Hair Alternative Medicine

Ayurveda: A Natural Health 101 Article


What It Is

Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of sub-continental India. With an archeological record going back 7000 years and an unbroken written history dating back to around 1500 B.C., Ayurveda is easily the oldest medical system still in existence and is also one of the most comprehensive. Though it's often treated by westerners as nothing more than folk medicine, Ayurveda in India is always practiced alongside technology-based medicine. Unlike other "natural" medicines Ayurveda happily embraces techniques like micro-surgery and CAT scans.

Modern medicine, both mainstream and alternative, owes much to Ayurveda. Ancient practitioners studied medical theories including psychiatry, optometry, general wellness and surgery. Both Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbology were build on Ayurvedic foundations and Ayurveda offers the largest catalog of herbal therapies ever known.

Perhaps the thing that sets Ayurveda apart from other therapies is its use of body typing. Ayurveda groups people according to how the natural forces, or elements, influence them emotionally, mentally and physically, then assigns nutritional, meditative and herbal therapies according to the dominate "dosha" each person displays.

What It Can Do For You

Today's Ayurveda is strongly influenced by Hindu and Buddhist practices and that can make it difficult for Americans to fully appreciate. But if you have the right motivation and are willing to keep an open mind Ayurveda can be a powerful ally in your search for wellness. Ayurveda teaches that the spiritual and the physical aspects of healing are equally important and that neither takes place without the other. Detoxification is an important part of Ayurveda and practitioners strive to balance the natural forces (or doshas) in the body through nutrition, exercise, meditation and massage. Ayurveda is primarily concerned with longevity and quality of life and puts great emphasis on disease prevention.

Finding a Qualified Practitioner

American Ayurveda is very different from authentic Indian Ayurveda and you may have considerable difficulty finding a qualified practitioner--most American practitioners focus on the herbal side of Ayurveda and virtually ignore the rest. But if you can find a well-trained practitioner (preferable an M.D.) he or she can take the place of your existing family practitioner.

What The Critics Say

Critics of Ayurveda dismiss it as just another folk medicine and point to its emphasis on spirituality as proof that it's outdated and backward.

My Opinion

When I started working on my Ayurveda Certification I was looking for just enough information to confidently answer my clients' questions. Years later, I'm still learning and no longer describe Ayurveda as a "Indian folk medicine".

Lisa Barger is a traditionally trained naturopath specializing in illness prevention counseling. Ms. Barger holds certification in Ayurveda, Iridology, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and American Herbology. For more information about Ms. Barger's private practice or to take a free online natural health class please see our web site at http://www.LisaBarger.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Alternative Health Practices Complement Mainstream Approach
Patch
Interested in alternative health practices? Dr. Yvonne Kleine, a Bayport resident, Naturopath and Ph. D Nutritionist, introduces her new column and asks ...



Mel Evans/AP
NPR
"We are very supportive of alternative medicine," says Dr. Sacared Bodison, director of the student health center. All-nighters and good health don't mix. ...

and more »


stv.tv

Alternative to alcohol pricing policy produced
Press and Journal
Under the proposals published yesterday, revenue would go to the UK Treasury and be reinvested in public health projects across Scotland instead of boosting ...
Sturgeon sets the minimum price of alcohol at 45p a unitHerald Scotland
Scotland pursues 45p-per-unit minimum priceOfflicence News
Scottish government names minimum alcohol priceNetdoctor
DeHavilland (press release) (subscription) -BBC News -Independent
all 369 news articles »


WISC Madison

Pawlenty's Budget Contradicts His Own Executive Order, Instructs State To ...
Huffington Post (blog)
(a) The commissioner shall develop and authorize a demonstration project to test alternative and innovative health care delivery systems, ...
The Downside of Medicare--And AlternativesHuffington Post (blog)
Get Politics AlertsHuffington Post (blog)

all 481 news articles »


Dispensaries Speaking Out Against Proposed Ban
KKCO-TV
"They take the dispensaries away, now we're forced to go on the street," said Samantha McClellan, an employee of Mesa Alternative Health & Wellness and a ...
Pot shop owners far from mellow about closing their doorsGrand Junction Sentinel

all 11 news articles »


Bionovo, Berkeley researcher receive NIH grant to develop obesity drugs
Drug Store News
2) The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's small business technology transfer program, part of the National Institutes of Health, ...
Bionovo Receives NIH Grant to Develop Drugs for the Treatment of Female ...PR Newswire (press release)

all 14 news articles »


Alternative medicines can't cure dengue: DOH
Malaya
THE Department of Health yesterday cautioned the public against the use of alternative medicines for dengue as it said there is yet no cure ...

and more »


Wyden Defects on ObamaCare
Wall Street Journal
The Secretary of Health and Human Services would need to approve the ObamaCare alternative of Oregon or any other states, and the waivers don't start until ...

and more »


Text messages little help in remembering the Pill
Reuters
The researchers suggest that alternative reminder systems, used by 68 percent of the participants who didn't receive text messages, may have played a role. ...

and more »


TopNews United Kingdom (blog)

Oregon Public Health Department issues advisory for North Fork Reservoir
OregonLive.com
Those who use water directly from the North Fork Reservoir are also advised to use an alternative water source and the public is warned that toxins cannot ...
Toxic algae levels confirmed in South UmpquaNRToday.com
Coos County's Sru Lake Contains High Algae LevelsKEZI TV

all 41 news articles »

Google News

home | Iridology | "Mind Machines" | "Alternative Health" site map | Iridology Site Map | "Alternative Botox"
© 2000 - 2010