Ayurveda Medicine Benefits, Herbs, Practices & Safety Concerns

Ayurveda is the traditional medicine system that has been used by Hindu civilizations in India for thousands of years.

It is a holistic system for enhancing all areas of health and well-being via preventive medicine, proper diet, yoga, breathing techniques (pranayama), herbal remedies, massage, surgery, and other practices.

Ayurveda focuses on using the healing power of the mind to transform the body. It focuses on promoting whole-body health and wellbeing by improving resistance to stress and restoring balance to physiological systems.

Ayurvedic medicine practitioners teach the importance of meditation, eating a varied diet, getting abundant sleep, living in tune with nature and strengthening the body. When imbalances or deficiencies occur, they may recommend natural or herbal medicines to restore balance.

This article explores the history of Ayurveda, and the techniques it employs to develop and maintain enhanced health and longevity.

Ayurveda

Traditional Medicine

Health

Balance

Immunity

How It Works:

• Supports homeostasis in the body
• Restore balance to the three doshas
• Promotes harmony between the mind, soul and senses

Dosage:

Varies depending on supplement

Safety:

Varies depending on supplement

Top Ayurvedic Supplements* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Ayurveda Overview

Ayurveda’s name comes from the Sanskrit terms for life: “ayur”; and knowledge/science: “veda”. It is one of the world’s oldest and most-respected medicine systems. [1]

The proper way to pronounce ayurveda is “ah-yer-vey-duh”.

Ayurveda stems from the Indian subcontinent. Some experts believe it is more than 5000 years old.

Before written records, the Ayurvedic system is believed to have been passed down through generations by word-of-mouth over thousands of years. Ancient Ayurvedic texts date back about 600 years before the life of Jesus of Nazarene.

The famous Great Trilogy of texts on Ayurvedic health care includes:

• Sushruta Samhita;
• Astanga Hridaya;
• Caraka Samhita;

Ayurveda History

Ayurvedais a Sanskrit word, which is the ancient Indic language of India. [2]

Ancient Hindu scriptures, yogic texts, and numerous other important works were penned in this language from which many other languages were derived.

The actual origin of Ayurveda is often attributed to the fourth of the classic Vedic texts: Atharva Veda (“procedures for everyday life”).

There are no definitive dates established for any of the Vedic texts. However, Atharvaveda’s core text is believed to have been written during the 2nd Millennium BC during the Mantra Period of Vedic Sanskrit.

Ayurveda is designed to be a rational and logical approach to balancing the body and mind’s energy to ensure proper function as intended by nature.

The Ayurvedic medicine system is based on principles that are very unlikely to change over time, regardless of how humans or our situations change.

According to College of Indian Medicine, “Later, from the 6th Century BC to 7th Century AD there was a systematic development of the science and it is called, when a number of classical works were produced by several authors and during this period there is evidence of organized medical care.” [3]

As time has moved forward, Ayurveda continues to be used to address health concerns in a holistic way. Today, it is more widespread than ever as a safe alternative medicine approach to maintaining health and well-being throughout the course of life.

Some criticize the practice of Ayurvedic medicine as pseudoscience with little research evidence available to support its use. However, there is more research begin conducted into some of its common practices with many gaining clinical evidence.

Ayurvedic Body Type (Doshas)

In the Ayurvedic tradition, there are three recognized doshas, which can be thought of as the elemental natural forces that act on all of us.

The doshas help us to develop good health, better understand our bodies, grasp how we think and why we think the ways we do and to better know other people and the world around us.

Although most people are believed to express traits of a single dosha dominantly, we are all combinations of all three doshas.

The three doshas of Ayurveda are vata, pitta, and kapha. No single dosha is considered to be “better” than another. Each is unique and equally-valuable in Ayurveda.

The three doshas are representative of the energies given by the five basic natural elements: ether (space), water, air, fire, and earth.

Vata Dosha

The vata dosha represents the energy of motion and is commonly linked to the wind (air) and space. As such, it is associated with movement-related acts like: [1]

• Neuronal firing in the CNS (central nervous system);
• Movement of tissues and cells;
• Flow of breathing (respiration);
• Rhythm of the heart muscle;
• Muscular contractions;

Those who express vata dosha traits dominantly are said to be creative, flexible thinkers.

Pitta Dosha

The pitta dosha represents the energy of change and is linked to both fire and water.

It is neither stationary nor mobile yet expands like the heat given off from a fire into its surrounding environment; or like the flow of water via the least-resistant terrain path.

The pitta dosha is closely linked to the ever-fluxing nature of: [2]

• Nutrition, digestion, and metabolism;
• Understanding and intelligence;
• Thoughts and emotions;
• Body temperature;

Khapa

The kapha dosha represents the energy of cohesiveness and structure. It is associated primarily with the earth and has water as a secondary element.

Because khapa represents the liquid energies of compassion and love, it is said to: [2]

• Hydrate all cells, tissues, and organs;
• Keep the skin moist and subtle;
• Maintain the immune system;
• Keep the joints lubricated;

While each dosha is represented by one or two dominant energies, all doshas are combinations of all five elemental energies.

When our dosha energies are imbalanced, numerous physical, emotional, or neurological disorders can develop.

The primary goal of Ayurveda treatments is to balance the doshas and thereby maintain health and well-being through the course of life.

Ayurvedic Medicine

The Ayurvedic medicine system is still used by the majority of the population of the Indian subcontinent.

Many Ayurvedic practitioners today combine its techniques with some of those from westernized medicine.

Practitioners help to reverse dosha imbalance, work toward optimal health, and avoid disease through life by incorporating: [3]

• Intentional breathing exercises (pranayama);
• Aromatic plants and herbal medicines;
• Proper food and eating choices;
• Deep tissue massage;
• Yoga and meditation;

Ayurvedic medicine also incorporates various other holistic factors for developing overall mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Ayurveda Herbs

Ayurvedic treatments employ the use of herbal medicines made from root, leaf, stem, flower, and seed from hundreds of different plants.

Some of the most-used Ayurvedic herbal medicines are:

• Winter Cherry (Ashwagandha);
• Indian Gooseberry (Amalaki);
• Wild Asparagus (Shatavari);
• Saffron (Kumkuma);
• Cardamon (Elaichi);
• Cinnamon (Twak);
• Holy Basil (Tulsi);
• Bacopa (Brahmi);
• Turmeric (Haldi);
• Cumin (Jeera);

Other treatments involve the use of animal bones, gallstones, fats, and milk.

Alcoholic beverages called Madya are also used in this system of traditional medicine. They can be made from fermented cereals, fruits, or herbs and are said to reduce kapha and vata while the increasing pitta dosha.

Interestingly, ancient Ayurvedic texts make no mentions of either Cannabis or Opium. Both substances were first mentioned in a work called Sarngadhara Samhita from the 14th Century AD.

Bleeding caused by trauma can be treated in 1 of 4 ways in Ayurveda: [1]

• Use of preparations to constrict the blood vessels;
• Use of preparations to facilitate clotting;
• Ligation of the blood vessel;
• Cauterization by heat;

Essential oils are used widely in Ayurvedic medicine. They are administered by oral ingestion, and applied topically via anointing, massaging, and smearing.

In a practice called Shirodhara, medicinal liquids are poured over a patient’s forehead.

Ayurveda Diet

Foods and eating habits are very important factors in the overall Ayurvedic approach to health and well-being.

In general, sweet, salty, and sour foods are emphasized while pungent, astringent, and bitter foods are consumed less often.

The following is a brief overview of each food type in the Ayurvedic diet:

Sweet Ayurvedic Foods

In Ayurveda, sweet foods do not include high-sugar or otherwise empty-calorie foods.

Sweet foods are used to pacify the vata dosha. They are said to be satisfying, nourishing, grounding, and good for building strength.

Some common sweet foods include nuts, seeds, roots, oils, grains, fruits, yogurt, and purified butter (ghee).

Sour Ayurvedic Foods

The Ayurvedic diet incorporates sour foods to enliven the mind, increase energy, enhance digestion, prevent or treat flatulence, and compliment the flavors of other foods.

Some popular sour foods are lemon, lime, kimchi, vinegar, sauerkraut, miso, cheese, and sour cream.

Other sour foods that are used include pineapple, grape, orange, and grapefruit.

Salty Ayurvedic Foods

In Ayurveda, salt is important but is not overused as it so commonly is in the western diet. Pink sea salt is preferred and used in small amounts to bring out savory flavors in foods.

Salty foods are said to stimulate the appetite, enhance digestion, facilitate proper fecal elimination, encourage diuresis, keep moisture in the body – and of course, add flavor to foods.

Pungent Ayurvedic Foods

Pungent and hot foods like chili peppers, radishes, turnips, onions, garlic, ginger, and numerous spices are used in only in moderation in Ayurveda.

Pungent foods can have some benefits in the medical system, but too much of them is said to severely dry the body’s cells and tissues out; disturbing the vata dosha.

Bitter Ayurvedic Foods

Ayurveda does not deny that bitter foods can be very healthy. However, like pungent foods, these are used only in limited amounts.

Too many bitter foods are said to aggravate the vata dosha by overcooling, roughing, drying, and generally reducing its energy.

Bitter foods like Dandelion Greens, Jerusalem Artichoke, Bitter Melon, Collard Greens, Burdock Root, Chocolate, and Eggplant are recommended only in small amounts.

Astringent Ayurveda Foods

Astringent foods taste dry and chalky. They are said to disrupt the vata dosha with heaviness, roughness, dryness, and coldness.

Biting into an astringent food, like a green banana peel, for instance, causes the tissues in the mouth to contract and dries it out.

Some astringent foods have health benefits and should not be avoided completely.

In the Ayurvedic diet, practitioners eat astringent foods like pomegranate, legumes, cranberries, green apples, rye, broccoli, and grains only in moderation.

Ayurveda Massage

In Ayurvedic medicine, the art of massage is known as Abhyanga. Broken into “abhi” and “yanga”, it means “toward movement”. [2]

Abhyanga refers to balancing the dosha by moving the body in the direction of the blood’s circulation.

Generally, Ayurvedic massage involves rubbing the body in the same direction that your hair lays on the skin.

By massaging different areas of the body in a direction away from the heart, increased blood return to the heart muscle is slowed down, helping to keep it from being overwhelmed.

Abhyanga Ayurvedic massage is often performed using essential oils, pastes made from ghee and herbal plants, or powders made from dried herbs.

Massage is recommended as part of the Dinacharya: the routine daily schedule used to develop spiritual health and well-being.

Daily Ayurvedic massage helps to keep the body free of fatigue, stiffness, pain, swelling, and redness.

Massage is also an important element of detoxification techniques called Panchakarma. The massage helps to move toxins and the dosha energies to the core from peripheral areas.

Ayurveda Safety Concerns

This traditional medicine system uses various health products and techniques to fight disease and promote vitality.

There are safety concerns about the practice of Ayurved, primarily related to its use of natural medicines.

When elemental minerals are added to Ayurvedic herbal medicines, the practice is known as Rasa Shastra.

According to NCCIH, “In 2008, an NCCIH-funded study examined the content of 193 Ayurvedic products purchased over the Internet and manufactured in either the United States or India. The researchers found that 21 percent of the products contained levels of lead, mercury, and/or arsenic that exceeded the standards for acceptable daily intake.” [1]

In most countries, Ayurvedic herbs and products are sold as dietary supplements. Inferior products make their ways to marketplaces and can be dangerous.

To avoid buying toxic or otherwise contaminated Ayurvedic supplements, be sure to shop with established and well-reputed suppliers.

Look for products that are certified to be Organic and Non-Genetically Modified.

You should not use Ayurvedic herbs, foods, or massage as replacements to conventional medical care.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding an infant should ask their doctors about using specific herbs or formulations before beginning.

Numerous Ayurvedic herbs and spices can interact with some pharmaceuticals. You should check with your doctor about interactions with any medications you may use regularly.

Rate This Article

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)