Ayurveda: Ayurvedic Medicine

Definition of Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine is a system of healing that began in ancient India. In Sanskrit, ayur signifies life or living, and veda means knowledge, so Ayurveda has been defined as the “knowledge of living” or the “science of longevity.” Ayurvedic medicine uses diet, detoxification and purification methods, herbal and mineral remedies, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, and massage therapy as holistic healing techniques. Ayurvedic medicine is widely applied in modern India and has been steadily gaining followers in the West.

Beginnings of Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine originated in the early civilizations of India some 3,000-5,000 years ago. It is mentioned in the Vedas, the ancient religious and philosophical texts that are the oldest surviving literature in the world, which makes Ayurvedic medicine the oldest surviving healing system. According to the texts, Ayurveda was conceived by enlightened wise men as a system of living harmoniously and maintaining the body so that mental and spiritual awareness could be possible. Medical historians believe that Ayurvedic ideas were transported from ancient India to China and were instrumental in the development of Chinese medicine.

Today, Ayurvedic medicine is utilized by eighty percent of the population in India. Assisted by the work of Deepak Chopra and the Maharishi, it has become an increasingly popular alternative medical treatment in America over the last 20 years. Chopra is a Doctor of Medicine. who has written numerous bestsellers based on Ayurvedic principles. He has also assisted in the development of the Center for Mind/Body Medicine in La Jolla, California, a leading Ayurvedic center that trains physicians in Ayurvedic practices, produces herbal remedies, and conducts research along with documentation about its healing methods.

Beneficial Effects of Ayurvedic Medicine

Based on original texts, the aim of Ayurveda is prevention in addition to promotion of the body’s own capability for maintenance and equilibrium. Ayurvedic treatment is non-invasive and non-toxic, so it can be used safely as an alternative treatment or in cunjunction with conventional therapies. Ayurvedic medical practitioners claim that their techniques can also aid stress-related, metabolic, and chronic conditions. Ayurveda has been employed to treat acne, allergies, asthma, anxiety, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, colitis, constipation, depression, diabetes, flu, heart disease, hypertension, immune system problems, inflammation, insomnia, nervous disorders, obesity, skin problems, and ulcers.

Ayurvedic doctors try to identify the causes of a disease before it becomes so advanced that more radical discourses are required. Therefore, Ayurveda seems to be restricted in addressing seriously advanced conditions, traumatic injuries, acute pain, along with conditions and injuries necessitating invasive surgery. Ayurvedic methods have also been used together with chemotherapy and surgery to help patients in convalescence and healing.

Ayurvedic Medicine Facts Index