brief Glossary of Ayurvedic terms

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1. Abhyanga: An ayurvedic oil massage practiced by two medics who massage to let go the warm oil into the tissues of the entire body. This helps loosen and facilitate the removal of accumulated ama (toxins) and the doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) from the body.
2. Aadaan kala: the first half of the year. According to Ayurveda, a year is divided into two periods or kalas : adaan and visarga. Aaadan kala is also called utarayana (northern solstice). During this period the sun and wind become strong and take away the cooling properties of the earth. It starts from mid January to mid July. Ritus (seasons) included are Sisra (cold and dewy season); Vasanta (spring season) and Grisma ritu (summer season).
3. Aadharniya vega; Non suppression of natural urges It means the natural urges which should not be suppressed by force as a habit.
4. Aayschotana; Type of Eye salves It is a type of eye treatment in which drops of herbal liquids are put into the eyes. This therapy prevents excess lacrimation, burning sensation and redness of eyes.
5. Abhakta aushadha; Empty stomach medication intake Ayurveda describes various methods of intake of medicine depending upon the dosha imbalanced. Empty stomach medicine intake is one of the methods The medicine is given early in the morning empty stomach. It is mostly recommended to patients who are strong enough to take medicine empty stomach and in aggravation of kapha.
6. Adhobhakta; Intake of medicine after meals The medicine is given immediately after the meals. It is recommended in imbalance of vyaan vayu.
7. Agada tantra: Toxicology, a branch of Ayurveda dealing with poisons.
8. Agantuka: External or a stranger.
9. Ahamkara: Conception of one's individuality, egoism, pride or haughtiness.
10. Ajirna: Indigestion, weak digestion.
11. Akasa: Free open space, ether, sky or atmosphere.
12. Akriti: Physical appearance or external shape.
13. Alabu: A vessel made of dried gourd.
14. Alocaka (Pitta): A type of Pitta governing vision, causing to see.
15. Amala (Amalaki): An Ayurvedic herb, Emblica officinalis (Emblica myrobalan) 
16. Amavata: A disease caused by ama and vata, comparable to arthritis in modern medicine.
17. Amla: Sour taste.
18. Anjana: Black pigment applied in eyes and eyelashes.
19. Anna-vaha srotas: The channels transporting grains or food, the digestive system, alimentary canal.Anupana
20. A fluid vehicle for medicine; drink taken with or after medicine, drink after eating.
21. Anurasa: A secondary flavor (as a little sweetness in sour fruit), a subordinate feeling.
22. Anuvasana (Basti): Enema given with an oily substance.
23. Apa: The element water or water.
24. Apana: One of the five types of vata, which goes downward and is responsible for expulsion of faces, flatus, urine, menstrual blood etc.
25. Aparadha: Offence, sin, wrong action or misuse.
26. Apara-ojas: One of the less important of two types of vital fluid (ojas) present in the body, inferior, lower.
27. Ardhavabhedaka: A kind of migraine affecting half of the head or skull.
28. Arsha: Saintly, pious, and sacred.
29. Asana - Yogasana: Posture, seat or position.
30. Asatmendriyartha samyoga: Improper contact of senses with their objects.
31. Asatmya: Unwholesome, bad, improper.Ashtanga 
32. Ayurveda: The eight branches of Ayurveda
33. Astanga Hrdya: An ancient Ayurvedic text written by Vagabhatta.
34. Agni: Agni is the form of fire and heat that is the basis of the digestive system and the process of release of energy. The term includes the body heat, body temperature, sight, the digestive fire; its function is transformation, absorption, elimination and discrimination is agni. 
35. Ahara rasa: It is the nutrient substance that is acted upon in the digestive tract by the enzymes or the bile juice.
36. Akasha: It is the free space or void; also related to the property of sound and is one of the aggregate elemental processes.
37. Alochaka [pitta]: It is one of the five varieties of pitta and helps in catching the image of external objects.
38. Ama: It is the toxins that enter the blood stream and are circulated in the whole body. Toxins or ama are produced in the body by the raw, undigested food products that become fetid. Retention of toxins in the blood results in toxemia. Almost every disease is a result of toxicity ormits crisis. Toxins are vital for prana (vital life energy), ojas (immunity), and tejas (cell metabolic energy).
39. Apana [vata]: This medicine acts in the downward direction of the body and regulates exhalation and excretion.
40. Artha: It relates to meaning, the final essence of every thought, it is an object of pursuit, which is desired and desirable and satisfies the acquisitive tendency in every individual.
41. Asthi: It is one of the seven components and the bone tissues that supports the body by giving it protection, shape, nourishment and longevity.
42. Atman: Atman means the true self, which is the cause of consciousness and all functions by the mind.
43. Atreya: Atreya is the author of Charaka Samhita.
44. Aum: Also said as OM, the god's name has in itself the sounds for all omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence. A, U, M, represent the outer, the inner, and the super conscious stages of consciousness, waking, dream, and the state of extreme sleep.
45. Aushadha: Medicine ,Aushadha means medicine to be given for cure of the disease. Charaka states aushada as one of the constituent of Chiktisa Chatushpada(Four essential constituents of treatment). Based on action, aushadha mainly of two types: Shodhana (Purifactory therapy) and Shamana (Palliative therapy). Depending upon its origin aushadha is of two types: Sthavar (plant origin) and Jangam (animal origin).
46. Avagaha sveda; Sitz bath. The herbs to be used are boiled in water. The patient is asked to dip the affected part in it. It's most commonly used in arsh (piles).
47. Avalambaka [kapha]: It is a type of kapha. It is located in the heart and the sacrum and has the vital function of nourishing them both, lubricating and protecting the heart and support the sacrum.
48. Avyakta: It refers to indistinct, not evident and inarticulate.
49. Ayurveda: Constituted of two words, Ayur meaning life and Veda meaning knowledge, ayurveda means the knowledge of life. Another accurate translation of ayurveda is 'the knowledge of longevity. The roots of ayurveda rest in the ancient Indian culture. Ayurveda can be thoroughly understood by getting woven up in the fabric of nature
50. Arishta: Fermented formulation 
51. Asava: Fermented formulation 
52. Aryavaidyan: Officially Ayurvedic Physician 
53. Ashtangahridayam: One of the classical ayurvedic texts, author: Vaghbhata 
54. Ashtavaidyas A group of traditional Brahmin families of Kerala, who where exclusively engaged in the practice and teaching of Ayurveda 
55. Atalotakam Adathoda beddomei, F. Acanthaceae 
56. Atharvaveda: is one of the four vedas, often called the “fourth veda”. The fixation of the texts of these recensions likely dates to roughly 600 BC 
57. Aturavrittam: Patient's regime 
58. Bhasmam: Calcined drug 
59. Brahmi: Bacopa monnieri, F.Scrophulariaceae 
60. Churna: Powdered herb 
61. Cyto-protective Agents: Drugs which increases orderly uptake of cells 
62. Dhara: One of the preparatory procedures for panchakarma. Specially trained masseurs apply specified medicated oil on the body of the patient 
63. Dhara Chatti:  Earthen pot wherein liquid is filled when Dhara treatment is conducted 
64. Dharma: Natural law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. Dharma forms the basis for philosophies, beliefs and practices originating in India. As the religious and moral doctrine of the rights and duties of each individual, Dharma can refer generally to religious duty, and also mean social order, right conduct, or simply virtue 
65. Dhatus: Stuctural units of human body 
66. Dinacharya: Daily routine of an individual Doshas Functional units of human body 
67. Droni: Specially designed wooden plants used for the conduct of treatment such as Pizhichil 
68. Ghrita: Ghee based drug 
69. Gulika: Pill 
70. Gurukula: The Indian traditional method of tutelage where the disciple stays with his preceptor until the learning completes
71. Kashayas: Herbal decoction
72. Kwathas: Herbal decoctionNagadandi: Baliospermum montanum, F. Euphorbiaceae 
73. Nasyam: Administration of medicine through nose 
74. Navara rice: The malayalam term used for a variety of Oryza sativa, which is ripe within 60 days, means, is ready for harvest after two months 
75. Navarakizhi: One of the preparatory procedures before panchakarma. Masseuse apply warm paste of special rice variety on the body of the patient 
76. Nyaya One of the “Shad-darsanas” or six great doctrines founded by Gautama
77. Pachakizhi: Warm massage therapy . Boluses made of herbal leaves and powders are used 
78. Panchabhautic: Made of five fundamental elements Panchakarma The five pronged classical therapy of Ayurveda Pichu External administration of oil on the head using pieces of cloth soaked in medicated oil 
79. Pizhichil: The malayalam term used for massaging the body with medicated oil by using oil-soaked pieces of cloth, as broad and thick as attendant's palms, squeezed over the patient’s body 
80. Podikizhi: Warm massage therapy. Boluses made of herbs and grain powder are used 
81. Prishtavasthi: Oil therapy done on the vertebral column for the management of disc related and traumatic diseases 
82. Purusha: A Sanskrit term used in Hinduism. The primeval man, considered to be the soul of the Universe, which was created out of his bodyRasakriya: Collerium 
83. Rasayanachikitsa: Rejuvinative treatment 
84. Ritucharya: Seasonal regime 
85. Sadvrttam: Good conducts 
86. Sahasrayogam: An Ayurvedic text book on pharmacology 
87. Samanam: Palliative medicine 
88. Sankhya: One of the “Shad-darsanas” or six great doctrines founded by Kapilacharya 
89. Shashtika rice  Oryza sativa, a special variety of rice – Navara, used in Ayurvedic treatment particularly in Kerala.
90. Siddha: A Dravidian form of Ayurveda in India, which is well known in South India. This branch of medicine was developed by outstanding the then Dravidians (ancient Tamils). Medical preparations are mainly made out of plant-animal-mineral kingdoms, especially from mineral source 
91. Sirodhara: The Sanskrit term used for a process in which, medicated oil, decoction, milk, buttermilk, etc. is poured on the forehead with the help of a wick in order not to stop the continuous flow of the oil used 
92. Sirolepa: Application of herbal paste on head 
93. Sirovasti: Retaining of oil on head fixing leather cap in a befitting manner 
94. Snehapanam: Oral administration of medicated Ghee/Oil adopting incremental dosage schedule 
95. Snehavasthy: Medicated Enema 
96. Sodhanam: Purifactory treatment 
97. Svasthavrittam: Healthy man's regime 
98. Taila: Oil
99. Taila/Kuzhampu: Oil based 
100. Tarpanam: A treatment for chronic opthalmic deseases. It is done external, on the orbit of the eyes 
101. Thalapothichil: Herbal pack done on head 
102. Tridosha: Three functional units of body and a method of categorisation.
103. Upaveda: A secondary ‘veda’ apart from the main four ‘vedas’ viz. Rg, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. For example Ayurveda is the secondary ‘veda’ of ‘Atharvaveda’ 
104. Urovasthi: Oil-neteutian therapy done on the chest in cardiovascular diseases 
105. Vaidyamanorama: Ayurvedic text in Malayalam Vaidyaratna An honour given by the Government of India to eminent Ayurvedic Physicians 
106. Vaiseshika: One of the “Shad-darsanas” or six great doctrines founded by Kanada 
107. Vasti: Enema 
108. Vedanta: Principle branch of Hindu philosophy, is derived from the words veda- knowledge and anta-end or conclusion, means “the culmination of the Vedas”. Vedanta literature was composed in the sixth century BC and has been in use since then 
109. Vedas: Vedas are the most ancient Sanskrit Hindu scriptures, esp. Rg, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, four collections of hymns, etc. (sacred) knowledge 
110. Vyadhikshamatvam: Immunity
111. Yajna: This is the Vedic ritual of sacrifice, performed to please the Devas-gods. It involves pouring oblations into the divine Agni (sacrificial fire). Everything that is offered in the divine Agni is believed to reach the Devas 
112. Yoga: An ancient spiritual practice that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Jnanayoga and Rajayoga are considered the four main yogas. In other parts of the world Yoga has become associated with the Asanas (postures) of Hathayoga, which have been popularly considered as fitness exercises