Introduction
Ayurvedic medicine (also called
Ayurveda) is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. It originated in India
and has evolved there over thousands of years. In the United States, Ayurvedic
medicine is considered complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM)—more specifically, a CAM whole
medical system. Many therapies used in Ayurvedic
medicine are also used on their own as CAM—for example, herbs, massage,
and specialized diets. This fact sheet provides a general overview of Ayurvedic
medicine and suggests sources for additional information.
Key Points
- The aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to integrate and
balance the body, mind, and spirit. This is believed to help prevent
illness and promote wellness.
- Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of products and
techniques to cleanse the body and restore balance. Some of these products
may be harmful if used improperly or without the direction of a trained
practitioner. for example, some herbs can cause side effects or interact
with conventional medicines.
- Before using Ayurvedic treatment, ask about the
practitioner’s training and experience.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary
and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do
to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and
safe care.
Background
Ayurvedic medicine, also called
Ayurveda, originated in India several thousand years ago. The term “Ayurveda”
combines the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or
knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda means “the science of life.”
In the United States,
Ayurvedic medicine is considered a type of CAM and
a whole medical system. As with other such systems, it is based on theories of
health and illness and on ways to prevent, manage, or treat
health problems.
Ayurvedic medicine aims to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit;
thus, some view it as “holistic.” This balance
is believed to lead to happiness and health, and to help prevent illness.
Ayurvedic medicine also treats specific physical and mental health problems. A
chief aim of Ayurvedic practices is to cleanse the
body of substances that can cause disease, thus helping to
reestablish harmony and balance.
Ayurvedic
Medicine in India
Ayurvedic medicine, as practiced in
India, is one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world. Many Ayurvedic
practices predate written records and were handed down by word of mouth. Two
ancient books, written in Sanskrit more than 2,000 years ago, are considered
the main texts on Ayurvedic medicine—Caraka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. The texts describe eight branches of Ayurvedic medicine:
- Internal medicine
- Surgery
- Treatment of head and neck disease
- Gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics
- Toxicology
- Psychiatry
- Care of the elderly and rejuvenation
- Sexual vitality.
Ayurvedic medicine continues to be
practiced in India, where nearly 80 percent of the population uses it
exclusively or combined with conventional (Western) medicine. It is also practiced
in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Underlying Concepts
Ayurvedic medicine has several key
foundations that pertain to health and disease. These concepts have to do with
universal interconnectedness, the body’s constitution (prakriti), and
life forces (doshas).
Interconnectedness. Ideas about the relationships among people, their health,
and the universe form the basis for how Ayurvedic practitioners think about
problems that affect health. Ayurvedic medicine holds that:
- All things in the universe (both living and nonliving)
are joined together.
- Every human being contains elements that can be found
in the universe.
- Health will be good if one’s mind and body are in
harmony, and one’s interaction with the universe is natural
and wholesome.
- Disease arises when a person is out of harmony with the
universe. Disruptions can be physical, emotional, spiritual, or a
combination of these.
Constitution (prakriti). Ayurvedic medicine also has specific beliefs about the
body’s constitution. Constitution refers to a person’s general health, the
likelihood of becoming out of balance, and the ability to resist and recover
from disease or other health problems.
The constitution is called the prakriti.
The prakriti is a person’s unique combination of physical and
psychological characteristics and the way the body functions to maintain
health. It is influenced by such factors as digestion and how the body deals
with waste products. The prakriti is believed to be unchanged over a
person’s lifetime.
Life forces (doshas). Important characteristics of the prakriti are the
three life forces or energies called doshas, which control the
activities of the body. A person’s chances of developing certain types of
diseases are thought to be related to the way doshas are balanced, the
state of the physical body, and mental or lifestyle factors.
Ayurvedic medicine holds the
following beliefs about the three doshas:
- Each dosha is made up of two of five basic
elements: ether (the upper regions of space), air, fire, water,
and earth.
- Each dosha has a particular relationship to
bodily functions and can be upset for different reasons.
- Each person has a unique combination of the three doshas,
although one dosha is usually prominent. Doshas are
constantly being formed and reformed by food, activity, and
bodily processes.
- Each dosha has its own physical and
psychological characteristics.
- An imbalance of a dosha will produce symptoms
that are unique to that dosha. Imbalances may be caused by a
person’s age, unhealthy lifestyle, or diet; too much or too little mental
and physical exertion; the seasons; or inadequate protection from the
weather, chemicals, or germs.
The doshas are known by their
original Sanskrit names: vata, pitta, and kapha.
The vata dosha combines the elements
ether and air. It is considered the most powerful dosha because
it controls very basic body processes such as cell division, the heart,
breathing, discharge of waste, and the mind. Vata can be aggravated by, for
example, fear, grief, staying up late at night, eating dry fruit, or eating
before the previous meal is digested. People with vata as their main dosha
are thought to be especially susceptible to skin and neurological conditions,
rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, anxiety, and insomnia.
The pitta dosha
represents the elements fire and water. Pitta controls hormones and the
digestive system. A person with a pitta imbalance may experience
negative emotions such as anger and may have physical symptoms such as
heartburn within 2 or 3 hours of eating. Pitta is upset by, for example,
eating spicy or sour food, fatigue, or spending too much time in the sun.
People with a predominantly pitta constitution are thought to be
susceptible to hypertension, heart disease, infectious diseases, and digestive
conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
The kapha dosha
combines the elements water and earth. Kapha helps to maintain strength
and immunity and to control growth. An imbalance of the kapha dosha may
cause nausea immediately after eating. Kapha is aggravated by, for example,
greed, sleeping during the daytime, eating too many sweet foods, eating after
one is full, and eating and drinking foods and beverages with too much salt and
water (especially in the springtime). Those with a predominant kapha dosha
are thought to be vulnerable to diabetes, cancer, obesity, and respiratory
illnesses such as asthma.
Treatment
Ayurvedic treatment is tailored to
each person’s constitution. Practitioners expect patients to be active
participants because many Ayurvedic treatments require changes in diet,
lifestyle, and habits.
The patient’s dosha balance. Ayurvedic practitioners first determine the patient’s
primary dosha and the balance among the three doshas by:
- Asking about diet, behavior, lifestyle practices,
recent illnesses (including reasons and symptoms), and resilience (ability
to recover quickly from illness or setbacks)
- Observing such physical characteristics as teeth and
tongue, skin, eyes, weight, and overall appearance
- Checking the patient’s urine, stool, speech and voice,
and pulse (each dosha is thought to make a particular kind
of pulse).
Treatment practices. Ayurvedic treatment goals include eliminating impurities,
reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, and reducing worry and
increasing harmony in the patient’s life. The practitioner uses a variety of
methods to achieve these goals:
- Eliminating impurities. A process called panchakarma is intended to
cleanse the body by eliminating ama. Ama is described as an
undigested food that sticks to tissues, interferes with normal functioning
of the body, and leads to disease. Panchakarma focuses on
eliminating ama through the digestive tract and the respiratory system.
Enemas, massage, medical oils administered in a nasal spray, and other
methods may be used.
- Reducing symptoms.
The practitioner may suggest various options, including physical
exercises, stretching, breathing exercises, meditation, massage, lying in the sun,
and changing the diet. The patient may take certain herbs—often with honey,
to make them easier to digest. Sometimes diets are restricted to certain
foods. Very small amounts of metal and mineral preparations, such as gold
or iron, also may be given.
- Increasing resistance to disease. The practitioner may combine several herbs, proteins,
minerals, and vitamins in tonics to improve digestion and increase
appetite and immunity. These tonics are based on formulas from
ancient texts.
- Reducing worry and increasing harmony. Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes mental nurturing and
spiritual healing. Practitioners may recommend avoiding situations that
cause worry and using techniques that promote release of
negative emotions.
Use of plants. Ayurvedic treatments rely heavily on herbs and other
plants—including oils and common spices. Currently, more than 600 herbal
formulas and 250 single plant drugs are included in the “pharmacy” of Ayurvedic
treatments. Historically, Ayurvedic medicine has grouped plant compounds into
categories according to their effects (for example, healing, promoting vitality,
or relieving pain). The compounds are described in texts issued by national
medical agencies in India. Sometimes, botanicals are mixed with metals or other
naturally occurring substances to make formulas prepared according to specific
Ayurvedic text procedures; such preparations involve several herbs and herbal
extracts and precise heat treatment.
Concerns
About Ayurvedic Medications
Ayurvedic practice involves the use
of medications that typically contain herbs, metals, minerals, or other
materials. Health officials in India and other countries have taken steps to
address some concerns about these medications. Concerns relate to toxicity,
formulations, interactions, and scientific evidence.
Toxicity. Ayurvedic medications have the potential to be toxic. Many
materials used in them have not been thoroughly studied in either Western or
Indian research. In the United States, Ayurvedic medications are regulated as
dietary supplements. As such, they are not required to meet the safety and
efficacy standards for conventional medicines. An NCCAM-funded study published
in 2004 found that of 70 Ayurvedic remedies purchased over-the-counter (all
manufactured in South Asia), 14 contained lead, mercury, and/or arsenic at
levels that could be harmful. Also in 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention reported that 12 cases of lead poisoning occurring over a recent
3-year period were linked to the use of Ayurvedic medications.
Formulations. Most Ayurvedic medications consist of combinations of herbs
and other medicines. It can be challenging to know which components are having
an effect and why.
Interactions. Whenever two or more medications are used, there is the
potential for them to interact with each other. As a result, the effectiveness
of at least one may increase or decrease in the body.
Scientific evidence. Most clinical trials (i.e., studies in people) of Ayurvedic
approaches have been small, had problems with research designs, lacked
appropriate control groups, or had other issues that affected how meaningful
the results were. Therefore, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of
Ayurvedic practices varies, and more rigorous research is needed to determine
which practices are safe and effective.
