Utilization of Ayurveda in Health Care: An Approach for Prevention, Health Promotion, and Treatment of Disease. Part 1—Ayurveda, the Science of Life

Abstract

Ayurveda is a natural health care system that originated in India more than 5000 years ago. Its main objective is to achieve optimal health and well-being through a comprehensive approach that addresses mind, body, behavior, and environment. Ayurveda emphasizes prevention and health promotion, and provides treatment for disease. It considers the development of consciousness to be essential for optimal health and meditation as the main technique for achieving this. Treatment of disease is highly individualized and depends on the psychophysiologic constitution of the patient. There are different dietary and lifestyle recommendations for each season of the year. Common spices are utilized in treatment, as well as herbs and herbal mixtures, and special preparations known as Rasayanas are used for rejuvenation, promotion of longevity, and slowing of the aging process. A group of purification procedures known as Panchakarma removes toxins from the physiology. Whereas Western allopathic medicine is excellent in handling acute medical crises, Ayurveda demonstrates an ability to manage chronic disorders that Western medicine has been unable to. It may be projected from Ayurveda's comprehensive approach, emphasis on prevention, and ability to manage chronic disorders that its widespread use would improve the health status of the world's population.

Ayurvedic Psychology: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

“…Ayurvedic medicine represents one of the major areas of growing CAM interest in the United States (Bode, 2006;Bodeker, 2001;Chopra & Doiphode, 2002;Sharma, Chandola, Singh, & Basisht, 2007a). The Sanskrit word ayurveda derives from the terms ayus (life) and veda (science or knowledge) and represents one of the most ancient and comprehensive traditional medical systems in the world (Lad, 1995;Mishra, 2004;NCCAM, 2010b).…”

“…Ayurveda originally consisted of eight branches of traditional medicine: general medicine; surgery; diseases of the ear, nose and throat; pediatrics; toxicology; psychiatry; rejuvenation; and sexual vitality (Singh, 2004). Charaka Samhita contains the earliest known descriptions of several modern medical conditions, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease (Sharma, 2001;Sharma et al, 2007a;Tirtha, 1998). Sushruta Samhita includes descriptions of sophisticated surgical procedures, including the removal of cataracts, skin grafts, and reconstructive operations of the nose, which all influenced modern surgical methods (Tirtha, 1998).…”

“…The authors noted that not all of these studies were methodologically rigorous, however they also noted that several of the studies introduced species that may be appropriate for larger-scale, controlled trials in the future. Recent botanical research in Ayurveda has witnessed the introduction of more stringent study parameters, with several studies appearing in leading Western scientific and medical journals (Nagashayana, Sankarankutty, Nampoothiri, Mohan, & Mohanakumar, 2000;Sharma et al, 2007a). Many of these studies have been conducted similar to pharmacological research with active constituents of botanicals being studied in relation to different medical conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity (Mishra, 2004).…”

The control systems engineering foundation of traditional Indian medicine: the Rosetta Stone for Siddha and Ayurveda

“…The body is composed of combinations of these elements, and this combination is central to Siddha and Ayurveda's conception of health and well-being. A particular individual's constitution or body type is expressed as combinations of these elements through the tri-Doshas known as: Vata, Pitta and Kapha (Sharma et al, 2007). How the five elements or Panchabuthas come together to create Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, is shown in Table 3.…”

A Complex, Nonlinear Dynamic Systems Perspective on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Research

“…Factors that may contribute to disorder throughout the lifespan include diet, lifestyle, daily routine, sleep and other habits, work, relationships, climate, season, feeling states, trauma, and degree of innate resilience versus vulnerabilities within the individual as a functional system. [27][28][29] Ayurvedic humoral medicine: The doshas and the science of quality expression According to Ayurvedic philosophy, the three doshas are in constant interaction with the expressed qualities of the internal physiologic environment and the external physical, natural, and social environment. 26 All features of the internal and external environments are interrelated and in continuous dialogue and negotiation.…”