- Probing (esana)
- Extraction (ahrya)
- Drainage or evacuation (vsraya)
- Suturing (sivya).
Treatment regimens
Rasayanaand Panchakarmaare examples of treatment regimens.
Rasayana
This is a specialised branch of clinical medicine in ayurveda meant for
slowing the effect of ageing and to improve intelligence, memory,
complexion, and sensory and motor functions. Numerous single and
compound rasayanadrugs possessing diversified actions, such as immuno-
enhancement, free-radical scavenging, adaptogenic or anti-stress and nutri-
tive effects, are described in ayurveda literature for their use in health
promotion and management of diseases with improvement in the quality of
life.
Panchakarma
This is a holistic rejuvenation therapy.^12 It comprises five different procedures
described by the ayurveda texts for purification of the body:
- Therapeutic vomiting
- Purgation
- Enemas
- Nasal aspiration of herbs
- Therapeutic release of toxic blood.
Safety
Safety of administered medicines
Intrinsic toxicity^13
The following examples illustrate the toxicity problems of certain tradi-
tional Indian medicines.
Khat (Catha edulis)
Khat, pronounced ‘cot’, and also known as qat, gat, chatand miraa, is a
herbal product consisting of the leaves and shoots of the shrub Catha
edulis.^14 It is cultivated primarily in East Africa and the Arabian peninsula,
harvested and then chewed to obtain a stimulant effect. There are many
different varieties of Catha edulisdepending upon the area in which it is
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