Ayurveda - The Main Study Course

While the basic study is dealing with the essential knowledge of Ayurveda, the lessons of the main study introduce in Ayurvedic diagnosis and therapy.

Lesson 1: Anamnesis and Ayurvedic Diagnosis (Pariksha)

The following topics are presented:

• Comprehensive theory of the development of diseases
• Anamnesis: questioning the patient about personal data, social background and symptoms of disease
• examination and diagnosis of the patient (Pariksha), like diagnosis of pulse, eyes, tongue, skin, excrement, etc.
• pain as diagnostic means
• the straining effect of digestion slag (Ama) and pollution of the Doshas with Ama

Lesson 2: Treatment with Herbs and their Administration

This lesson describes important Ayurvedic herbs, under consideration of native herbs.

• different application methods (ointments, pills, oils, etc.)
• kitchen medicine: spices as healing herbs
• classification of herbs according to organs and functions

Lesson 3: Pancha Karma — Part 1

Pancha Karma is the therapy for decontaminating and regenerating the body. The first part teaches the preparations and draining measures:

• indications for the Pancha Karma therapy
• Purva Karma, preparing treatment, which includes the following aspects:, strengthening the digestion (Ama Pachana), and oil treatment (Snehana Karma), divided into internal treatment (Snehapana) and external treatment (Abhyanga), completed with the explanation of different massage techniques
• Svedana-Karma, sweating cure for decontaminating the skin
• Pancha Karma, draining methods: vomiting (Vamana), purgation (Virecana), enema (Vasti), treatment through the nose (Nasya), and phlebotomy (Rakta Moksha)

Lesson 4: Pancha Karma — Part 2

This second part deals with the nurturing and rejuvenating applications:

• Brimhana, reconstructing and nurturing treatments, like oil affusions and massage with rice bags
• Rasayana, strengthening and rejuvenating treatments, like proper food, herbs, minerals, Yoga Asanas etc.
• Vijikarana, strengthening of procreation
• Concluding, a cure and health program for home application and treatment tips for ordinary diseases, applicable by anyone in daily life, are described.

Lesson 5: Body Channels (Shrotas) and Vital Points (Marmas)

This lesson is divided in two parts:

Part A: The Body Channels (Shrotas)

• description of the different kinds of Shrotas: supplying channels, excavating channels and tissue nourishing channels
• diseases of the Shrotas

Part B: The Teaching of the Marma Points

• general overview over the science of Marmas
• detailed description of the different Marma points
• allocation of the Marma points to the bioenergies, body channels and energy centers
• Marma therapy: treating the body through the Marma points

Lesson 6: Mental Health and Spiritual Development

This lesson is divided in two parts:

Part A: Accompanying and Prophylactic Therapies

• music therapy
• Mantra therapy
• breath and Yoga therapy
• counseling therapy

Part B: Mental Health and Spiritual Development

• the power of faith and silence
• Sadhana, spiritual development: a life in union through devotion, prayer, divine service and meditation
• The effects of Sadhana on body, mind and soul
• practical instructions

This main part of the correspondence course is not addressing specifically physicians or healers. Rather, the lessons are composed in such a way as to be understood and applied by anyone. Thus, no medical precognition is required. It will also be indicated which therapies have to be performed by a learned physician, although the knowledge about them may be interesting for all students.