Practical chemistry...

[Guest guest]

>I have heard that every plant has MEDICINAL value, what to speak of even

>other uses- I have heard that from an Ayurvedic doctor, but its just that so

>much of Ayurvedic knowledge is lost in Kali- Yuga.

>Since there is a shortage of such available brahmanas, and since as you have

>pointed out, the subject is so vast, would it be more practical to

>prioritize their study to that which is essential to self-sufficiency? For

>example, cures to common ailments, plant dyes, soap-making- if the study of

>chemistry is directed in that way it would be very useful. Any chemists know

>of a formula for ash-based soap? YS, Niscala.

 

 

"Oh, that's so simple, why didn't I think of that in the begining, it's so

practical..."

 

Everything seems so complex and/or impossible till we get down to the

lowest common denominator (Krishna), then it's all clear. Like Krsna

Consciousness for one. It's not so much that traditional knowledge (as it

was so simple) is lost in Kali-yuga, but our mental outlook has become so

complex (dark). Like looking thru the wrong end of a telescope.

 

Chemistry (Ayurveda), VAD & Cow economics, cloth-dyeing and soap-making -

instead of trying to pick things apart so see the DNA structure, if we can

just block out the trees to see the forest, and see the inherent, easily

visible qualities (in people's varnas, plant's qualities, etc.) everything

will instantly become iluminated. "Krsna surya sama - Maya hoy andhikar",

Krishna is like the sun, Maya is darkness (or as translated on the BTG

cover).

 

Practical Chemistry Indeed...

Ayurveda like all things 'vedic' has a deep philosphy, but simple applications.

 

We don't need laboratory tests to tell how much of which element is in each

plant. A sensitive Kaviraja just by looking at any plant (or tasting for

the 6 tastes) can tell what qualities and uses it has, just as by looking a

person, s/he can tell what their constitution is, what illness the have (or

may have, etc.). Kapha (watery/earthy), Pitta (firey) and Vatta (airy) are

the 3 basic constitutions. Ayurveda is based on the principle of opposites,

a Vatta-type (tall, thin, hyperactive) person should take Pitta (spicy) and

Kapha (sweet, heavy) food for balance. So tall, thin trees are Vatta,

Round, heavy and sweet trees (Mango, Jackfruit). Therefore a thin person

should can eat lots of mangoes.

 

Ayurveda is based upon the six tastes, so by simply tasting any plant (and

observing it physical qualities), a Kaviraj can easily tell what properties

it has and it's uses. Of course this is over-simplified. There are so many

texts of ancient seers giving the uses of millions of plants, it is hardly

a lost science.

 

Back to the basics, a red flower will make a red dye. If we can't figure

out a way to make soap, just massage in mustard oil and rub off with wood

ashes, like Indians have been doing since time began. The principle behind

soap is simply that the (see page...