Ayurveda Revolutionized: Integrating Ancient and Modern Ayurveda

The book of Edward F. Tarabilda, right from its name, appears to be revolutionary, integraing the ancient and the modern in Ayurveda. Author has made the optimum use of the truth that Ayurveda is not a rigid system, but a flexible methodology. He associates Ayurveda with Vedic astrology and says that they were originally one. For the author, modern Ayurveda includes Charaka ans Susruta, whereas ancient Ayurveda stems from the pre-Vedic or very early Vedic civilization. He attempts to associate the seven planets with the seven tastes (rasa), tissues (dhatu) and body homours, which seems to be quite original and creative. Another chart, linking the planets, diseases and hormonal systems is also interesting. The author gives the symptoms of the seven types of diseases and the therapeutics very methodically, with many case studies. III-health can have physical causes as also causes that extend into our mental, social and spiritual life. The treatment includes hatha-yoga, message, acupuncture (marma therapy), pancakarama, herbolody and homeopathy. He gives some guidelines for medical practitioners as well. The last part dealing with holistic living, gives eight archetypally distinct approaches to finding God or enlightenment based on the eight aspects of personality. Recreation in necessary to help us restore and regenerate our psychological faculties and physical energies. Thus, the book seems to be really revolutionary in as much as Ayurveda is examined in a creative approach.