| For the past few decades, the field of medicine has | | | | patient's natural internal or elemental harmony. These |
| been largely influenced by the medical philosophy of | | | | imbalances can be caused by internal or external |
| the Western world. The emphasis of Western | | | | factors, and may be aggravated or alleviated by the |
| medicine has been predominately curative, relying on | | | | patient's emotional state and, in some cases, mental |
| chemical preparations and invasive surgery as means | | | | health. |
| of treatment. | | | | The primary concept of Ayurveda is that the |
| In contrast, Eastern medical and therapeutic | | | | restoration of imbalances in the body requires a very |
| philosophy focuses on the more metaphysical side of | | | | personalized concept. Treatment can involve the use |
| human illness and treatment. Its practice is hinged on | | | | of natural oils, minerals, herbs, metals, and even |
| the use of a variety of methods ranging from the | | | | animal ingredients. Similar to how herbal medications |
| use of medicinal plants and herb, massage, | | | | are administered in traditional Chinese medicine, |
| acupuncture, aromatherapy, pulse reading, and other | | | | Ayurveda medications are given base formulas that |
| alternative healing methods. These methods are now | | | | are modified by the physician according to the |
| gaining acceptance even in modern societies, in a | | | | patient's needs. This process makes getting a |
| large measure, due to the increased awareness | | | | treatment for an infection different from Western |
| about the healing arts of China and India. There are | | | | medicine, where the formulas are constant and only |
| volumes of literature on traditional Chinese medicine. | | | | the dose is altered based on the patient's metabolism |
| But what also deserves wide recognition is the folk | | | | and constitution. As mentioned earlier, diet and taste |
| remedies and traditional practices in India which are | | | | play a central role in Ayurveda. However, unlike |
| also ancient and effective, at least, according to | | | | Chinese medicinal doctrine, the taste and quality of |
| those who have tried them. | | | | the food plays a much larger role in traditional Indian |
| Ayurveda, a healing system native to India, is a | | | | healing arts. Different tastes correspond to different |
| centuries-old practice that has recently been given | | | | conditions in the body. These tastes are taken into |
| attention by Western science. Like traditional Chinese | | | | account by an Ayurveda physician before prescribing |
| medicine, Ayurveda practitioners adhere to a | | | | an appropriate treatment. For example, food with a |
| particular medical philosophy that regards illness as an | | | | bitter taste is generally considered to cool the body, |
| imbalance in the body and influenced by internal and | | | | dry out moisture, and work to remove toxins. This |
| external factors, similar to the Chinese principles of | | | | concept also extends to the herbal and animal |
| yin and yang. Ayurveda also takes into consideration | | | | ingredients that are used in Ayurveda medication. |
| a patient's emotions and state of mind alongside the | | | | Ayurveda also prescribes a particular form of |
| study of infections that make the body sick. It places | | | | massage known as "Panchakarma" for the treatment |
| a high importance on the patient's sense of taste and | | | | of emotional distress. This practice is highly similar to |
| diet. | | | | acupuncture except that no needles are used. The |
| In Ayurveda, it is believed that the healing of a | | | | strokes, presses, and body manipulations used in |
| person must take into consideration three elements | | | | Panchakarma supposedly stimulates energy flow |
| found in nature: air, water, and fire. Each of these | | | | throughout the body, a process that is necessary to |
| elements has a deep philosophical background. These | | | | ensure good health. Problems arise when the energy |
| elements also govern the major functions of the | | | | flow is disrupted, clogged, or stalled. Massage is often |
| body. Ayurvedic theory rests on the belief that the | | | | prescribed in conjunction with a diet plan and herbal |
| balance of the three elements is the basis of health. | | | | remedies to relieve problems such as sinusitis, |
| Any imbalance, blockage, or weakening in these | | | | conditions associated with stress and anxiety, and |
| elements causes illness. It is the task of the | | | | other problems that Ayurveda practitioners see as |
| Ayurveda practitioner to determine and restore the | | | | symptoms of emotional disharmony rather than just |
| patient's elemental harmony. In other words, an | | | | purely physical ailments. |
| infection or ailment is the result of an imbalance in the | | | | |