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Vata reaching the thighs makes both thighs stiff and motionless; they become cold, numb and so heavy that they seem to be someone else's legs, with unbearable pain, anxiety, body ache,…

The introduction says the Yajurveda describes the mantra-accompanied offering of particular parts of sacrificial animals, and that its Brāhmaṇas and Āraṇyakas, especially the Aitareya…

The introduction says no definite time can be given for the origin of Ayurveda, the science of life, because the need for it begins wherever living beings have life; since it is essential…

The complication in which a purifying medicine goes neither up nor down or acts too little; the text gives its causes, signs and stepwise management.

Diarrhoea, burning, thirst, fever, giddiness, intoxication, heat and drying are said not to arise without aggravated pitta.

The introduction says nidāna, pūrvarūpa (prodromal signs), rūpa (signs), upaśaya and saṁprāpti are called the five means of diagnosis (nidāna-pañcaka), and that diseases are to be examined…

The introduction says the work includes a section on fatal signs (riṣṭādhikāra), full of secrets known through the yoga practice of great sages.

The publisher's note opens with the saying 'the body is indeed the first means of dharma' and says that a healthy body is necessary for religious practice, and that only through a healthy…

Kushtha, the second of the major diseases in chapter 11, is said to arise from all the vitiated doshas and to take eighteen forms. The text gives its pathogenesis (wrong conduct or…

The introduction says meat, like wine and honey, is used in no medicinal formula of the Kalyāṇakāraka, because obtaining it involves killing living beings and its renunciation is needed to…

The introduction says that the treatment portion of the Kalyāṇakāraka resembles Caraka to a large extent, apart from the parts dealing with honey, wine and meat.

Mutrakricchra is presented as eight further kinds of urinary obstruction (ghata read as kricchra, difficult passing) arising from the three doshas, their combination, injury, faeces, gravel…

The opening of chapter 19 treats poisoning as a danger to kings: who poisons, how a poisoner and poisoned food are recognised, and the signs of poison in food, drinks and personal articles.

The publisher's note says that the speech of the Vītarāga Lord contains Ayurveda for the sake of religious practice, but that because of the faults of the present age many of those…

The introduction says that before the doṣas lodge in a site, accumulation and the following stages take place and the definite form of the disease approaches; at this time the prodromal…

The text calls faulty the one-sided views of those who see substance, taste, potency and post-digestive effect as separate: if taste, potency and vipaka were different from the substance…

In its survey of the Vedic period the introduction says the story of the sage Cyavana supports a formula (yoga) that restores youth.

Scrotal enlargement (vriddhi) is described as swelling of the scrotum produced when a dosha, aggravated by its own causes, reaches the vessel of the scrotum with the help of vata; seven…

The introduction says mental health is maintained by brahmacarya and mental restraint, especially restraint over all the objects of the senses. Śukra dhātu, ojas and param ojas are the…

Snake poison is called the most dreadful of animal poisons; snakes are of five kinds, divine serpents poison by sight and breath and earthly snakes by their fangs, and the text lists why…

Vata is presented as the root cause of many local and whole-body diseases. Each of the five vayus, aggravated in its own seat, causes the diseases of that seat; joined with kapha, pitta or…

Continuing the account of digestion, the introduction says the food is moved onward by a propulsive action, and samāna vāyu is needed for this and to keep the food moist; its actions of…

Vatarakta is said to arise from burning, pungent, hot and dry food in the hot season and long fast riding, which burn the blood and provoke vata; the corrupted blood collects in the feet…