As medical science is progressing, doctors and scientists are realizing that western medicine’s symptom-related treatment has its limitations. A disease cannot be isolated from the body and treated in a vacuum. Medical diagnosis has to consider the individual as a whole for the treatment to turn into a cure. Coincidentally, this approach is the very basis of Ayurveda. If you’re wondering how exactly is Ayurveda different, here are 9 reasons why Ayurveda makes more sense when it comes to maintaining your health.
1. Strong Fundamental Principles
There are many modern medicinal systems that have evolved over the years but we find they keep changing based on bio-chemical values, signs and symptoms, line of treatments, medicinal formulations. But none of the Ayurvedic principles have changed so since the last 5,000 years. However, understanding Ayurvedic principles in the modern medical context might be difficult because Dosha-Dhatu (body tissues) – mala (waste products) – srotas (body channels) – manas (mind) – atma (soul) – indriya (sense organs) etc. cannot be understood in its whole sense by any physico-chemical or biochemical parameters.
2. Ayurveda Treats The Body As A Whole
In Ayurveda, the emphasis is on treating the disease or condition by understanding the root cause and then treating the respective doshas, usually by strengthening the body tissues known as dhatus. Ayurveda believes that all diseases are caused by the imbalance of doshas. Therefore, treatment of the root cause of the disease is the priority of Ayurveda.
3. Ayurveda Advocates Preventive Measures
Even though 1-3% of human population is always suffering from some disease, the remaining 97-99% is not aware of the existing diseases or subclinical manifestations. Most people do not get any advice on how a healthy status can be maintained. Ayurveda, on the other hand, looks at your body, mind, and your lifestyle to recommend treatments accordingly.
4. The Medicines Are Safer And Less Toxic
Though one cannot say that all Ayurvedic medicine is toxicity free or side-effect free, Ayurvedic herbal or herbo-mineral preparations are much safer and effective in treating a variety of diseases. This is because most medicinal preparations are made with plant sources keeping in mind the effect of the medicine on the entire system and not just the infected parts of the body. Also, lifestyle changes are recommended so that your body can use the medicine more effectively.
5. Ayurvedic Medicines Are Time-Tested
Ayurveda is a system of medicine that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. The source text of Ayurveda offers sound rationale on the line of treatment as well as the formulation designed by the ancient Indian sages. The trial and error process has been done and the conclusions are what Ayurveda offers.
6. Ayurveda Is Not Particular About Naming Diseases
Ayurveda does not bother itself with the detailed nomenclature of diseases and conditions, nor does it have fixed medicines for a particular disease unlike the modern system of medicine. It looks at factors like dosha dominance, the percentage of affliction, and site of affliction and advises to adopt the line of treatment and suitable medicinal formulations.
7. Treatments For Lifestyle Diseases
Most diseases and chronic illnesses are a result of bad lifestyle. Changing lifestyle, unhealthy food habits, and atmospheric conditions give rise to new diseases. Ayurveda foresaw these causes long ago and prescribed Ritucharya and Dinacharya (routines of the season and day). These are guidelines that list out everything that you need to do from the moment you wake up until the time you go to bed in order for you to stay healthy.
8. Maintenance Of Mental Health
Ayurveda was probably the first medicinal system to recognize the effect of the mind on the disease. While explaining the diseases, their understanding, and line of treatments, Ayurveda also focuses on mental health along with physical health. Personal regimens, attitudes, exercises, and lifestyles explained in Ayurveda can be adapted to overcome the anxiety and stress of modern life, a prime cause of several diseases.
9. Personalized Treatment
The dose of medicine, dietary restrictions, time of administration, and the combination of medicines and carriers with respect to the disease and formulations makes Ayurvedic medicines and treatment very unique and holistic. Each patient is considered to be a unique individual with specific requirements. Once the diagnosis is completed, a personalized prescription is given to suit the patient’s unique constitution.
