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Ayurvedic medicine

Overview/History

Native to the Indian subcontinent, Ayurvedic medicine represents one of the world's oldest existing medical systems. It is difficult to calculate the exact origin of Ayurvedic medicine, due to the fact that the required information dates back over two millennia. However, references to the practice of Ayurvedic medicine are found in three major ancient texts.

Charaka Samhita: This text is considered one of the two foundational texts of Ayurvedic medicine. It is currently thought to be from 300-500 AD but the text does contain references to an earlier edition of a text from 100 BC to 100 AD.

Sushruta Samhita: This is the second of the foundational text and is a Sanskrit text covering surgical topics. It is attributed to a medic named Shushruta who lived around 600 AD. The text itself is an analysis of earlier texts, which were written around 300 AD - 400 AD.

Bower Document: A birch document from the 6th century AD, the Bower Document, or Bheda Samhita, contains a number of instructional passages for medical practitioners, including protection from snakebites and divination techniques for foretelling the future.

Since then, the practice of Ayurvedic medicine has been altered and refined into the form used today. It is estimated that some 80% of India's inhabitants utilize some form of traditional medicine. Many colleges and universities in the region offer degrees in Ayurveda.

Basics

Ayurveda, like many traditional forms of medicine, seeks to achieve a balance of mind, body and spirit in the patient. Unlike certain meditative and movement based forms of healing, Ayurveda utilizes many medicines and procedures to achieve this balance. These techniques are applied to the eight branches of Ayurvedic medicine:

o Internal medicine

o Surgery

o Treatment of head and neck disease

o Gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics

o Toxicology

o Psychiatry

o Care of the elderly and rejuvenation

o Sexual vitality

Harmonic balance in human beings is often discussed in terms of 20 fundamental qualities that everything possesses. These harmonies are achieved, in healthy people, by the proper transportation of both fluids and energy throughout the body. Ayurvedic practitioners use their five senses to diagnose imbalances, and use a variety of treatments to address them.

Considerations/Uses

Since Ayurvedic medicine is a generic term in India for "traditional medicine," the practice of Ayurveda can be wildly divergent from doctor to doctor. While India has addressed this issue with both extensive government research and the creation of training programs and certification organizations, the U.S. has only a few training programs. Therefore, it is important to investigate a doctor prior to seeking service to ascertain their level of training.

At an initial visit, a thorough examination and interview takes place. Since a prime focus of Ayurveda is metabolic function, many of the questions will focus on ideas related to metabolism. These include diet, weight, stool and urine examination and immune system functioning. Patients will also likely be asked about their lifestyle and exercise habits.

If an imbalance is found, treatments are the next step. These include herbal remedies, such as teas, which help improve blood function and the elimination of toxins. Ayurvedic practitioners also use enemas, laxatives and vomit inducing agents to help patients restore balance in their systems.

For other issues, methods that are found in other traditional medicines are prescribed. Aromatherapy and meditation are used to help improve spiritual healing. Herbs, vitamins, minerals and metals are used to help restore immune system function. Lifestyle changes, stretching, yoga and meditation are used to promote overall wellness and restore balance as well.

For patients with physical limitations and emotional imbalances, Ayurvedic medicine can help train them to function more effectively by incorporating calming physical meditation into their lives. Since the theories and philosophies observed by practitioners center on whole-person healing, treatment often helps patients by supplying them with a framework for living that promotes harmony. This makes treatment perfectly suited for people who experience difficulty with work-life balance or others who are exhausted by the rigors of modern living.

Last Updated: February 13, 2015