Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest continuous medical systems, it is recognised and regulated by the Government of India under the Ministry of Ayush, and it is taken seriously by a very large number of people. It deserves to be described accurately rather than either dismissed or oversold.

What it offers

A framework built on the three doshas - vata, pitta and kapha - and a strongly individualised approach in which two people with the same complaint may be treated quite differently. Much of its lifestyle guidance is unobjectionable and in line with modern advice: regular routine, attention to digestion, seasonal eating, adequate rest.

Specific preparations have been studied with mixed results. Ashwagandha for stress and triphala for digestion have some supportive evidence. Others have little beyond tradition.

Two genuine cautions

Heavy metals. Some traditional bhasma preparations intentionally contain processed metals, and independent testing of the wider market has repeatedly found lead, mercury and arsenic at harmful levels. This is a documented, recurring finding, not a rumour.

Interactions. Ayurvedic preparations can interact with prescription medicines. Your doctor needs to know everything you take.

Choose a BAMS-qualified practitioner and a licensed manufacturer. Both exist, both are regulated, and both are worth insisting on.

Using both systems well

Many Indians use Ayurveda and modern medicine together, and that can work perfectly well - provided each doctor knows about the other. What causes harm is abandoning treatment for a serious condition. Nobody should stop diabetes, heart, tuberculosis or cancer treatment on any practitioner's advice without their treating doctor's agreement.