Ayurvedic medicine, or Ayurveda, is considered a complementary and alternative medicine in the United States. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, more than 200,000 adults in the United States had used Ayurvedic medicine in the previous year.
Ayurveda focuses on balancing the body, mind and spirit, and is believed to prevent illness and increase overall wellness through the use of herbs, massage and special diets, according to the Health Education Alliance for Life and Longevity.
History
According to the Health Education Alliance for Life and Longevity, Ayurveda, meaning life science, has been practiced for more than 5,000 years and is considered the oldest health care system in the world. Its influence can be linked to ancient Chinese medicine, as well as Hippocrates of ancient Greece. Ayurvedic knowledge is said to have been received from divine powers by saints and sages in India through meditation. The traditions were passed down orally until they were written down around 2500 B.C. in sacred texts called the Vedas.
Before India's independence in 1947, the practice of Ayurveda was declining, but has since been gaining interest. The Health Education Alliance for Life and Longevity states that in the past 10 years, more than 500 Ayurvedic companies and hospitals have opened in India. In the 1970s, interest in Ayurvedic medicine in the United States and Europe first started because of visiting practitioners from India.
Concepts
Several fundamental concepts make up Ayurveda, including the idea of interconnectiveness with the universe, the body's constitution and life forces, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
One of the key beliefs of Ayurvedic medicine is the idea of doshas, or life forces, which is an important characteristic of the body's constitution, or prakriti. The three doshas--veta, pitta and kapha--control the activities of the body. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is believed that disease is caused when an imbalance occurs.
Treatments
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, treatment is based on the patient's constitution. The goals of Ayurvedic treatments include eliminating impurities, reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease and increasing harmony. Specific treatments include cleansing the body, breathing exercises, meditation and massage. Ayurvedic treatment also relies on herbs and other plants as a form of medication.
Practitioner Certification
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, most practitioners receive their training in India, which can take up the five years of study. About 180 colleges in India offer undergraduate or graduate programs in Ayurvedic medicine. You can obtain a bachelor's degree or doctorate of Ayurvedic medicine and surgery. In the United States, no standard for training or certification exists.
Concerns
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, health officials in several countries, including India, have taken steps to address concerns with the medications, including herbs, metals and minerals, that are used in the practice of Ayurveda.
In the United States, Ayurvedic medications are considered dietary supplements and thus don't have to meet the standards of prescribed medication. A study conducted by the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine found that 14 over-the-counter Ayurvedic medications contained potentially harmful levels of lead, mercury and arsenic.
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