Ayurveda- Myths and Facts

1) What is Ayurveda ?

Ayurveda is an art and science of healing , a way of long, happy and healthy living. It literally means 'to know about life'.

2) What it is not ?

Generally it is considered as a 'herbal medicine' or folk medicine or belief system or traditional medicine or Alternative system or native medicine.

The notion that Ayurveda prescribes only medicines of herbal origin is totally baseless though it is true that herbs are major source of vast majority products like gold, silver, lead, tin, diamond, copper, iron, sulphur, alum, mica, zinc etc. after through purification , triturating and turning them to Bhasmas which have not been proved as yet harmful. Apart from these minerals, many animal products like ghee, butter, animal urine, horns and skin, flesh-mutton, coral, pearl conch, etc are also used as medicines where ever necessary. Therefore it is not merely herbal medicine.

Folk medicine has its roots in the community especially among rural folks. It is not based on any known foundational ideas and hence beyond one’s reasoning. Moreover it does not cover all the aspects of human health and disease. The scope of its coverage health problems both in respect of diagnosis and treatment of disorders is very much limited unlike systemized Ayurveda. Traditional medicine leaves an impression that it is based on pure tradition handed down from generation and practiced by certain family members. The scope of this also similar to folk medicine.

Culture heritage may certainly contribute a lot in preventing many disorders, and in promotions of health while traditional or folklore practices may fail to recognise these positive aspects of health. Hence it cannot be justifiable synonym to Ayurveda.

Yet another privileged class of our society prefer to call it a belief system. It probably means a system based on only belief and nothing else.  It amounts to telling that Ayurveda works, if at all works, because certain patients believe it and Ayurveda Physicians also believe that whatever has mentioned in any ancient literature is true. This notion is not correct. Belief does act to a certain extent. Faith and confidence are necessary to everybody in life. Ayurveda too , of course , respects belief, faith and confidence. But it does not mean that Ayurveda is far from reasoning not amenable to logic. It advocates experimentation, repeated keen observation, logical reasoning and connect conclusion with regard to anything that is worth considering. It vociferously condemns random and thoughtless application of anything related to health science. Therefore it is not fair to equate Ayurveda with “belief system” as believed to be.

To call Ayurveda an alternative system cannot be fully justified. Literarily speaking any system for that matter can be alternative to other, in a world of multitudinal health care delivery systems. Ayurveda existed since more than 3000 years from now when there was no other system of medicine. Then it was never alternative to anything else. It was the only main stream system in India. 

Even today if all the original specialties of Ayurveda are revived with full swing and people at the helm of affairs act swiftly without any prejudice, with a genuine concern, Ayurveda can play a role of main stream health care system. It has all potency of not playing an alternative role.

Ayurveda can be a native medicine in the sense that it originated in our nation. However it does not deliver the actual meaning of Ayurveda. No other term or phrase can be sensible substitute for Ayurveda.

3) Are they any specialized branches in Ayurveda?

Yes. There are 8 specialized branched in Ayurveda. They are Kaya Chikitsa, Baala Chikitsa, Graha Chikitsa, Urdhwanga Chikitsa, Shalya Chikitsa, Damshtra Chikitsa, Jara Chikitsa and Vajeekarana.

4) Is preaching and practice of Ayurveda based on any literature ?

Yes. Both teaching and practicing are totally based on literature which is of proven authenticity.

 5) Whether they are ancient or modern ?

Both. Numbers of ancient literatures are still available dating from 600 B.C  or earlier to earliest part of modern era (16 Century AD). Even modern Ayurveda literature is based on original thoughts and concepts found in texts. The ancient literature which are followed even today are 1) Charaka Samhita 2)Susrutha Samthita 3)Astanga Hridaya; Sangraha 4)Madhava Nidhana 5)Sharangadhara Samhita 6)Yogaratnakara 7)Bhava Prakasha 8)Rasa Ratna Samuchaya 9)Kashyapa Samhita.

Many modern Ayurveda scholars have contributed to enrich the existing ancient literature. There are good number of literature written by scholars who have had western education. Modern Ayurveda literature , both by Ayurveda scholars and western scholars have added fragrance to the beauty of ancient literature by giving their reflective thoughts.

6) Does it recommend religious practices ?

A society or community totally devoid of religious practices is difficult to be traced in the history of mankind. Any branch of knowledge evolved within the framework of the community or the society cannot ignore the prevailing contemporary socio cultural practices. Ancient seers were inseparable part of same society or community. Thus they could not have remained isolated choosing not to take cognizance of religious practices. They were trained to observe, analyse such practices and give their opinion about the positive influences on health and related issues. As a result there are enough recommendations in the classical literature to observe religious practices like prayer, chanting mantras, usage of gems and precious stones, sacrifices , homa, yajna, yaga, worshiping, visiting pilgrimages and so on. Such socio-cultural religious practices found benefitting to quite a few sufferers who were relieved from distress and agony. Ayurveda could not remain dumb spectator to this and hence included in health science with a sense of pragmatism.

7) Ayurveda has no side effects?

People deserve to be complemented, who hold this impression. Anything natural, be it a herb or animal or mineral cannot be branded as good for health. There are many which are known for their toxicity. If these drugs are used as such, detrimental effects on health are bound to occur. Ayurveda identifies such drugs and advice to purify them by some specific detailed procedures of detoxification and reducing detrimental effects whatsoever. The dose, method of administration of drug, the vehicle to be used, the dietary prescription are all important considerations under extra precautionary measures to prevent the side effects. Generally, all these are strictly followed and hence no side effects are observed.

8) Ayurveda is very economic and within the reach of common man.

This is the impression of many. It may be surprising to know that there are those who hold quite opposite view. Both are right in their own economic perspectives.

It is considered cheap for the following reasons:

1)    It is cheap simply because it is herbal

2)    Raw herbs, mostly single herb, which is naturally grown in the surrounding field or forest and procured by the physician himself and distributed freely or the physician shows the herbs to the patient and also ask him to procure for himself.

3)    Does not require too many investigations as diagnosing technique is very simple.

4)    One time single dose of medicine is sufficient in many cases.

5)    Even manufactured and marketed products are cheaper compared to modern medicine.

6)    Physicians do not charge consultation fees.

Many of the above factors were true in the past. Medical profession was not chief means of livelihood of most physicians. It only formed a part of his social service or family prestige or cultural practiced. Now time has changed. Those disease simple and can be cured by single herb or juice of raw herbs have cheaper treatment even today. Such diseases and herbs are only few, countable in single digits. Ayurveda is no longer cheaper as it was in earlier periods, on account of altered socio-economic perspectives. It is considered  costlier because:

1)    Many products available in the market are highly priced.

2)    Ayurveda physicians also charge consultation fees.

3)    Prolonged treatment needs prolonged use of medicines and hence becomes costly.

The hike in the price of Ayurveda medicine is the part of socio-economic evolutions. Further, diseases have increased manifold with the raise of population, industry and environmental pollution and so on. Besides, the flora and fauna have been adversely affected with a diminishing effect. Many medicinal plants are threatened and many others have become extinct. There is a great scarcity of medicinal plants which are naturally grown.

As the demand for medicine is higher compared to olden days, the issue of preparing medicines by physician themselves to meet requirements is out of question. The art and science of manufacturing the medicines in large quantity has shifted from physicians to pharmaceutical concerns. It has become industry now. Any manufacturing unit has to abide by laws of the land. It has the responsibility of looking after the welfare of employees, installation of machineries and equipments suitable to manufacture medicine in large quantity, collection of drugs from different parts of the country, procurement, preservation of raw drugs, maintenance of research and development of the unit, marketing the products at wholesale and retail outlets, advertisement and publicity, appealing presentation, packing of the products and so on which account for rating product.

Raw drugs are also becoming costly because of nonavailability at one place and in sufficient quantity. This affects the price of raw materials because of cost of collection, preservation and transportation from place to place. This apart, many products are herbo mineral which contain very costly raw material like gold, silver, diamond, pearl, musk, almond, dry fruits, ghee, oil etc. These cost influencing factors involved in any commercialized industry are to be considered while alleging the high cost of Ayurveda treatment. Despite all this, there are many cost effective remedies and therapies for number of common disorders. Only in some chronic diseases or serious illness where either panchakarma therapy or medicines of costly ingredients are essential. Ayurveda is helpless in such cases, so far as economic considerations are concerned.

Ayurveda works out cheaper despite all the above, when considered from another angle. The total cost of treatment from the stage of early diagnosis is certainly cheaper compared to modern medicine. In many chronic cases diagnostic measures and monitoring cost more than the medicine itself. Many disorders which are considered surgical in modern medicine can be medically managed with success by treatment. This also make Ayurveda cost effective. Any efforts towards making it more cost effective in more areas uncovered so far are definitely welcome.

9) Ayurveda needs research in order to make it acceptable.

Every honorable dignitary on the dais invited to address Ayurveda physicians and students considers it as a part of his noble duty to drop a piece of suggestion that Ayurveda needs to be encouraged in research. Ayurveda for its acceptability needs to be validated by research work. This is the view of many self proclaimed intellectuals.

This is not to say there is no need of research. It is an on going process in any field of knowledge pertaining to any sphere of human life activity. Ayurveda is no exception for research. Research work is going on in true spirit in its past research heritage. A glance at the history of Ayurveda literature from ancient period through middle age to the modern era reveals that research was on going process as a consequences of which descriptions of many diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis , Guinea worm diseases, Syphilis, gonorrhea have been added.

Many new drugs like opium, cannabis are incorporated later. Many diagnostic techniques like pulse reading, examination of urine are accepted and included in later texts. The scientific temperament with genuine concern to health related problems was continuously flowing through the generations in the past. Similar trend continues in present day generation.

Research work is going on in organised manner both in private and government sectors. Literary research, standardization of drugs (single and compound drugs), survey of medical plants – their geographical distribution, identification of threatened and extinguished species, clinical research in classical drugs and diseases, pharmacological and pharmaceutical research are already taken up. Reputed Ayurveda manufacturing unit also are engaged in adopting modern techniques in processing, preservation, packing and presentation and quality control to make themselves fit to export Ayurveda products.

Many drugs are made available with manifold fortification of essential ingredients, established manufacturing units have been encouraging clinical research within their own territorial limits. Modern research methods, parameters of assessment and evaluation of the outcome of research are adopted in Ayurveda research field. Many P.G centers and research centers are rendering their own humble service in this regard. Regardless of all these, the space of research work in Ayurveda should be enhanced. It is the considered opinion that the direction in which research is going on needs to be thoroughly verified to be truly helpful in adopting Ayurveda concept for the benefit of mankind. The product of research should be useful either to Ayurveda or to some others.