddhist doctrine of inner Pratityasmutpada. The Buddha is described as a great physician, cuing the disease of samsarikas by administering the medicine of the spirituality. One of the manifestations of the Buddha is Bhaisajyaguru, the master of medicine. The Buddhists in ancient India have contributed greatly to the development of Ayurveda. In Buddhist literature, one comes across the names of physicians, Jivaka, Kumarabhacca and so on. Vegbhata, the author of the Astangahrdaya was most probably a Buddhist. The translation of this work and other Ayurveda treatises into Tibetan rendered impetus to the permeation of Ayurveda in Tibetan medical system. Tibet has its own medical system known as 'Sowa-Rigpa' evolved in thousands of years. It incorporated significant influences from Ayurveda after Tibet embraced Buddhism in seventh century. The 'Sowas-Rigpa' also had interaction with other system of Yunan and china.

After a gap of about thousand years it is now essential of revive the interaction between these two ancient traditions-which share many aspects of philosophical ground and approach -so that they can benefit from each other as each has its unique characteristics. They should come together to encounter the new challenges and interact with the modern medical system, which although has an extroverted approach based on the materialistic hypothesis and culture it embraces and ignores the entire nonmaterial inner world which constitutes the major part of man's being has made amazing contribution the human civilization with its meticulous research and findings. Through a healthful interaction of both of the ancient systems with the modern system the mankind can certainly be benefited. Scholars of the traditional and the modern tradition must make efforts for such joint venture.

In his work titled "Body-mind-spirit" integrative medicine in Ayurveda, Yoga and Nature cure", Prof. Ram Harsh Singh gives the three systems of healing. Namely, the Ayurveda, Yoga and Nature cure and demonsrates how a holistic approach towards curing of diseases is necessary and helpful. He also takes into consideration parapsychology and occult sciences and explains the scientific basis of astral existence. Under five major sections he brings the entire Ayurveda systems of therapy providing a therapeutic system- Ayurveda medicine, nature cure and Biopurification, Yoga physiology, Yoga therapy, Parapsychology and occult experiences. The voluminous book contribution of as many as 65 chapters is highly edifying and informative and is to be acknowledged as a important contribution to the study of Ayurveda. Professor Ram Harsh Singh recasts the classical knowledge of the Ayurveda in a lucid language making it accessable to wider readership. I have high respect for his profound knowledge, devotion to the tradition and sincere care for the patients, which are the great characteristics of an outstanding vaidya. I am sure that this book will not only serve as a compendium of classical Ayurveda sastras but also bring the knowledge of Ayurveda to a wide spectrum of people and thereby contributing to the preservation and dissemination of the age-old rich Ayurveda tradition.