3. INTRODUCTION
• The system of medicines which are considered to be Indian in
origin or the systems of medicine, which have come to India
from outside and got assimilated in to Indian culture are
known as Indian Systems of Medicine.
• India has the unique distinction of having five recognized
systems of medicine in this category. They are-Ayurveda,
Siddha, Unani , Yoga and Homoeopathy.
4. AYURVEDA
• Ayurveda by definition implies the ‘knowledge of life’ or
the knowledge by which life may be prolonged. Its origin is
traced far back to the vedic times, about 5000 B.C.
• Atharvaveda, the last of the four Vedas gradually developed
into the science of ayurveda.
5. • The celebrated authorties in ayurvedic medicine were Atreya,
Charaka, Sushruta and Vaghbhatt.
Atreya (800 B.C) is acknowledged as the first great Indian
physician and teacher. He lived in ancient university of
Takshashila.
Charaka (200 A.D), was a court physician to the buddhist king
Kanishka. He founded Charaka Samhita, where he
mentioned some 500 drugs.
Sushruta is known as father of Indian surgery. He complied
the surgical knowledge of his time in his classic Sushruta
Samhita.
6. PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND
• The basic foundation is that whatever present in the Universe
should be present in the body.
• It has been considered that the universe is composed of five
basic elements named Prithvi(Earth),Jala(Water),Teja(Fire)
Vayu (Air) and Akash (Space/Ether).
7. • The human body is derived from them in which these basic
elements join together to form what are known as ‘Tridoshas’
(humors) named as Vata(wind), Pitta(gall) and Kapha
(mucus).
• Disease was explained as a disturbance in the equilibrium of
the three humors, when theses were in perfect balance and
harmony, a person is said to be healthy.
• This theory of disease is strikingly similar to the ‘theory of
four humors’ in the Greek medicine.
8. TREATMENT
• The treatment lies in restoring the balance of disturbed humors
(doshas) through regulating diet, correcting life-routine and
behavior, administration of drugs and resorting to preventive
non-drug therapies known as ‘Panchkarma’ (Five process)
and ‘Rasayana’ (rejuvenation) therapy.
9. • The treatment are of different types-
• Shodhana therapy (purification treatment)
• Shamana therapy (palliative treatment)
• Pathya Vyavastha (prescription of appropriate diet and
activity)
10. SIDDHA SYSTEM
• The Healing Dimension revealed by the Siddhars with
highly systematized technology is 'Siddha medicine'.
• The evolution of Siddha system is believed to date back
1000 – 4000 BC.
• The Siddha system provides preventive, promotive,
curative, rejuvenative and rehabilitative health care with
holistic approach.
11. • The word ‘Siddha’ is derived from the root word ‘Citti’, which
means attaining perfection, heavenly bliss and accomplishment
in life arts such as philosophy, yoga, wisdom, medicine and
above all the art of longevity.
12. • The Siddha system comprises essentially of philosophical
concepts including the four main components:
1. Iatro-chemistry, 2. Medical practice, 3. Yogic practice and
4. Wisdom.
• Siddha system is named after the founders called ‘Siddhars’
who explored and explained the reality of nature and its
relationship to man by their yogic awareness and experimental
findings. Siddhar Agasthiyar is called the Father of Siddha
Medicine.
13. YOGA
• The word “Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which
means “to unite or integrate”.
• Yoga is about the union of a person’s own consciousness and
the universal consciousness.
• It is primarily a way of life, first propounded by Maharishi
Patanjali in systematic form Yogsutra.
14. • A number of postures are described in Yoga literature to
improve health, to prevent diseases and to cure illness.
• The physical postures are required to be chosen judiciously and
have to be practiced in the correct way so that the benefits of
prevention of disease, promotion of health and therapeutic use
can be derived from them.
• The United Nations General Assembly had declared June 21st
as the International Yoga Day.
15. UNANI
• Unani medicine has its origin in Greece.
• It is believed to have been established by the great physician
and philosopher- Hippocrates (460–377 BC).
• Aristotle (384–322 BC) laid down foundation of anatomy
and physiology.
• The next phase of development took place in Egypt and
Persia (the present day Iran).
16. • The Arabs were instrumental in Introducing Unani medicine in
India around 1350 AD.
• Many disciplines like chemistry, pharmaceutical procedures like
distillation, sublimation, calcinations and fermentation were
developed and refined by them.
17. • According to the basic principles of Unani the body is made up
of four basic elements i.e. Earth, Air, Water, fire.
• The body is made up of simple and complex organs. They
obtain their nourishment from four humors namely- blood,
phlegm, black bile and yellow bile.
• In the healthy state of the body there is equilibrium among the
humors and the body functions in normal manner as per its own
temperament and environment. Disease occurs whenever the
balance of humors is disturbed.
18. HOMOEOPATHY
• The physicians from the time of Hippocrates (around 400
B.C) have observed that certain substances could produce
symptoms of disease in healthy people like those of people
suffering from the disease.
• Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, a German
physician scientifically examined this phenomenon and
codified the fundamental principles of Homoeopathy.
• Homoeopathy was brought into India around 1810 A.D by
European missionaries.
19. • The first principle of Homoeopathy ‘Similia Similibus
Curentur’, says that a medicine which could induce a set of
symptoms in healthy human beings would be capable of curing
a similar set of symptoms in human beings suffering from the
disease.
• The second principle of ‘Single Medicine’ says that one
medicine should be administered at a time to a particular
patient during the treatment.
• The third principle of ‘Minimum Dose’ stated that the bare
minimum dose of a drug which would induce a curative action
without any adverse effect should be administered.
20. • Homoeopathy has its own areas of strength in therapeutics,
and it is particularly useful in treatment for allergies,
autoimmune disorders and viral infections.
• Behavioural disorder, Neurological problems and Metabolic
diseases can also be successfully treated by Homoeopathy.
• Apart from the curative aspects, Homoeopathic medicines are
also used in preventive and promotive healthcare.
21. ROLE OF NGO’S
What is an NGO ?
• A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a group that functions
independently of any government. It is usually non-profit. NGOs,
sometimes called civil society organizations, are established on
community, national, and international levels to serve a social or
political goal such as a humanitarian cause or the protection of the
environment.
• NGOs focus on activities in areas involving health or health
emergencies, education, infrastructure, advocacy of minority rights,
support of the poor, and the reduction of crime.
22. The World Bank identifies two broad groups of NGOs:
• Operational NGOs, which focus on the design and
implementation of development projects.
• Advocacy NGOs, which defend or promote a specific cause and
seek to influence public policy.
• Some NGOs may fall under both categories simultaneously.
Examples of NGOs include those that support human rights,
advocate for improved health, or encourage political participation.
23. How Do NGOs Work?
• A non-governmental organization, or NGO, is an organization
established by a group of individuals that wishes to pursue goals
and aspirations that relate to the public, social, or political good
of a nation or the world.
• NGOs focus on a wide range of issues and areas. These might
include women's rights, the health of the environment and planet,
healthcare, political advocacy, labor unions, religious faith, care
of aging adults, and youth empowerment.
24. WHAT ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF
NGOs
Objective of NGOs in Social Development
• Education and Skill Development. NGOs place great emphasis on
promoting education and skill development.
• Healthcare and Well-being.
• Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment.
• Environmental Conservation.
• Community Development.
• Human Rights Advocacy.
• Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation.
25. Some Major Functions and Roles of
NGOs in India are:
1.Child rights
2.Poverty
3.Social Injustice
4.Environment Conservation
5.Human Rights
6.Care for elderly people
7.Women Empowerment
26. 8. Wildlife Conservation
9. Animal Rights
10. Sanitation and Hygiene
11. Humanitarian Relief
12. Health and Nutrition
13. Literacy and Education
14. Refugee Crisis
15. Disease Control and others
27. REFERENCES
• PARK’S TEXTBOOK OF PREVENTIVE AND SOCIAL
MEDICINE, edition 27th
• https://www.keralatourism.org/ayurveda/history/evolution-
literature/charaka-samhita
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2816487/
• https://www.ayush.gov.in/alldomains.html#Health_content
• World Bank, Operations Policy Department. ”Working with
NGOs," Page 14.
