One of the world’s oldest medical systems is Ayurveda, which means “the science of life” in Sanskrit. Ayurvedic medicine originated in India several thousand years ago and uses materials and techniques such as herbs, oils, and massages to cleanse and balance the body, mind, and spirit.

Two Sanskrit books written more than 2,000 years ago are considered to be the main texts on Ayurvedic medicine. They describe eight branches of medicine: internal medicine; surgery; treatment of head and neck diseases; psychiatry; toxicology; sexual vitality; gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics; and care of the elderly and rejuvenation.

Ayurveda remains highly popular in South Asia and especially in India, where almost 80 percent of the population still relies to some degree on the ancient practices. Most major cities in India have an Ayurvedic college and hospital. In the United States, a 2002 survey found that about 750,000 Americans (about 0.4 percent of the population) had used Ayurvedic medicine at some point.

Ayurveda has several key foundations that pertain to health and disease, including the notion of interconnectedness, the importance of personal constitution, and the three life forces that act upon all people.

Interconnectedness means that all beings in the universe are, in a sense, part of a single whole, and that keeping in harmony with this web of existence is crucial for health. A person’s constitution, or prakriti, also plays a critical role in overall health. Finally, the three life forces, or doshas, are believed to control basic bodily functions like breathing, digestion, and the beating of the heart.

Ayurvedic medications are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Some can be toxic if taken in large quantities or in combination with other drugs, and several studies have found that many over-the-counter Ayurvedic remedies (all manufactured in Southeast Asia) contain lead, mercury, or arsenic.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. Research is currently being done on several Ayurvedic treatments, including using turmeric for cardiovascular conditions, the herb gotu kola to treat Alzheimer’s disease, and botanicals such as ginger, turmeric, and boswellia to treat inflammatory disorders such as arthritis and asthma.
  2. A 2008 report by researchers at Boston University found that 21 percent of Ayurvedic treatments purchased on the Internet contained impurities.
  3. Students who receive their Ayurvedic training in India can earn either a bachelor’s or a doctoral degree there. The United States has no national standard for training or certification of Ayurvedic practitioners, although a few states have approved Ayurvedic schools as educational institutions.