Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine, is based on an existence of 5000 years, being the oldest therapeutic method known and used even today successfully not only in India but also in other parts of the world. The power of Ayurveda is based on its great clarity and global understanding of the interrelationships between organic physiological processes and external factors, such as climate, emotional states and especially nutrition, which is seen as the key element in the disease-health relationship.

1. Associate Professor(r) Ladislau
Rosenberg
Romanian Society for the History of
Pharmacy Sibiu
Ayurveda, integrative part of
Complementary and Alternative
Medicine

2. International scientific conference
dedicated to Ayurveda Day 2022
 In this way, I would like to
thank Dr. Florin Bebesel, the
organizer of this important
international conference, for
the invitation to participate
with a presentation on the
role of Ayurveda in modern
medicine.
 Good luck to the participants
in the success of this
scientific event which brings
together specialists from
India and Romania in the
idea of valorizing valuable
medical traditions for the
prevention and treatment of
various diseases !

3. My first contact with Ayurveda
 I received the first
informations about
Ayurveda many years
ago, from my friend and
collaborator Dr.Szalkai
Ivan, the president of
Hungarian Ayurveda
Association, who gave
me a book about this
old therapy,
 Indian Materia Medica,
written by
Dr.K.M.Nadkarni.

4. Some dates about the history of
Ayurveda
 Ayurveda the traditional Indian medicine, is based
on an existence of 5000 years, being the oldest
therapeutic method known and used even today
successfully not only in India but also in other
parts of the world.
 The first written informations about Ayurveda,
comes from the Vedas, where the Sankhya
philosophy as well as the Rig-Veda contain
several sources about it. In later times, famous
doctors (Charaka, Susruta) worked on Ayurveda
and systematized its health and healing
knowledge.

5. The importance of Ayurveda in today's
therapeutics
 The power of Ayurveda is based on its great clarity
and global understanding of the interrelationships
between organic physiological processes and external
factors, such as climate, emotional states and
especially nutrition, which is seen as the key element
in the disease-health relationship.
 Today, about two thirds of India's population uses
Ayurveda, and it has its own ministry (AYUSH) within
the Indian government, which brings together
traditional Indian medical trends. These are Ayurveda,
Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. Unani and
Siddha are not well known outside of India, but the
rest are common methods.

6. What is Ayurveda based on?
 Ayurveda focuses
especially on the
problems of physical
health, diet, herbs used
in the treatment of
various diseases and
places an important role
on massage.
 In the heart of the
theory of Ayurveda is
the concept of vital
energy, called Prana,
which is the original life-
giving energy of the
body and soul.

7. Ayurvedic massage
 Ayurvedic massage
aims to stimulate the
marble points by
touching and using
vegetable oils, among
which the most
recommended is hot
sesame oil which
stimulates complex
physiological
processes and
promotes health.

8. Ayurveda's view of disease
 Disease is a process that begins with health. Health
and balance change as a result of the environment,
which can be in the field of mental activity or
metabolism.
 The outside world enters in our alimentary channel,
where it undergoes not mental but practical digestion,
and the materials of the digested outside world are
incorporated into our body or provide energy. In the
event that the digestion of the ingested material is
incomplete, the improperly digested material enters in
the lymphatic system through the intestinal wall, then
into the plasma, and reaches all the cells of the body
via circulation.

9. Ayurvedic concept of chronic diseases
 According to Ayurveda, chronic diseases are
caused by the "poison" substances deposited in
fat. The "poison" substance is broken down in the
liver, which can lead to damage to the liver in the
event of a heavy load.
 If our digestive system is one of the sources, then
keeping it healthy and in order is an important
task and a preventive and therapeutic
requirement.
 If we are in balance with the environment, then
the disease process does not start, so the real
"prevention" is maintaining the balance by a
healthy life.

10. The most important elements in the
process of metabolism in Ayurveda
 1. the quality, period, quantity, and composition of
the ingested food,
 2. appropriate chopping of the ingested food,
 3. adequacy and quantity of digestive enzymes,
 4. the integrity of the absorption surface,
 5. quantity, composition, daily distribution of
metabolic products.
 So, on the one hand, what and how much we eat,
and on the other hand, the processing,
absorption, utilization of the food we eat, and the
emptying of the remaining (slag) materials.

11. What and how much should we eat?
 The body's most important opportunity to create
balance is in food. The taste of food determines
which dosa it stimulates or inhibits. In order to
maintain health, the daily meal must contain all
flavors. The basis is on energy rich food
containing carbohydrates and spices representing
sour, salty, hot, sweet, tart and bitter flavors.
 The important role of different spices, specific for
Indian gastronomy for good digestion and proper
health.

12. Detoxification in Ayurveda
 In the case of reduced digestion and
malabsorption, "endotoxins" appear, which are
deposited in the fat tissue and modify the
functioning of the internal organs and nervous
system. Eliminating these toxins is the first step in
treating chronic disease.
 Elements of detoxification treatment:
 1. oiling and massage for to release toxins,
 2. heat treatment,
 3. special diet,
 4. increase emptying by using herbs.

13. Panchakarma
 Panchakarma is a
complex detoxification
process that lasts one
to two weeks and
uses massage with
vegetable oils,
enemas with
vegetable extracts,
hot baths and
purging.

14. Medicinal plants used in Ayurveda
 Numerous herbs from
the rich flora of India
are among the
products used by this
ancient medicine in
the treatment of
various ailments.

15. Kumari (Aloe vera)
 It is a medicinal plant
used in Ayurveda, but
also in other countries
medicines and its
Sanskrit name is
kumari.
 Stem (leaf gel), leaf
bark and root are used
in Ayurveda. The effect
of the natural gel is slow
and long-lasting, the
extract has a fast effect,
and the leaf bark
powder is a strong
laxative.

16. Therapeutic effects of Aloe vera
 Primary effect: toxin removal, antibacterial
(Eserichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus,
Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), antiviral
(Varicela zooster, Influenza, Zika, SARS-CoV,
etc.), antipyretic, expectorant, laxative effect, anti-
aging, dermatocosmetic, etc.

17. Tulsi, known as the holy basil (Ocimum
sanctum)
 This plant is very
important in Ayurveda
as a sacred plant with
special healing
powers. Modern
researches has
confirmed for this
plant adaptogenic
properties to combat
stress and
immunostimulatory
effect.

18. Triphala
 which is a mixture of
three fruits specific to
the Indian flora:
Amalaki (Emblica
officinalis), Vibhitaki
(Terminalia belerica)
and Habutaki
(Terminalia chebula).

19. Other 2 plants, which are in the
composition of Thriphala
Vibhitaki (Terminalia
belerica)
Habutaki (Terminalia
chebula)

20. Preparation and therapeutic
utilisations of Triphala
 The fruits are dried in the sun, and then based on
old Ayurvedic recipes, they are transformed into a
powder, which has a detoxifying effect on the
digestive tract, prevents constipation and has a
carminative effect, to combat bloating.

21. Psyllium (Plantago indica)
 Psyllium seeds,
derived from the
plantain species
specific to the Indian
flora, Plantago indica,
regulate intestinal
transit and fight
against constipation,
reduce appetite and
cleanse the colon.

22. Therapeutic uses of Psyllium
 Psyllium reduces the level of cholesterol and
triglycerides in the blood and thus helps prevent
cardiovascular disease. Reduces the risk of
diverticulitis and colon cancer and lowers blood
sugar levels by playing an important role in
controlling type 2 diabetes.

23. Brahmi (Centella asiatica)
 Brahmi, known as
Gotu Kola (Centella
asiatica), has strong
adaptogenic effects,
which provide support
for the nervous
system, improve
mental state and
memory.

24. Therapeutic uses of Brahmi
 Recent research on Brahmi (Centella asiatica),
has confirmed that the Ayurvedic preparations
obtained from this plant, stimulate blood
circulation in the brain and fight against insomnia,
which has led to its use in the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease.

25. Neem (Adizarachta indica)
 Neem (Adizarachta indica) is
a tree from the Indian flora,
from which the leaves are
used for therapeutic effects,
like: antibacterial, antifungal,
anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant and
immunostimulating effect.
 Areas of its antitumor effect
(Hao 2014; Alzohairy 2016):
Prostate, leukemia, breast
tumor, melanoma were
mainly mentioned in the
literature and it can be well
combined with other
antitumor treatment.

26. Neem oil in skin diseases
 Ayurvedic
preparations obtained
from neem are used
both internally and
externally to treat skin
conditions: psoriasis,
eczema, acne,
herpes, candidiasis,
etc.

27. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)
 Shatavari (Asparagus
racemosus), is an
adaptogenic plant rich
in phytoestrogens,
which is used for its
action on the female
sexual apparatus,
being useful in
premenstrual and
menstrual disorders,
but also in
menopause.

28. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
 Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera),
known as Indian
ginseng, is perhaps the
best known plant used
by Ayurvedic medicine
to support male
sexuality. This plant
product is energizing
and invigorating on the
body, fights against
anxiety and strengthens
the immune system.

29. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
 Ginger (Zingiber
officinale) is a plant
used in Indian
gastronomy, but also
in Ayurveda for its
stimulating effect on
the secretions of the
digestive tract, fights
nausea and vomiting,
has a carminative and
anti-inflammatory
effect.

30. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
 Turmeric (Curcuma
longa) has many uses
in traditional Indian
cuisine, but also a
multitude of beneficial
effects on health, due
to its antioxidant,
hepatoprotective,
antibacterial, anti-
inflammatory and anti-
tumor effect.

31. Conclusions
 In the treatment of various diseases, Ayurveda
primarily aims to prevent them and promote health,
which is a very important concept for the medicine of
the third millennium.
 It is important to continue the collaboration of
Ayurveda specialists from India and Romania, for the
prevention and treatment of different diseases and for
improving the quality of life of patients.
 In this context, I announce my collaboration with two
distinguished ladies from India, Dr. Nita Sharma Das
and Dr. Sunita Singh, on the development of a book
about the beneficial effects on health of various
spices, an aspect also mentioned by Ayurveda.

32. Thank you for your kind attention!