•  Who shall read this book

This book provides concepts of Ayurveda to the students, new entrants in the ayurvedic field, medical practitioners and general readers. It is an understanding into the science and Philosophy of Ayurveda.

•  Approach in writing the book

Presented study of Ayurveda is approach of a constructionist that would have been in the mind of its creators. It is neither the compilation of text available in the ancient scriptures of Ayurveda nor the deep intellectual enterprise into the Vedic Upanishads and Darshans; but it relates to the approach that has been adopted in writing the Ayurveda. It is an attempt to strengthen the Ayurvedic concept of medicine by studying the intellectual evolution; and chronological history with consequent evolution of the knowledge in the medical field.

Foremost aim of the book is to develop faith in the basic principles of Ayurveda, which are real experiences and not abstract as considered by western thinkers. Relevance of such an attempt is the need of hour when the whole world is looking towards the traditional medical sciences to find answer to the invasion of stress related disorders; when the scientific reality is standing alongside the philosophy and experiencing the change in viewpoint (paradigm).

•  Evidence based medicine and Ayurveda

It also attempts to put forward the concept of evidence as mentioned in ancient Vedic texts and as adopted by Ayurveda. It should give new insight to the “Evidence based medicine' and formulation of treatment protocol accordingly.

Presented text appreciates the different scientific methods in universal view. Science is not different from philosophy; it only relates to the usefulness of the philosophy in context of human kind. When the usefulness becomes universal then there is no distinction left between the science and philosophy.

•  Wholistic Ayurvedic medical science and modern medical science

The success of modern medical science was warranted over the wholistic Ayurvedic medical science in present living circumstances when the emphasis is on materialistic comfort not inner happiness; when the supremacy is exerted by wealth not health; when the success is determined by competitiveness not ability to co-operate; when individual success is given higher rating over community success. Speed is the crux of materialistic world whereas balanced approach is the essence of wholistic living.

Now it is being felt that though modern drugs have been proved life saving at many instances yet do not constitute the best treatment. There is no way to completely eradicate the invasion of germs. Newer disease-resistant strains of germs keep emerging and there is no end to the endevour in finding new antibiotics. Moreover, The assumption that germ is the cause of disease is no more valid.

Main error of biomedical model is confusion between disease process and disease origin. Modern science tries to understand the mechanism of disease instead of the cause of disease. Conceptually, cause of disease should take precedence over the mechanism of disease.

The new assumption - ‘the germ is not the cause of disease; it is the inability of body to prevent the germs from invasion, which leads to the diseases' - is gaining strength slowly. Weakening of the body is associated with its inability to maintain harmony with the surrounding. Sudden change in the weather conditions and unhealthy dietary patterns can disturb the normal functional rhythm of the body. Understanding of functional harmony between different components of the body; and between body and its surrounding has opened windows to the new approach.

•  Utility of modern medical science

Modern scientific approach is often criticized for being too unstable as the scientific theories change every year. These paradigm shifts are not the failure of scientific methods but essential components of the process of gaining knowledge.

Study of history of science confirms the various stages of knowing and evaluates the viewpoint (paradigm) of modern science. This study justifies the utility of immense data collected by the modern scientific studies. This study also discusses the limits of contemporary scientific approach.

Whole exercise of the science in quest of absolute determinism has finally induced the wholistic approach in scientific methodology. Facts are no more observable (demonstrable) phenomena only; but the non-demonstrable phenomena are also accepted as facts. It is widely accepted that there is something beyond the ‘scientific reason'. Eminent scientists have variously described this as instincts or intuitions, which are facts but cannot be demonstrated.

•  Limitations of the modern medical science

Ignorance of the environment has brought the modern medical science into the situation that the physicians have accepted the degenerative disorders as the general wear and tear of the body. The modern physicians consider the social and environmental problems outside the domain of medical science. So they are unable to understand and cure the degenerative disorders. John Knowles says that ‘the basic biological mechanisms of most of the common diseases are still not well enough known to give clear directions to the preventive measures'. He emphasized that as long as researches would not understand the interplay of the body, mind and environment; the phenomenon of healing will remain illusion to medical science.

•  True medical science

Aim of the true medical science is to support the body in living a long and healthy life by maintenance of health and removal of diseases; otherwise, whatever miracles it may produce, it cannot be called as true medical science. Ayurveda has developed the principles of life style in harmony with the surrounding for prevention of disease.

Mysterious looking nature of the rituals and practices in Indian culture is standing on the deep-rooted pillars of universal knowledge; which has been compiled in the Vedas, Upanishads, Darshans and other treatise. Ayurveda is art of true healing and one of the subsidiary texts of Vedas.