What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that originated in India centuries ago. The name Ayurveda comes from ayur meaning life and veda meaning science. In India it is believed to be equivalent to modern Western medicine, however, in other places, it is believed to be pseudoscientific. Providers in India who practice Ayurveda undergo similar certifying processes as doctors in the United States. Ayurveda is used to treat a plethora of conditions. It can be used to remedy common conditions such as acne, allergies, nausea, hemorrhoids, stress, and fatigue. In addition, Ayurveda is utilized to treat more severe conditions including diabetes, febrile seizures, and arthritis.
In Western medicine, it would be unusual for one thing to be able to solve so many problems. Ayurveda achieves this because it is not a drug but rather a lifestyle. It is based on the principles that 1) disease arises from imbalances in a person's consciousness and 2) the body contains three doshas: pitta, vata, and kapha. A person is believed to be dominated by one or two doshas and which dosha is pertinent determines their particular path of treatment. A shift in lifestyle is encouraged in order to restore the balance between the body, the mind, and the environment. This most common change is an adjustment to one's diet. Other treatments include meditation, yoga, and herbal remedies.
Ayurveda is not a common medical practice in the United States. This is because limited studies have been conducted and in those done, it has been shown that some herbal remedies contain toxic levels of heavy metals. This practice has not been proven to be safe or unsafe. However, if wanted, some products can be obtained as dietary supplements since they are less regulated. It is recommended to speak to a medical provider prior to trying Ayurveda as it may alter the effectiveness of medications. Herbal cocktails utilized for Ayurveda have the potential to either increase or decrease the effectiveness of any prescribed drugs. This could be life threatening in some cases.
So why does this matter? It has been proven time and time again that there are significant connections between parts of the body. If the lower part of your spine is misaligned, for example, it causes a domino effect, throwing off the balance of the rest of your body. This is because the human body is a complicated system, and homeostasis must be maintained, or the system fails to function as intended. The human mind must remain in a healthy state in order for the body to also remain healthy. This is why yoga and other exercises are often used in combination with herbs when practicing Ayurveda. Other holistic approaches to healthcare have also arisen and I believe they would cease to exist if bodily systems were not intertwined.
Diabetes is a condition which impacts millions of people around the world. It arises when a person cannot properly regulate their insulin production. This imbalance, which begins in the pancreas, can affect every other organ in the body. Not only does diabetes have a physical impact, but it has an ecological impact. Ayurveda has been used as a treatment for diabetes. The idea is that restricting certain foods in your diet can allow you to prevent spikes in your blood glucose levels. I believe Ayurveda would be a more effective treatment for type 2 diabetes than type 1 diabetes. This is because for many type 2 diabetes patients, the imbalance of the physiological systems stems from poor diet, lack of exercise, and high blood pressure. All of these factors can be reversed through proper planning and execution.
I agree that there is substantial evidence that all bodily functions are intertwined. I think the way that you centered your paper around this was a very good idea and well done. I did not personally dive as far into the specifics of doshas, but I think it is an interesting connection. I can tell in your paper that there might be some apprehensions you have about Ayurveda, especially with the possibility of toxicity and regulations in treatment. Overall, I think you provided a good explanation of Ayurveda.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the part you talked about homeostasis and how both mind and body can be affected by it. I appreciated what you brought up about the harmful effects some herbal medicines can have with toxicity and effectiveness of other medications taken. You really both portrayed the positive and negative with ayurveda medicine and I liked the perspective from both sides. I felt the same on the idea that ayurvedic treatment likely will be more effective on diabetes 2 and liked that you made sure to include that idea.
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty cool that you start this out by explaining that Ayurveda is such an effective means of healing. I think we overlook the importance of keeping our body chemicals balanced by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We put a lot of focus on modern medicine and sometimes this is detrimental to us. I wont claim to understand everything that drug manufacturers understand but I do know that preventative measures are much better than medicine. That's why I think your thoughts are interesting.
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