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Ayurvedic medicine is also called Ayurveda. It originated in India several thousand years
ago. Ayurveda based on theories of health and illness and on ways to prevent, manage,
or treat health problems. It leads to contentment and health, and to help prevent illness.
A chief aim is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease. There is three
main dosha in Ayurveda: vata, pitta and kappa.
Types of Treatment
The treatment of disease can be classified Shodhana therapy (Purification Treatment),
Shamana therapy (Palliative Treatment), Pathya Vyavastha (Prescription of diet and
activity), Nidan Parivarjan (Avoidance of disease causing and aggravating factors),
Satvavajaya (Psychotherapy) and Rasayana therapy (use of immunomodulators and
rejuvenation medicines).
1) Diet
Regulation of diet as therapy is very importance. An individual’s mental and spiritual
development as well as his temperament is influenced by the quality of food consumed
by him. Food is basic to all the metabolic transformations and life activities. Lack of
nutrients in food or improper transformation of food leads to a variety of disease
conditions.
2) Herbs
Herbs are the most effective, powerful, yet gentle form of healing in Ayurveda. Herbs are
easily digested and closer to the essential elements, compared to vitamins, minerals.
Food provides quick assimilation into the body for fundamental nutrition. Herbs have
cooling/drying, heating and moistening effects, allowing one to tailor their use according
to one's dosha. Herbs specifically help organs. Herbs also target the tissue layers. Herbs
can be taken in many forms; powder, decoction, infusion, confection, cooked in food, in
juice or soup, with water, honey, cane sugar and ghee.
3) Nutrition
Different foods are better for some doshas while aggravating other doshas. In each food
group such as fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes, certain foods are good for some
doshas but not others. Foods are good for which dosha. Thus meals are rather normal;
there are no strange or extreme diets involved. Foods also have specific healing
qualities. For an example bitter vegetables are good for diabetes. It is a very powerful
healing and prevention therapy.
4) Aromatherapy
Aromas and color therapies help balance the emotions and mind. Aromas can be in the
form of incense, essential oils, soaps, scented candles and sachets. Aromas are also
specific for each dosha. Sandalwood is good for all doshas and is very useful for stress,
worry, anxiety, nervousness, anger and impatience.
6) Pancha karma
Pancha Karma literally means five actions. These therapies completely remove diseases
from the body. They are used to heal even the most difficult of diseases.
7) Exercise
Ayurveda also has a wider range of holistic healing measures. It is important that the
body be fit. Exercise programs vary according to dosha. The best exercise for all doshas
is walking, followed by swimming.
References
Ping Yein Lee et al. Usage of complementary and alternative medicine among primary
care attendees in, Sarawak, Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Family Medicine 2004; 6:1.
Abdul Hamid Abdul Kadir. Of Roots, Barks, Paracetamol and EDTA. Malaysian Journal
of Medical Sciences 2006; 2:13.