All About Ayurvedic Medicine Programs

By Catherine Kennedy


Healthcare is also a polarizing area of consideration, seeing as people cannot really agree on how best to approach it. Medical techniques abound, and thats not counting in the considerable number of alternative and complementary practices currently in use. Ayurvedic Medicine Programs, for instance, are a popular sort of alternative medical method.

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.

Ayurveda isnt recognized as a science per se, and thats for obvious reasons. Modern doctors see it as a kind of complementary or alternative medicine, that which the patient can take or practice should he choose to. However, it doesnt boast the patronage of leading medical research centers. Therefore, its not at all recommendable and guaranteed to forego conventional medicine in the place of these mere integrative approaches.

Ayurvedic practices are so ancient that they predate even written records and were therefore handed down to posterity through word of mouth. That said, it may be gleaned from this fact that some adhered to methodologies are embellished, misunderstood, or interpolated. Because of its antiquity, it has also been widely criticized as obsolete.

In fact, Ayurvedic medicine claims to cure almost anything, from rashes to anorexia. The most often adhered to practices include yoga, herbal remedies, special diets, various therapies, and rasa shastra, which involves treating diseases with certain metal substances. Lifestyle recommendations are also included in this all around treatment.

Therefore, US states dont license Ayurveda practitioners. However, thats not to say that they dont approve of Ayurvedic schools. After all, some practices and techniques of this system are a no brainer, such as midwifery and massaging. Even questionable practices like leeching are acceptable as long as they dont translate to health problems in both the short and long term.

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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