According to the ancient scrolls, if not the oldest, Ayurveda is one of the oldest medicine systems to have ever existed. But today, some people refer to them as pseudoscience. Is that fair? Let’s dig deeper.
It is not a set of folklore and myths that people cling to; this is indeed Ayurveda. Hence, it is a system of medicine that is diverse and has a vast historical background. Consequently, 80 percent of India’s populace exercises Ayurveda medication as a therapeutic procedure.
Wow! That is more than a billion individuals!
However, it is not only famous in India. There is emerging significant global interest in Ayurvedic products, which is expected to reach $14. 9 billion by 2026. This is a clear indication of the key population that has placed their confidence in Ayurveda.
Yes, it is completely different from the Western system of medicine. It is based on moderation and encompasses preventive measures. It regards each person as an individual.
However, modern science is slowly beginning to recognize these manifestations of these ancient principles. Currently, about 10,000 pieces of literature related to Ayurvedic herbs are indexed in well-known electronic medical databases. So, let’s consider some facts about Ayurveda. For as long as history can recall, it has been treating people. There may be more to it than one can see.
Here in this blog, I will be able to discuss information regarding Ayurveda. We will examine its bioavailability and consider it at that level. You may want to know what it is all about scientifically. And we’ll see how and why millions continue to turn to it even today.
Ready to know? Let’s dive in!
Understanding Ayurveda
Ayurveda is not just about the concoctions they take but also the body massage with oil. It is an extensive form of treatment that dates back over 5000 years in early civilization. Ayurveda, derived from Sanskrit, is the ‘Science of life.’ It depends on the understanding that life can be preserved rather than focused on curing diseases.
It is about health in general or the absence of diseases.
In its theory, Ayurveda opines that imbalance is something that precedes the occurrence of diseases. They look at the individual as a combination of specific components known as doshas. They are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha; Vata corresponds to air and space, Pitta comprises fire and water, and Kapha corresponds to earth and water. If all these doshas are in proportion, the body is in order, and you are fit.
Critics’ Perspective
Now, let us turn to the following questions that help some people classify Ayurveda as pseudoscience.
The opponents tend to overemphasize the lack of a scientific basis. Some people say that most Ayurvedic treatments have no scientific success or references to clinical trials. Some people have concerns about the risks and dangers associated with the use of herbs and taking Ayurvedic medicines.
There are also issues regarding standardization. The administration of Ayurvedic treatments can differ between doctors. This has a negative impact on research since it complicates the process of analyzing and reproducing findings.
A number of opponents of Ayurveda point to the fact that its principles are based mostly on texts from 5000 years ago. They argue that it lacks compatibility with the new discoveries in medicine. They ask the general public not to turn to Ayurveda, which is not recognized scientifically, instead of choosing statistically tested medication.
Advocates’ Perspective
On the other hand, Ayurveda has many ardent supporters who can argue, and we used them in the given article as well. They explain that people have been using Ayurveda for a long time. If contemporary medicine started in Hippocrates’s era, it has assisted people for roughly 5000 years.
That is something one should take seriously!
While the Ayurvedic approach has a lot of potential and variations, critics claim that this very advantage turns into a vice. It does not only focus on solving symptoms. This system does not focus on a particular part of the human being. This can bring about improved total health status, not just alleviate one’s symptoms or condition.
Many individuals may testify to the efficacy of such treatments as Ayurveda. Other studies report that it has benefited them when conventional practices could not provide any assistance. A survey in India showed that as many as 62% of people were sticking to Ayurvedic treatment for chronic ailments.
The Complexities of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is complex. All of its treatments are individual. The individual progression in treatment is Ayurveda’s robust system, but it is also a weakness when it comes to applying scientific research methods to the contemporary Western world.
Ayurveda also involves what can be described as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha energy forces that are reduced to might and not scientifically quantifiable. That is why numerous things observed in a given person’s body, like the prana or a life force, are not detectable in any laboratory. But that means they are honest and more critical in their own right.
At the same time, it is essential to underscore that many of the concepts found within Ayurveda are relatively sophisticated.
A comparison of outcomes of using Ayurveda and the proportional medicines of the Western world
The Comparison Between Western and Eastern Medical Sciences:
Western and Ayurveda have some major differences in their perceptions of disease. The Western approach to medicine is usually centered on the use of drugs to combat particular illnesses. Unlike many modern approaches, Ayurveda accepts the patient as a whole and attempts to correct a general imbalance.
The Western body of knowledge mainly advocates the use of chemicals and operations as treatment procedures. Ayurveda is more noninvasive and tends to incorporate things like diet, herbs, and changes in behavior to solve problems.
Both have their place. Some people have noted that when used together, they yield the best outcome.
It also should be recalled that the Western approach to medicine is comparatively young—just a few hundred years old. Ayurveda has been operating and, therefore, honing the processes for about five thousand years. The public is ignorant of the history of several modern medicines.
Here’s something interesting:
Many modern medicines are derived from Ayurvedic herbs. Take turmeric, for example.
Ayurvedic cultures have used it for years, and today, Western scientists have started analyzing it for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Aspirin is another example. It is derived from the salicylic acid of willow tree bark. Guess what? For centuries, Ayurveda has incorporated Willow bark for its ability to decrease pain.
No single drug on the current market can claim immunity from Ayurveda, not even artemisinin, which is used to cure malaria.
It originates from sweet wormwood, an herb used worldwide, especially in Ayurveda, for ages.
Indeed, some of the plants in modern medicine are related to those used in traditional medicine, and at least a quarter of today’s drugs produced globally are derived from plants.
Lack of awareness of origins of several Modern Medicines
Another disadvantage that has been frequently used to discredit Ayurveda is the shortage of study work. But is it fair?
This is because society places people in standardized categories and gives them pre-determined roles they cannot control. Let us look at the numbers.
From January 2020 to date, scholars have published more than 5000 papers relating to Ayurveda in PubMed. Still, that is a significant number; however, it does not even scratch the surface compared to the number of studies reviewed and published on Western medicine.
Why the gap?
Well, research is expensive. But things are changing. More universities are turning to Ayurveda for examinations. Promisingly, the Indian government is funding ayurvedic studies. As per record, they budgeted approximately $250 million for research into AYUSH in 2020.
Western and Media Influence
Let’s be honest: Allopathy, or what is commonly referred to as modern medicine, is one of the leading players in healthcare around the world. It relates to what most people consider medicine when they hear the term or word, and this can often give competition to other systems like Ayurveda.
The last time one read positive news about Ayurveda was perhaps after the ancient Indian medicinal practice was featured as an essential support for the British Empire.
There is also a common language that has been proven to hinder the growth of the business. Some of the original Ayurvedic documents are written in Sanskrit or some local Indian language. This makes it difficult for western scholars to research them, as this paragraph describes:
Insurance Reimbursements
Here’s a practical issue: insurance.
The insurance system also plays a significant role in the functioning of the general healthcare system. In Malaysia, most insurance plans exclude Ayurvedic treatments as one of the non-counted covered services. This makes them less disseminated to many people.
Today, in India, some insurance companies are beginning to pay for Ayurveda. However, this trend is not very common worldwide. This paper identifies the financial factor as a barrier to experimenting with Ayurvedic treatments. The absence of more extensive studies means that that insurance firms still need to include Ayurveda. However, it means that it is possible to conduct only small-scale research without coverage.
Covid
The outbreak of COVID-19 paved the way for Ayurveda to be recognized. In India, the health ministry came out in support of Ayurvedic cures that enhanced immunity. These were natural spices such as curcumin, ginger, and holy basil.
Some accused it of embracing quackery and recommending premature treatment that has not been proven effective. Some viewed it as a convenient tool to enhance a person’s well-being during an emergency. According to a recent Indian survey, 45% of respondents used Ayurvedic treatments while facing the pandemic.
However, it does not mean that Ayurveda has developed a COVID-19 treatment. Still, the fact that it is designed to increase the body’s well-being and immunity can be beneficial at any time for health issues.
Final Thoughts
So, is Ayurveda pseudoscience? And that is not black and white, yes or no. A review of Ayurveda shows that it is a complex system with merits but its limitations are yet to be determined.
Unfortunately, there are some research questions for which the current work must provide answers but which may benefit from additional research. For example, if there are no studies targeting a specific method, one cannot conclude that it does not have positive results. That only tells us that we have to do more and more research on it.
Ayurveda has benefited millions of people for many millennia. It is a comprehensive concept of wellness that many consumers find very useful. Instead of dismissing it, we should ask: What knowledge or information can we gain from Ayurveda?
It could also be integrative medicine, which aims to combine the different aspects of medicine to develop an overall approach. This is the integration of the Allopathy system with other systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda. It is all about borrowing a strategy from one corner and applying it anywhere there is a need, irrespective of the source.
Thus, nothing is as important as health, or so one tends to believe when discovering the truth and realizing that it is too late. If this Ayurveda can, in part, reduce or increase health, don’t we want to tread that path? Let me leave it open, and we will research it more and then see what happens. Indeed, that is what real science is all about.