Health and Wellness HPEL 1013
Alternative Medicines
Ayurvedic Medicine
Abbas Ali Kumaili
Introduction
The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words ayur for life and veda for science or knowledge. Three ancient books known as the Great Trilogy were written in Sanskrit more than 2,000 years ago and are considered the main texts on Ayurvedic medicine—Caraka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Astanga Hridaya.
Key concepts of Ayurvedic medicine include universal interconnectedness (among people, their health, and the universe), the body’s constitution (prakriti), and life forces (dosha), which are often compared to the biologic humors of the ancient Greek system. Using these concepts, Ayurvedic physicians prescribe individualized treatments, including compounds of herbs or proprietary ingredients, and diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations. The majority of India’s population uses Ayurvedic medicine exclusively or combined with conventional Western medicine, and it’s practiced in varying forms in Southeast Asia.
The evolution of the Indian art of healing and living a healthy life comes from the four Vedas namely : Rig veda , Sama veda , Yajur veda and Atharva veda. Ayurveda attained a state of reverence and is classified as one of the Upa- Vedas – a subsection – attached to the Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda contains not only the magic spells and the occult sciences but also the Ayurveda that deals with the diseases, injuries, fertility, sanity and health. Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system remains the most ancient yet living traditions with sound philosophical and experimental basis. It is a science of life with a holistic approach to health and personalized medicine. It is known to be a complete medical system that comprised physical, psychological, philosophical, ethical, and spiritual health. [1] In Ayurveda, each cell is considered to be inherently an essential expression of pure intelligence hence called self-healing science.[2] In addition, to the self-healing concept, the use of herbal treatment is equally important in this Indian traditional system of medicine.
History/Timeline
Ayurvedic medicine, as practiced in India, is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. It originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and remains one of the country’s traditional health care systems. Many Ayurvedic practices predate written records and were handed down by word of mouth.
The knowledge we have now is by three surviving texts of Charaka, Sushruta and Vaghbata. Charaka (1st century A.D.) wrote Charaka Samhita (samhita- meaning collection of verses written in Sanskrit). Sushruta (4th century A.D.) wrote his Samhita i.e Sushruta Samhita. Vaghbata (5th century A.D.) compiled the third set of major texts called Ashtanga Hridaya and Ashtanga Sangraha. Charaka’s School of Physicians and Sushruta’s School of Surgeons became the basis of Ayurveda and helped organize and systematically classify into branches of medicine and surgery.
Sixteen major supplements (Nighantus) were written in the ensuing years – Dhanvantari Bahavaprakasha, Raja and Shaligrama to name a few – that helped refine the practice of Ayurveda. New drugs were added and ineffective ones were discarded. Expansion of application, identification of new illnesses and finding substitute treatments seemed to have been an evolving process. Close to 2000 plants that were used in healing diseases and abating symptoms were identified in these supplements. Dridhabala in the 4th century revised the Charaka Samhita. The texts of Sushruta Samhita were revised and supplemented by Nagarjuna in the 6th century.
Before Ayurveda began its recent renewal in the West, it went through a period of decline in India when Western medical education became dominant during the era of British rule. Ayurveda became a second-class option used primarily by traditional spiritual practitioners and the poor. After India gained its independence in 1947, Ayurveda gained ground and new schools began to be established. Today more than five hundred Ayurvedic companies and hospitals have opened in the last ten years, and several hundred schools have been established. Although Ayurveda remains a secondary system of health care in India, the trend toward complementary care is emerging, and Western and Ayurvedic physicians often work side by side.
Interest in Ayurveda in the West began in the mid 1970's as Ayurvedic teachers from India began visiting the United States and Europe. By sharing their knowledge they have inspired a vast movement toward body-mind-spirit medicine. Today Ayurvedic colleges are opening throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States.
Method
Ayurveda incorporates all forms of lifestyle in therapy. Thus yoga, aroma, meditation, gems, amulets, herbs, diet, astrology and surgery etc. are used in a comprehensive manner in treating patients. Treating important and sensitive spots on the body called Marmas is described in Ayurveda . Massages, exercises and yoga are recommended.
Eight branches/divisions of Ayurveda:
1. Kaya-chikitsa (Internal Medicine)
2. Shalakya Tantra (surgery and treatment of head and neck, Ophthalmology and ear, nose, throat)
3. Shalya Tantra (Surgery)
4. Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
5. Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)
6. Kaumara bhritya (Pediatrics)
7. Rasayana (science of rejuvenation or anti-ageing)
8. Vajikarana (the science of fertility and aphrodisiac)
Many modern medications were derived from plants alluded to in Ayurveda texts. The oft-cited example is that of Rauwolfia serpentine that was used to treat headache, anxiety and snakebite. Its derivative is used in treating blood pressure today.
Two areas of contribution of Indian physicians were in treating snakebite and prevention of small pox. Detailed account of steps to be followed after a poisonous snake bite including application of tourniquet and lancing the site by connecting the two fang marks and sucking the poison out is described. A decoction of the medicinal plant Rauwolfia serpentina is next applied to the wound.
A form of vaccination for small pox was commonly practiced in India long before the West discovered the method. A small dose of pus from the pustule of small pox lesion was inoculated to develop resistance.
Discussion
Ayurvedic treatment is although highly effective; proper mode of action, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacovigilance of many important Ayurvedic drugs are still not fully explored. The comprehensive knowledge of the basic ideologies of Ayurveda is poorly acceptable scientifically due to lack of evidence. In the modern time, when the Western medicinal system is reached almost at the top because of validated research and advanced techniques, there is an urgent need to validate basic principles as well as drugs used in the ayurvedic system of medicine with the help of advanced research methodology. Therefore, advancements in the ongoing research methodology are highly required for the promotion of Ayurveda.
According to the World Health Organization, about 70–80% of the world populations rely on nonconventional medicines mainly of herbal sources in their healthcare.[3] Public interest for the treatment with complementary and alternative medicine is mainly due to increased side effects in synthetic drugs, lack of curative treatment for several chronic diseases, high cost of new drugs, microbial resistance, and emerging diseases, etc.[4]
Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of products and practices. Ayurvedic products are made either of herbs only or a combination of herbs, metals, minerals, or other materials in an Ayurvedic practice called rasa shastra. Some of these products may be harmful if used improperly or without the direction of a trained practitioner.
Pros : Most clinical trials of Ayurvedic approaches have been little, had issues with investigate plans, or needed fitting control gatherings, possibly influencing research comes about.
A preparatory clinical trial in 2011, subsidized to some degree by NCCIH, found that regular and Ayurvedic medications for rheumatoid arthritis had comparative effectiveness. The regular medication tried was methotrexate and the Ayurvedic treatment included 40 natural mixes. Ayurvedic specialists utilize turmeric for fiery conditions, among different disorders. Confirmation from clinical trials demonstrate that turmeric may help with certain stomach related problems and arthritis, yet the research is restricted.
Varieties of boswellia (Boswellia serrata, Boswellia carterii, also known as frankincense) produce a resin that has shown anti-inflammatory and immune system effects in laboratory studies. A 2011 preliminary clinical trial found that osteoarthritis patients receiving a compound derived from B. serrata gum resin had greater decreases in pain compared to patients receiving a placebo.
Cons : Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of products and practices. Ayurvedic products are made either of herbs only or a combination of herbs, metals, minerals, or other materials in an Ayurvedic practice called rasa shastra. Some of these products may be harmful if used improperly or without the direction of a trained practitioner.
Toxicity
Ayurvedic items can possibly be poisonous. Numerous materials utilized as a part of them haven't been considered for wellbeing in controlled clinical trials. In the United States, Ayurvedic items are directed as dietary supplements. All things considered, they aren't required to meet an indistinguishable wellbeing and viability measures from ordinary pharmaceuticals. In 2008, a NCCIH-financed study analysed the substance of 193 Ayurvedic items obtained over the Internet and produced in either the United States or India. [5]The specialists found that 21 percent of the items contained levels of lead, mercury, as well as arsenic that surpassed the principles for worthy every day intake.
Different methodologies utilized as a part of Ayurvedic medicine, such as massage, special diets, and cleansing techniques may have symptoms as well. To help guarantee composed and safe care, it's critical to inform all your health care providers concerning any Ayurvedic items and rehearses or other correlative and integrative health approaches you utilize.
Case Study
Key Points
Is Ayurvedic medicine safe?
Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of products and practices. Some of these products—which may contain herbs, minerals, or metals—may be harmful, particularly if used improperly or without the direction of a trained practitioner. For example, some herbs can cause side effects or interact with conventional medicines. Also, ingesting some metals, such as lead, can be poisonous.
Is Ayurvedic medicine effective?
Studies have examined Ayurvedic medicine, including herbal products, for specific conditions. However, there aren’t enough well-controlled clinical trials and systematic research reviews—the gold standard for Western medical research—to prove that the approaches are beneficial.
Combination of Ayurveda and Western medicine
Presumably, Indian arrangement of medication has effectively gotten much consideration in scholarly fields. The prominence of Ayurveda is primarily because of its remedial effectiveness against most chronic illnesses where current solutions are ineffective.[7] The Western medication, then again, presented in Asian nations in mid sixteenth century, when voyagers from Western nations started to settle and wound up in more prominent contact with local people.[8] This restorative framework got high notoriety inside a brief period because of its quick activity over conventional medicinal systems.
Strikingly, there are sure cases of Ayurveda and Western drug function admirably when utilized as a part of blend. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis, an unending and safe intervened sickness that causes pain and inflammation are not well treatable in present day Western solution. Exhibit, methotrexate accomplishes a reaction in 40– 60% patients which can't state satisfactory at all. Besides, methotrexate is related with troubling and conceivably genuine side effects. Accordingly, 68– 94% of joint inflammation patients utilize integral and elective drug treatment including Ayurveda.[6] Therefore, Ayurveda and Western solution ought to be considered as two sides of a coin, and they should meet up to work for mankind.
Conclusion
Today, the cost of health care is constantly rising, and influencing individuals' capacity to manage the cost of wellbeing scope. Medication based solutions are being excessively expensive for monetarily poor nations like India and hazardous in the Western nations because of various reactions. The medication ought to be the last as opposed to first mean of treatment, starting with the regular mending technique like Ayurveda. One of the Ayurvedic treatment modalities, for example, Panchkarma can evacuate illness before its sign. Having all the above delights, Ayurveda is as yet lingering behind due to the absence of logical confirmation by and large and poor research strategy.
The improvement of rules for technique in Ayurveda requires an immense expert work both by academicians and professionals who must have the fundamental learning and inspiration for this undertaking. Something else, Ayurveda will progressively lose its personality and will turn into a background marked by solution. In spite of the fact that the procedure of research is time taking however it is the best way to conquer the challenges in the advancement of Ayurveda around the world. The work in a planned and efficient way with no predisposition can enhance Ayurveda. By the by, it likewise a severe truth that cutting edge examines have not been exceptionally compensating for Ayurveda itself as a large portion of these looks into is being utilized Ayurveda to broaden present day bioscience. Thus, there is an earnest need to configuration propelled examine strategy for the approval of Ayurvedic essentials and its medications.
There is a colossal contrast in the approach of allopathic and Ayurvedic prescriptions. Ayurveda has advanced as an all-encompassing framework having a comprehension of physiology empowering it to keep up and re-establish wellbeing with a couple of reactions and will centre rather around wellbeing, while allopathy whose expository comprehension of physiology drives fundamentally to concealment of side effects with numerous symptoms. So also, there is an incredible commitment of allopathy in the fields of crisis prescription, analytic procedures, and surgery where the current routine with regards to Ayurveda can't contend. In this manner, the two frameworks need to supplement each other in the advantage of sickly. Ayurveda requires more inquiries about in the regions of major standards and demonstrative instruments set up of medication look into. In the present situation, the exploration technique of Ayurveda isn't sufficient, which needs advance progressions in the improvement and advancement of Ayurveda.