Does Modern Science Back Up Ancient Knowledge of Ayurveda?
Ancient Knowledge of Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. The Sanskrit word “ayurveda” literally means the “science of life.” It includes advice on diet, exercise, sleep, and hygiene, as well as the use of herbal preparations. It is common to hear a general statement that Ayurveda lacks scientific evidence In ancient cultures, knowledge of traditional medicine, such as Ayurveda, was passed down for generations either through oral tradition or written texts. Ayurveda studies the human body in its entirety and recommends natural herbs as medicine for a specific ailment. Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India for over 5000 years. It was developed and refined over thousands of years.
The concepts of universal interconnectedness, the body’s constitution (prakriti), and life forces (doshas) are the primary basis of ayurvedic medicine. Goals of treatment aid the person by eliminating impurities, reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, reducing worry, and increasing harmony in life. Ayurveda can have positive effects when used as a complementary therapy in combination with standard, conventional medical care.
While the religious and spiritual aspects of ayurvedic medicine are unsubstantiated by the scientific literature, many of the positive health benefits associated with the oral ingestion of various ayurvedic herbs and plants are being validated scientifically for their historical claims.3
In order to develop new therapeutic strategies for disease prevention and treatment, considerable research has been conducted on some of the medicinal herbs and plants used in Ayurveda. Researchers have identified and isolated numerous bioactive compounds found in ayurvedic herbs that exert beneficial physiological effects on a range of pathological states within the human body.
Although laboratory experiments suggest it is possible that some substances in Ayurveda might be developed into effective treatments, there is no evidence that any are effective in themselves. To this day, we try to understand the complexities of chemical compounds found in herbs, how they interact with our bodies, and how we, in turn, are genetically predisposed to react to them.
