Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine that has an integrated approach to the prevention and treatment of illness, which tries to maintain or re-establish the harmony between the mind, body, and forces of nature. It combines a variety of interventions, such as changes in lifestyle, herbal remedies, exercise, and meditation.

Ayurveda is one of several ancient Asian healing systems that have recently gained popularity in the West. While the effectiveness of many aspects of Ayurveda has not been scientifically proven, some preliminary research suggests certain components may offer potential therapeutic value.

How is it used?

A central idea in Ayurveda is that illness results when a person's physical, emotional and spiritual forces are out of balance with each other and with the natural environment.
Practitioners claim certain combinations of Ayurvedic interventions, matched to a patient's unique physical and emotional needs and personal medical history, increase physical vitality, foster spiritual well being, bring individuals into harmony with the world, and even prevent and cure disease.

According to Ayurvedic theory, all diseases and other health problems result from imbalances in the body's fundamental forces and disharmony with the natural environment. One of the primary goals of Ayurveda is to restore this balance and invigorate the body's biological and spiritual forces. Practitioners of Ayurveda use a combination of therapies to restore physical and spiritual harmony by balancing energy forces.
Practitioners of Ayurveda may combine dietary programs, herbal remedies, intestinal cleansing preparations, yoga, meditation, massage, breathing exercises, and visual imagery to treat their patients (see Massage, Meditation, Imagery, and Yoga). Ayurvedic herbal preparations often consist of complex mixtures of plants. An estimated 1,250 plants are used by practitioners. Some of the more controversial and less common practices of Ayurveda include bloodletting, bowel purging, and inducing vomiting.

To diagnose illness, Ayurveda practitioners closely observe a patient's tongue, nails, lips, and body's nine "doors": two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, genitalia, and anus. They also listen carefully to the lungs and pulse, and take a detailed history of the patient's life and health. Through these observations, practitioners claim to evaluate a patient's doshas. According to Ayurveda practitioners, doshas not only enable the various organs of the body to work together, they also establish a person's connection to the environment and the cosmos. Practitioners claim each person is dominated by one dosha, but is influenced to some extent by all three. The dominant dosha describes an individual's physical, emotional, and spiritual characteristics as well as his or her daily habits and lifestyle.

When formulating a plan of treatment, Ayurveda practitioners consider the state of a patient's doshas and the complex relationship between the doshas and other factors such as emotions, illness, physical activity, lifestyle, and diet, relationships with other people, and even the four seasons, colours, and the time of day. Practitioners strive to harmonize all of these factors so that their patients can attain health and well being.

What Is The History?

Ayurveda is thought to have appeared in India nearly 5,000 years ago. It emerged from an ancient body of knowledge called the "Vedas," which is a Sanskrit word meaning "knowledge." From these Vedas, India developed its moral, religious, cultural, and medical codes. Many of the beliefs and practices of Ayurveda are similar to those of ancient Chinese medicine.

In India today, Ayurveda practitioners are trained by institutions in state-recognized programs.

Does it work?

Although Ayurveda has been largely untested by Western researchers, there is a growing interest in integrating some components of the system into modern medical practice. Some preliminary studies suggest Ayurveda may have potential therapeutic value. In a controlled clinical trial of cancer patients in India, researchers found an Ayurvedic herbal mixture was just as effective as a conventional laxative for relieving constipation caused by narcotic pain medicine. In another controlled clinical trial, Ayurveda was found to be an effective treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease.

Note: This information is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor who is familiar with your medical needs.