Ayurveda

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Ayurveda for good health

The Times of India

The Times of India, Oct 17, 2011

Renowned Ayurveda expert, V Vasudevan, talks about Ayurveda and the p a n c h a k a r m a technique used for detoxification and internal cleansing of the body

Ayurveda is as applicable now as it was centuries ago. It looks upon health in its totality and defines the physical, emotional and intellectual well-being of a person as a harmonious state. Serious health issues impact all three realms.

Ayurvedic medicines are given as powders, decoctions and pills, depending on the disease, constitution, body type, etc. There is no system of prescribing a particular medicine for a particular disease, as even a single medicine has a wide range of applicability in various disease conditions. The physician prescribes treatment after talking to the patient individually. Herbal medicines are safe if authentically prepared and used. The range of medicinal formulations available is immense.

Ayurveda applies both external and internal therapies for treatment, which focus on the location of the disease as well as on the entire body. The aim is to restore the total health of the patient, who also develops good immunity after treatment. P a n c h a k a r m a is a central part of the therapy and is a detoxification or internal cleansing process. Most cases are treated with p a n c h a k a r m a and that usually turns out to be the best alternative even in surgical cases. Body toxins are eliminated through external orifices like the mouth, anus, nostrils and skin.

Ayurveda has its own methods of diagnosing disease, and a skilled Ayurvedacharya relies on his skills of diagnosis for treatment. Prescribing Ayurvedic medication on the basis of modern diagnosis is usually not accurate, especially for chronic diseases. P a n c h k a r m a in such cases is far more helpful. The procedure prescribes complete rest as well as strict adherence to physical and mental discipline. Combined with pre and post p a n c h a k a r m a treatments, the course includes therapies, medication, diet, routines and regimens and varies for different patients. P a n c h a k a r m a is effective in curing psychological imbalance and emotional disturbances too.

Ayurveda believes the human body is akin to nature and treatment lies in attuning a diseased body to match nature’s rhythm.