What is Ayurvedic Alternative Medicine?
Ayurvedic medicine is also known as Ayurveda and is a Hindu traditional medicine tradition. The Hindu are convinced the spirit, mind and body should be balanced in order to achieve health and wellness. While there are specific treatments for certain health issues, the basic target is to have good health, instead of fighting disease. This has also been referred to as; Alternative Medicine.
Theory of Ayurveda
Everything in the Universe is connected whether it is living or not. When the spirit, mind and body are in conformity with the surrounding world, then good health is achieved. When there is a disturbance of this balance that is when illness or sickness can set in. Some of the incidents considered possible to disturb the balance are:
- Climate and season change
- Age
- Birth defects
- Emotions
A person’s constitution or prakriti (prime material energy which all matter is composed of) stays the same for a person’s whole life. There are however, things that can influence it such as the food one digests. All people are made of the same five elements:
- Earth
- Fire
- Space
- Air
- Water
These five elements combine to create three life forces; doshas. The doshas are what control the body. They are:
- Kapha dosha (water and earth)
- Vata dosha (space and air)
- Pitta dosha (fire and water)
Everyone has a mixture of these three doshas, with one usually being more dominant. The different doshas control different body functions and are linked to the chances of illness.
Being Seen by an Alternative Medicine Practice
When you visit an Alternative Medicine Practice, you will be examined to learn which dosha is your primary one. In order to determine your dosha, they will check:
- Your weight
- Urine and stool samples
- Speech and voice
- Eyes, teeth, tongue and skin
- Pulse (each dosha has its own unique pulse)
They will then want to know:
- Your ability to recover from sickness
- Diet
- Medical history
- Behaviors
- Lifestyle
Treatment can then be established depending on which dosha is your primary and then creating a balance between all three of them.
One of the main goals in the treatment will be to cleanse your body of undigested food, which is known as; Ama. This is what can stick to the inside of your body to make you sick. Removal of the Ama will reduce any symptoms and create harmony and balance to your body.
What can alternative health medicine be used for?
Studies are showing that meditation works well to relieve stress and to also reduce the risk of heart disease. There are also studies checking into how Ayurvedic herbs can be used to treat cancer. Herbal treatments can also be used as; anti-depressants, anti-anxiety and possibly anti-cancer.
A recent study that has come out shows Ayurveda may also be effective to manage obesity and diabetes.
