Kayachikitsa Made Easy (in 2 Vol Set)

Dr. Devi has been practising Ayurveda as a consultant. Her areas of specialization include obstetrics and gynecology with focus on infertility as also the chronic and the autoimmune disorders. After doing consultancy in cities like Chennai & Mumbai, she is presently based in Hyderabad though her patients are from different parts of India and various countries including USA. Dr. Devi has been increasing the awareness of basic tenets of Ayurveda amongst Telugu speaking people through her TV programs and columns in well-known newspapers & magazines. Her popular books on Ayurveda in Telugu include Prakriti Varalu (2 volumes) and Ammayi Amma Ammamma (Self-health Care Book for Women of all age groups). She has been contributing in the academic field by writing authentic text books in English and has also presented papers in various conferences. Adarsha Vanita Award from Bharatamuni Academy, Uttama Mahila Award from Mumbai Andhra Mahasabha, Sriramanavami Pratibhapuraskaram from Sanatanadharma Charitable Trust are some of the honors she has received for her contribution as an outstanding woman. In addition to her professional work as an Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Devi has been an artist by passion. She does Tanjore paintings and hold exhibitions.

Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, has been in vogue for several centuries. The knowledge has been passed over the generations in the traditional Guru-Shishya Parampara with the help of ancient classical texts authored by great sages. The present book is a successful addition to the Made Easy Series conceived by the author after 'Padarth Vijnan Made Easy', 'Prasuti-tantra Made Easy' and 'Streeroga Vijnan Made Easy'.

Though the book is referred to as Made Easy, Dr. Devi does not compromise with the contents. She has dealt with each aspect of Kayachikitsa well in detail. Her style is so simple and lucid that the book can serve very well as useful text-cum-reference book on Kayachikitsa to all graduate and postgraduate students as well as practitioners of Ayurveda across globe.

Ayurveda is a system of medicine that evolved in India and has survived as a distinct health science from time immemorial. Ayurveda evolved with a rational and logical foundation. The fundamentals of Ayurveda are essentially true for all times and do not change. These are based on human factors and intrinsic causes.

Ayurveda evolved as a health science over a period of time with the aim of achieving Purusharthas. Indian philosophies and epics explain four Purusharthas or purposes of life, viz. Dharma (virtue), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire or enjoyment) and Moksha (salvation). All the Vedic Darshanas give great importance to Moksha, whereas the heterodox Hindu philosophy, Carvakadarshana focuses mainly on Artha and Kama. There are changes in the attitudes of people in the modern age and match more with Charavaka philosophy. Whatever changes may take place in attitudes of mankind, a healthy body is essential to achieve anything and there cannot be any doubt in this regard.

In order to attain success in this fourfold purpose of life or any one of the four purposes of life, it is essential not only to maintain a disease free life but also maintain a perfectly healthy state of body, mind and spirit. Health is the most important aspect of life to achieve all the four Purusharthas (aims of life).

It is a fact that diseases are the destroyers of health, wellbeing and life. And a diseased body can never make any effort to achieve any of the Purusharthas. A healthy body only can help in achieving the Purusharthas. Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that helps mankind in achieving their purpose of life.

There are eight specialities called ashta-angas, viz. Kayacikitsa, Shalya tantra, Shalakya tantra, Kaumarabhritya, Agada tantra, Bhutavidya, Rasayana and Vajikarana. Kayacikitsa is the first of these eight branches and is the most important part of Ayurveda. It can be considered as the soul of Ayurveda. Its unique approach in diagnosis and treatment is the main reason for its existence even today.

There are ancient texts describing the Kayacikitsa aspect of Ayurveda and there is also a good number of books on this subject written by recent authors. My motto of writing Ayurvedic books as Made Easy Series is to make the understanding of the subject simple. Simple does not mean that it is made into a brief book or any part of the subject is missing in it. I have chosen to write it in a very simple language without passive voice and tried to explain the principles in a lucid style covering each and every aspect of Kayacikitsa.

This book is meant for the graduates, postgraduates and also for the practitioners. This is also an important Ayurvedic book of lifelong reference.

I wrote it with complete dedication to the subject and with full hope that it will serve the purpose of understanding and practicing Kayacikitsa. Any suggestions from any of my readers are welcome to make the book more useful.

With great regards to all the ancient and modern rishis who have contributed to Ayurveda.

Sample Pages