The Ayurveda Encyclopedia

June 15, 1998
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