Going Towards the Nature Is Going Towards the Health: Feather by Feather

By Shaman Melodie McBride, Dr. Ashutosh and Dr. Anagha Yardi

Science knows that there are two types of feathersthe ones with the rachis (stem) in the center and the ones that have the rachis off center. The difference is that the off-center stems are only grown by the birds that can fly. In addition to the stem being off center, the individual barbules in the vanes are interlocking.

This is why our last book in the series Going Towards the Nature Is Going Towards the Health is entitled Feather by Feather. The reader will now attain knowledge to overcome the challenges that lead towards disease and see the bigger picture in climbing to the highest stages of healthin other words, happiness. Because health is happiness.

Shaman Melodie McBride

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543432718

Shaman Melodie McBride

Shaman Melodie McBride Instructor and Advanced Yoga Certifications from Yoga Vidya Gurukul Ashram/School in Timbak, Nashik, India. Melodie holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences specializing in electronics, harmonic and vibrational therapy practices. Professor at Eastern Idaho Technical Collage. Shaman Melodie has a triple Mastership in Usui/Tibetan/Karuna Reiki through the International Center for Reiki Training, 30 + years as a Herbologist, amazing intuitive ability, and is deplumed in Fixed Star Astrology to assist her clients in formulating and executing their own personal wellness plans. Dr. Mrs. Anagha Yardi B.A.M.S.—Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicines and Surgery, Ayurvedacharya From University of Pune, Consulting Ayurved Physician, Specialty in Panchkarma, Herbal remedy, Diet, Mental health, Herbal skin care, Ayurvedic Gynecology Received “Ideal Woman Award” and honored by Health minister on Women’s Day. Visited Japan Singapore, Russia for lectures and demonstrations on Ayurveda and Diet. She has been conducting workshops on Ayurveda cooking, health and diet.

Book preview

Doctors’ Yardi Introduction

Hello! Namaste!

Dear readers,

We are glad to introduce you to our fifth book in the series of Going towards the nature is going towards the health. After the fourth book, in very short time we are meeting again in this fifth book in which we are going more deep and discussing another fifth angle of health and happiness.

We are thankful to Melodie McBride, for the great journey of propagation of ancient sciences through all five books. Thankful to our all readers and the publisher. You all are inspiring us to write consistently on the topics from Ayurveda and Yoga.

We started our journey of books with Melodie McBride from basic principles of Ayurveda and Yoga. Then we have seen all about body types and mind types. We have also enjoyed our journey with readers through Ayurveda cooking, food and spices in previous books.

Now, in this fifth book in the series we are introducing some important ancient literatures. Since thousands of years the knowledge from these ancient literatures is delivered to all over the world. Let’s read and introduce you to some ancient sages and ancient physicians and their literature.

Here we also are discussing the third recessive Dosha. Here, this new topic about how to balance and manage this third Dosha through life style and food. We are going a little deeper into body type knowledge in this book.

There are many diseases in which a dominant Dosha is very active. Among five basic elements some elements are dominant and if they are imbalanced then a particular illness may arise. In this book let’s have an introduction to ancient traditional views toward illness and their relations to five basic elements and related Dosha

There is a great Body-Mind relationship. Our thoughts and emotions are also exerting effects on our body systems. We will discuss here all about emotions, mind, cleansing of thoughts and emotions. Here is a philosophical touch of Ayurveda and Yoga to medical sciences. In previous books we discuss about responses taken and given to friends, family, spouse, partners, and parents. Here we are discussing more about self-responses taken and given through our senses and mind. Here we are looking inside our senses, thoughts, intellect and mind as per our body type and mind type. Hope you all will enjoy this knowledge.

The supreme power or the Nature is playing a game in our body using the playing cards of five basic elements and the three Doshas vata, pitta, kapha. In our life we are playing this great game of Nature through our mind, body, senses and soul. From all our five books we are learning, understanding, and going towards the nature step by step, feather by feather.

Just come, join, understand and enjoy the game of Nature. This fifth book is a fifth step towards the health and happiness. Hence, we are saying that ‘Going towards the nature is going towards the health.’

Come step by step and get knowledge. Discuss your problems with your ayurveda doctors or yoga therapist. Add health and happiness in your life step by step and feather by feather.

Best wishes,

May the Supreme Divine power of the Nature bless our readers.

Love and Light

Dr. Mrs. Anagha Yardi and Dr. Ashutosh Yardi.

Disclaimer

The sole purpose of the book and this book series Going towards the nature is going towards the health is to provide information about the ancient sciences, Ayurveda and Yoga". This information is just for knowledge and guidelines but not intended for final diagnosis or treatment or cure or prevention of any particular disease. Before applying any suggestions or guidelines in this book or in the book series, consult a trained health professional or well experienced Ayurveda or Yoga therapist. Check with your doctor before taking herbs, oils, food or before adopting any advice or lifestyle from this book. Each person and his/her health issues, causes and body, mind problems are different and unique. Hence before applying any knowledge from this book consult registered medical professional doctor or therapist or authorized Yoga consultant.

PART 1

Explanation of the Original Ayurveda

texts written in the Sanskrit language

from the Ancient periods of India

In Ayurveda, there are many ancient books written in the Sanskrit language. Most of them are written in a typical poetry style known as (Sholka/ Verses). Why like Sanskrit poetry? It was an easy method for listening and singing for easy memorizing many basic principles.

Long ago it was easy memorizing Sanskrit poetry lines at the time of checking patients for ancient physicians. They were memorizing some important lines accordingly for diagnosis or treatments and diagnosis was easy in a few examinations as per referenced Sanskrit lines. Another benefit of these methods was the many things one can express in just few words.

Later on slowly these hearing and singing methods (like a Vedic Shruti) and memorizing methods (Like a Vedic Smruti), and all the oral material are passed down verbally from generation to generation.

Slowly all the words were written as per traditional methods on some leaves and stones and then gradually on natural papers with natural ink. A wooden stick or base of a peacock feather was used as a pen. Later on all the available material was written on various natural papers and cloth.

Then we know that when printing technology was developed many ancient Ayurvedic material was printed and is now available in various book forms.

There is numerous ancient literatures regarding Ayurveda focusing on different methods. These ancient books were called as Samhita. The word ‘Samhita’ means large collection of the related subject in Sanskrit language.

The books were divided in 2 groups.

The first being Bruhat trayi and the second Laghu trayi.

‘Bruhat’ means big, large collection or important basics with all angles of the subject.

‘Laghu’ means small or limited collection or regarding only important subjects with all angles of that subject or touching on important subjects but in a short way of collection from Bruhat Trayi.

‘Trayi’ means, = tri= three

Bruhat trayi = three main big books namely;

1) Charak Samhita - (Written by great physician Charak and his associates)

2) Sushrut Samhita - (Written great ancient Surgeon Sushruta and his associates)

3) Vagbhat Samhita (Ashtang Hridayam) - (Written by great ancient medical practitioner Vagbhat)

Laghu trayi = three books important but in a short way focusing on selected subjects.

1) Madhav Nidan - (Written by Madhava)

2) Sharangdhar Samhita - (Written by Sharangdhara)

3) Bhavprakash - (Written by Bhavmishra.)

Along with these main basic literatures other various types of literatures were also written by different ancient authors. Ayurveda students in India are learning and studying these different literatures.

For example, ‘Kashyap Samhita’ on ancient literature in the pediatric branch, and ‘Nighantu Ratnaakar’ book on information of various herbs and food, etc. Each author was focusing on Ayurvedic principles in different ways and for a different aim.

For example Charak Samhita focused on diagnostic and treatment view in a physician’s roll. While Sushruta Samhita will mention the same things but mainly focus is on surgical aspects and diagnosis.

Let us take a short review on some of the important literatures in the following chapters of Part 1.

Chapter 1

Charak Samhita

It is believed that this ancient book was written around 400-200 BCE. (May be even more ancient) In ayurvedic literatures Charak Samhita is the most important and oldest writings on Ayurveda.

There are many opinions about the name ‘Charak’. Some authorities says that Charak was the best physician. He travelled a lot, observed and conducted surveys on many illnesses, and then recorded his findings in writing. Some authorities say that the name ‘Charak’ was like a ‘school of thought’ and according to many other experts Charak is referred to as the ‘Father of Indian Medicine’. It could have been from a group of scholars or followers of this great physician.

All these groups of sages were yogic persons as well as physicians. Their teacher (Guru) was ‘Atreya Punarvasu’. ‘Agnivesha’ was one of the intelligent students of Atreya Punarvasu. The original book of Charak Samhita was written by Agnivesha and the book was called Agnivesha Samhita (46,000 verses). Most of that literature had been loss until another gifted student and physician, Dridhabala, added back in many verses of the missing text which had disappeared over time. (May be around about 400 AD)

In the ancient book of Charak Samhita many aspects of life and diseases are described. The main focus is on the concept of prevention. Lifestyle, effects of environment, food, herbs, digestion and metabolism, snake bites and other toxicology are subjects that are described in this book. Also described is that special ayurvedic view on anatomy and physiology. In addition, vata, pitta and kapha with their subtypes and properties, various body systems, mind types and details of subtypes of satva, raja, and tama. Many physical and psychological things are described in this Samhita. The texts also cover the definition of healthy body and mind, principles treatments, and the relation of the human body and to the universe. Concept of soul, mind, emotions and their effects on health are also discussed here. How to be an ayurveda teacher and an ayurveda student, plus how to behave, how to talk, and how to live. Many social and personality related subjects are also described.

Information on and causes and treatments about various diseases and their classification is a unique way of thinking and unique diagnostic view of Charaka.

How a physician should be alert at the time of checking patients and which things may mislead our diagnosis is well explained by Charaka. Charaka says that, a physician should treat the patient just like treating our beloved son. During diagnosis concentrate properly only on the patient and enter his body and mind with the lamp of your deep knowledge and experience. Do not go on just superficial observations. Go more and deeper into the mind and soul. Do not only focus on what is happening in any body system. Think of why it is happening and then about that illness of the patient. Think and study all the factors, including environment, mind, metabolism, Dosha, age factor, season, diet habit etc. Many factors should run into the mind of a physician during diagnosis and treatment.

Ethics for doctors and patients both are described in this Charak Samhita. Hence, it is the uniquely special ancient literature that is the oldest in ayurveda. Charak Samhita is a different but best view in medical science.

In short we can say that the principles in this Charaka Samhita were first taught by the ancient sage Atreya Punarvasu. It was written and collected by physician Agnivesha and then it was revised and presented for physicians by Charaka. Still later many of the texts, chapters, and book parts had been lost. Hence, the ancient sage Dhrudbala revised and added more chapters. Presently what is available for us, total, is 120 chapters in various classified parts (Sthana) in short Sanskrit lines and verses.

Disease is disequilibrium of the Dhatus (seven body systems). Health is equilibrium of Dhatus. Health is known as happiness. Disease is known as unhappiness. Charak Samhita