Also called:
- Ayurveda
- traditional Indian medicine
Ayurvedic medicine is a form of healing that originated in India. Ayurvedic medicine focuses on the body, mind and spirit working in harmony and balance to prevent illness and promote health.
History
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest whole medical systems still practised today. Whole medical systems are traditional healing systems that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world. Ayurvedic medicine began in ancient India several thousand years ago. The word ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words ayur, which means life, and veda, which means knowledge.
Ayurvedic practitioners are trained in recognized programs of institutions in India. Ayurvedic medicine has become popular in the West, and there are some practitioners trained in India who practise and teach Ayurvedic medicine in North America. However, Ayurvedic medicine practitioners are not regulated anywhere in Canada.
Use and claims
Ayurvedic medicine practitioners believe that illness occurs when a person's physical, emotional and spiritual forces are out of balance with each other and with the natural environment. One of the main goals of Ayurvedic medicine is to restore balance and strengthen the body's biological and spiritual forces. Ayurvedic medicine uses a combination of therapies to restore this harmony.
Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine claim that when certain combinations of Ayurvedic methods are matched to a person's physical and emotional needs, these methods can help:
- foster spiritual well-being
- increase physical energy and strength
- bring people into harmony with the world
- prevent and treat a variety of diseases
How it is given
Ayurvedic medicine practitioners diagnose illness by:
- looking at certain parts of a person's body such as the skin, mouth, nails and eyes
- listening to the person's lungs and checking their pulse
- taking a health history, including asking about diet and lifestyle practices
Ayurvedic medicine has a strong mind-body component. People are classified according to their primary life force energies called doshas. Doshas form important characteristics of a person's constitution:
- a person's general health
- how likely they are to be out of balance
- their ability to resist and recover from health problems
Each dosha is related to certain body functions and is associated with a certain body type and personality type. The dominant dosha describes a person's physical, emotional and metabolic characteristics and their daily lifestyle practices. A person's chances of becoming ill are related to the way the doshas are balanced. Ayurvedic practitioners consider the state of the person's doshas, the relationship between the doshas and other factors when planning treatment. Practitioners attempt to bring all these factors in harmony to help the person achieve health and well-being.
Ayurvedic medicine often uses a combination of approaches such as yoga, herbal remedies, meditation, breathing exercises, massage, changes in diet, lifestyle changes and other techniques or products to cleanse (detoxify) the body, strengthen the mind, increase spiritual awareness and restore balance of the doshas.
Food and diet are important aspects of Ayurvedic medicine. Many remedies are made from herbs, plants, oils, spices, minerals and naturally occurring substances such as metals.
Summary of the evidence
Most of the clinical trials done on Ayurvedic medicine practices have been done in India. While the effectiveness of many aspects of Ayurvedic medicine has not been scientifically tested by Western researchers, some research suggests that certain methods may have potential health benefits. There is also a growing interest in using some aspects of Ayurvedic medicine in conventional medical practice.
Certain Ayurvedic practices may be used to relieve cancer-related symptoms and improve the quality of life for people living with cancer.
- yoga
- Studies have shown that yoga helps improve sleep and can help reduce stress in people with cancer.
- One study involved about 60 people with breast or prostate cancer who participated in an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program that included instruction in relaxation, meditation and yoga. The study showed that the quality of sleep improved in participants and they had decreased symptoms of stress.
- Another small study involved people with lymphoma who were enrolled in weekly yoga sessions for 7 weeks. There was also a significant improvement in the quality of sleep in study participants and they used sleep medications less.
- meditation
- Studies have shown that meditation helps reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure and improve overall well-being.
Many Ayurvedic remedies consist of complex combinations of herbs and other medications, so it is difficult to know which ones may have a beneficial effect or cause side effects. A few of the herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine have demonstrated some antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and possibly anti-tumour properties, and they may also boost the immune system.
Individual herbs and spices used in Ayurvedic medicine are being studied in the laboratory and in animals. Some are also being tested in humans to find out if they are safe to use in people and if they can be used to prevent or treat cancer. There is no scientific evidence to date that shows that any Ayurvedic therapies are effective in treating cancer. Randomized clinical trials in humans are needed before any conclusions can be made about the role Ayurvedic medicine treatments may play in cancer prevention and treatment.
Potential side effects and risks
Many Ayurvedic practices such as meditation and yoga are generally considered to be safe. There may be some risk associated with Ayurvedic medicine therapies that involve the use of herbs, metals, minerals or other products. These can potentially interact with drugs and natural health products a person may be taking. Always tell the doctor, pharmacist and Ayurvedic practitioner about any medications, supplements or herbs being taken.
Heavy metals such as gold, silver and lead are traditionally used in Ayurvedic preparations. Lead is a concern because of the potential for lead poisoning. There have been reported cases of lead poisoning that were associated with some Ayurvedic medicines. Ayurvedic medicines with natural product numbers (NPNs) meet Health Canada's new natural health product manufacturing practice standards and therefore may be safer.
It is important to have Ayurvedic medicine treatments done by a trained, qualified practitioner.