Holistic treatment is becoming popular all around the world since it has little to no side effects. One such technique is ayurvedic medicine.
In this article, we’ll talk about Ayurveda in detail.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda, short for ayurvedic medicine, is a holistic healing system developed in India about 3,000 years ago. The system is based on the belief that your health and wellness largely depend on a balance between the body, spirit, and mind.
Ayurveda is used to maintain overall health but there are also some treatments to solve specific problems. Today, Ayurveda is popular all around the world and is a part of complementary and alternative medicine in the US.
How Ayurvedic Medicine Works?
Students of complementary and alternative medicine believe that there is a connection between everything in the universe including dead and alive beings.
They emphasize to be in harmony with the world in order to have excellent health. According to their beliefs, disruptions in this balance can cause people to fall sick and face other health related issues.
They believe that a number of events and occurrences can cause imbalances. These include birth or genetic defects, seasonal or climate change, age, emotions, and injuries.
Followers of Ayurveda have similar beliefs, they are of the idea that every human is composed of five elements including:
- Air
- Water
- Fire
- Earth
- Space
All these elements come together to create three life energies or forces, known as doshas. According to Ayurveda, these doshas control your body and can have an impact on your overall health.
The three doshas are:
- Vata Dosha
- Pitta Dosha
- Kapha Dosha
Followers of Ayurveda believe that everyone in the world inherits a portion of all three doshas, but one may be more prominent than the other.
They believe that each dosha controls a specific body function and if anything goes wrong with the balance of your doshas, then you may fall ill.
We’ll now explore these three doshas in detail.
Vata Dosha
According to the followers of Ayurveda, this is the most powerful dosha. It controls the most important body functions such as the division of cells.
In addition to this, it’s also said to control your heart functions, blood flow, breathing, and mind. Issues with this dosha can lead to serious health concerns.
Followers believe that a number of actions can disrupt the balance of this dosha. These include grief, fear, bad sleeping pattern, poor eating habits, etc. If vata dosha is your prominent dosha then you’re likely to develop anxiety, skin issues, heart diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and anxiety.
The best way to balance vata dosha is to have a healthy routine. Skipping meals, not sleeping hours or sleeping at random hours can lead to problems with this dosha.
Maintain a proper routine, consume a balanced diet, and stay away from negative feelings to balance your vata dosha.
Pitta Dosha
The second dosha is pitta dosha. It controls your metabolism, some hormones, and digestion. It will not be wrong to state that this dosha mainly deals with your appetite.
This is why the best way to maintain this dosha is to eat a proper diet. Consuming raw, unhealthy, or very spicy foods can cause problems with this dosha. Other than this, spending too much time in the open (sun) can also be bad for this dosha.
If the pitta dosha is your prominent dosha then you’re likely to develop heart diseases, infections, high blood pressure, and Crohn’s disease.
Kapha Dosha
The third dosha is the kapha dosha. It controls stability, immune system, body strength, muscle growth, and weight. All in all, it is linked to your overall health and how your body reacts to outside attacks.
The best way to control this dosha is to eat right and avoid consuming a lot of salt and sugar. Other than this, having a bad sleeping routine can also disrupt this dosha.
If you this is your prominent dosha then you’re likely to develop asthma, diabetes, obesity, nausea, and cancer.
Ayurvedic Medicine Treatment
Ayurvedic medicine can be effective in solving a number of health issues. You will have to visit an ayurvedic practitioner to get a treatment plan that’s suitable for your condition.
He will gauge your physical, mental, and emotional state to create a plan for you. This is important because the practitioner must know your overall condition and prominent dosha to come up with a solution.
Ayurvedic medicine is made to cleanse your body and help you get rid of undigested food, which can cause harm to your body. The cleaning process is known as “Panchakarma” and is believed to be effective in restoring balance and harmony.
Some of the techniques used to cleanse the body include herbs, laxatives, medical oils, massages, and blood purification.
Is Ayurvedic Medicine Effective?
The opinion seems to be divided. There are quite a few state-approved schools teaching Ayurvedic medicine in the US but there isn’t a recognized certification or standard in place yet.
The FDA also does not approve or review Ayurvedic medicines. In fact, the agency has often warned against the use of some Ayurvedic medicines due to the presence of toxic metals like arsenic, mercury, and lead.
But, the industry is growing and is expected to hit the $10 million mark by 2022. In fact, about 240,000 million Americans already use Ayurvedic medicines.1)
Some makers produce low quality products that may contain harmful elements.2) It is best to stay away from them.
If you want to try it then get in touch with a professional and know more about your prominent dosha.