Dosha Dhatu Mala Vignyan: Integrative Human Physiology

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Dr Hanmanthrao S Palep graduated in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from the renowned R. A. Podar Medical College (Ayurvedic), Mumbai in 1962. Thereafter he completed MBBS and MD in Modern Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the prestigious Grant Medical College, Mumbai in 1973. He held the post of Hon. Professor at Grant Medical College and also part time Professor at R. A. Podar Medical College for more than two and half decades. He has been a teacher and examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in both Modern Medicine and Ayurveda at Mumbai University over three decades. He is the only recognized teacher at the Mumbai University who is qualified in both, Modern Medicine and Ayurveda. He is a renowned gynaecological surgeon, an eminent obstetrician and infertility specialist. Currently he is the National Professor and visiting scientist at Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing, Mumbai.

More than three decades back, we launched a national programme on "Ancient Insights and Modern Discoveries in Life and Health Sciences." This was called 'one of the most important projects undertaken in independent India' by Lok-Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan. This initiative in some sense was much ahead of its time. But it succeeded in initiating the new fires of research from the old but blazing embers.

A critical mass of some outstanding minds got inspired by the programme. Some of these are Prof. R.D. Lele, Dr R. A. Mashelkar, Dr M.S. Valiathan, Dr Rama Vaidya, Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, Prof. Sharadini Dahanukar, Dr H. S. Palep, Dr V. Prakash and several more. A fresh breeze of synergy between Ayurveda and Biomedical Sciences was blowing across the nation and the world. The antipathy between different medical 'pathies' started thawing for the first time. Some remarkable research institutions were taken up by the R & D leaders.

Once again, after the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic, the nation has woken up to the inadequacies of any single health system in handling major challenges. The Niti-Aayog has coined a new slogan, "One Nation - One Healthcare". As a consequence, the old intersystem animosities have surfaced again. A healing touch is needed to take healthcare forward.

To assuage such a health divide in India, we need to encourage all genuine and intelligent efforts to build bridges of communication. The competence to be architects of such bridges requires dual expertise in education, competence and authenticity in diverse systems of medicine. Our medical educational system is not conducive to have experts with such qualities. There are only a small number of specialists educated both in Ayurveda and Modern Medicine. Dr H.S. Palep is one of them.

Ayurveda, the Hindu system of medicine, is the proud heritage of India. It literally means the science of life. The uniqueness of this system is its holistic approach to life that is centred on nature and its rhythms. One can trace its origin to antiquity. Ayurveda was revealed to the great Rishis, who desired the benefit of long life (Ayush kameeya) for all people, at least 6000 years ago. Ayu is derived from the root "Eti gachati iti Ayu," meaning one which is on the move. Life or ayu is that which preserves the body, organs of the senses and actions, mind and atma. It is also called dhari and jeevitam.

The word Veda sounds more like a philosophy than a science, whereas vidya is science. Ayurveda is a blend of philosophy, art and the science of human life, both in the states of health as well as disease. It is one of the most ancient codified medical systems in the world. It encompasses eight specialities, viz., kaya (internal medicine), baala (paediatrics), graha (planetary or unknown causes; mental and as well infectious diseases), urdhwanga (head & neck), shalya (surgery), damshtra (toxicology), jara (geriatrics), vrishya (rejuvenating medicine).

The ancient Hindus believed that life is a mixed bag of experiences, which can be wholesome, unwholesome, happy and sorrowful. Therefore it becomes necessary for man to learn and know, what is appropriate as well as safe and beneficial for a healthy, happy and long life. Ayurveda provides all the answers towards this goal in terms of life style, diet, drugs and procedures. It has evolved through a relentless quest, extending over millennia, by the seers of yore. Thus it is timeless experiential wisdom that has crystallised for the prevention of disease and relief from suffering. Any sort of suffering, either physical or mental is disease, and health is happiness. The objectives of this science are to ensure the maintenance of positive health by an individual and also to provide relief from disease.

Ayurveda defines health as a state when the key elements, viz., doshas, agni, dhatus and malas are in a state of balance or equilibrium in an individual, his soul and mind are in a state of happiness and bliss and his organs of cognition and conation are functioning perfectly.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages