Ayurveda for health the need for an integrated and holistic health care system

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of medicine. The word Ayurveda means science of life (Ayu meaning life and veda meaning science). It aims primarily at keeping a person healthy and then treating the sick person.

The ayurvedic definition of health is very unique in that it takes into account all dimensions of a human being including physical, psychological and spiritual. A notable difference between ayurveda and modern medicine is the recognition of the spiritual nature of man by ayurveda. It also stresses the similarities between the macro cosmos and human body.

In spite of mind boggling advances, modern medicine has not been able to cure all human ailments. It is yet to find out the causes for many diseases.

Though ayurveda does not claim to cure every disease, people all over the world are beginning to recognize its usefulness in the management of many conditions. The time has come to blend Ayurveda and modern medicine to give an integrated and holistic health care to mankind.

Ayurveda gives a lot of importance to healthy and balanced living. Many diseases are due to unwholesome diet (vitamin deficiency diseases, increased cholesterol leading to heart problems, obesity), lack of exercises (joint problems backache, obesity) and unhealthy habits like smoking, alcoholism and addiction to drugs. Most of them are preventable.

Diseases like AIDS are usually due to lack of self control. Man is spending millions of dollars to invent vaccines for such diseases while just a change in his priorities and attitude to life is enough to prevent those diseases.

Instead of making a mess of his health and then running after medicines, man should first learn to take proper care of health which is the greatest asset and ayurveda can certainly play a significant role in this regard.

Ayurveda is inseparable from Indian spirituality. The Indian scriptures have laid down the goals of human life as Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Modern man is ignoring the spiritual aspect of life and is running after sensual desires.

Many problems are due to unbridled desires. Man can be much happier by cultivating self control and contemplating on the higher purpose of human life which is self realization. Modern man needs to change his attitude to life in order to live happily. Ayurvedic principles help man to regulate his life properly for a healthy and happy life.

Ayurveda has simplified human anatomy and pathology. It points out the need to live in harmony with nature. The emphasis is mainly on maintaining health. It recommends many procedures for purification and rejuvenation of the body. There is lot of research on Panchakarma, which has been proved to be beneficial in many ways.

However more research and proper documentation are needed to verify the usefulness of Ayurveda in treating diseases. But there is no doubt that it has much to offer and remains relevant even today.

List of topics

Ayurvedic concepts microcosm and macrocosm (five elements theory)

Basic ayurvedic principles sapta dhatus and ojas

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