A form of traditional medicine in India, Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words for “life” and “knowledge.” Ayurvedic medicine often employs the use of certain herbs and herbal formulas to prevent or treat health problems. You must consult your doctor before taking any Ayurvedic herbal treatments to discuss proper dosage, potential risks, side effects and possible drug interactions.
History
One of the oldest healing sciences, Ayurveda is a traditional medical philosophy originating in India more than 3,000 years ago. Ayurvedic medicine influenced the creation of traditional Chinese medicine and has evolved greatly throughout history, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. More than 20 types of Ayurvedic treatments exist, including topical treatments of herbal essential oils called “abhyanga” and other herbal remedies used to prevent or treat health problems, says the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC.
Herbal Treatments
The main herbs used in Ayurvedic treatments include tylophora, turmeric, psyllium, picrorhiza, phyllanthus, neem, myrrh, licorice, gymnema, guggul, gotu kola, ginger, fenugreek, coleus, boswellia, bacopa, ashwagandha and andrographis, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Instead of being used individually, these herbs are often combined for specific health benefits in Ayurvedic medicine. For example, the Ayurvedic treatment for asthma combines the herbs boswellia and tylophora, and the Ayurvedic formula for treating rheumatoid arthritis combines ashwagandha, boswellia, ginger and turmeric, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The herb bacopa is often combined with numerous other herbs in Ayurvedic remedies for improving memory, as well as treating arthritis, stress, fatigue, attention deficit disorder, depression, seizure disorders and stroke.
Function
Ayurvedic medicine aims to prevent or treat medical problems based on the belief that each person has three primary energy types, also called “doshas,” according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The vata energy type controls breathing, heart rate, motion and blood circulation, while the pitta dosha governs the metabolic systems involving digestion, temperature and nutrition. The kapha energy affects growth and water in the body, as well as immune system health. Ayurveda believes that when the doshas are in balance, you’re healthy. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, when you have excessive vata energy, you might develop fatigue, anxiety or arthritis, and when you have too much kapha energy, you might develop diabetes or obesity, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Medical Evidence
Numerous medical studies have been conducted on the individual herbs used in Ayurveda, but some have also investigated the efficacy of the Ayurvedic herbal combination treatments. For example, a three-month, double-blind clinical trial studied the effects of the Ayurvedic treatment for osteoarthritis, which combines boswellia, turmeric, ashwagandha and zinc, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 1991, the trial revealed that the herbal combination substantially reduced pain and improved mobility in the participants. Another 1990 double-blind study in Japan of 43 people with hypertension found that using the Ayurvedic herbal combination called “Alba” was just as effective as the drug methyldopa in reducing blood pressure. Some test tube, animal and human studies have found that an Ayurvedic herbal combination of ashwagandha, Tinospora cordifolia, holy basil and phyllanthus can improve immunity. A 1999 double-blind clinical trial in India of children with recurring tonsillitis found that taking this herbal combination supported the immune system, reducing the need for tonsillectomy surgery, the University of Pittsburgh reports.
Dangers
One of the biggest health concerns regarding Ayurvedic herbal treatments is that certain heavy metals are sometimes added, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Gold and silver are often incorporated into the herbal formulas, but the most dangerous heavy metals added to Ayurvedic herbal remedies is lead and mercury. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited 12 case reports of lead poisoning from Ayurvedic herbal medications, according to a 2004 publication of the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. You might experience side effects such as headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort and even sensitivity to light after taking some Ayurvedic medications. Each individual herb used in Ayurvedic medicine can produce its own health risks, side effects and drug interactions. You should talk with your doctor before taking any Ayurvedic herbs to discuss these potential dangers.
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