Demystifying The Ancient Art Of Ayurvedic Medicine For The Beginner

If you want to get healthy and feel better, why not go back to ancient history?

There are so many health programs and products available on the market, each claiming to be better than the next. But most of the programs don't last more than a year and end up being a fad.

Ridiculous.

When it comes to picking one that's right for you, why not take a look at Ayurvedic medicine?

Guess what?

This practice originates from India and has been around for over 5,000 years.

In fact, in India over 90 percent of the population uses some form of the medicine.

Also, studies show its effectiveness for many types of ailments.

That's not all:

Ayurvedic Medicine: Be A Better You

Ayurvedic Medicine begins with Ayurveda.

Ayurveda teaches that everyone has a specific makeup, or "prakruti," that determines their physical, physiological, and mental characteristics and vulnerabilities towards disease.

First, three bodily energies, or "doshas," determine someone's prakruti.

Most people have one dosha that dominates their makeup, although they may have some features of each.

Why You Should Consider Ayurvedic Medicine

In the 1970s, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a study with the Ayurvedic trust to study the effectiveness of Ayurvedic treatments on patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The study found that the treatments were both safe and effective.

That wasn't the only study:

Then nearly 40 years later, in 2013, Dr. Banya Malam, a neurologist and professor emeritus at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, used the principles of Ayurvedic medicine to study populations that might be vulnerable to Parkinson's disease.

He found that those with the Vata dosha had a greater vulnerability to Parkinson's than other groups of people.

So, what does that tell you?

The above studies show that Ayurvedic medicine is gaining ground and scientific studies are proving it.

For those who are skeptical about natural medicine, this is a reputable reason to try Ayurvedic medicine and see what it can do for you.

Another reason Ayurvedic medicine is worth a try?

The practice focuses on a person's vulnerability to a disease rather than the disease itself. This is an important distinction from traditional medicine because its focus is on keeping you healthy, not curing your disease.

In other words, it focuses on you and makes your health journey more personal.

When you practice Ayurvedic medicine, you won't feel like a number or a statistic.

Since Ayurvedic medicine isn't regulated, here's the big question: Is it safe?

The answer, according to some recent studies, is yes.

That's not even the best part:

The WHO recognizes Ayurveda as a traditional form of medicine!

Ready to have your mind blown?

Some of Ayurveda's practices are even being recognized and encouraged in conventional medical settings!

Not only that:

Some of the medical community recognizes Ayurvedic herbs like turmeric and ginger as antioxidants and beneficial to heart health.

But, there are some precautions to take.

First, make sure that when you're considering this medicine, go to a qualified and reputable Ayurvedic practitioner, holistic doctor, or naturopath.

Don't forget:

Check their credentials, training, and experience before you put yourself in their hands.

Next, make sure you're communicating with your conventional doctor about any Ayurvedic medicine you're taking, and do the same with your Ayurvedic practitioner.

Let them know if you're taking any medications.

Last, a good practitioner will ask you what you're taking to make sure that there are no negative interactions.

Common Problems And Ailments That Ayurvedic May Help

Ayurvedic medicine may help with some common problems and ailments. Remember that this is not a proven science and you will need to consult with a doctor before practicing it.

Here are some common ones. All of the ailments are from the book "The Idiot's Guide to Ayurveda" with the exception of high blood pressure and diabetes.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is a rising problem in the United States.

The ailment happens when the blood vessels are stiff and hardened. The herb Rauwolfia helps lower blood pressure by making the blood vessel walls more elastic.

Diabetes

An unfortunate western epidemic, diabetes is becoming more and more common as a higher percentage of the world's population adopt an unhealthy western diet.

An herb that helps reduce the symptoms of diabetes is gymnema sylvestre. This medicine reduces insulin resistance and improves sugar and starch metabolism.

Diarrhea

According to Sehara Rose-Ketabi, Ayurveda believes that diarrhea happens when the Pitta dosha is aggravated and the digestive system goes into overdrive.

Therefore:

A medicinal herb that helps with diarrhea is shatavari.

This herb combats chronic loose stools.

Intestinal parasites

Not only are they gross, but they're more common than you think.

Check it out:

Parasites are usually caused by the foods you eat.

Here are some examples of intestinal parasites:

That's a lot of nasty worms!

To find out if you have them, get tested by a doctor.

And if you test positive these herbs can help:

Candida overgrowth

According to Rose-Ketabi, candida overgrowth happens when our digestive fire isn't hot enough and the candida yeast overgrows and spreads throughout our intestines, overrunning our good gut bacteria.

Signs that you have candida overgrowth:

Some herbs that help with candida overgrowth are the following:

Cold and flu

Some Ayurvedic remedies can help relieve cold and flu symptoms, sometimes eliminating them altogether. Amalaki is the main herb that helps relieve the symptoms and gets the body back in balance.

Fever

Ayurveda says that fevers happen when there's too much toxicity in your system, making your body unable to fight off infection.

Because of this, it's important that you cool your body from within.

Here's how:

Holy basil (Tulsi) helps cool a fever.

The 11 Best Ayurvedic Medicinal Herbs And Their Benefits

There are a lot of different medicinal herbs in Ayurveda, but there's only a handful that are the best.

Below are the 11 best herbs:

The Difference Between Ayurvedic Medicine And Conventional Medicine

There are several important differences between Ayurvedic medicine and traditional medicine. Let's start with the difference between herbs and prescription drugs. Here are the main differences:

Features of herbs:

Features of drugs:

Besides this, herbs and drugs differ in how they're prescribed.

Here's how:

Pharmaceutical drugs are prescribed by a conventional doctor. but herbal medicines are "prescribed" by an Ayurvedic practitioner, holistic doctor, or Naturopath.

What is a Naturopath?

Good question!

A Naturopath, or Naturopathic doctor, is a medically trained doctor who combines scientific medical knowledge and training with natural and traditional forms of medicine such as Ayurvedic medicine.

Also, Naturopaths are trained doctors, but are not MDs.

What are they, then?

Instead, they are NMDs or NDs.

This is because their training is in both conventional medicine and natural or traditional medicine and they combine both in their practice.

How To Make Ayurvedic Medicine

First of all, if you want to make Ayurvedic medicine yourself, use caution.

Similar to buying the medicine, before you look into ways to make the medicine yourself, consult a professional and get advice on whether an herbal medicine is right for you.

Now that we went over the precautions, let's learn how to make it!

The basic ingredients for herbal medicines are at health food stores or prepared in your kitchen.

Also, if you grow herbs, you can find some of them in your own backyard!

Yes, you heard me right:

There are different ways to make herbal medicines.

Here are a few:

Capsules

To make capsules, grind the dried roots, leaves or blooms of a plant and fill the capsules with the remaining powder.

A great way to grind them is using a mortar and pestle.

If you don't have one, don't worry:

Use an electric blender or coffee mill.

Tinctures

Then for the tincture, soak the fresh or ground herbs with alcohol to extract and preserve the active parts of the plant.

A benefit of tinctures is that they have a long shelf life, sometimes as much as a year or longer. A lot of tinctures are taken internally after being diluted with water.

But some tinctures can be applied directly to the skin.

Here's a video that shows how to make a tincture:

Infused oil

To make an infused oil, dissolve the herb in vegetable oil.

Guess what?

Some infused oils can be applied directly on the skin, while others are the base for some salves and balms.

Salves and balms

For the salves and balms, the only things you will need are a stove and double boiler.

For example, here's a recipe for a salve:

• Add two tablespoons of melted beeswax to each cup of infused oil
• Melt beeswax carefully in a double boiler or over a very low flame. Do not overheat!
• Reheat the oil just enough for the wax to mix well, then let it cool

Balms are made very similarly but are usually thicker than salves. Salves and balms are applied externally.

Teas

Finally, the last way to make Ayurvedic medicine is through herbal teas.

Also, they are probably the most popular way to make the medicine.

Here's what you need to do:

To make the teas yourself, pour a cup of boiling water over a rounded tablespoon of herbs and let it steep for 15 minutes.

Then strain the tea if necessary and drink it hot or cold.

Another option is to use do-it-yourself teabags to take away the need for straining.

Pros And Cons Of Ayurvedic Medicine

Who Uses Ayurvedic Medicine?

Herbal medicine use worldwide has increased significantly in the past 30 years. In fact, over 80 percent of the world's population uses them. But their use varies tremendously in different countries.

Breakdown of different countries and their herbal medicine use:

Some of the results might be surprising:

You wouldn't expect, for example, France to use herbal medicine as much as Nepal.

At the same time, with the rise in popularity of these treatments, the use of this medicine is only projected to rise.

The Spiritual Benefits Of Ayurvedic Medicine

For starters, a big difference between conventional and Ayurvedic medicine is the spiritual component.

As stated before, Ayurveda has been around for over 5,000 years and spirituality is its foundation.

In fact:

Ayurveda blends medicine and spirituality to form a system that benefits the entire being, not only the physical body.

In addition to this, in "The Idiot's Guide To Ayurveda," Rose Ketabi says that Ayurveda is grounded in Vedic philosophy, which believes that human life has a definitive purpose which is split into four pursuits: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.

First, Dharma is the term for the values that every person should have. 

They include the following:

Next, Artha is the acquisition of wealth in the four areas:

Then Kama is the controlled fulfillment of desires. It contains two main teachings:

Finally, Moksha is the goal of existence.

When you've reached it, you've attained true bliss and don't desire anything else.

Last, Ayurveda believes that in order to have complete health, you must be whole spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. When you decide to take Ayurvedic medicine, you will benefit not only your body but your mind and soul.

Is Ayurvedic Medicine Worth It?

If you're looking for an alternative to conventional medicine that has a long history and is effective for a lot of ailments, then Ayurvedic medicine is worth a try.

You don't need a prescription, many times it is cheaper, and it focuses on your individual needs.

Most of all:

It has fewer side effects. In other words, it can be a safer alternative to conventional medicine.

Remember to use precaution:

For example, make sure the medicine won't react to any prescription drugs you're taking and use a reputable and qualified practitioner.

If you follow common sense, Ayurvedic medicine can be a helpful alternative to your conventional treatments.