"It is the stars --
The stars above us
That govern our conditions"

-- William Shakespeare

Nothing could be more true than this realisation of William Shakespeare. The astounding knowledge of the ancient Indian sages of the influence of the stars on human life and activities, both benign and malignant, has proved beyond doubt that joys and sorrows, infirmity and good health, good fortune and misfortune are all guided and influenced by the planets and their positions.

Painstaking Research

Painstaking and protracted research undertaken by the ancient Indian sages through meditation and keen observation revealed that almost all kinds of physical illness were caused by the adverse influences of astral positions and their transitions.

Indian Ayurveda and the ancient Indian scriptures, however, have the remedies. Illness thus caused by the astral positions can, according to the scriptures, be neutralised and even cured by medicines made from the extracts of various medicinal plants, herbs and creepers. This makes the knowledge of astrology imperative for the effective practice of Ayurveda.

Ancient Origins

Ayurveda's mythological origins are attributed to the Indo-European Nasatya or Aswins, twin physicians of the gods of the ancient Indo-European pantheon. Four thousand year old references to the Nasatya are found in the now extinct Hurrian and Hittite languages in Turkey, and in the Sanskrit language in India. Ayurveda is considered the upaveda or accessory Veda to the Atharva Veda.

Written in the Indus Valley area around 1000 B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) in Sanskrit, it is a treatise on general medicine. This strongly suggests the probability that Ayurveda, though originally and earlier of pan Indo-European origins, had begun to evolve into a distinct entity within the subcontinent by the first millennium B.C.E.

Ayurveda's lasting influence in the non Indo-European sphere began after the rise and spread of Buddhism in the 6th century B.C.E. Buddhist monks introduced Ayurveda to China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia and Sri Lanka, leaving a lasting legacy in their medical systems.

Contributions to Modern Medicine

More recently, the German translation of an ayurvedic text that dates back to less than 1000 B.C.E., the Susruta Samhita, contributed to modern medicine the discipline of plastic surgery. Susruta mentions eight branches in ayurveda - General medicine, Surgery, ENT and Eye diseases, Toxicology, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Sexology and Virility.

The glorious achievements of Ayurveda in curing even apparently incurable diseases in the middle ages has become overshadowed to some extent by the influence of the so-called scientific treatment of the modern age. But the research work on Ayurveda and ayurvedic medicines, however, did not stop, despite the progress of modern medical science and invention of modern medicines like antibiotics. In fact, the negative effects of modern medicines and their toxic effects have led scientists to fall back upon Ayurveda with more and more people across the world eagerly opting for the natural and herbal cures.

Resurrection of Ayurveda

The resurrection of Ayurveda and the growing awareness about ayurvedic treatment have given rise to a fresh hope among people across the globe, irrespective of status, caste, creed and colour. Ayurveda is increasingly being looked upon by modern man as the panacea for all illness and enhancer of feminine beauty. Not only is ayurvedic medicine being used for curing maladies, it is also being increasingly put to use by beauticians and cosmetic companies all over the world.

There is now a very strong conviction among the general public that medicines extracted from plants and herbs used in antiquity and in the middle ages for treatment are the best medicines, having no toxic or any other harmful effects on human body. Indian Ayurveda thus forms the foundation of much modern pharmaceutical research, with more and more modern medicines being prepared from medicinal herbs and shrubs rather than synthetic chemicals.

Ayurvedic Classifications

According to Ayurveda, general diseases can be classified under six broad heads. They include:
Caused by wind
Caused by bile
Caused by mucus
Caused by trinity (W + B + M)
Caused by infection -- by virus
Caused by curse

Medicines, according to Ayurveda, can also be divided in five classes:

Deriving from herbs
Deriving from minerals
Deriving from animals
Auto vaccine
Application of Mantras

Counterbalancing Malefic Planetary Influences

Very interestingly, ancient Indian Ayurveda suggests and recommends a sound knowledge of astrology for understanding maladies and their cure. Indian Ayurveda underscores the fact that diseases can effectively be cured by neutralising the influence of malicious planets on human life.

Weak and malefic planets and their detrimental influences cause various kinds of diseases. Circulatory deficiencies, ailment of the blood stream, anaemia, physical debility and digestive disorders are often caused by the negative influence of the Sun. Insanity or lunacy, coughs and colds, bronchitis, melancholia and respiratory troubles are attributed to the adverse influences of the Moon. Apart from these, several other diseases are caused by these influences. The chart below gives a precise idea of the maladies caused by unfavourable and malefic astral influences.

	Planets	Diseases
	Mars	Constipation, flatulence, liver trouble, blind piles, skin diseases etc.
	Mercury	Nervous diseases, ulcers, acidity, blood pressure, restlessness, irritation etc.
	Venus	Bronchial problems, whooping cough, asthma, dyspepsia, sexual diseases, delirium, obsession, procreative problems etc.
	Saturn	Nervous and mental disorder, neurosis, neuralgia, sciatica, rheumatism, excretory diseases etc.
	Jupiter	Hepatitis, biliousness, colic palpitation, toothache, insomnia.
	Rahu	Hyperacidity, burning sensation, trouble from vayu (gas), brain disorder, sexual excesses and alcoholism.
	Ketu	Skin diseases, nervous debility, small pox, urinary problems etc.

Plants and herbs have been found to be extremely effective in neutralising the detrimental influences of astral positions causing human ailments. The following plants and creepers are recommended to neutralise the harmful effects of some planets.

	Planets	Remedy
	Venus	Hydrotyle, Honey
	Jupiter	Chirata
	Moon	Honey
	Sun	Aegle Folia
	Ketu	Aswagandha
	Saturn	Shefalia, Grass, Honey