Know the Principles and Methods of Ayurveda Medicine

Ayurveda is one of the oldest methods of treatment in the world, which began to be practiced in India thousands of years ago. In the view of Ayurveda, human health is influenced by the balance between the human body, mind and soul itself. The basic concept of Ayurvedic medicine is to invite people to live a healthy life through special practices, implementing healthy eating patterns and lifestyles, as well as carrying out natural therapies such as using herbal medicines.

Principles of Ayurveda Medicine

As explained earlier, Ayurveda practitioners believe that health can be achieved if there is a balance between body, mind and spirit. If this balance is disturbed, the opposite will arise from the health effects, namely disease attacks. Ayurveda is not the focus of fighting disease, but how to live a healthy life. In Ayurveda's view, humans need five elements that control bodily functions, namely earth, water, air, fire, and space. Then the combination of the five elements forms three energy pairs (dosha). Even if one has a mixture of the three sins, there is only one sin that dominates each person. In practice, Ayurveda practitioners will ask questions about the patient's health, diet and lifestyle first. The practitioner will also make a diagnosis by examining several parts of the body such as skin, eyes, nails, lips, and tongue. From there, Ayurveda practitioners will find out the dominant dosha in the patient's body. The practice of Ayurveda is generally undertaken by several methods, such as meditation, yoga, diet, body care, massage, aromatherapy, breathing exercises, vitamin and mineral diets, stretching, and several other methods. This treatment aims to restore harmony and balance the dosha in the body.

Types of Energy in Ayurveda

In Ayurvedic medicine, an imbalance in the three dosha is believed to trigger the emergence of the disease. The three doshas consist of the following elements:

• Pitta dosha (fire and water)

This energy manages several hormones related to appetite, digestion, and body metabolism. Fatigue, too long in the sun, or eating spicy or sour food, is believed to disrupt the balance of pitta dosha. Someone who is dominated by pitta dosha is more at risk of suffering from Crohn's disease, hypertension, heart disease, emotional distress and infection.

• Vata dosha (space and air)

This energy regulates the respiratory pathway, blood flow, heart function, mind, and the body's ability to remove toxins from the intestine. Staying up late, being scared, and consuming a portion of other food too quickly after the main meal can upset the balance of this element. The risk of heart disease, asthma, anxiety, nervous system disorders, skin diseases and rheumatoid arthritis will be greater if the body is dominated by vata dosha.

• Kapha dosha (earth and water)

Kapha dosha energy plays a role in regulating body weight, muscle growth, immune system, and body strength and stability. Eating after a full stomach, eating too much sweet and salty food can cause interference with this dosha. From an Ayurveda point of view, a body dominated by kapha has the potential to develop cancer, diabetes, nausea after eating, asthma or obesity.

Although it has been widely practiced, the effectiveness of Ayurveda treatment has not been proven medically. Some doctors do not recommend this treatment because studies reveal that some types of drugs used in Ayurveda contain metals harmful to the body, such as mercury, arsenic, and lead. If you are interested in trying Ayurvedic medicine, it is better to consult a doctor first to weigh the benefits and risks. The selection of the right treatment method will greatly affect the cure of your illness.