Ayurveda aka ‘the science of life’ is an ancient practice of a natural system of medicine that dates back several millennia. India is the birthplace of Ayurveda and hence one can find mentions of this nature-based science in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts. Ayurveda advocates natural therapies and lifestyle alterations that employ herbs, oils, massage, yoga and meditation to maintain a state of balance between the body, mind and spirit. Although not an alien topic for many, Ayurveda as many people know it today is more than these body-mind balancing elements.
This post will delve into 7 such intriguing aspects of Ayurveda in India that you may not know. Let’s take a look.
1. Ayurveda Is More than Just Herbs
Most of us picture the use of medicinal herbs when we think about Ayurveda. However, you may not know that Ayurveda therapies and treatments also involve substances like clarified butter (ghee), milk, molasses, gingelly oil, ashes, minerals and even self-fermented alcohol. Although we are not denying the fact that herbs are substantially used in Ayurvedic treatments, there are a number of other compounds used as well. In some instances, the other substances are carriers or adjuvants that help a medicine work well while in other cases such components are the medicine in themselves.
2. Ayurveda Works on Simple Yet Effective Principles
Our body is made up of five elements of air, water, fire, earth and space. Every individual has these five elements but in varying proportions. Based on this surmise, our bodies are segregated into Vata, Pitta and Kapha based on the different proportions of these five elements in our body. Ayurveda in Indiabelieves that any imbalance in these five elements results in disease and realignment in these elements cures a person. For instance, a Vata personality comprises more air adn space elements while a pitta-dominated individual will have more fire and water elements. Similarly, a Kapha-dominated individual has more earth and water elements. At the time of conception, an individual’s dominant dosha is formed by a combination of the doshas of parents. Besides the genetic aspects, a person’s constitution is also affected by diet, lifestyle, emotions, climate and other environmental factors. So, most Ayurvedic treatment evaluations focus on identifying the particular dosha of the individual to identify bodily imbalances and suggest further treatment.
3. Ayurvedic Medicines Undergo Clinical Testing
It’s a myth that Ayurvedic medicines lack clinical testing. In fact, the Government of India has set up the Ayush Ministry which overlooks many regulatory aspects of Ayurveda in India. There are firm guidelines that have been put in place pertaining to quality control and Ayurvedic medicines standards in India. The Central Council of Researches in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Pharmacopoeial Laboratory of Indian Medicine (PLIM) have come up with ‘Protocol for Testing of ASU medicines’. Moreover, there are rules which have been prescribed related to benchmarks and quality control that have paved the way for setting up drug testing laboratories across India. So, ayurvedic medicines that are manufactured need to get certified for stability and quality control by these laboratories.
4. Ayurveda Is A Lifestyle
Ayurveda in India is actually a way of life for many Indian people. Moreover, Ayurveda and its principles are firmly ingrained in the philosophies, culture and daily lives of people in India. The word ‘Ayurveda’ comes from ‘Ayur’ which signifies longevity and life while ‘Veda’ denotes knowledge. The basic premise of Ayurveda is living life in such a way that your body’s humors are in balance. This requires sustained interventions such as eating an Ayurvedic diet, following a dinacharya or daily routine as per Ayurvedic principles and doing regular asana practice and meditation. So, if you are looking to enhance your knowledge pertaining to leading an Ayurvedic lifestyle, there are many courses in Kerala and Rishikesh which you can enroll in.
5. Ayurveda Has Several Branches Of Medicine
Just like contemporary Western medicine, Ayurveda has different specialties. So, contrary to the popular notion that Ayurveda is only about prescribing herbal medicines, it has branches like surgery or Shalya Chikitsa, diseases afflicting the above shoulder body parts or Shalakya, internal medicine or Kayachikitsa, toxicology or Agadatantram and many more specialties of medicine. Ayurveda in India comprises many different specialties which have the capability to treat every possible ailment encountered by the body.
6. Ayurveda Looks At The Root Cause Of The Disease
Ayurveda in India is based on the very elements that constitute and preside over varied bodily processes. In Ayurveda, a qualified practitioner first diagnoses the problem based on its root cause. Once the cause is known, the doctor will look into the factors that are hindering the treatment and recovery process. These factors when cleared pave the way for actual healing to begin. This way Ayurveda treats the disease by identifying its root cause rather than simply masking its symptoms.
7. Panchkarma Is More Than A Detox Treatment
The famed Panchkarma treatment in Ayurveda is known more as a detox and toxin removal treatment. However, the Panchkarma treatment works in totality that helps to drain and detox the body and the mind and therein cure it of ailments. Moreover, Panchkarma treatment depends on your body type and the kind of affliction you are suffering from. In fact, sometimes not all the 5 steps of Panchkarma are followed or needed while undergoing the Panchkarma treatment. Also, Panchkarma can effectively tackle a number of ailments by improving the self-healing ability of the body. The treatment works to fine-tune the functioning of the organs of the body and thus promotes healing and wellness. Ayurveda in India is looked upon as an important discipline in life sciences that treats the body as a whole. This holistic branch of medicine has shown promising results in terms of healing vague diseases which even modern medicine fails to understand and treat. However, Ayurveda is a vast field of knowledge requiring intensive and comprehensive study to understand and apply it in daily life.
Author Bio:
Kristina is a freelance journalist specializing in health and fitness based in India and also freelance Yoga writer. She spent the past 10+ years writing about Yoga, medications, diseases, family health, fitness, nutrition. She comes from a family of teachers, and has always loved reading and writing. Now she is blogging at Hrishikesh Yoga, a website that offers best yoga courses & Yoga retreats around the world. She is sharing his experiences by writing about them. She also has a passion for movement, and grew up doing Yoga and dance.
