About Ayurveda

"Good health is always your best asset".

Ayurveda literally means the Science of Life. Ayur means life and Veda means science or knowledge.Ayurveda is the traditional healing system of India. Often called ‘the mother of all healing’ it originated in India over 5000 years ago.

All matter is thought to be composed of five basic elements (panchamahabhutas) which exhibit the properties of earth(prithvi), water (jala), fire (tejas), wind (vayu) and space ( akasha). These elements do not exist in isolated forms but always in a combination, in which one or more elements dominate.According to Ayurveda, the human body is composed of derivatives of the five elements in the form of humors (Doshas), tissues (Dhatus) and waste products (Malas).

The physiological constitution of the human body is the manifestation of three Doshas and their quantity in each body. They are Vata, which regulates the movement and is the nervous system, Pitta, is the cause of all the metabolic processes in our body and is represented by the digestive system and Kapha is the system of cohesion and functions through the body fluids. The balance of these three Doshas is what is called the Prakruti or the physical nature determines the basic physical form.

Under normal conditions the Doshas exist in balanced state. But accumulations of Toxins in the body may cause imbalance of the Doshas resulting in disease. Every Disease is related to a specific imbalance of the Doshas. Ayurveda will suggest a specific cleansing process of the Toxins known as Panchakarma to eliminate the Toxins followed by medicines, life-style guidelines and diet which will pacify the aggravated Doshas and again balance them.

There are three phases of Panchakarma : The preliminary therapies are called Purvakarma through which the body is prepared for the main therapies and the Toxins are made to accumulate at a particular part of the body so that they can be eliminated by  the Pradhanakarmas (main therapies). These are Vamanam ,Nasyam, Virechanam, Vasti and Raktamokshanam. One or more Pradhana Karmas maybe required depending on the nature of the disease. After the main therapies are completed, Doctor will advise proper diet, medicines and lifestyle management. You may need to also take maintenance therapies periodically depending on the type of disease for proper management.

Awesome Image

Who is an Ayurvedacharya?

Based on specialisation, an Ayurvedacharya is a physician, surgeon, academician or a scientist academically qualified in Ayurveda and the concerned University awards the title under the Government of India’s regulatory authority CCIM - Central Council of Indian Medicine. The CCIM Issues registration under AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on completion of the 5 ½ years B.A.M.S - Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery course inclusive of one year of internship. Every Ayurvedacharya registers in the central register with a valid registration number. An Ayurvedacharya can choose to pursue higher studies in MD, MS and PhD to the prevention, management and a possible cure for conditions that pose a challenge in the modern world.

How do you compare Ayurveda medicines with other systems ?

Medicines in Ayurveda are derived from herbal, animal (honey, ghee, milk etc), metallic bhasmas and or minerals that are adequately detoxified and enriched and made safe for human use without any adverse effects in therapeutic doses. Ayurveda has consistently and efficiently served the mankind all the way through evolution. Its antiquity supports its status as a clinically time tested system of healthcare.

Can the concepts of modern medicine and Ayurveda be integrated ?

In the contemporary practice of Clinical Ayurveda, it is very common to find situations where the patients are on both sets of remedies to make up for the deficits of the individual systems if any.

What are the methods involved in an Ayurveda based treatment ?

Suggested lifestyle changes, customized dietary recommendations, prescribed internal medications, external therapies, Shodhana Panchakarma or detoxification procedures, Yoga and Meditation are some of the methods involved in an Ayurveda based treatment regimen.

Can the progress or otherwise be monitored ?

Monitoring can be done by clinical observation, patient feedback, biochemical lab tests, culture, microscopic studies, endoscopic methods, radiology, and all other conventionally available diagnostic methods. An extensive collection of such documented data is available on our Case Studies page. The advantage of progress in the field of modern diagnostics is that all data can be interpreted seamlessly in accordance with the principles and practice of Clinical Ayurveda.

How Old Is Herbal Medicine?

Herbal medicine is the oldest form of medicine. Records go back over thousands of years to the earliest days of Western, Oriental and American civilisation. Many modern medicines have their origins in plants. For instance warfarin, the blood-thinning drug, is derived from sweet clover (Melliotus officinalis). The herbal medicine practiced today combines this historic knowledge with the latest research on herbs, to make the treatment strategies even safer and more effective.

Is Herbal Medicine Safe?

Qualified herbalists and naturopaths are trained to consider the safety of herbs when prescribing. When preparing your prescription, herbalists consider your own unique health circumstances, any drugs you are currently being prescribed plus all the latest safety data on the herbs in your prescription. The level of training and consideration given to our patients mean that medical herbalists have an excellent safety record.

Is Herbal Medicine Similar To Homeopathy?

Both naturopathic medicine and homeopathy use herbal remedies. This is where the similarity ends. The philosophy and general approach to treatment is very different. Homeopathy uses very diluted medicines. In fact, there is unlikely to be any pharmacologically active ingredients in a homeopathic plant medicine. Herbal medicine, on the other hand, uses the whole herb which contains active plant constituents that have an effect on the body. The broad range of chemicals in the herbal remedy work together to help the body to return to normal function. The herbalists skill is in selecting the appropriate herbal formula for each individual. .

How Many Ayurvedic Treatment Sessions Will I Need?

There is no standard course of treatment and the number of sessions you will need depends on your health condition and your current symptoms. It will also depend on the severity of your condition and how your condition progresses with the treatment. Your practitioner will review your progress regularly throughout your treatment to give you an idea of the length of treatment you will need. Some herbs may take longer to have an effect on the body than conventional medicines, so you might not see an improvement in your condition for weeks or months - your herbal practitioner will advise you on this. Take this information into account when thinking about the cost of your treatment. .

Will Ayurveda take a long time to improve or cure my problem?

One of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is to treat a patient on a holistic level. Instead of just providing relief from symptoms, it identifies the root cause of the disease and aims to give you a permanent cure, wherever possible. Instead of a short-term cure and instant relief, Ayurveda focuses on giving you long-term health and well-being, which is bound to take some time. Similar to any type of treatment, the time taken for improvement or cure of your disease in Ayurveda depends upon the severity and type of your disease. The stage at which you go for Ayurvedic treatment makes a huge difference. If you have been living it for the last 5-10 years, you can't expect to see improvements in a few weeks. The longer you wait to go for Ayurvedic treatment, the longer it will take to get relief and treat the condition. However, if you sincerely follow the diet and lifestyle advice given to you by your Ayurvedic doctor, and take your medicines regularly on time, Ayurvedic treatment is sure to show improvements in a relatively shorter period of time. .

Do I have to follow many food restrictions while undergoing Ayurvedic treatment?

An Ayurvedic doctor will advise food restrictions depending upon the state, severity and the type(s) of disease you are suffering from. There are some food restrictions in Ayurveda because while a particular food can be beneficial for a specific disease or problem, the same food can worsen another disease or aggravate the symptoms. As such, diet plans are carefully designed by your Ayurvedic doctor so that the food you take works as medicine provided you take them as per instructions. The doctor may ask you to avoid certain foods because they have the capacity to aggravate symptoms, while others are recommended because they have the capacity to not only alleviate symptoms, but aid in making the treatment more effective. If you follow dietary restrictions and a proper diet plan, you can avoid further deterioration of the disease and take a step closer to healing. This is regardless of whether you are taking Ayurvedic or some other types of treatment. .

Do Ayurvedic medicines contain toxic metals?

Most Ayurvedic preparations contain only herbal ingredients while a few of them contain minerals. Preparations with minerals are fast-acting and the ingredients are thoroughly purified before being added to the medicine. The herbo-minerals that we use in making medicines at Jiva have never been found to be harmful. At Jiva, we manufacture medicines and products at our HACCP and GMP certified manufacturing facility where we follow stringent quality control and hygiene to ensure that you get the medicine in the purest and safest form.

Do Ayurvedic medicines have side effects?

Ayurvedic medicines are made from natural ingredients such as herbs and minerals. Often, herbal juices are mixed to make them more potent. The manufacturing process, which is supervised by expert Vaidyas, is designed to clean, purify and enhance the potency of the formula. Secondly, both the dosage of the medicine as well as the time it is consumed is very important. If taken according to the instructions of your Ayurvedic doctor, these medicines are safe and do not have side effects. Thirdly, Ayurvedic medicines work primarily on the root cause of the disease. Hence, just having the medicines is not enough. You need to follow a proper diet and lifestyle to control the condition and work towards healing the problem. For example, if you complain of burning and itching sensation on your skin, you will be given Ayurvedic medicines to reduce these symptoms. At the same time you will be advised to stay away from food and drinks that are heating in nature. If you do not follow the diet prescribed by the doctor, you may develop some problems. You may think these as side effects of the medicine, but in reality, it will be because of your faulty diet and lifestyle. Make sure that you inform the doctor if you are allergic to any particular food or herb to avoid any complications during the treatment.

Can I take Ayurvedic medicines along with my regular allopathic medicines?

We generally don't advise to immediately discontinue allopathic medicines if you are under treatment for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, neurological disorders, arthritis, mental disorders and heart diseases. Besides, there is no harm in taking both types of medicines as long as you keep your Ayurvedic doctor informed. However, it is important to maintain at least an hour's gap between the two types of medications. In due course of time, depending on your progress, the Ayurvedic doctor may reduce the dose of the allopathic medicines. Make sure that you follow any advice or recommendation given by your Ayurvedic doctor regarding this process.