Ayurveda is one of the oldest traditional types of medicine practiced widely not just in India, but also worldwide. It makes use of natural and organic substances to treat a variety of ailments, many of which are considered to be irreversible by Western forms of treatments. India takes great pride in practicing this ancient medical system to this day, and yielding astonishing results through its usage.
Take a look at the following headline that appeared in The Hindu: “Police arrest gang of 21 persons who trick gullible persons with the promise of Ayurvedic medicines to cure serious ailments.”
This goes on to show how Ayurveda can be easily misused to exploit and trick the uninformed public. In circumstances like these, finding a good Ayurvedic doctor becomes crucial to yield the desired results. Suppose you are a resident of Maharashtra. How do you find a good Ayurvedic doctor in Thane? As you may have guessed, it is a tedious and exhausting process. This is where icareheal comes in to make your life easier. Through icareheal, you can find the best doctors around you with a single click! These medical professionals are experts in their respective fields, and you can be sure to trust them without a second thought.
The Effectiveness of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is effective in treating a range of disorders, including anxiety, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure and digestive problems among many others. It also claims to treat pattern baldness and thinning of hair through a variety of techniques and ingredients. These methods include- pitta pacification, ayurvedic oil application, panchakarma therapy, Yoga and medications.
History and Origin
Ayurveda is said to have originated in India about 3,000 years ago, in the Vedic Era. The Atharva Veda consists of most of the materials about health and diseases, and historians consider Ayurveda to be a part of Atharva Veda. However, Rig Veda- the earliest Veda, also mentions diseases and medicinal plants. The Vedas are rich in magical practices for disease treatment and charms for the expulsion of demons who are traditionally thought to cause diseases. Fever (takman), cough, consumption, diarrhoea, dropsy (generalised edema), abscesses, seizures, tumours, and skin diseases are the most common conditions mentioned (including leprosy). There are numerous herbs recommended for treatment.
The Practice of Ayurveda
The Indian Government set up the Medical Council in 1971 to establish the maintenance of standards in undergraduate and postgraduate education. The Council recognized various forms of traditional Indian medical practices including Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. Efforts have been made to combine the indigenous Indian and Western forms of medicine to provide a more holistic approach to these medical practices.
Much like western scientific medicine, Ayurveda has both preventive and curative aspects. The preventive aspect highlights the importance of personal and social hygiene, depending upon a person’s individual and environmental needs. Bodily exercises, Yoga and herbal preparations constitute important elements of this aspect. Ayurveda’s curative aspects include the use of herbal medicines, external preparations, physiotherapy, and diet. It is an Ayurvedic principle that preventive and therapeutic measures be tailored to the individual needs of each patient.
How Ayurveda Works
Ayurvedic medicine is founded on the concepts of universal interconnectedness, the body’s constitution (prakriti), and life forces (doshas). Internal purification precedes Ayurvedic treatment, which is followed by a special diet, herbal remedies, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation. Treatment goals assist the person by removing impurities, reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, reducing worry, and increasing life harmony. Ayurvedic treatment makes extensive use of herbs and other plants, including oils and common spices.
Those who practice Ayurveda believe that every person is made of five basic elements found in the universe: space, air, fire, water and earth. They control how your body works. They are Vata dosha (space and air); Pitta dosha (fire and water); and Kapha dosha (water and earth). Everyone is born with a unique combination of the three doshas. However, one is usually more powerful than the others. Each one is in charge of a different bodily function. It is believed that the balance of your doshas influences your chances of getting sick and the health issues you develop.
Thus, Ayurveda focuses on maintaining this balance between the doshas that work together to keep an individual healthy, both physically and mentally. This is done through a range of techniques, including various medicines and exercises.
The Three Doshas
Vata Dosha-
Ayurvedic practitioners believe this is the most powerful of the three doshas. It regulates fundamental bodily functions such as cell division. It also regulates your mind, breathing, blood flow, heart function, and the ability of your intestines to eliminate waste. Eating too soon after a meal, fear, grief, and staying up too late are all things that can disrupt it.
If vata dosha is your primary life force, you are thought to be more prone to anxiety, asthma, heart disease, skin problems, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Pitta Dosha-
This energy regulates your digestion, metabolism (how well you break down foods), and certain appetite-related hormones.
Eating sour or spicy foods, as well as spending too much time in the sun, can both disrupt it.
If it’s your primary source of energy, you’re more likely to develop Crohn’s disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, and infections.
Kapha Dosha-
This life force is in charge of your muscle growth, body strength and stability, weight, and immune system.
Sleeping during the day, eating too many sweet foods, and eating or drinking things containing too much salt or water can all disrupt it.
Practitioners believe that if it is your primary source of energy, you may develop asthma and other breathing disorders, cancer, diabetes, nausea after eating, and obesity.
Finding a Good Ayurvedic Practitioner
Many Ayurvedic materials have not been properly studied and researched yet in Western and Indian medicine due to the vast nature of Ayurvedic practice. Some of the products used in these medicines contain metals, minerals and herbs that may be harmful if used improperly or without the guidance of a trained medical practitioner. Thus, investigating the training and background of Ayurvedic practitioners is necessary before placing your faith in them.
About icareheal
icareheal is the one-stop solution to all your doubts and problems! It is a doctor-only app with a two-way communication system for both doctors and patients. It provides a platform for doctors to interact with their patients via an online clinic and build relationships with them. On the other hand, it provides a one-click solution for patients to quickly find the best doctors in their area.
‘Healing’ Vs ‘Cure’
Healthcare is primarily concerned with overall well-being. However, it is now more commonly associated with ‘cure.’ This approach narrows the scope of healing to just one aspect of medical practice. Healing encompasses any interaction, tangible or intangible, that occurs between the seeker and the giver. Icareheal is an acronym that stands for the patient’s healing process. It aims to provide a more meaningful approach to healthcare for both doctors and patients.
Thus, icareheal believes that all patients require healing, and that when clinicians actively promote it, they will renew their relationships as well. The name represents this healing journey through care, with I representing both self and technology.
In this way, the approach of icareheal to treatment is very similar to the central philosophy of Ayurveda as well.