If you are not from India, you may not have heard of Ayurvedic medicine before. It started in India more than 1,000 years ago. Ayurvedic medicine is considered to be both complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). There is a goal of achieving balance of body, mind and spirit. This balance is said to both promote wellness and to prevent illness. It is also said to bring happiness. There are various products and techniques that are used in Ayurvedic medicine and if used without the instructions of a trained practitioner, some of the products may be harmful such as some of the herbs if used alongside conventional medicines may cause side effects. This is why it is vital that the practitioner be properly trained and has enough experience.
There are two ancient books that are the main texts on Ayurvedic medicine “Caraka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita”. In the texts there are eight branches of Ayurvedic medicine. The eight branches are Internal medicine, surgery, treatment of head and neck disease, toxicology, psychiatry, sexual vitality, the care of the elderly and rejuvenation and also gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics. Approximately 80% of those living in India practice Ayurvedic medicine exclusively or in combination with conventional medicine. Other places where Ayurvedic medicine is practiced is Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and also Pakistan.
Approximately 751,000 individuals living in the United States have at one time or another used Ayurvedic medicine, according to a 2002 survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
The concepts behind Ayurvedic medicine are that of universal interconnectedness between the body’s constitution or prakriti, and life forces, doshas. Those that practice Ayurvedic medicine believe that all things in the universe both living and nonliving are joined together and that every human being contains elements that can be found in the universe and that if body and mind are in harmony your health will be good and lastly that interacting with the universe is both natural and wholesome. When a person is out of harmony with the universe disease happens. The problem with your health can be emotional, physical or spiritual or a combination of any of those three.
Your body’s constitution (general health) is a unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics and is influenced by digestion and how the body handles the waste products. Life forces are controlled by the activities of the body. The balance of the life forces has a direct relationship to the diseases that affect your body, and mental state.
Age, unhealthy lifestyle, unhealthy diet, too much or too little mental or physical exertion, the seasons, and being inadequately protected from chemicals, germs, or the weather can cause imbalances.
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