Discover the principles of Ayurveda

Ayurveda: An Overview

Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system that originated in the Indian subcontinent, with historical roots dating back over two millennia.
Ayurveda therapies include herbal medicines, special diets, meditation, yoga, massage, laxatives, enemas, and medical oils.
Ayurvedic preparations are typically based on complex herbal compounds, minerals, and metal substances.
The main classical Ayurveda texts begin with accounts of the transmission of medical knowledge from the gods to sages, and then to human physicians.
Ayurveda emphasizes the balance of three elemental doshas viz. vāta, pitta, and kapha, and states that their imbalance results in disease.
Ayurveda divides medicine into eight canonical components, including surgery, and identifies eight ways to diagnose illness.
Ayurveda follows the concept of Dinacharya, which says that natural cycles are important for health, and hygiene is also a central practice.
Ayurvedic remedies are mostly plant-based, but animal products, minerals, and alcoholic beverages are also used.
Purified opium and cannabis indica are used in some Ayurvedic preparations, and massage with oil is commonly prescribed.
Panchakarma, which involves five techniques to eliminate toxic elements from the body, is an important aspect of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is widely practiced in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, where formal study is offered in the form of a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree.
Ayurveda is considered pseudoscientific, and there is no good evidence that it is effective to treat or cure cancer.Ayurveda: History, Classification, and Global Usage
Ayurvedic practice in India has become more "biomedicalized" and secularized, while Ayurveda in the West may emphasize spiritual aspects and preventative medicine.
Ayurveda was challenged by European medicine during colonization, leading to the development of "Modern Ayurveda" and "Global Ayurveda," which includes the practice of Ayurveda pharmacopeia and New Age Ayurveda.
In India, Ayurveda is used by 80% of the population exclusively or combined with Western medicine, and the government supports research and teaching in Ayurveda through various channels.
Nepal has a similar usage rate to India, while Sri Lanka has its own tradition of Ayurveda with an established Ministry of Indigenous Medicine.
Ayurveda was introduced to the United States in the 1970s by Baba Hari Dass and is not licensed or regulated by any state.
Ayurvedic medicine is considered pseudoscientific due to its lack of scientific soundness and quality of research, but some herbs and substances may have potential for effective treatments.
The use of toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic in Ayurvedic practices has caused adverse reactions and led to concerns about quality control and regulation.
Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced since ancient times, with some scholars claiming its origins in the Indus Valley civilization, but there is debate over its historical accuracy.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns against the use of Ayurvedic medicine for heavy metal poisoning and emphasizes the use of conventional health providers first.
Research in Ayurveda is undertaken by various institutions in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The World Health Organization has found a shortage of qualified doctors in India, particularly in rural areas, and a low density of all doctors compared to other countries.
The global Ayurveda market was worth $4.5 billion in 2017, according to Industry Research.A Brief History of Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system of medicine that originated in India over 3,000 years ago.
The practice of Ayurveda is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit.
Ayurvedic medicine includes the use of herbs, massage, and other natural remedies to treat a variety of conditions.
Three principal early texts on Ayurveda have survived to the present day: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Bhela Samhita.
The dating of these texts is historically complicated, but they are in their present form datable to a period between the second and fifth centuries CE.
Ayurveda flourished throughout the Indian Middle Ages, and its medical works were translated into Chinese, Arabic, Persian, and eventually reached Europe by the 12th century.
In Renaissance Italy, the Branca family of Sicily and Gaspare Tagliacozzi were influenced by the Arabic reception of the Sushruta's surgical techniques.
British physicians traveled to India to observe rhinoplasty being performed using Indian methods, and reports on their rhinoplasty methods were published in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1794.
Ayurveda became a part of the Indian National healthcare system, with state hospitals for Ayurveda established across the country.
Debate about the place of Ayurvedic medicine in the contemporary internationalized world continues today.
The use of herbs and surgical instruments became widespread in Ayurveda, and treatments were prescribed for complex ailments, including angina pectoris, diabetes, hypertension, and stones.
The political debate about the place of Ayurveda in contemporary India has continued to the present, both in the public arena and in government.