- "Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent." - "The theory and practice of Ayurveda is pseudoscientific." - "Ayurveda therapies have varied and evolved over more than two millennia."
Delve into the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of Ayurvedic medicine, including its focus on the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of living in harmony with nature.
Doshas: The three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha - are the foundation of Ayurveda. They are the three basic principles that govern human physiology and promote health when in balance but can cause diseases when out of balance.
Panchamahabhutas: Ayurveda believes that the entire universe is made up of five basic elements: Earth, water, fire, air and ether. These elements combine in different proportions to form the doshas and determine an individual's nature.
Tridosha Theory: The concept of tridoshas refers to the interplay of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in the body. Balancing the tridoshas is fundamental to Ayurvedic treatment.
Ayurvedic Anatomy: Ayurvedic anatomy focuses on the concept of channels or nadis, energy centers or chakras, and the seven dhatus or tissues which make up the human body.
Digestion and Metabolism: Agni is the digestive fire in Ayurveda, the energy that governs our digestive and metabolic processes. Proper digestion is considered central to good health, and Ayurvedic medicines work to enhance agni to help eliminate toxins.
Ayurvedic Diet: Ayurvedic diet is an essential component of Ayurvedic medicine. A proper diet is vital for good health and can be tailored for each dosha type.
Ayurvedic Herbs and Medicines: Ayurveda utilizes natural herbs and medicines to treat physical, and mental illnesses. Herbs are used to enhance agni, balance doshas, and promote healthy lifestyle changes.
Mental Health: Ayurvedic principles can be applied to mental health. Ayurveda views the mind and body as interconnected, recognizing the impact of psychological well-being on physical health.
Daily Routines: Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of daily routines, including mindful practices such as yoga and meditation. These routines help to support balance and wellness.
Environmental Factors: Ayurveda recognizes the impact of environmental factors on health. These include natural elements such as climate, and season, as well as themes such as social, and spiritual well-being.
Dharma: The principle of righteousness or duty, which forms the foundation of Ayurveda philosophy.
Karma: The law of cause and effect that governs the universe and individuals, according to their actions.
Jiva: The concept of the individual soul and its connection to the universe.
Vedas: The ancient texts that form the basis of knowledge and spiritual practice in Ayurvedic philosophy.
Samkhya: The philosophy that explains the fundamental nature of reality, including the creation of the universe, the nature of the mind, and the relationship between the individual and the universe.
Yoga: The practice of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to balance the body, mind, and spirit.
Ayurvedic psychology: The study of the human mind, emotions, and behavior in the context of Ayurvedic medicine.
Nadi: The energy channels or meridians in the body that carry prana, or life force.
Prakriti: The individual constitution or dosha type, which determines the unique physical and mental characteristics and tendencies of each person.
Dinacharya: The daily routine or regimen that promotes health and balance, including diet, exercise, and self-care practices.
Panchakarma: The Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation process that involves five main therapies: Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Nasya, and Raktamokshana.
Rasayana: The science of rejuvenation and longevity, which includes lifestyle practices, dietary guidelines, and herbal remedies to enhance longevity and vitality.
Sattva: The quality of purity, clarity, and balance in the mind, which is cultivated through meditation, self-reflection, and spiritual practice.
Ayurvedic ethics: The principles of interpersonal and professional conduct that govern the behavior of Ayurvedic practitioners and their relationships with patients and the community. These principles include non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, self-discipline, and compassion.
- "It is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population report using Ayurveda."
- "Therapies include herbal medicines, special diets, meditation, yoga, massage, laxatives, enemas, and medical oils."
- "Ayurvedic preparations are typically based on complex herbal compounds, minerals, and metal substances."
- "Ancient Ayurveda texts also taught surgical techniques, including rhinoplasty, kidney stone extractions, sutures, and the extraction of foreign objects."
- "The main classical Ayurveda texts begin with accounts of the transmission of medical knowledge from the gods to sages, and then to human physicians." - "The Sushruta Samhita (Sushruta's Compendium) frames the work as the teachings of Dhanvantari, Hindu god of Ayurveda, incarnated as King Divodāsa of Varanasi, to a group of physicians, including Sushruta."
- "Through well-understood processes of modernization and globalization, Ayurveda has been adapted for Western consumption, notably by Baba Hari Dass in the 1970s and Maharishi Ayurveda in the 1980s."
- "Historical evidence for Ayurvedic texts, terminology and concepts appears from the middle of the first millennium BCE onwards."
- "In Ayurveda texts, Dosha balance is emphasized, and suppressing natural urges is considered unhealthy and claimed to lead to illness." - "Ayurveda treatises describe three elemental doshas viz. vāta, pitta and kapha, and state that balance of the doshas results in health, while imbalance results in disease."
- "Ayurveda treatises divide medicine into eight canonical components."
- "Some Ayurvedic preparations have been found to contain lead, mercury, and arsenic, substances known to be harmful to humans."
- "A 2008 study found the three substances [lead, mercury, and arsenic] in close to 21% of U.S. and Indian-manufactured patent Ayurvedic medicines sold through the Internet."
- "The public health implications of such metallic contaminants in India are unknown."