A Prospectus On Ayurvedic Medicine Programs

By Catherine Kennedy


Healthcare, wellness, and their corresponding ways and means have been around since time immemorial. They also differ greatly in each time and place. In India, for example, there are Ayurvedic Medicine Programs.

The common ground is its theories on elemental balance. The scriptures seem to imply that there is a kind of metaphysical force that connects the common person to the universe as a whole. Similarly, discrepancies in the bodily systems of a person, even down to the minutest cell, can impinge on ones overall health. Energy blocks and mental dissension can be responsible for physiological and physical complaints. Perhaps less vaguely, it hints that there is some sort of universal interconnectedness at work.

This concept is based on ancient Hindu scriptures. Its etymology is based on the combination of two Sanskrit words, ayur meaning life, and veda meaning science or knowledge. All in all, its pitched to be some kind of life science. At most, it was probably founded at least three thousand years ago, and its quite significant that its still has a grand following of adherents and believers.

Anyhow, this ancient practice is based on the oft pitched concept about elemental balance. It claims to cure someone by aligning his or her bodily systems with one another and the elements of the Earth. It explains how people are affected by the dissemblance of natural order both inside and outside their bodies. This principle proffers the concept of universal interconnectedness among persons and the entire universe.

Additionally, its actually recognized as a kind of proto science by others. It cant be denied that although Ayurveda has detractors, it also has people who acknowledge its healing capabilities. Due to its metaphysical principles and religious roots, however, its seen as something like a science by serendipity. In that it wasnt intentionally founded to become an actual science of sorts.

The Ayurvedic system hasnt at all received the gold standard in the world of medical research, since its practitioners havent conducted sufficiently controlled clinical trials and systemic research reviews to prove that its practices are beneficial and not harmful. The researches held maybe had problems with control groups, research designs, or some such, which make it disreputable among medical research journals.

More specifically, treatments include panchakarma, which professes to clear the body of toxins and energy blocks. More invasively, there is bloodletting and leaching. The first is supposedly meant for anything from excessive drowsiness, rashes, eczema, enlarged liver and spleen, and even tumors. The second allegedly cures the much dreaded condition among middle aged men, baldness. There is also vomit therapy, for cough, asthma, anemia, bronchitis, diabetes, epilepsy, and much questionably, anorexia.

Anyway, the standard practices of Ayurvedic medicine include exercise, yoga, meditation, herbal remedies, and other some such therapies. Special diets are also encouraged, as well as the proper facilitation of natural cycles like sleeping and eating. In this regard, it also zeroes down on lifestyle recommendations, even impinging on seemingly detached factors such as hygiene. There is panchakarma, the toxin and energy block remover. Some forms of surgery are also practiced, as well as bloodletting. Rasa Shastra involves the taking in of metal elements including mercury, lead, and arsenic, that which is not at all encouraged by most conventional medical practitioners. Much predictably, there are also the herbal medicines, involving such herbs like turmeric, basil, aloe vera, etc.

It might say a lot in the favor of Ayurveda that its probably effective and reputable. Nothing else can account for its continued popularity and patronage. Its recommendable, nonetheless, to stand by conventional and modern medicine and only use alternative medicines complementarily, and with the approval of ones doctor.




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