The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention & Longevity [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha (Author) "Ayurveda, the "science of life," or longevity, is the holistic alternative science from India, and is more than 5,000 years old..." (more)
Key Phrases: pinda sveda, chandrodaya varti, shiro basti, Spiritual Uses, Feng Shui, India Energetics (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Although there is no shortage of books that attempt to explain Ayurveda medicine (a system that originated in India about 5000 years ago) to a popular audience, the author, instructor at the Ayurveda Holistic Health Center in Bayville, NY, claims that this is the first English-language textbook on the subject. However, he does little to simplify this complicated system and goes into too much detail not only for average readers but for health practitioners who want to learn more about this form of treatment. Many of his statements seem far-fetched (e.g., can the color orange really help with menstrual cramps?). Organization is poor; for instance, information on therapies for diabetes is spread throughout the book rather than being concentrated in the section on diseases. Perhaps the most useful information here is the list of Ayurvedic resources and the glossary containing clear definitions of many of the terms used. Better choices for books on Ayurveda medicine include titles by Vasant Lad (Ayurveda: The Science of Self Healing, Lotus Light, 1990) and Deepak Chopra (Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, LJ 6/15/93). Recommended only for libraries with extensive collections in alternative medicine.?Natalie Kupferberg, Arizona State Univ. West, Phoenix
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"(The author) has put together a fine reference book both for individuals and their families and for practitioners...A wealth of fascinating information" -- NAPRA ReView - Sept/Oct 1998

"(The book is) a truly unique work, very comprehensive...well researched, and well put together...The spiritual points...give a perspective that is lacking in the current 'alternative medical literature'."

-- Robert Pincus, MD; NY USA

"...a 'must have' reference for any health professional involved in integrative medicine. (The author) has brought an ancient complex teaching into a fully usable western form, that can aid both the practitioner and the patient to use Ayurvedic Medicine as part of a wholistic, life-enhancing program."

-- Ellen Kamhi PhD RN HNC ('The Natural Nurse') Author/Media Spokesperson

"For me, this is the next best book after Harrison's Internal Medicine Text. I think every doctor should read this book for better insights into the entire psycho-physiologic makeup of his or her patients."

-- Patrick J. Conte MD; Head of Radiology; St. Michaels Medical Center- New Jersey USA

"The Ayurveda Encyclopedia is an important reference volume for all students of Ayurveda and Yoga, almost a complete course in Ayurveda in itself. Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha has done a monumental work in putting together so much material in such a concise and clear manner for the modern reader."

-- Dr. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri); Author/Director: American Institute of Vedic Studies

"The Ayurveda Encyclopedia...is an all-inclusive, authoritative reference to Ayurveda beneficial for families as well as health care practitioners and administrators."

Health Foods Business - July '98 -- Health Foods Business - July '98

"This book covers approximately two years worth of study at Indian government-recognized Ayurvedacolleges and universities. I congratulate Swamiji for writing this magnificent work." -- r. S.N. Srivastava B.A.M.S.; Head of Dept. Kayachikitsa; Government Ayurvedic ollege; Gurukul Kangri; Hardwar, India

"This book is a great source of information for practitioners or anyone else looking to increase knowledge and understanding on the practice of Ayurvedic medicine."

-- Making Scents - International Aromatherapy & Herb Association- Summer/fall '98

"This is an excellent reference book for the pharmaceutical industry for developing formulations to meet the rising demand of customers. It's the Merck Manual of Ayurveda."

-- Bharat Shulka, President -Pharm-Tech Industries- New Jersey, USA

"You could buy a half-dozen plus books on Ayurveda to start your reference library, or you could buy ...(this)Encyclopedia. It's detailed enough for the professional, but accessible to the lay person...It is useful andentertaining for any student of Ayurveda or as a home self-healing resource... (a) magnum opus." -- Hinduism Today - July 1998

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Product Details

• Paperback: 686 pages
• Publisher: Sat Yuga Press; 1 edition (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965804224
• ISBN-13: 978-0965804226
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #717,635 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beginners perspective, January 17, 2002

By	David Rodwell (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a recent discoverer of Ayurveda, I have purchased and read a number of books on Ayurveda from many of the well known teachers and scholars of the topic. These have all been fine but generally very narrow in their focus. There are other publicatons I have chosen to leave on the shelf that appear to be folks just "jumping on the bandwagon".

Happily I have just purchased the "AYURVEDA ENCYCLOPEDIA" and could not be more pleased. I hesitate to say I am reading it although that is exactly what I am doing with it. Most will find it a marvelous reference tool. Others will find specific portions that address their needs.

It is difficult to explain the "flavor" of the book however it is clearly not a book that has been put together by a Madison Avenue driven mega-publisher. It felt far more like a labor of love than a commercial effort.

Anyone seeking a great reference tool, a teaching text, or overview of Eastern medicine would be well served by Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha's "Ayurveda Encyclopedia".

The topics covered include the history or Ayurveda, Sanskrit, Yoga, specific medical conditions, herbology and much more. It is sprinkled with Eastern Philosophy as well as art work.

As I begin my Ayurvedic education I am confident I will be pulling it from the bookshelf frequently.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Ayurveda Encyclopidia, June 16, 2000

By A Customer

I found this book extremely helpful in both discovering my doshas, and using the information to improve my health. This book describes the traditional indian healing for harmony and health.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best book on Ayurveda I have found so far, May 29, 2009

By	Lataavi "Lataavi" (East coast, USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this book about 2 years ago on a whim, but it has proved to be the most thorough book I have found on Ayurveda to date. Several other books I found on Ayurveda were not only smaller than this one, but very vague in what they were talking about. Ayurveda is not cut and dried, so you will find different beliefs in Ayurveda depending on the source, but if you study it enough you will find some things are constant. It's helpful also to cultivate an awareness of your body and lifestyle to better know what suits you.... anyways,

This book has something for everyone: herbalism, diet, yoga stretches, gem, color and music therapy, mantras, and meditation, body cleansing and massage, etc. etc.
I like that even though this book was recorded by a Westerner (but dictated by an Indian) it' hasn't been watered down with your standard New Agey vague "spiritual" crap. Many of the traditional Indian practices are mentioned, even though they are not all considered to be healthy in the Western world (i.e., mineral bhasmas, or burning certain minerals and using them as medicine; where in the US some are illegal because they contain lead or mercury, in India their medicinal properties are recognized, similar to the use of some poisons in Homeopathy) If there is anything I can't stand, it is sugar-coated, vague, generalized references that have been dumb-downed for us Westerners! I prefer ethnographies or at least books that are as close to the real thing as can get.
This book is at times general, but for the things that really count (the things you can put down the book and go and actually do yourself) this book does not skimp on the details.
There are a lot of spelling errors in this book, so sometimes you have to guess at what some words are, but the information is still valid.
I have found this book to be very helpful and enlightening. When reading this book I recognized things that I already knew to be true subconsciously, but did not realize other people knew about as well. For example: when reading about nutrition and the effects different kinds of food have on the body. I have heard it said that the best books are the ones which remind you of what you already know, because they point to universal truths. I would say 5000 years is a good amount of time to distill the truth about a thing! This book definitely changed my life for the better