Name of Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine that uses a wide range of treatments and techniques.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine which began about 5, 000 years ago. It is not just one treatment. It is a way of diagnosing illness and using a wide range of treatments and techniques.
Ayurveda is an Indian word. Ayur means life and veda means knowledge.
Ayurvedic medicine can include:
- advice on diet and special diets
- taking specific Ayurvedic medications
- herbal medicine
- massage
- meditation
- yoga, breathing and relaxation techniques
- bowel cleansing
An Ayurvedic practitioner might suggest any or all of these treatments. It will depend on your particular health problems.
There is no scientific evidence to prove that Ayurvedic medicine can treat or cure cancer or any other disease.
How it works
The main belief behind Ayurvedic medicine is that health problems happen when your mind, body and spirit are out of balance.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe we are made up of 3 elements known as doshas.
These are:
- air and space (vata dosha) which allows movement
- fire and water (pitta dosha) which allows for change and handles digestion and metabolism
- water and earth (kapha dosha) which gives structure or cohesion
These 3 doshas let the body's organs work together in harmony. They also create your relationship with the environment and universe.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that our health depends on the correct balance of all 3.
Practitioners claim that different combinations of Ayurvedic medicine bring balance and harmony into the body to help:
- increase energy and wellbeing
- balance mind, body and spirit
- decrease stress
- prevent and cure disease
Why people with cancer use ayurvedic medicine
People with cancer often use touch therapies such as massage and aromatherapy. Many people say these therapies help them to cope better with cancer and its treatment.
Research is looking into whether some herbs or plant treatments used in Ayurvedic medicine could help to prevent or treat cancer.
But, we still don't know much about some of the treatments that are part of Ayurvedic medicine, such as special diets and herbal remedies.
These treatments could be harmful to your health or interfere with conventional treatment such as cancer drugs and radiotherapy.
What having Ayurvedic medicine involves
Your practitioner will aim to restore or maintain your health and well being by balancing many factors in your life.
To plan your treatment, they will take your medical history and assess your doshas.
They will examine your tongue, lips and nails, and look inside your eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth. They might also examine your back passage (rectum) and genital area. They will listen to your lungs and heart, and take your pulse.
They will ask about your emotions and relationships with other people. They will even consider the time of day and what season it is.
Then they'll discuss which treatments they think will help you most.
Some practitioners might recommend getting rid of toxins. They might cleanse the bowel (intestines) by putting liquid into your back passage (enemas). Or, they might suggest taking medicines to make the bowel work more quickly (laxatives).
Other ways of cleansing and detoxifying include forced vomiting and drawing blood from the body. These methods can be harmful. Most therapists don’t use them.
Some Ayurvedic methods such as yoga, massage and relaxation are generally helpful for people with cancer. But others such as some herbal treatments, diets and bowel cleansing can be harmful.
Always check with your doctor first as some treatments can have serious side effects. Ask your doctor for advice if an Ayurvedic practitioner diagnoses you with a new medical condition.
