Is Ayurveda re-emerging as a reliable healing system?

History of Ayurveda

Ayurveda originated in bronze age civilization ( from 3300- 1300 BCE ) in the Indus valley. Ayurveda therapies have evolved more than two millennia. It includes medicines, special diets, meditation, yoga, massage, laxatives, enemas, and medical oils. Medicines are derived from complex herbal compounds, minerals, and metal substances. Ancient Ayurveda texts also taught surgical techniques, including rhinoplasty, kidney stone extractions, sutures, and extraction of foreign objects. The main classical Ayurveda texts begin with accounts of the transmission of medical knowledge from gods to sages and then to human physicians. Its earliest concepts were set out in the portion of the Vedas known as Atharvaveda. The Vedas are rich in magical practices for the treatment of diseases.

Due to various invasions by foreign nations in India. The growth of Ayurveda systems also got affected. Many of the great Ayurvedic texts, teachers, and techniques were silenced. But Ayurveda survived in the rural areas or areas, which were less influenced and where traditional Indian ways of lifestyle were maintained. After independence Ayurveda along with Unani and Sidha systems were revived and acknowledged by the government.

Ayurveda is considered the mother of all healing systems. It enjoys worldwide acceptance with yoga. It is also very popular among the large segments of the population in South Asia. Ayurveda is a progressive, holistic, and continuously evolving system of knowledge. It offers an integrative approach to healthcare and cure.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a unique, humane, personalized, and holistic approach. Which takes into consideration- body, mind, and spirit along with their relationships with nature. Ayurveda attains its knowledge from all the six darshans (philosophies). The six schools of Indian philosophy are- Sankhya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. All of these philosophies have their origin in Vedas. Sankhya philosophy is considered the predominant philosophy in Ayurveda as regards creation. It is also the principal philosophy that is behind the cosmic view taken by yoga.

Recent scientific studies on various herbs have revealed, their innumerable healing benefits. For example- Amla- In a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, scientists demonstrated amla’s anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties.

Similarly, Garlic- Human studies have found garlic supplements have a significant impact on reducing high blood pressure. Moreover, garlic possesses antioxidative properties and reduces cholesterol levels.

Modern medicine vs Ayurveda.

Modern medicine:- Modern medicine tends to focus on symptomology and disease. It primarily uses drugs and surgery to relieve the body of pathogens or diseased tissues.

Ayurveda:- Ayurveda, on the other hand, does not focus on disease. It maintains that life must be supported by balancing the energies of the body. When there are minimal stress and the flow of energies within-person is balanced, the body’s defense system becomes strong and defends against the disease easily.

Modern medicine has one pill for each disease. While Ayurveda looks at the disease and patient Prakriti individually and provides a treatment plan accordingly. The Ayurvedic practitioner will identify your dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and then will prescribe treatment. A Vata-type headache is addressed differently than a Kapha-type headache. If your headache is due to a digestive problem, then the Ayurveda practitioner will take care of your digestion first. And that will take care of your headache also. The etiology and diagnosis play a huge role in Ayurvedic treatment.

Modern medicine has its own advantages as a healing system. Modern medicine helps to fasten the cure of sickness and modern technology helps to find the disease faster and accurately.

The market size of Ayurveda

The global Ayurvedic market is expected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 16.2% from 2015 to 2022. In 2015 it was accounted for $3428 million. Which is expected to reach $ 9791 million by 2022. This clearly indicates that Ayurveda is re-emerging as a reliable healing system.

Factors favouring Ayurveda- re-emerging as a reliable healing system:-

Ayurveda has gone from being treated with suspicion to gaining wider acceptance. And is re-emerging as a reliable healing system.

• Increasing consumer awareness of well-being by natural treatments. consumers are looking at Ayurveda as a risk-free healing system.
• Consumers showing an inclination towards Ayurveda as a non-surgical, economical, and safer alternative.
• Consumers awareness to lead a healthy lifestyle, thus looking for an option to treat ailments from the root level.
• The success of yoga globally has created an interest in things that are natural and Indian.
• Companies have been able to build strong brands using Ayurveda and natural ingredients.

Ayurveda is re-emerging as a reliable healing system because it not only focuses on the administration of various herbs, but also takes into consideration- adopting various modalities like- daily routine, seasonal routine, yoga, breathing techniques, relaxation, diet as per the season, and individual mind, body type. It employs seasonal cleansing and physiological purification methods like panchakarma and other rejuvenating programs to alleviate stress ( reducing stress- strengthens immunity ) and cure chronic diseases.

Wishing all to be in a healthy state.

( For awareness purpose only).