Vaidya Atreya Smith

Vedanga Jyotish & Ayurveda: Medical astrology

Atreya — 2026-07-08T09:48:04Z

Traditional medicine is focused on determining the cause of disease so that the treatment can be individualized and directly stop the pathology. This can result in a cure or improvement depending largely on if the patient is treated early enough. Jyotish, or Vedic astrology, allows the doctor to see and prevent disease trends as well as to understand the gravity of the disorder. Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India, has its own view of anatomy and physiology, pathology and (…)

- Books in english

Caraka Samhita - A transliteration of Nidanasthanam

Atreya — 2024-06-14T08:45:02Z

Nidanasthana, the second section of the Caraka Samhita, has guidelines for diagnosing disease based on detailed history and clinical examination.
This sthana deals with principles of diagnosis and studies diagnostic principles in view of two important aspects; knowledge of the patient and knowledge of the disease. It always considers interaction between the individual and the pathology. The Nidanasthana also considers the interrelationships of different diseases. A single way of looking (…)

- Books in english

Why medical doctors (MD) make poor Ayurvedic physicians

Atreya — 2022-01-16T11:36:41Z

There are several reasons why modern medical doctors make poor Ayurvedic physicians. Most of these reasons are also important to understand why modern medical doctors should not be involved in setting up Ayurvedic study programs or teaching Ayurveda in the West. Note that modern medicine is excellent for emergency care and this article is not concerned with the pros and cons of modern medicine.
The first major issue with modern medical doctors studying and working in the field of (…)

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Application of Ayurvedic Treatments (Vol 5)

Atreya — 2016-01-22T17:09:16Z

This textbook represents 29 years of clinical practice in with both Indian and Western herbs. The majority of books on herbal medicine teach students about individual plants and the disorders they help to correct. The problem with this approach is that people end up using the herbs symptomatically. This textbook teaches about real life problems and which herbs, or combination of herbs, could be used to stop the pathology associated with it.
This is done by stopping Dosha Vriddhi (Dosha (…)

- Books in english

Disorders of Mother's Milk - Nursing

Atreya — 2015-11-18T17:04:24Z

Caraka, Sushruta and Vagbhata agree that there are three basic causes to modify or change mother's milk and make it unwholesome for the baby. They are:
1. Nutritional factors –wrong diet, overeating, wrong food combinations, etc. 2. Physical factors – lack of exercise, trauma, over exertion, lack of sleep, etc. 3. Psychological factors – fear, anxiety, stress, anger, etc.
The above factors will cause the milk to become indigestible for the baby and cause pathologies such as colic, (…)

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How to Make Vacha Nasya Oil

Atreya — 2015-11-18T16:56:25Z

Using Acorus calamus (Vacha) to make Nasya Oils
In my book "Dravyaguna for Westerners" the monograph on Acorus calamus (Vacha) speaks about making a Nasya Oil (for treatment of Vata through the nose, e.g. Nasya). It does not explain HOW to make the oil however, so here is the methodology. If you just decoct Acorus calamus in water and then oil – as in a normal massage oil – you will get a headache from using the Calamus oil in the nose. You need to do the following:
Combine 1 part of (…)

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Clinical Protocols & Treatments in Ayurveda (Vol 3)

Atreya — 2015-03-07T09:03:49Z

Ayurveda is a beautifully complete system of traditional medicine. It does not rely on others systems, modern or ancient, to understand treatment protocols or clinical treatments. Nor does it rely on modern science for therapeutics in general.
This textbook explains clearly the Ayurvedic understanding of treatment as per the individual vs the disorder. Whereas Volume 2 established the protocols for Pathology and Diagnosis, this Volume 3 focuses on treatment protocols for different (…)

- Books in english

Pathology & Diagnosis in Ayurveda (Vol 2)

Atreya — 2014-12-09T17:47:45Z

This textbook explains clearly the Ayurvedic understanding of pathology and how to diagnosis the different stages of disease in the body and mind. Based on the functional nature of Ayurvedic Anatomy & Physiology Ayurvedic pathology recognizes several steps before disease as we know it in the West manifests.
Hence, a profound understanding of pathology allows Ayurveda to prevent disease before it becomes “disease”. Ayurveda is truly a preventive medicine when understood correctly. This (…)

- Books in english

Anatomy and Physiology in Ayurveda (Vol 1)

Atreya — 2014-12-09T17:33:20Z

Anatomy and physiology in Ayurveda are based on the body's function rather than structure. Eventually both are of equal importance. Nevertheless, this fundamental difference is primary in understanding the logic of Ayurvedic medicine as a whole. This textbook is written for the Western student of Ayurveda who lacks the cultural context of India – the context that views the body, and creation in general, functionally.
Many different details on Ayurvedic physiology are clearly distinguished (…)

- Books in english

Caraka and the Acquisition of Knowledge

Atreya — 2013-11-03T13:52:49Z

Several years I was editing some the work from a student and was shocked at the total misunderstanding he had about the four classical ways humans acquire knowledge. This was especially shocking as he had been my assistant for several years teaching anatomy / physiology for my school in France. Therefore, I am posting the Sutras of Caraka with an explanation as modern students - especially those trained in science like this student - are unable to fathom.
Caraka has the following to say (…)

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