Ayurveda is widely considered to be one of the most efficient and holistic treatment system, which

originated in India about 3000 to 5000 years ago. It is regarded as the only complete science of healing of
all times and one of the oldest healthcare system in the world. The term Ayurveda is actually a Sanskrit
word which can be interpreted as science of life. It teaches people to live in harmony with their natural
environment, and helps prevent disease and coordinates the mind and body with the natural surroundings.
Ayurveda is mainly aimed at prevention of disease in a person, but if illness does not diminish, a wide
variety of natural treatments is applied to enable the body to heal itself.
The presence of Ayurveda is considered to be a boon to mankind from God and has helped countless
people and it is still being performed successfully. The concept of Ayurveda first appeared in the ancient
Indian texts and since then it was refined by various famous sages and writers like Charaka, Sushruta and
Vagbhata. The research and work done by these researchers and practitioners were responsible for
recording the procedures of the medicine into an orderly text.
The history of the growth and development of Ayurveda can be attached to the political history of the
Indian subcontinent. Ayurveda was at the zenith of its glory in the 13th and 14th centuries, but the
traditional medicines in India like Ayurveda, Siddha (tribal medicine practiced in south India) and Unani
(traditional medicine practiced in middle-east & south-asian countries, which was introduced to India by
the traders) sustained serious setbacks during 300 years of British colonial rule. These setbacks were
mainly because of the introduction of the allopathic medicine in India during the British Rule and
Ayurveda struggled to find its place during this period. However, after the independence of India in 1947,
the nations traditional medicines began to thrive again. The global acceptance of Ayurveda increased
after the Westerners began to recognize its potential since the mid 1980s. This was mainly due to the fact
that the medicines used in Ayurveda are made from natural herbs and some fruit, spice, or vegetable
extracts making it very eco-friendly and all medicines have absolutely no side effects.
Recently, modern practitioners of Ayurveda have formulated different variants of the traditional drugs
using different formulations and new herbs. The southern state of India, Kerala has added its own unique
traditions to the mix, branding its extraordinary version of the medicine as Kerala Ayurveda.
The climatic condition is another factor which helps in the effectiveness of ayurvedic treatment in Kerala.
The hot and humid climatic condition in Kerala, especially during the monsoon season opens up the skin
pores, which helps in absorbing the medicated oil better while massaging. Another important contributing
factor is the continuous uninterrupted practice of Ayurveda in Kerala without any external interferences
which led to innovative methods of treatments and therapies in Kerala. Some of the unique treatments
which are the exclusive contribution of Kerala to Ayurveda are Shirodhara1, Pizhichil2, Navarakizhi3,
Podikizhi4 etc.
Now, Ayurveda is re-emerging as an autonomous science of healing because of its incomparable potential
of providing complete health and it is also accepted globally because of it endless positives. However, in
recent times Ayurveda has undergone drastic changes. The recent developments in Ayurveda have been
very impulsive with its advancement towards the global acceptance as one of the most sought-after
treatment therapy.
The rising popularity of Ayurveda across the globe has resulted in many developments in the very concept
of Ayurveda making it an exquisite area of interest for people all around the world. The Ayurvedic
education, which was losing its popularity with time has once again sprung up substantially with the
initiative of several governmental as well as other private institutes involved in rendering ayurvedic
education and research. At the present time anyone can easily build his/her career in Ayurveda by
pursuing education at graduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels. The curriculum for ayurvedic

education has also been adjusted as per the ayurvedic teachings specified in the ancient texts of Ayurveda
for preserving its effectiveness and efficiency.
Because of the potentials and capabilities of ayurvedic treatment, the World Health Organisation (WHO)
has accepted it as Traditional Medicine (TRM) globally. The recent statistical data of Ayurveda show that
there has been a substantial growth of ayurveda in recent years with about 20 percent growth alone in the
last year compared to the previous. There are also about 15000 ayurvedic and other herbal products
available in India at present. Studies also show that India manufactures about 6000 crores (approximately
1.5 billion USD) worth of Ayurvedic medicines, out of which 1,500 crores (roughly 25 million USD)
worth medicines are exported making India the second largest exporter of Ayurvedic drugs in the world.
Additionally, around 20,000 small, medium and large ayurvedic drug manufacturers exists in India.
In addition to the above, the Government of India has also shown great interest in promoting ayurveda at
large scale because of the increasing demand for Ayurveda. As the first step the Central Government has
allotted an amount of Rs 990 Crores (about 14 million USD) for the promotion of Ayurveda and
ayurvedic treatment and has also planned to establish 20 medicinal plant processing units in India in
coming five years in order to boost the ayurvedic treatment substantially.
Ayurveda has brought a new ray of hope for those people who are suffering from long term health
problems. The amazing events where people who are paralysed walk, curing of incurable diseases etc.
occurs even today after being treated with ayurveda. The basic principle of ayurveda is to heal a disease
completely from the root and this has raised hope for the people to retain their health completely.
One of the recent trends in Ayurveda that is in the limelight now is the five-step detoxification processes
(Panchakarma). Due to our disorganized lifestyle and due to the intake of junk food, our body would be
filled with toxins at level we cannot even imagine. Panchakarma is the natural treatment process by which
we can detoxify our body and mind. It is a 7 to 9 day process which helps in purifying your blood and
body. The five steps in the process include Vamana5, Virechana6, Nasya7, Vasti8, and Rakta Moksha9.
Many people have undergone this treatment and has found a world of difference and are very happy with
the process.
Another trend in Ayurveda is the introduction of anti-aging skin care through ayurvedic cosmeceuticals in
beauty, health and wellness sector. Cosmeceuticals are topical (applied over the skin) cosmetic
pharmaceutical hybrids meant to increase beauty and health of our skin by activating components that
works on the skins biological function. These topical skin application that delay and/or reverse visible
evidences of aging are called anti-aging cosmeceuticals. Ayurvedic cosmeceuticals are greatly in demand
now due to their safety and holistic action. As ayurvedic cosmeceuticals are made of extracts from certain
medicinal herbs, fruit and essential oils, it is entirely safe to use without any side-effects. Today
Ayurvedic cosmeceuticals are available for a wide variety of use for skin rejuvenation such as skin toning,
smoothing imperfections in skin, and increasing its hydration level, which does reinstitute a radiant and
healthy glow to the skin.
Nutricosmetics is yet another trend in Ayurveda today. Nutricosmetics is the term used to define those
products that are eaten and drunk along with routine skin care products for better results. These products
which are ingested orally to promote youthfulness by acting on or reversing specific physiological
processes usually linked with aging, such as the irreversible breakdown of cells and tissues. Such type of
nutricosmetics are in great demand in Ayurveda as it has large variety of herbs and plant extracts that aid
in this process and are completely free from side effects as it is fully natural.
Another major trend is the treatment of arthritis with the help of Ayurveda. Arthritis is the term used to
describe the condition of painful and stiff joints, mostly in elderly people. Now-a-days at least one in

every 10 people has this ailment. The most common type of arthritis are Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Osteoarthritis, Gout, Juvenile Arthritis, and Psoriatic Arthritis. This disease condition is characterized by
pain, stiffness, swelling etc in one or more joints. Also the person suffering from this disease condition
feels nervous, moody, depressed and tensed. Arthritis is pertained to in Ayurveda as Amavata Ama
means toxin and vata meaning air. Ayurveda explains that the inflammation of the joint is due to the
accumulation of toxins and air in the joints, which eventually leads to severe pain and stiffness. The
process or procedure applied in Ayurveda for treating arthritis is aromatherapy massage. In this process
massage with essential medicated oils are used, and this is believed to assist in removal of accumulated
toxins. In addition to this, sufficient bed rest, suitable medicines, correction in food habits and lifestyle are
also prescribed to the patient as part of the treatment. Yoga is another very effective therapy to reduce
symptoms related to arthritis. Ayurvedic treatment for arthritis is preferred by more and more people
because it helps in providing lasting relief to patients in a natural way without any side-effects.
Another trend lately is the use of Ayurveda for the treatment of skin diseases.
Various skin condition like Psoriasis, Eczema, Urticaria etc can be fully treated with the use of ayurvedic
treatment. Presently Ayurveda is also used for the treatment of different skin problems including
pigmentation and rashes. These types of diseases are treated in Ayurveda with some changes in the diet of
the patient, lifestyle and intake of certain herbs. The usual drugs for the treatment of skin disease in
ayurveda mainly include neem, manjistha, sandalwood etc. In addition to this certain ayurvedic
supplements like neem guard, surakta, raktasodhak bati etc. and some medicinal preparations like amla
powder are also given to the patient. The use of ayurvedic medicines are free from any type of side effects
which is not the case in allopathic treatment where it will have some type of side-effects in the future.
Ayurveda has already hewed a place for itself in the medical sector. People of India and all over the world
have now accepted this unique, time tested science of Ayurveda. Investors, both local and global are now
taking Ayurveda seriously because it has a brilliant future in India as a business prospect and due to the
huge demand for natural treatment. This great demand is due to various factors like stressful work culture,
careless lifestyle, erratic food intake, accumulation of toxins from junk food, the never-ending pursuance
for peace, and growing body disorders with less healthy environment. In the modern times, people are on
a constant run for serenity and are willing to spend recklessly for the services that can provide it in a
natural way, which makes Ayurveda a welcome relief for all.
With the introduction of new technologies to Ayurveda, the popularity of ayurvedic treatment has
increased many-fold and has also created an awareness about the benefits of ayurveda in daily life. The
flourishing roots of ayurvedic treatment across the world is definitely going to make this unique and
natural system of healing a part and parcel of everyones life. Further, those people who are healthconscious will accomplish their ambition of staying fit with the recent trends in Ayurveda.
1Shirodhara
Pouring medicated oil over forehead.
2Pizhichil
squeezing of warm medicated oil onto the body.
3Navarakizhi massaging the whole body with boluses prepared out of red rice.
4Podikizhi massage using cotton bags filled with a hot a mixture of 12 different herbs.
5Vamana
Therapeutic vomiting.
6Virechana
Purgation therapy for removing excess toxins in our body.
7Nasya Administration of medicated drops through the nose.
8Vasti Introduction of herbal extracts and medicated oil preparations into the rectum.
9Rakta Moksha Cleanse the blood through artificial bloodletting (advised only in extremely rare
conditions.)

KAYACHIKITSA an Introduction:
Deals with the treatment of general systemic diseases. Kaya means body. It constitutes the substratum for
health and diseases.The measures(diet, daily regimen,therapies,medicines etc) employed to bring about
equilibrium of this body is dealt in kayachikitsa. Kaya also refers to the digestive fire. Ayurveda believes
that diseases are caused due to imbalance of the digestive fire(agni). Hence, kaya chikitsa deals with the
correction of agni which in turn helps in restoration of health. It finds its parallel in modern discipline of
general medicine .
Kaya chikitsa focuses on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of various general diseases like
diabetes, arthritis, skin disease and many others. The scripts of kaya chikitsa can be traced in the text
Charaka Samhita.
According to kaya chikitsa most of the diseases are the result of an imbalance in the harmony of tridosas
(vata, pitta and kapha) in the body. Kaya chikitsa provides several measures to maintain the balance
between these dosas. Moreover, it also tells how to maintain a harmony between the body, mind and soul.
It also discusses the basic methods of treatment by various types of therapies and purification methods.
Ayurveda has discussed six stages of a disease, which includes aggravation, accumulation, overflow, and
relocation; build up in a new site and manifestation into a recognizable disease. Kaya chikitsa also various
measure to stop any disease in any of the six stages of disease. One of the most important treatment
method followed by kaya chikitsa is panchakarma, which helps in purification and detoxification of body
and maintain the harmony of doshas to attain good health, calmness of mind and happiness in life.
Kayachikitsa uses several herbal and natural therapies to treat various ailments and hence has no side
effects to the patient. It has been successfully implemented in the treatment of several chronic and
common disease such as muscular dystrophy, spinal and cervical problems, Erythroderma, obesity,
thyroid disorders, reproductive disorders, ADHD, severe mental disorders and paralysis.
As per ayurvedic scriptures, our body is made of seven types of dhatu or tissues namely plasma, blood,
muscle, fat, bone, marrow and reproductive fluids. Kaya chikitsa with the help of several medications and
physical and mental therapies helps in the proper maintenance of these factors in our body and thus
keeping us healthy.
KAYACHIKITSA:
yurveda is the holistic approach, which is mainly concerned with the treatment of the body. In the
process, the person undergoes a change in the lifestyle, which includes change in food, clothing and
sometimes even residence. Ayam and vyayam, yogasadhana and gati are some of the vital components
that are included in an ayurvedic treatment. Coming to kayachikitsa, it is the first branch of Astanga
Ayurveda or eight-branched Ayurveda that deals with general medicine. The total treatment procedure is
called Kaya Chikitsa (or internal medicine), wherein kaya means 'body' and chikitsa means 'treatment'.
Kaya Chikitsa mainly deals with the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of general diseases, such as skin
disorders, diabetes, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis and many other disorders. Charaka Samhita is the
most important scripture on kayachikitsa. It discussed the basic principles of treatment, various types of
therapies and purification or detoxification methods. According to this natural treatment, the body of a
person is product of the constant psychosomatic interactions and diseases caused are due to the imbalance
caused in the trishods of the body. This imbalance caused in the three doshas of vata-pitta-kapha is
sometimes, caused by the mind and occasionally by the body's dhatu (tissues) and mala (toxin deposits).
It is then that the kayachitikitsa branch of ayurveda comes to assistance.
Kayachitikitsa is the branch of herbal and holistic medicine, which delves deep into ascertaining the root
cause of the illness. The entire Ayurvedic therapeutics is based on the concept of Agni. The concept of

Kaya (Agni) is unique and is responsible for bio- transformation. As it is known that energy can neither
be created nor can it be destroyed. In human body, Kaya provides the necessary energy for all bodily
activities. The energy provided is derived from the food we eat and the air we breathe. The biological
system of the body transforms this energy to one, which is utilized by the cells. The Treatment There are
six stages of the development of disease are enumerated as aggravation, accumulation, overflow,
relocation, build up in a new site and manifestation into a recognizable disease. In kayachikitsa, there is
always an opportunity to stop the disease at each stage, thereby preventing its full manifestation. One of
the significant methods of treatment under kayachikitsa is panchakarma. In this procedure, the body is
purified and cleansed from the vitiated dosha to achieve the state of homogenizes and happiness. In short,
this method mainly deals with reversing the disease path from its manifestation stage, back into to its site
of original development, through special forms of emesis, purgation and enema.
Rejuvenation - Kaya Kalpa Another unique aspect of kayachikitsa is rejuvenation also known as kaya
kalpa. The term kaya kalpa is principally defined as the renewal of body. According to Ayurveda, the
human body is made of seven types of dhatu or tissues structures - plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone,
marrow and reproductive fluids. To prolong the youthfulness of the body, kayachikitsa applies several
physical and mental disciplinary methods with special medicinal preparations, to rebuild the body's cells
and tissues after the initial process of detoxification, through panchakarma.