Ayurvedic medicine (or “Ayurveda” for short) is an ancient system of holistic (“whole-body”) healing. Ayurveda originated in India over 3,000 years ago.
It emphasizes the importance of finding a delicate balance between mind, body, and spirit for health and wellness. It emphasizes good health, not disease prevention. The treatments may also be tailored to a particular health issue.
It is classified as complementary and alternative medicine in the United States.
What Ayurveda Can Do for You
All things – whether dead or alive – are connected according to CAM therapy students. A person in good health has their mind, body, and spirit attuned to the universe. Whenever this equilibrium is disrupted, they become ill. Genetic and birth defects, injuries, and climatic and seasonal changes, as well as your emotions, are among the things that can upset this balance.
According to those who practice Ayurveda, every person is created from five basic elements located in the universe: space, air, fire, water, and earth.
There are three energies or life forces within the human body that combine to form three kinds of life forces, known as doshas. Your body functions according to the doshas present in your body. In this system, there are three doshas: Vata dosha (space and air), Pitta dosha (fire and water), and Kapha dosha (earth and water).
There is a unique combination of the three doshas in each of us. But one is usually stronger than the others. Each one controls a different body function. In India, it is believed that your chances of becoming sick — and the health issues you develop as a result of getting sick — are related to the balance of your doshas.
Dosha of Vata
Ayurveda practitioners believe this is the most potent of all three doshas. This dosha is responsible for controlling much more simple bodily functions, such as the division of cells. Additionally, it regulates your mind, breathing, blood flow, heart function, and elimination of waste through your intestines. It can be disrupted by many things, such as eating again too soon after eating, fear, grief, and staying up too late.
The Vata dosha is believed to be linked to the development of conditions such as anxiety, asthma, heart disease, skin conditions, and rheumatoid arthritis if it’s your main life force.
Dosha Pitta
Your digestion, metabolism, and certain hormones that control your appetite are controlled by this energy. Having too much time spent in the sun or eating sour or spicy food can disrupt it.
Having the urge to consume it is thought to increase your risk of developing health conditions such as Crohn’s disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, and infections.
Dosha of Kapha
There is a force within you that is responsible for muscle growth, body strength and stability, weight, and your immune system.
The rhythm of your sleep can be disrupted by sleeping during the day, eating too many sweet foods, or drinking things containing too much salt or water.
Practitioners say you may develop asthma and other breathing disorders, cancer, or Ayurvedic Treatment if it’s your main source of energy.
Treatment plans are created by Ayurvedic practitioners according to your needs. In addition to your unique physical and emotional makeup, the balance between these three elements will also be considered.
The purpose of treatment is to remove undigested food from your body, which can lead to illness. A cleansing process known as Panchakarma is intended to reduce your symptoms and restore harmony and balance to your entire body.
It may be possible for an Ayurvedic practitioner to achieve this by using blood purification, massage, medical oils, herbs, or laxatives and enemas.
How well does it work?
A few Ayurvedic schools are state-approved in the United States. However, there is no standard training or certification program for practitioners of this alternative therapy.
Ayurvedic products are not reviewed or approved by the FDA. Indeed, it has even banned the importation of certain Ayurvedic products into the country since 2007. Ayurvedic medicines contain toxic metals, as well, including lead, mercury, and arsenic, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Such heavy metals can potentially cause life-threatening illnesses to people, especially children.