The Solar System Essay Sample free essay sample

1 ) What do we intend by a geocentric existence? Contrast a geocentric position with our modern position of the existence. Geocentric describes the thought that everything revolved around Earth. compared to modern cognition that everything revolves around the Sun ( our star ) . 2 ) Briefly describe the major degrees of construction ( such as planet. star. galaxy ) in the existence. Planet: ( a ) Orbits a star. ( B ) big plenty for its ain gravitation to do it round. ( degree Celsius ) has cleared most other objects from its orbital way. Sun: The star of our solar system.Star: Large. glowing ball of enkindled gas that generates heat and visible radiation through atomic merger in its nucleus. Galaxy: A great island of stars in infinite. incorporating a few hundred million or trillion stars held together by gravitation. revolving a common centre. 3 ) What do we intend when we say that the existence is spread outing? How does enlargement lead to the thought of the Big Bang? Observations of distant galaxies show that the existence is spread outing by an mean distance addition between galaxies. We will write a custom essay sample on The Solar System Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We are able to follow back at this rate to find what we were all one existence and where the Big Bang might hold started. 4 ) What did Carl Sagan mean when he said that we are â€Å"star stuff† ? Star material refers to the cognition that all the elements in the existence are created from stars. including ourselves. The bigger the star. the heavier the elements. 5 ) How fast does light go? What is a light-year? Light travels at a velocity of 300. 000 km/sec. From Moon to Earth. it takes about 1 2nd for visible radiation to go. From the Sun to the Earth is takes about 8 proceedingss. On light-year’s travel = 10 trillion kilometers ( 6 trillion stat mis ) . 6 ) Explain the statement: The farther off we look in distance. the farther back we look in clip. Because light takes so long to go these long distances. the visible radiations we are seeing are really millions of old ages old. 7 ) What do we intend by the discernible existence? Is it the same thing as the full existence? The discernible universe includes everything that we can potentially see. anything less than 14 billion light years from Earth’s place ) . It is non the same thing as the full existence. merely the part that we can see. 8 ) Describe the solar system as it looks on the 1-to-10 billion graduated table used in the text. How far off are the other stars on this same graduated table? The nearest star system to our ain. Alpha Centauri. is about 4. 4 light-years off. That distance is approximately 4400 kilometer ( 2700 myocardial infarction ) on the 1-to-10 billion graduated table. or approximately tantamount to the distance across the U. S. 9 ) Describe at least one manner to set the graduated table of the Milky Way Galaxy into position and at least one manner to set the size of the discernible existence into position. If you cut down our solar system by a scale factor of 1 billion. the diameter of the Milky Way Galaxy become 100 metre. ( a football field ) . and our microscopic solar system is located on the 20 pace line. If you stood at our place. 1000000s of star systems would lie within the range of your weaponries. 10 ) Use the cosmic calendar to depict how the human race fits into the graduated table of clip. The full human civilisation falls into merely the last half minute on the cosmic calendar. where one month is more than 1 billion old ages. 11 ) Define astronomical unit. ecliptic plane. and axis joust. Explain how each is related to Earth’s rotary motion and/or orbit. Astronomic unit: Earth’s mean orbital distance. equivalent to about 150 million kilometres or 93 million stat mis. Ecliptic plane: Earth’s orbital plane. level way Axis joust: 23 1/2 grades perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. points about precisely to Polaris ( current Northern Star ) 12 ) What is the form of the Milky Way Galaxy? Describe our solar system’s location and gesture. The form of the Milky Way Galaxy is a revolving. pinwheel-like disc. Our solar system is located in a 230-million-year orbit. about 28. 000 light years from the centre of the Galaxy. 13 ) Distinguish between our galaxy’s disc and aura. Where does the cryptic dark affair seem to shack? Most of the mass of the galaxy lies outside of the seeable disc in what we call the aura. The affair exterior is called dark affair because we have non detected any light coming from it. 14 ) What cardinal observation leads us to reason that the existence is spread outing? Use the raisin bar theoretical account to explicate how these observations imply enlargement. An spread outing raisin bar shows that if person was populating in one of the raisins inside the bar. they could calculate out that the bar is spread outing by detecting that all the other raisins are traveling off. with more distant raisins traveling off faster. In the same manner. we know that we live in an spread outing existence because all galaxies outside our Local Group are traveling off from us. more distant 1s traveling faster.

SSD Eligibility

SSD Eligibility Fewer People Qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) Under Tighter Standards Stricter eligibility standards have led to a decreasing number of new applications for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). A full article detailing the issue appears here.Last year, fewer than 1.5 Million U.S. citizens applied to the Social Security Administration for SSD benefits- the lowest number of applicants reported since 2002. According to current numbers, the reversal of a decades-old trend continues. The SSA pins declining numbers on several key factors:Baby Boomers at retirement age are leaving the system A tighter application process results in fewer approvalsBetter job numbers bring more jobs for the disabledPer those who study these trends, the Social Security Administration has made the application process for benefits harder- and has closed 67 field offices since 2010. The effects quickly became apparent when SSA tightened standards for disability claims. The odds of filing a successful appeal fell from 69 pe rcent in 2008 to 48 percent in 2015.In September of 2014, 8.96 Million Americans received disability benefits- dropping down to 8.63 Million in May of 2018. This sharply contrasts disability roles that have more than doubled within the past 25 years.  We Can HelpIf you are disabled and unable to work, call Disability Attorneys of Michigan  for a free confidential consultation. We’ll let you know if we can help you get a monthly check and help you determine if any money or assets you receive could impact your eligibility for disability benefits.Disability Attorneys of Michigan works hard every day helping the disabled of Michigan seek the disability benefits  they need. If you are unable to work due to a physical, mental or cognitive impairment call Disability Attorneys of Michigan now for a free consultation at 800-949- 2900.Let Michigan’s leading social security disability law firm help you get the benefits you deserve.Disability Attorneys of Michigan, Compassio nate Excellence.

Health Information Systems Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Health Information Systems - Research Paper Example fore is on the fact that despite the proliferation of information system retrieval technologies such as memory chips and CDs, It is still unclear as to whether Physicians use such data retroviral technologies objectively or not. Thus a framework was developed based on certain criteria and all the earlier studies were thane evaluated according to the criteria set into the framework developed by the authors. Some of the criteria include frequency of use, purpose of use, user satisfaction, searching utility, searching failure etc. A total sample of 47 articles was chosen from which further classification was made in order to develop the framework under study. This study basically therefore attempted to develop a framework by performing the review of the already performed studies on the subject. Authors searched the data relating to the medical informatics from 1996 to 1998 with special emphasis on those studies which involved the Physicians. The most obvious rational for the study was therefore to review the earlier studies and compare them according to the set criteria for further exploration and as to how earlier studies actually contributed towards the development of comprehensive set of knowledge and understanding regarding the use of information retrieval technologies by the Physicians. As discussed, that this study is based on the review of already published studies to formulate a framework for assessment purposes. Authors checked the citations of the studies as well as the bibliographies of 49 studies. Most of the material has been taken from the earlier published material and studies from databases such as MEDLINE and LISA. The basic criteria for selection of the articles was based on the fact that whether any such study presented the classification of the information retrieval technologies or whether such technologies were used by the Physicians as well as students. Based on the designed framework, authors looked for the defined criteria in these studies

Ten Socio-Psychological Motivation that can be satisfide by a Tourist Research Paper

Ten Socio-Psychological Motivation that can be satisfide by a Tourist Visiting Fiji - Research Paper Example Tourists are motivated to travel because of different issues. This essay analyses the socio-psychological motivators that make tourists travel to their various destination. Our destination that we will focus on is the country of Fiji and we will indicate how each of these socio-psychological needs is satisfied in the country of Fiji with use of various pictures. 2.0 Republic of Fiji This is an island nation found in South Pacific Ocean. It is located in Melanesia. It is bordered by several countries like Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga and Samoas. It covers an area of 194,000 square kilometres and a population of around 78,000. It is a country with several islands to be estimated to be more than 332 and only 106 are uninhabited. It has abundance of minerals forests and fish resources. One of the main sources of income of the country is tourism industry. It also enjoys a source of foreign exchange from sugar exports. Fiji is renown of its ability to build the finest vessels of pacific. It has four major divisions those are central, eastern, northern and western. They are further divided into 14 provinces (Wright, 1986, pp.6-24). 3.0 Tourism in Fiji Tourism is one of major sectors of an economy of countries that have the capability of and luck of participating in it. Fiji supports tourism industry and is thus growing at a faster rate in terms of the number of people employed in tourism industry of around 45000. It is a private driven sector and contributes approximately 25 percent of GDP of the country. It has several holiday opportunities, beautiful beaches and places that allow tropical romance. It has white sand, pristine reefs, lush rainforest and great accommodation facilities. Individuals have embraced diverse culture although they still preserve their indigenous customs. It has good established airline services like Air Pacific, Air Calin, Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines and several more airstrips (Wright, 1986, pp.6-24). They enjoy a variety of sports activities comprising of rugby, golf and several festivals. They are a mixture of Fijians, Chinese, Indians, colonial Europeans and other pacific islanders. They pra ctice their famous culture of fireworks. They have provided necessary transportation services like buses, cars, ferry services and helicopters for hire. Fiji has beautiful sites to host weddings and honeymoons. They also provide wedding packages. One of the colourful islands for tourists is Vanua Levi and Taveuni located in the northern part of Fiji (Derrick, 1951, pp.112-118). Other eye catching sites to see include Savusavu pearl farm and hot springs, Waisali nature reserve

The Alma Ata Declaration

The Alma Ata Declaration The Alma Ata Declaration was formally adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Alma Ata (in present Kazakhstan) in September 1978 (WHO, 1978). It identifies and stresses the need for an immediate action by all governments, all health and development workers and the world community to promote and protect world health through Primary Health Care (PHC) (ibid). This has been identified by the Declaration as the key towards achieving a level of health that will allow for a socially and productive life by the year 2000. The principles of this declaration have been built on three (3) key aspects which include: Equity It acknowledges the fact that every individual has the right to health and the realisation of this requires action across the health sector as well as other social and economic sectors. Participation It also identifies and recognises the need for full participation of communities in the planning, organisation, implementation, operation and control of primary health care with the use of local or national available resource. Partnership It strongly supports the idea of Partnership and collaboration between government, World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, other international organisations, multilateral and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organisations, funding agencies, all health workers and the world community towards supporting the commitment to primary health care as well as increasing financial and technical support especially in developing countries. Other important principles identified by the Declaration include: health promotion and the appropriate use of resources. The declaration calls on all governments to formulate strategies, policies and actions to launch and sustain primary health care and incorporate it into the national health system. It was endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 1978 hence enshrining it into the policy of the WHO (Horder, 1983). Background Back in the 1960s and 1970s, many developing countries of the world gained independence from their colonial leaders. In efforts to provide good quality healthcare service for the population, these new governments established teaching hospitals, medical and nursing schools most of which were located in urban areas (Hall Taylor, 2003) thus creating a problem of access to good quality health service especially for people that reside in rural communities. Successful programmes were initiated by Tanzania, Sudan, Venezuela and China in the 1960s and 1970s to provide primary care health services that was basic as well as comprehensive (Benyoussef Christian, 1977; Bennett, 1979). It is on the basis of these programmes that the term Primary Health Care was derived (Hall Taylor, 2003). In low income countries, the primary health care strategy as described by the Alma Ata was very influential in setting health policy during the 1980s however in high income countries such as the United Kingdom, it was considered irrelevant on the presumption that the level of primary care service was already well developed (Green et al., 2007). Primary health care has been defined in the Declaration of Alma Ata as; essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral part both of the countrys health system, of which it is the central function and main focus, and of the overall social and economic development of the community. It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work, and constitutes the first element of a continuing health care process. (WHO, 1978) The Alma Ata Declaration brought about a shift on emphasis towards preventive health, training of multipurpose paramedical workers and community based workers (Muldoon et al., 2006). In order to achieve the global target of health for all by the year 2000, goals were being set by the WHO (WHO, 1981) some of which include: At least 5% of gross national product is spent on health. A reasonable percentage of the national health expenditure is devoted to local health care. Equitably distribution of resources At least 90% of new-borne infants have a birth weight of at least 2500g. The infant mortality rate for all identifiable subgroups is below 50 per 1000 live-births. Life expectancy at birth is over 60 years. Adult literacy rate for both men and women exceeds 70%. Trained personnel for attending pregnancy and child birth and caring for children for at least 1 year of age. It has been over 30 years now that the Declaration of Alma Ata was adopted by the WHO. A look at the current health trend around the world especially in developing countries such Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, Zimbabwe and so many others will reveal that the goal of achieving health for all by the year 2000 through primary health care has not been a reality. Although there have been reasonable improvement in immunisation, sanitation and access to safe water, there is still impediments in providing equitable access to essential care worldwide (WHO, 2010) What went wrong? Lawn et al. (2008) explain that the Cold War significantly impeded the desired impact expectation of the Alma Ata Declaration in the sense that global developmental policy at that time was dominated by neo-liberal macro economical and social policies. The effect of this on poorer countries of the world particularly in Africa was implementation of structural adjustment programmes in effort to reduce budget deficit through devaluations in local currency and cuts in public spending. This resulted in the removal of subsidies, cost recovery in the health sector and cut backs in the number of medical health practitioners that could be hired. The introduction of user charges and encouragement of privatisation of services during this period had an untoward effect on poor people who could not afford to pay for such services. The combination of these factors hence resulted in part to the crippling of the quality of service that can be provided at the primary care level. People who could afford such service resorted to health service offered at secondary or tertiary care which in most cases is difficult to access. The introduction of a new concept of Selective Primary Health Care as proposed within a year of the adoption of the Alma Ata Declaration by Walsh Warren (1979) changed the dimension of primary health care. This interim approach was proposed due to the difficulty experienced in initiating comprehensive primary health care services in countries with authoritarian leadership (Waterston, 2008). Walsh Warren (1979) argued that until comprehensive primary health care can be made available to all, services that are targeted to the most important diseases may be the most effective intervention for improving health of a population. The measures suggested include; immunisation, oral rehydration, breast feeding and the use of anti malarias. This selective approach was considered as being more feasible, measurable, rapid and less risky, taking away decision making and control away from the community and placing it upon consultants with technical expertise hence making it more attractive partic ularly to funding agencies (Lawn et al., 2008). An example of a selective primary care approach is the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Selective primary health care is concerned with providing solutions to particular diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis while comprehensive primary care as proposed the Alma Ata begins with providing a strong community infrastructure and involvement towards tackling health issues (Baum, 2007). The shift in maternal, new-borne and child health as a result of programmes that removes control from the community hinders the actualisation of the goals of primary health care as emphasized by the Alma Ata Declaration. The reversal of policy in the 1990s by the WHO and other UN agencies to discourage traditional birth attendants and promoting facility based birth with skilled personnel (Koblinsky et al., 2006) is an example of such. The World Banks report Investing in Health which was published in 1993 saw the World Bank become a great influence and major key player in international public health as such robbing the WHO of the prestigious position (Baum, 2007). It considers investments for interventions that only have the best impact on population health as such removing local control and advocating a vertical approach to health. This move counteracts the process of the social change described by the Alma Ata Declaration which is necessary for realisation of its goals. These go to show that consistency both in leadership (locally and globally), policy as well as good evidence (to drive policy making and actions), are important ingredients for global initiatives to succeed. What went right? Even with the several elements that prevailed against the achievement of the collective goals of the Alma Ata Declaration, several case studies show that when provided with a favourable environment, primary health care as prescribed by the Alma Ata is sufficient to bring about a significant improvement in the health status of any population or country. Case study 1: Primary Health Care in Gambia Using data obtained from a longitudinal study conducted by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council over a 15 year period for a population of about 17,000 people in 40 villages in Gambia, Hill et al. (2000) compared infant and child mortality between village with and without primary health care. The extra services that were provided in the villages with primary health care include: a village health worker, a paid community nurse for every 5 villages and a trained traditional birth attendant. Maternal and child health services with vaccination programme were accessible to residents of both primary health care and non primary health care villages. There was marked improvement in infant and under 5 mortality in both sets of villages. After primary health care system was established in 1983, infant mortality dropped from 134/1000 in 1982 83 to 69/1000 in 1992 94 in the primary health care villages and from 155/1000 to 91/1000 in non primary health care villages over the same period of time. Between 1982 and 83 and 1992-94, the death rates for children aged 1-4 fell from 42/1000 to 28/1000 in the primary health care villages and from 45/1000 to 38/1000 in the non primary health care villages. However, in 1994 when supervision of primary health care was weakened, infant mortality rate in primary health care villages rose to 89/1000 for primary health care village in 1994 96. The rate in non primary health care village fell to 78/1000 for this period. The implementation and supervision of primary health care is associated with a significant effect on infant mortality rates for these groups of villages that benefitted from the programme. Case study 2: Under 5 mortality and income of 30 countries To assess the progress for primary health care in countries since Alma Ata, Rohde et al. (2008) analysed life expectancy relative to national income and HIV prevalence in order to identify over achieving or under achieving countries. The study focused on 30 low income and middle income countries with the highest year reduction of mortality among children less than 5 years of age and it described coverage and equity of primary health care as well as other non health sector actions. The 30 countries in question have scaled up selective primary care (immunisation, family planning) and 14 of these countries have progressed to comprehensive primary care which has been marked with high coverage of skilled birth attendants. Equity with skilled birth attendance coverage across income groups was accessed as well as access to clean water and gender inequality in literacy. These 30 countries were grouped into countries with selective primary care; mixture of selective and comprehensive primary health care; and comprehensive primary health care alone. The major players among countries with comprehensive primary health care are Thailand, Brazil, Cuba, China and Vietnam. Overall, Thailand tops the list and it has comprehensive primary health care. Maternal, new-borne and child health in Thailand were prioritised even before Alma Ata and has been able to increase coverage for immunisation and family planning interventions. The Government investment in district health systems provided a foundation for comprehensive primary health care in maternal, new-borne and child health as well as other essential services. Community health volunteers also played a significant role towards Thailands medical advancement. They promoted the use of water sealed latrines to improve sanitation and were very instrumental towards the decline of protein calorie malnutrition in pr e-school children in the past 20 years (WHO, 2010). Participation of the community health volunteers is a major source of community involvement into health care of Thailand (ibid). The following factors were identified as important lessons from high achieving countries: accountable leadership and consistent national policy progress with time; building coverage of care and comprehensive health systems with time; community and family empowerment; district level focus which is supported by data to set priorities for funding, track results as well as identify and redress disparities; and prioritising equity, removing financial barriers for poorest families and protection against unavoidable health cost. Case study 3: Integration of cognitive behaviour based therapy into routine primary health care work in rural Pakistan Rahman et al. (2008) in a cluster-randomised control study in Pakistan shows the benefits derived when cognitive behaviour therapy in postnatal depression is integrated with community based primary health care. Training was provided to the primary health care workers in the intervention group to deliver psychological intervention. The health care workers also receive monthly supervision and monitoring. Significant benefit (lower depression and disability scores, overall functioning and perception of social support) was reported in the intervention group to suggest that this kind of measures as supported by the Alma Ata can drive the initiative towards Health for all. It is evident and clear that countries that practiced comprehensive primary health care as enshrined by the Alma Ata reaped great benefits in terms of population health improvement. Although it has been argued that comprehensive primary health care is too idealistic, expensive and unattainable (Hall Taylor, 2003), evidence suggest that it is more likely to deliver better health outcomes with greater public satisfaction (Macinko et al., 2003). This kind of care can deal with up to 90% of health demands in low income countries (World Bank, 1994). Relevance of Alma Ata in this present time Our present world that has been characterised by marked epidemiological transition in health. Low income countries as well as high income ones are faced with increasing prevalence of non communicable as well as chronic disabling disease (Gillam, 2008) hence, the existence of infectious diseases (malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis etc), and diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. For low income countries such as sub-Sahara African Countries, this constitutes a major health problem because their health systems are mainly oriented towards providing services inclined with maternal and child health, acute or episodic illnesses. As such current health systems need to have the capacity to provide effective management for the current disease trend. The Alma Ata provides a foundation for how such effective health service can be provided. Because, primary health care is the first line of contact an individual has to health care, it is thus very influential in determining community heal th especially when the community is fully empowered to participate. As societies modernise, as it is the case in our current world, the level of participation increases and people want to have a say in what affects their lives (Garland Oliver, 2004). Thus, the level participation in health care is better off and more powerful in this present time than it was when it was the Alma Ata was adopted. Evidence suggest that the values as enshrined by the Alma Ata are becoming the mainstream of modernising societies and it is a reflection of the way people look at health and what they expect from their health care system (WHO, 2008). Alma Ata failed in some countries because the Government of such countries refused to put strategies towards sustaining a strong and vibrant primary health care system that is appropriate to the health needs of the community such that access is improved, participation and partnership is encouraged and health is improved in general. There is no goal standard guideline or manual on Alma Ata but individual governments have to develop their own strategies which should be well suited towards meeting their own needs. The Alma Ata founding principles is still relevant towards achieving these goals especially as it brings health care to peoples door step as it encourages training of people to efficiently and effectively deliver health services. Evidence has shown that there is a greater range of cost effective interventions than was available 30 years ago (Jamison et al., 2006). It is for these reasons that primary health care is essential towards achieving the millennium development goals e specially as it concerns child survival, maternal health, and HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases. The Alma Ata emphasises the importance of collaboration as an important tool towards introducing, developing and maintaining primary health care. This partnership as supported by the Alma Ata is essential to increase technical and financial support to primary health care especially in low income countries. It is a current trend to find an increasing mixture of private and public health systems as well as increasing private-public partnerships. Governments, donor and private organisations are now working together to promote and protect health unlike after Alma Ata (OECD, 2005). There is also increased funding and this is shifting from selective global funds to strengthening health systems through sector wide approaches (Salama et al., 2008). This kind of collaborations is a step in the right direction and when it is strengthened according to the principles of the Alma Ata, it will not only improve the buoyancy of the health care system but also improve participation and equity in the sense that health care is more qualitative and accessible to the people. The years that followed after adoption of the Alma Ata by WHO member states was characterised by unstable political leadership and military dictatorship especially among low income countries which lead to neglect of the health sector. This created unfriendly environments for the development and maintenance of stable primary health care systems. In this current times however, most countries have embraced the democratic system of leadership that promotes equity, participation and partnership. Health equity is continually enjoying prominence in the dialogue of political leaders and ministries of health (Dahlgren Whitehead, 2006). Thus, the environment being created is friendlier to the Alma Ata hence making it more relevant in this time. Thirty years ago, the values of equity, people centeredness, community participation and self determination embraced by the Alma Ata was considered as being radical but today these values have become widely share expectations for health (WHO, 2008). Our current time has been marked by gross technological advancement which was not available in the 1970s. There is also an increased wealth of knowledge and literature on health and on the growing health inequalities between and within countries all of which was not available 30 years ago. All these put together provides a relevant foundation to support the Alma Ata in the present time making it more relevant in delivering effective health care service. Conclusion The prevailing political and economic situation around the world make the Alma Ata more relevant than it was in 1978. However, there is still need for more to be done. There is need for the revitalisation of primary health care according to the tenets of the Alma Ata and progress made should be consistently monitored. There is also the need for an increased commitment to the virtues of health for all as well as increased commitment of resources towards primary health care which should be driven by good evidence base. It is important that emphasis be changed from single interventions that produce short term or immediate results to interventions that will create an integrated, long term and a sustainable health care system. Even with the challenges being faced so far with full implementation of the Alma Ata, the ideals are relevant still relevant now more than ever.

Is childhood getting better or worse? Essay

The position of children in society has improved ‘Childhood’ is a social construct. This means that it is different depending on the period of history that you look at or the place. Sociologists argue whether ‘childhood’ has improved or has got worse and use theories and evidence to prove this .There are to two sides to the argument and phrases used by sociologists to describe that either childhood has improved ‘The march of progress ‘ , or been made worse ‘ Conflict view’. ‘March of progress ‘argues that childhood has become better over time. One sociologist who agrees there has been a march of progress is Aries. Aries used painting s of past eras to compare childhood then, to current childhood. He found that children were dressed as many adults, doing adult jobs, playing with adult toys. This for Aries was evidence that childhood has progressed as these days there is a clear distinction between adults and children and the treatment and expectations of young people is very different to adults , society is much more child centred now. Another sociologist who backed up the march of progress idea was shorter. Shorter based his conclusion on infant mortality rates (IMR). He said that as the years have gone on fewer children have been dying, this is due to advances in health care, diet etc. and this has caused parent to be more loving and caring to towards their children. This therefore shows that there has been significant progress in regards to ‘childhood’. However some may argue that childhood is worse now that it has ever been. This view is given the name ‘conflict view’, this says that the march of progress is a idealistic view of childhood and ignores basic inequalities in everyday society for children .There are different groups of people that support this view .One of the groups of people is feminists. One argument a feminist might agree with is the research of Hillman .Hillman researched into gender inequalities in childhood and found out that in present day boys are more likely to be allowed certain freedoms. This shows a massive inequality for children and therefore childhood has not progressed but instead has worsened. Another sociologists work that a feminist might use to back up their argument is Bonke.Bonke said that women are far more likely to be given domestic chores to do, in this sense they would argue chi ldhood is patriarchal and therefore has not progressed .Another sociologist many feminists use to support the conflict view is Broman .In his research he found out that Asian parents are  much more hard on daughters than they are their sons. This shows the pressures and inequalities within gender in some cultures which are over looked by the ‘march of progress’ argument. Another group of people that would argue that there are still inequalities that are overlooked by March of progress sociologists are Marxists. Marxists believe that the ruling classes oppress the working class people. When talking about childhood Marxists argue that working class families are at a disadvantage and have much worse and then upper class families. One sociologist Marxists would use to support this argument is Woodruffs idea that working class children are more likely to be hyperactive or naughty, this would support the idea that inequalities remain within classes and therefore as the gap between wealth has grown children from lower class families have been disadvantages. Another sociologist they could use to support their view is Howard. His argument is that IMR amongst the working class families is higher than that of middle or upper class familys.This shows that again because of the difference in class, working class families are not being able to provide the same standard of childhood as the wealthier classes. Therefore Marxists would agree that there are clear differences in childhoods for different classes, this is over looked by the march of progress view. On balance the evidenc e seems to support the conflict view in that there are many inequalities that the march of progress argument over looks and consequently in practice the march of progress argument simply don’t seem to take society as a whole into account.

Medicine and Ayurveda

Ayurveda  (Sanskrit:   ;  Ayurveda, â€Å"the knowledge for long life†;  /? a?.? r? ve? d? /[2]) or  ayurvedic medicine  is a Hindu system of  traditional medicine native to  India  and a form of  alternative medicine. The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the  Vedic period  in India,[3]  i. e. , in the mid-second millennium BCE. The  Susruta Sa? hita  and the  Charaka Sa? hita, encyclopedias of medicine compiled from various sources from the mid-first millennium BCE to about 500 CE,[4]  are among the foundational works of Ayurveda.Over the following centuries, ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments. [5]  Current practices derived (or reportedly derived) from Ayurvedic medicine are regarded as part of  complementary and alternative medicine. [6] Safety concerns have been raised about Ayurveda, with two U. S. studies find ing about 20 percent of Ayurvedic Indian-manufactured  patent medicines contained toxic levels of heavy metals such as  lead,  mercury  and  arsenic.Other concerns include the use of herbs containing toxic compounds and the lack of quality control in Ayurvedic facilities. At an early period[when? ], Ayurveda adopted the physics of the â€Å"five  elements† (Devanagari: [ ] ); earth (P? thvi), water (Jala), fire (Agni), air (Vayu) and space (Akasa) that compose the  universe, including the human body. [9]  Ayurveda describes seven types of tissues of the body, known as thesaptadhatu  (Devanagari: ). They are plasma (rasa dhatu), blood (rakta dhatu),  flesh  (ma? a dhatu), adipose (medha dhatu),  bone  (asthi dhatu),marrow  and nervous (majja dhatu), and reproductive (semen  or  female reproductive tissue) (sukra dhatu). [10]  Ayurvedic literature deals elaborately with measures of healthful living during the entire span of life and its vario us phases. Ayurveda stresses a balance of three elemental energies or  humors:Vayu / vata  (air & space – â€Å"wind†),  pitta  (fire & water – â€Å"bile†) and  kapha  (water & earth – â€Å"phlegm†). According to ayurvedic medical theory, these three substances —  do? as (Devanagari: —are important for health, because when they exist in equal quantities, the body will be healthy, and when they are not in equal amounts, the body will be unhealthy in various ways. One ayurvedic theory asserts that each human possesses a unique combination of  do? as  that define that person's temperament and characteristics. Another view, also present in the ancient literature, asserts that humoral equality is identical to health, and that persons with preponderances of humours are proportionately unhealthy, and that this is not their natural temperament.In ayurveda, unlike the Sa? khya philosophical system, there are 20 fund amental qualities,  gu? a  (Devanagari: , meaning qualities) inherent in all substances. [11]  While surgery and surgical instruments were employed from a very early period, Ayurvedic theory asserts that building a healthy metabolic system, attaining good  digestion, and proper  excretion  lead to vitality. [11]  Ayurveda also focuses on exercise,  yoga, and  meditation. [12] The practice of  panchakarma  (Devanagari: is a therapeutic way of eliminating toxic elements from the body. [13] As early as the  Mahabharata, ayurveda was called â€Å"the science of eight components† (Skt. a a? ga,  Devanagari: ), a classification that became canonical for ayurveda. They are:[14] 1. Internal medicine  (Kaya-cikitsa) 2. Paediatrics  (Kaumarabh? tyam) 3. Surgery  (Salya-cikitsa) 4. Opthalmology  and  ENT  (Salakya tantra) 5. Psychiatry  has been called  Bhuta vidya  . [3] 6. Toxicology  (Agadatantram) 7. Prevention of diseases and improvi ng  immunity  and  rejuvenation  (rasayana) 8.Aphrodisiacs  and improving health of progeny (Vajikaranam) In Hindu mythology, the origin of ayurvedic medicine is attributed to  Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods. [15] ————————————————- Practices Several philosophers in India combined religion and traditional medicine—notable examples being that of  Hinduism  and ayurveda. Shown in the image is the philosopher  Nagarjuna—known chiefly for his doctrine of the  Madhyamaka  (middle path)—who wrote medical works  The Hundred Prescriptions  and  The Precious Collection, among others. [16] [edit]BalanceHinduism  and  Buddhism  have been an influence on the development of many of ayurveda's central ideas – particularly its fascination with balance, known in Buddhism as  Madhyathmaka  (Devanagari: ). [17]  Bal ance is emphasized; suppressing natural urges is seen to be unhealthy, and doing so claimed to lead to illness. [17]  However, people are cautioned to stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure. [17]  For example, emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake,[9]  sleep, sexual intercourse. [17] [edit]Diagnosis Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using all five senses. 18]  Hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech. [10]  The study of the lethal points or  marman marma  is of special importance. [11]  Ayurvedic doctors regard physical and mental existence together with personality as a unit, each element having the capacity to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of ayurvedic medicine is to take this into account during diagnosis and therapy. [edit]Hygiene Hygiene  is a central practice of ayurvedic medicine. Hygienic living involves regular bathing, cleansing of teeth, skin care, and eye washing. 10] [edit]Treatments Ayurveda stresses the use of plant-based medicines and treatments. Hundreds of plant-based medicines are employed, including  cardamom  and cinnamon. Some animal products may also be used, for example milk,  bones, and  gallstones. In addition, fats are used both for consumption and for external use. Minerals, including  sulfur,  arsenic, lead,  copper sulfate  and gold are also consumed as prescribed. [10]  This practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known as  rasa shastra. In some cases, alcohol was used as a  narcotic  for the patient undergoing an operation.The advent of Islam introduced  opium  as a narcotic. [14]  Both oil and tar were used to stop bleeding. [10]  Traumatic bleeding was said to be stopped by four different methods:  ligation  of the  blood vessel;  cauterisation by heat; using different herbal or animal preparations locally which could facilitate  clotting; and different medical preparation s which could  constrict  the bleeding or oozing vessels. Various oils could be used in a number of ways, including regular consumption as a part of food, anointing, smearing,  head massage, and prescribed application to infected areas. 19][page  needed] [edit]Srotas Ensuring the proper functions of channels (srotas) that transport fluids from one point to another is a vital goal of ayurvedic medicine, because the lack of healthy srotas is thought to cause  rheumatism,  epilepsy,  autism,  paralysis,  convulsions, and  insanity. Practitioners induce sweating and prescribe steam-based treatments as a means to open up the channels and dilute the  do? as[clarification needed]  that cause the blockages and lead to disease. [20] ————————————————- [edit]HistoryOne view of the early history of ayurveda asserts that around 1500  BC, ayurveda's fundamental and applied principles got organized and enunciated. In this historical construction, Ayurveda traces its origins to the  Vedas,  Atharvaveda  in particular, and is connected to Hindu religion. Atharvaveda  (one of the four most ancient books of Indian knowledge, wisdom and culture) contains 114 hymns or formulations for the treatment of diseases. Ayurveda originated in and developed from these hymns. In this sense, ayurveda is considered by some to have divine origin.Indian medicine has a long history, and is one of the oldest organised systems of medicine. Its earliest concepts are set out in the sacred writings called the Vedas, especially in the metrical passages of the  Atharvaveda, which may possibly date as far back as the 2nd millennium BC. According to a later writer, the system of medicine was received by  Dhanvantari  from  Brahma, and Dhanvantari was deified as the god of medicine. In later times his status was gradually reduced, until he was credited wi th having been an earthly king[10]  named  Divodasa. 22] Underwood ; Rhodes (2008) hold that this early phase of traditional Indian medicine identified â€Å"fever (takman), cough,  consumption, diarrhea,  dropsy,  abscesses,  seizures, tumours, and skin diseases (including  leprosy)†. [10]  Treatment of complex ailments, including  angina pectoris,  diabetes,  hypertension, and  stones, also ensued during this period. [5][24]  Plastic surgery,  couching  (a form of cataract surgery), puncturing to release fluids in the  abdomen, extraction of foreign elements, treatment of  anal fistulas, treating fractures,  amputations,  cesarean sections, and stitching of wounds were known. 10]  The use of herbs and surgical instruments became widespread. [10]  The  Charaka Samhita  text is arguably the principal classic reference. It gives emphasis to the triune nature of each person: body care, mental regulation, and spiritual/consciousness refinement. Other early works of ayurveda include the  Charaka Samhita, attributed to  Charaka. [10]  The earliest surviving excavated written material which contains references to the works of Sushruta is the  Bower Manuscript, dated to the 6th century  AD. The Bower manuscript is of special interest to historians due to the presence of Indian medicine and its concepts in Central Asia. 25]  Vagbhata, the son of a senior doctor by the name of Simhagupta,[26]  also compiled his works on traditional medicine. [10]  Early ayurveda had a school of physicians and a school of surgeons. [3]  Tradition holds that the text  Agnivesh tantra, written by the sage Agnivesh, a student of the sage  Bharadwaja, influenced the writings of ayurveda. [27] The Chinese pilgrim  Fa Hsien  (ca. 337–422 AD) wrote about the health care system of the  Gupta empire  (320–550) and described the institutional approach of Indian medicine, also visible in the works of C haraka, who mentions a clinic and how it should be equipped. 28]  Madhava (fl. 700), Sarngadhara (fl. 1300), and Bhavamisra (fl. 1500) compiled works on Indian medicine. [25]  The medical works of both Sushruta and Charaka were translated into the  Arabic language  during the  Abbasid Caliphate  (ca. 750). [29]  These Arabic works made their way into Europe via intermediaries. [29]  InItaly, the Branca family of  Sicily  and Gaspare Tagliacozzi (Bologna) became familiar with the techniques of Sushruta. [29] British physicians traveled to India to see  rhinoplasty  being performed by native methods. 30]  Reports on Indian rhinoplasty were published in the  Gentleman's Magazine  in 1794. [30]  Joseph Constantine Carpue  spent 20 years in India studying local plastic surgery methods. [30]  Carpue was able to perform the first major surgery in the western world in 1815. [31]  Instruments described in the  Sushruta Samhita  were further modified in the Western World. [31] ————————————————- [edit]Current status [edit]India According to some sources up to 80 percent of people in India use some form of traditional medicines, a category which includes Ayurveda. 32] In 1970, the Indian Medical Central Council Act which aims to standardize qualifications for ayurveda and provide accredited institutions for its study and research was passed by the  Parliament of India. [33]  In India, over 100 colleges offer degrees in traditional ayurvedic medicine. [12]  The Indian government supports research and teaching in ayurveda through many channels at both the national and state levels, and helps institutionalize traditional medicine so that it can be studied in major towns and cities. [34]  The state-sponsored  Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences  (CCRAS) has been set up to research the subject. 35]à ‚  To fight  biopiracy  and unethical patents, the  Government of India, in 2001, set up the  Traditional Knowledge Digital Libraryas repository of 1200 formulations of various systems of Indian medicine, such as ayurveda,  unani  and  siddha. [36][37]  The library also has 50 traditional ayurveda books digitized and available online. [38] Central Council of Indian Medicine  (CCIM) a statutory body established in 1971, under  Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy  (AYUSH),  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,  Government of India, monitors higher education in ayurveda. 39]  Many clinics in urban and rural areas are run by professionals who qualify from these institutes. [33] [edit]Sri Lanka The Sri Lankan tradition of Ayurveda is very similar to the Indian tradition. Practitioners of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka refer to texts on the subject written in  Sanskrit, which are common to both countries. However, they do diff er in some aspects, particularly in the herbs used. The Sri Lankan government has established a Ministry of Indigenous Medicine (established in 1980) to revive and regulate the practice within the country[40]  The Institute of Indigenous Medicine (affiliated to the  University of Colombo  currently ffers undergraduate, postgraduate, and MD degrees in the practice of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery, and similar degrees in  unani  medicine. [41] There are currently 62 Ayurvedic Hospitals and 208 central dispensaries in the public system, and they served almost 3 million people (approximately 11 percent of Sri Lanka's total population) in 2010. In total there are currently approximately 20,000 registered practitioners of Ayurveda in the country. [42][43] Many Sri Lankan hotels and resorts offer Ayurveda themed packages, where guests are treated to a wide array of Ayurveda treatments during their stay. edit]Outside South Asia Due to different laws and medical regulations in the rest of the world, the unregulated practice and commercialization of ayurvedic medicine has raised ethical and legal issues; in some cases, this damages the reputation of ayurvedic medicine outside India. [44][45][46] ————————————————- [edit]Scientific appraisal In studies in mice, the leaves ofTerminalia arjuna  have been shown to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. [47] As a  traditional medicine, many ayurveda products have not been tested in rigorous scientific studies and  clinical trials.In India, research in ayurveda is undertaken by the statutory body of the  Central Government, the  Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha  (CCRAS), through a national network of research institutes. [48]  A systematic review of ayurveda treatments for rheumatoid  arthritis  concluded that there was insufficient evidence, as most of the tri als were not done properly, and the one high-quality trial showed no benefits. [49]  A review of ayurveda and  cardiovascular diseaseconcluded that the evidence for ayurveda was not convincing, though some herbs seemed promising. 50] Two varieties of  Salvia  have been tested in small trials; one trial provided evidence that  Salvia lavandulifolia  (Spanish sage) may improve word recall in young adults,[51]  and another provided evidence that  Salvia officinalis  (Common sage) may improve symptoms in  Alzheimer's  patients. [52]  Many plants used as  rasayana  (rejuvenation) medications are potent antioxidants. [53]  Neem  appears to have beneficial pharmacological properties. [54] ————————————————- [edit]Safety Rasa shastra, the practice of adding metals, minerals or gems to herbs, may have toxic heavy metals such as  lead,  mercury   and  arsenic. 7]  Adverse reactions to herbs due to their pharmacology are described in traditional ayurvedic texts, but ayurvedic practitioners are reluctant to admit that herbs could be toxic and that reliable information on herbal toxicity is not readily available. And there is communication gap between modern medicine practitioners and Ayurvedic practitioners[55] According to a 1990 study on ayurvedic medicines in India, 41 percent of the products tested contained arsenic, and 64 percent contained lead and mercury. 32]  A 2004 study found toxic levels of heavy metals in 20 percent of ayurvedic preparations made in South Asia and sold in the Boston area, and concluded that ayurvedic products posed serious health risks and should be tested for heavy-metal contamination. [56]  A 2008 study of more than 230 products found that approximately 20 percent of remedies (and 40 percent of  rasa shastra  medicines) purchased over the Internet from both US and Indian suppliers co ntained lead, mercury or arsenic. 7][57][58]  In 2012 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Washington states in its report that Ayurvedic drugs has links to lead poisoning on the basis of some cases presented where some pregnant woman had taken Ayurvedic drugs toxic materials were found in their blood. [59] Ayurvedic proponents believe that the toxicity of these materials is reduced through purification processes such as  samskaras  or  shodhanas  (for metals), similar to the Chinese  pao zhi, although the ayurvedic technique is more complex and may involve prayers as well as physical pharmacy techniques.However, these products have nonetheless caused severe  lead poisoning  and other toxic effects. [7][57] Due to these concerns, the Government of India ruled that ayurvedic products must specify their metallic content directly on the labels of the product,[8]  but, writing on the subject for  Current Science, a publication of the  Indian Academy o f Sciences, M. S. Valiathan noted that â€Å"the absence of post-market surveillance and the paucity of test laboratory facilities [in India] make the quality control of Ayurvedic medicines exceedingly difficult at this time. [8]Ayurveda can be defined as a system, which uses the inherent principles of nature, to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. What is the Origin of Ayurveda? : Widely regarded as the oldest form of healthcare in the world, Ayurveda is an intricate medical system that originated in India thousands of years ago. The fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in Hindu scriptures called the  Vedas  Ã¢â‚¬â€ the ancient Indian books of wisdom. The  Rig Veda, which was written over 6,000 years ago, contains a series of prescriptions that can help humans overcome various ailments.What does Ayurveda do to you? : The aim of this system is to prevent illness, heal the sick and preserve li fe. This can be summed up as follows: * To protect health and prolong life (â€Å"Swasthyas swasthya rakshanam†) * To eliminate diseases and dysfunctions of the body (â€Å"Aturasya vikar prashamanamcha†) What are the Basic Principles of Ayurveda? : Ayurveda is based on the premise that the universe is made up of five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. These elements are represented in humans by three â€Å"doshas†, or energies:  Vata, Pitta  and  Kapha.When any of the  doshas  accumulate in the body beyond the desirable limit, the body loses its balance. Every individual has a distinct balance, and our health and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the three  doshas  (â€Å"tridoshas†). Ayurveda suggests specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to help individuals reduce the excess  dosha. A healthy person, as defined in  Sushrut Samhita,  one of the primary works on Ayurveda, is â€Å"he whose  doshas  are in balance, appetite is good, all tissues of the body and all natural urges are functioning properly, and whose mind, body and spirit are cheerful†¦ What is ‘Tridosha' or the Theory of Bio-energies? : The three  doshas, or bio-energies found in our body are: * Vata  pertains to air and ether elements. This energy is generally seen as the force, which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination. * Kapha  pertains to water and earth elements. Kapha  is responsible for growth and protection. The mucousal lining of the stomach, and the cerebral-spinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal column are examples of  kapha. * Pitta  pertains to fire and water elements.This  dosha  governs metabolism, e. g. , the transformation of foods into nutrients. Pitta  is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems. What is ‘Panchakarma' or the Therapy of Purification? : If toxins in the body are abundant, then a clean sing process known as  panchakarma  is recommended to purge these unwanted toxins. This fivefold purification therapy is a classical form of treatment in ayurveda. These specialized procedures consist of the following: * Therapeutic vomiting or emesis (Vaman) * Purgation (Virechan) Enema (Basti) * Elimination of toxins through the nose (Nasya) * Bloodletting or detoxification of the blood (Rakta moksha) The roots of ayurveda| | | | Ayurveda,the oldest system of medicine in the world, traces its roots to the Vedic period in ancient India. The  Vedas  contain practical and scientific information on various subjects beneficial to the humanity like health, philosophy, engineering, astrology etc. Vedic Brahmans  were not only priests performing religious rites and ceremonies, they also became the  Vaidyas (Ayurvedic Physicians).The Sage- Physician- Surgeons of that time were the same sages or seers, deeply devoted holy people , who saw health as an integral part of spiritual life. It is said, that they received their training of  Ayurveda  through direct cognition during meditation. In other words, the knowledge of the use of various methods of healing, prevention, longevity and surgery came through Divine revelation . These revelations were transcribed from the oral tradition into book form, interspersed with the other aspects of life. | | |   |   | | | Consequently  Ayurveda  grew into a respected and widely used system of healing in India.Around CA. 1500 Before. Common era. Ayurveda  was delineated into eight specific branches of medicine and there were two main schools –  Atreya, the school of physicians, and  Dhanvantari  , the school of surgeons. These two schools made  Ayurveda  a more scientifically verifiable and classifiable medical system. People from numerous countries came to Indian Ayurvedic schools to learn this medical science. They came from China, Tibet, Greece, Rome, Egypt ,Afghanistan, Persia etc. to le arn the complete wisdom and bring it back to their own countries.Ayurvedic texts were translated in Arabic and   physicians such as Avicenna and Razi Sempion, who both quoted Ayurvedic texts , established Islamic Medicine. This medicine became popular in Europe and helped to form the foundation of the European tradition in medicine. In the 16th  Century Europe , Paracelsus , who is known as the father of modern Western medicine, practiced and propagated a system of medicine which borrowed heavily from  Ayurveda.. | | Principles of Ayurveda| | | | |   |   |   | | | Ayurveda  is a holistic healing science which comprises of two words,  Ayu  and  Veda.Ayu means life and  Vedameans knowledge or science. So the literal meaning of the word  Ayurveda  is the science of life. Ayurveda  is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life. Ayurveda  aims at making a happy, healthy and peaceful society. The two most importan t aims of  Ayurveda  are:   + To maintain the health of healthy people + To cure the diseases of sick peopleA Person is seen in  Ayurveda  as a unique individual made up of five primary elements. These elements are ether (space), air, fire,water and earth. Just as in nature, we too have these five elements in us.When any of these elements are imbalanced   in the environment , they will in turn have an influence on us. The foods we eat and the weather are just two examples of the influence of these elements . While we are a composite of these five primary elements, certain elements are seen to have an ability to combine to create various physiological functions. The elements combine with Ether and Air in dominence to form what is known in  Ayurveda  as  Vata Dosha. Vatagoverns the principle of movement and therefore can be seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration and elemination etc. The elements with Fire and Water in dominence combi ne to form the  Pitta Dosha  . The  Pitta Dosha  is responsible for the process of transformation or metabolism. The transformation of foods into nutrients that our bodies can assimilate is an example of a Pitta function. Pitta  is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems as well as cellular metabolism. Finally, it is predominantly the water and earth elements which combine to form the  Kapha Dosha. Kapha  is responsible for growth, adding structure unit by unit.It also offers protection , for example, in form of the cerebral-spinal fluid,which protects the brain and spinal column. The mucousal lining of the stomach is another example of the function of Kapha Dosha protecting the tissues. |   Ã‚  | | We are all made up of unique proportions of  Vata,Pitta and Kapha. These ratios of the Doshas vary in each individual and because of this  Ayurveda  sees each person as a special mixture that accounts for our diversity. Ayurveda  gives us a model to look at each individual as a unique makeup of the three doshas and to thereby design treatment protocols that specifically address a persons health challenges.When any of the doshas become accumulated,  Ayurveda  will suggest specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the individual in reducing the dosha that has become excessive. Also herbal medicines will be suggested , to cure the imbalance and the disease. Understanding this main principle of  Ayurveda  , it offers us an explanation as to why one person responds differently to a treatment or diet than another and why persons with the same disease might yet require different treatments and medications. | | |      Ã‚  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  |      Ã‚  Ã‚  | Other important basic principles of  Ayurveda  which are briefly mentioned here are: 1. Dhatus- These are the basic tissues which maintain and nourish the body. They are seven in number namely- rasa(chyle), raktha(blood), m amsa(muscles),meda(fatty tissue), asthi(bone), majja(marrow) and sukla(reprodutive tissue). Proper amount of each dhatu and their balanced function is very important for good health. 2. Mala- These are the waste materials produced as a result of various metabolic activities in the body. They are mainly urine, feaces, sweat etc.Proper elimination of the malas is equally important for good health. Accumulation of malas causes many diseases in the body. 3. Srotas- These are different types of channels which are responsible for transportation of food,  dhatus,malas  and  doshas. Proper functioning of  srotas  is necessary for transporting different materials to the site of their requirement. Blockage of  srotas  causes many diseases. 4. Agni- These are different types of enzymes responsible for digestion and transforming one material to another. All these factors should function in a proper balance for good health.They are inter-related and are directly or indirectly respo nsible for maintaining equilibrium of the tridoshas. Balance and Harmony of the Three Doshas When the three Doshas are well harmonised and function in a balanced manner, it results in good nourishment and well-being of the individual . But when there is imbalance or disharmony within or between them, it will result in elemental imbalance , leading to various kinds of ailments. The Ayurvedic concept of physical health revolves round these three Doshas and its primary purpose is to help maintain them in a balanced state and thus to prevent disease.This humoral theory is not unique to the ancient Indian Medicine : The Yin and Yang theory in chinese medicine and the Hippocratic theory of four humours in Greek medicine are also very similar. |   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  | | The Qualities of the Three Doshas The three Doshas possess qualities and their increase or decrease in the system depends upon the similar or antagonistic qualities of everything ingested. Vata  is : dry, cold, light, mobi le, clear, rough, subtle Pitta  is : slightly oily, hot, intense, light, fluid,free flowing, foul smelling. Kapha  is: oily, cold, heavy, stable, viscid, smooth, soft Both  Vata  and  Pitta  are light and only Kapha is heavy.Both  Vata  and  Kapha  are cold and only Pitta is hot. Both  Pitta  and  Kapha  are moist and oily and only Vata is dry. |   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  | | Anything dry almost always increases  Vata  , anything hot increases  Pitta  and anything heavy ,  Kapha. Puffed rice is dry, cold light and rough – overindulgence in puffed rice therefore is likely to increase Vata in the overindulger. Mustard oil is oily , hot , intense , fluid , strong-smelling and liquid and increases Pitta in the consumer. Yoghurt , which , being creamy, cold, heavy, viscid, smooth and soft , is the very image of Kapha , adds to the body's Kapha when eaten.All Five elemets , as expressed through  Vata, Pitta and Kapha  , are essential to life, working together to create health or produce disease. No one dosha can produce or sustain life – all three must work together , each in its own way. | | | PURIFICATION THERAPY| | | ‘Health is purity and disease is impurity So purification is the treatment. ’   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (old Indian saying)| | | Purification therapy is a unique feature of  Ayurveda  by which the  complete cure and non recurrence of disease is made possible.The functional components (doshas, namely  vatha, pitha & kapha  ) move all around the body through the channels of circulation to do the normal physiological activities. The disease is the result of imbalance in the quantity and quality of the doshas. During the disease process, the unbalanced doshas get lodged in the weak parts of the channels of circulation and produce the disease symptoms. If the channels of circulation are pure and healthy, even the aggravated doshas cannot loc ate anywhere and produce disease   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ayurveda  offers two measures in the management of a disease 😠 | | . Pacifying therapy  :-  in which the unbalanced  doshas  are pacified with in the body itself. As this therapy don’t cleanse the channels of circulation, there is the possibility of reprovocation when exposed to similar causative factors. This therapy is suited in conditions in which there is not much vitiation of the doshas. 2. Purification therapy  :-  It is aimed at the complete expulsion of the unbalanced  doshas  and the purification of the channels of circulation. As the channels are cleansed and strengthened by this process, the chance of recurrence is nil.   |   | Purification therapy can be implemented not only for curing diseases but to maintain health. No other systems of medicine can offer such an effective treatment measure. So we can proudly declare our superiority of Ayurveda to any other systems on account of its purification therapy. The purification otherwise called  Ã¢â‚¬ËœPancha karma therapy'  is    implemented in five ways. | | | 1. Enema therapy :-  It is best for vatha imbalance. 2. Purgation therapy :-  Best for pitha imbalance. 3. Emesis therapy :-  For kapha imbalance. 4. Nasal drops :-  For all diseases above the neck. 5.Blood letting :-  Best for removing blood impurities. | | |   |   | | Stages of the treatment|   | | First stage  :-  This includes the external and internal application oils followed with fomentation or sudation. By this the unbalanced doshas lodged in the weak parts of the channels are liquified and loosened. Main or second stage  :-  In this stage the loosened and liquified doshas are expelled out of the body by the appropriate purifactory procedure. Post therapy  :-  This includes the regimens to be practised after the purification. This is mainly intended to augment the digestive fire. | |