Ancient
wisdom passed down through generations has given us timeless practical
philosophies for maintaining a healthy and peaceful life. At present,
India has many health care systems which have a holistic approach towards
treating health ailments. They provide welcome relief to people tired of
medicines which provide symptomatic remedies rather than a permanent cure.
To counteract the stresses of modern life and to achieve health
and fulfillment without frequent recourse to strong medications, more and
more people are turning to mother nature. "A healthy body in a
healthy mind" is the doctrine followed by nature cure in Rajasthan.
The Natural Law of healing prescribes solutions which are derived
completely from nature and are free from any harmful side-effects.
There
are four prevailing systems of health-care in India, besides Allopathy or
the modern western system; Homepathy, Ayurveda, Unani, and Nature Cure.
The first three are concerned primarily with curing illness rather than
with preventing it, but the nature cure system does not requires drugs, it
relies on an intelligent use of the means provided by nature itself.
Ayurveda
is a medical-metaphysical healing science. It helps a healthy person to
maintain health and a diseased person to regain health. Siddha medicine
which is made from herbs, minerals and animal projects is based on the
belief that all diseases are caused by an imbalance in "humuors"
(fluids) in the human body. Siddha has also developed a discpline called
Kaya Kalpa for longevity and freedom from illness.
Homeopathy
prescribes simple, balanced and easily adnistered medicines which are
derived from nature. The unani system is practiced by hakims and vaids in
rural as well as urban parts of the country. The Yoga philosophy is
another dimension of nature cure. Yoga has powers to claim the mind,
relieve stress and tension and stimulate blood circulation and overall
health. The Yoga postures and their variants work on all the body systems.
They are also helpful in toning the muscles and strenghthening the
internal organs. There are special postures recommended to offer relief
from problems such as headaches and hypertension.
The asanas the
pranayama, of yaga can be practised by people of all ages with the help of
an experienced instructor and once the techniques are mastered, the
benefits are not merely physical but also metaphysical. Yoga helps in
becoming conscious of the calm and higher source of strength which resides
deep within all of us.
Today physiotherapy and exercise schools
in the west are adapting movements from yoga postures because of their
wide applicability and therapeutic uses.
Come to Rajasthan and
discover the inner strength within you, because the solution to all our
problems lies within us and nature which surrounds us.
Rajasthan, like other states of India, also has a
vast network of traditional health care institutions. Not only in the
government sector but also in the private sector, the practice of healing
through naturopathy and alternate therapies is still practiced.
Despite
the impact of modern medicine, Rajasthan still preserves and promotes its
traditional health-care system based on naturopathy and the Vedic approach
to health.
In ancient days, each state had a separate department
of medical facilities headed by a "Raj Vaida" and also
patronized indigenous health care systems. through Vyayamshala
(gymnasium), wrestling, weight lifting and Arogyashala. The rulers and
landlords often donated land to establish an Arogyashala or Ashram within
their respective areas. Apart from this, the rich trading communities also
built many Chiktasalya (dispensaries) which were attached either with
temple management or a trust of their caste. The work of health care was
treated as a form of charity.
Today, a number of nature cure and
yoga centres are spread all over Rajasthan. They not only offer a perfect
system of health care and diagnostic methods but also facilities of steam
bath, mud bath, rigorous dieting and physical exercises. Patients have
been coming for treatment to these centres from all over the country and
even from as far as Britain, U.S.A., Australia and Europe.