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Ayurvedic Medicine

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Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine that provides remedies to achieve and

maintain health and well-being in optimal conditions. Through a thorough study of life from

different elements, Ayurveda sees what is and is not in balance in the body and mind, working

with therapies and treatments from different areas to give that good realignment.

Application of Ayurveda

Energies permeate the human body, mind and the environment where they live. When

individuals lead a good life, these energies flow well. On the contrary, emotional problems,

physical trauma, bad habits and a bad diet tend to imbalance these energies. The more the body

becomes unbalanced, the more toxins it accumulates and with more toxins comes illness –

physical and emotional (Mukherjee et al., 2018). To solve this situation comes Ayurveda.

Essentially, it serves to rid the body of toxins and bring more balance to people’s lives, taking

them out of toxic dynamics and habits.

Ayurvedic medicine is a good way to complement the treatment of many health

conditions, as its main effects on the body are nourishing and hydrating the skin, increasing the

resistance of the immune system, increasing muscle strength and relaxation, improving blood

and lymphatic circulation, so that energy imbalances are corrected, which relieves and prevents

diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic pain, allergy, anxiety and depression, for

example (Patwardhan et al., 2017). Within primary care, Ayurveda medicine is part of the group

of bioenergetic therapies, which uses techniques such as breathing, body techniques, self-

knowledge, food and healing through plants and objects of nature, such as stones, to renew the

person’s vital energy. In this therapy, it is believed that the human body is made up of 3
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principles, or Doshas, which are Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which are combinations of the elements

Air, Ether, Fire, Water and Earth. 

In total, the 3 doshas are manifested from the combination of 2 of the 5 basic elements of

Ayurvedic Medicine. Dosha Vata combines ether and air, and is linked to excretory and nervous

functions. Dosha Pitta combines fire and water and is linked to metabolic and digestive

functions. Kapha Dosha, combined by water and earth, is linked to structural and lubricating

functions. All individuals are governed by these 3 doshas, as everyone carries the 5 elements

(Joshi et al., 2021). However, each individual has a different manifestation of doshas. Ayurveda

recognizes that each person is a unique being, with its own configuration. In doshas, for

example, this translates so that if they have little of the earth element and much air, their main

dosha is Vata, followed by Pitta, with fewer manifestations of Kapha. This combination of

doshas is called Prakriti, representing the biological composition of an individual (Rao, 2018). In

general, people have two dominant doshas. However, there are also those with a main dosha and

those with a good balance between the three.

When the elements and, therefore, the doshas are out of balance, illness and disturbances

arise. The imbalance in different doshas causes different manifestations. Vata imbalance causes

dryness, weight loss, restlessness, gas, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, fears,

melancholy, instability, mood fluctuation, insomnia, joint problems and muscle pain (Joshi et al.,

2021). Pitta imbalance causes heartburn, gastritis, digestive ulcer, hepatitis, loose stools,

increased sweating, sensitive skin, redness, irritability, jealousy, aggression, inflammation, acne

and migraine. Kapha imbalance causes weight gain, sluggishness, laziness, oiliness, increased

secretions, diabetes, increased cholesterol, bronchitis, sinusitis, coughing up secretions,

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respiratory allergies and attachment. Therefore, to start treatment with Ayurvedic Medicine, one

must first understand how one’s doshas manifest and which ones are unbalanced.

Treatments and Therapies in Ayurvedic Medicine

To harmonise the Doshas, the main therapies are massages, food, and phytotherapy.

Massages and body maneuvers are performed using essential oils and volcanic stones, chosen

according to each person’s needs, to promote well-being, relaxation, flexibility and blood

circulation. Food is based on a diet that aims to harmonize the body with fresh and easily

digestible foods, being guided to eat without haste, with concentration and appropriate foods for

each person. For phytotherapy, mostly applied in the provision of specialized care within the

context of tertiary care, the active principles of medicinal plants are used to treat diseases and

alterations, according to the needs of each person, based on roots, seeds and plants such as

cloves, cinnamon, lemongrass, coriander, ginger and saffron, for example (Pradhan, S. L., &

Pradhan, P. S., 2011). The practice also includes physical activity, meditation, yoga and the

therapeutic use of stones and minerals, considering that the treatment always involves the

physical and emotional side.

Conclusion

Ayurveda is an ancient and, at the same time, a timeless complete system of traditional

medicine that provides remedies to achieve and maintain our health and well-being in optimal

conditions. Ayurvedic Medicine is there for everyone who understands that taking care of

oneself is a constant process, with benefits that they feel every day. An individual can

considerably improve some physical conditions with the treatments proposed by this ancient

knowledge, in addition to serving as a complement to other practices, such as those of Western

medicine. With Ayurveda, one takes care of their nutrition and skin; increases their strength and
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immunity; relaxes and deflates muscles; and improves blood circulation. They may also be able

to prevent allergies, diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, Ayurvedic Medicine can play

an important role in reducing the afflictions caused by anxiety, melancholy and stress.

References

Jaiswal, Y. S., & Williams, L. L. (2017). A glimpse of Ayurveda–The forgotten history and

principles of Indian traditional medicine. Journal of traditional and complementary

medicine, 7(1), 50-53.
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Joshi, K., Thapliyal, A., & Singh, V. (2021). The Tridosha Theory According to Ayurveda.

Mukherjee, P. K., Banerjee, S., & Kar, A. (2018). Exploring synergy in ayurveda and traditional

Indian systems of medicine. Synergy, 7, 30-33.

Patwardhan, K., Pathak, J., & Acharya, R. (2017). Ayurveda formulations: A roadmap to address

the safety concerns. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 8(4), 279-282.

Pradhan, S. L., & Pradhan, P. S. (2011). Ayurvedic medicine and anaesthesia. Indian Journal of

Anaesthesia, 55(4), 334.