NAMC BAMS flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Tridosha

Three functional principles of Ayurveda: Vata (movement), Pitta (transformation), Kapha (structure/lubrication). Their balance defines health; imbalance produces disease.

Panchamahabhuta

Five great elements-Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Jala, Prithvi-that compose all matter. Each dosha arises from a pair of these elements.

Triguna

Three qualities of mind: Sattva (clarity), Rajas (activity), Tamas (inertia). Used to classify mental constitution and mental disorders in Ayurveda.

Sapta Dhatu

Seven body tissues: Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja, Shukra/Artava. They are nourished sequentially from digested food by dhatvagni.

Trimala

Three waste products-Purisha (feces), Mutra (urine), Sweda (sweat). Their timely elimination is essential for health; retention causes disease.

Agni

Biological fire governing digestion and metabolism. Jatharagni digests food; Bhutagni metabolizes elements; Dhatvagni builds tissues. Weak agni produces ama.

Ama

Undigested metabolic residue formed when agni is weak. It obstructs channels (srotas) and combines with doshas to initiate many diseases.

Panchakarma

Five purification therapies: Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Nasya, Raktamokshana. Preceded by Snehana and Swedana; followed by Samsarjana krama diet.

Shad Rasa

Six tastes: Madhura, Amla, Lavana, Katu, Tikta, Kashaya. Each has specific dosha effects and elemental composition used in prescribing diet and drugs.

Nidana Panchaka

Five diagnostic methods: Nidana, Purvarupa, Rupa, Upashaya, Samprapti. Together they establish diagnosis and pathogenesis of a disease.

Prakriti

Individual constitution determined at conception by dosha predominance. Guides preventive lifestyle, diet, and susceptibility to specific disorders.

Srotas

Body channels through which dhatus, malas, and doshas move. Srotodushti (channel obstruction) by ama is central to Ayurvedic pathogenesis.

Ojas

Subtle essence of all dhatus representing immunity and vitality. Its depletion causes weakness; severe loss is described as fatal.

Rasayana

Rejuvenation therapy promoting longevity, immunity, and tissue vitality. Includes drugs like Ashwagandha and Amalaki, plus lifestyle regimens.

Vajikarana

Ayurvedic aphrodisiac and reproductive health therapy. Aims at healthy progeny, sexual vitality, and treatment of reproductive disorders.

Dinacharya

Daily regimen: waking, oral hygiene, abhyanga, exercise, meals, and sleep timed to dosha rhythms. A core preventive practice in Ayurveda.

Ritucharya

Seasonal regimen adjusting diet and activity to dosha accumulation during seasons. Prevents seasonal disorders by countering dosha shifts.

Sadvritta

Code of ethical and social conduct-truthfulness, cleanliness, moderation. Considered essential for mental and physical health in Ayurveda.

Nidra

Sleep, one of the three pillars (Trayopastambha) with food and celibacy. Improper sleep disturbs doshas and is a disease cause.

Trayopastambha

Three pillars of health: Ahara (food), Nidra (sleep), Brahmacharya (regulated sexual conduct). Their proper use sustains life.

Snehana

Oleation therapy using medicated fats internally or externally. Purvakarma step that loosens doshas before Panchakarma elimination.

Swedana

Fomentation therapy using heat to induce sweating. Follows Snehana to mobilize doshas toward the gastrointestinal tract for elimination.

Vamana

Therapeutic emesis used mainly for Kapha disorders. Administered after Snehana and Swedana; contraindicated in weak or pregnant patients.

Virechana

Therapeutic purgation mainly for Pitta disorders. Eliminates accumulated doshas through the lower gastrointestinal tract after proper preparation.

Basti

Medicated enema, chief treatment for Vata disorders. Anuvasana uses oil; Niruha uses decoction. Considered half of all Ayurvedic treatment.

Nasya

Nasal administration of medicines for disorders of head and neck. Purvakarma includes facial massage and fomentation before instillation.

Raktamokshana

Bloodletting therapy for blood-borne and Pitta-Rakta disorders. Performed by leech application or venesection after assessing strength.

Samsarjana krama

Graduated diet schedule after Panchakarma to restore agni. Begins with thin gruel and progresses to normal food over days.

Ashtanga Ayurveda

Eight clinical branches: Kaya, Bala, Graha, Urdhvanga, Shalya, Damshtra, Jara, Vrishya. Describes the scope of Ayurvedic practice.

Trividha Roga

Three categories of disease causation: Adhyatmika (internal), Adhibhautika (external), Adhidaivika (divine/cosmic). Used in disease classification.

Shodhana

Purification therapy eliminating aggravated doshas from the body. Contrasts with Shamana, which pacifies doshas without elimination.

Shamana

Palliative therapy pacifying aggravated doshas without eliminating them. Used when the patient is too weak for Shodhana procedures.

Upashaya

Diagnostic trial using therapies or foods that relieve symptoms. Helps confirm diagnosis and distinguish similar diseases in Ayurveda.