Understanding the Term "Ayurvedic"

• The Ayurvedic school of thought centers on a holistic view of health care, meaning that the mind and body are seen as interconnected, rather than separate elements of one person that can be treated individually. In contrast to modern medicine, which isolates and treats a specific symptom, Ayurvedic medicine treats other facets of one's lifestyle that may have led to the condition in question. Thus, an Ayurvedic treatment may consist not only of a select herb combination, but may include yoga and meditation for stress relief, or long-term changes to one's diet.
  
  

What Ayurvedic Practices Are Used For

• Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine claim that the benefits of the practice go well beyond the simple but important daily maintenance of one's health. The yoga and meditation aspects of Ayurvedic medicine can have a positive effect on stress and stress-related conditions, such as anxiety and insomnia. Furthermore, regular yoga sessions over the long term can greatly improve one's flexibility. Not surprisingly, because of its success with stress reduction, Ayurvedic practitioners have found that high blood pressure is often reduced.
  
  Again, the herbal component of Ayurvedic medicine is equally important to the wholeness of the regimen, for it is, in essence, the "medicine" component of the Ayurvedic lifestyle. There are no prescription drugs or ointments in the Ayurvedic practice.
  
  

Herbs and Doshas

• In the Ayurvedic tradition, herbs are recommended not only based on the illness to be treated, but on one's "dosha," or mind and body type.
  
  A "vata" dosha, or body/mind type, is characterized by a slight body frame, dark skin, irregular digestion, difficulty gaining weight, an active mind that is prone to worry and anxiety, and a tendency to experience constipation and gastrointestinal distress. "Vata" is also used in reference to respiration, blood circulation, thought processes and waste elimination.
  
  A "pitta" dosha or mind/body type possesses a medium and muscular frame, fairer skin and fine hair, a determined perfectionist attitude, impatience, intellectual inquisitiveness, excellent digestive abilities, a tendency toward conditions involving inflammation, and a fondness for cool and dry climates. "Pitta" is also used in reference to digestion and absorption of food and beverages in the body.
  
  A "kapha" dosha or mind/body type represents a person who is large and possibly overweight, moist and pale skin, dark and thick hair, slower than average digestive processes, above average memory, difficulty learning new things, calm temperament, a tendency to be sedentary, and a fondness for cold and damp climates. "Kapha" is also used to refer to one's bone structure and mucus membranes.
  
  

Types and Functions of Ayurvedic Herbs

• The choice of herbs to be recommended to an Ayurvedic patient will not only be based on the patient's condition but her dosha. For example, one traditional Ayurvedic herb combination containing ginger, black pepper and pipalli is used to boost metabolism and burn fat. This combination would not only be prescribed to someone who possesses a sluggish metabolism and the discomfort that goes with it, but would also most likely be prescribed to a person who is overweight and prone to physical inactivity. The condition as well as the "kapha" dosha or mind/body type would be taken into consideration before prescribing anything.
  
  For another example, a combination of boswellia, turmeric, ashwaganda and ginger is frequently prescribed for maintaining joint health and keeping the body's inflammatory functions responsive but level. This combination would not only be prescribed to a lean, active person because of his joint pain, but because his "pitta" dosha type is thought to lend itself to problems of inflammation.
  
  

Safety Issues Regarding Online Ayurvedic Medicine

• According to a 2008 study by Boston University, as much as one-fifth of online Ayurvedic medicines contain lead, and over 80 cases of lead poisoning from Ayurvedic medicines have been reported over the past 30 years.
  
  Boston University researchers ordered 193 Ayurvedic medicines online, all of which were sent to the New England Regional EPA to be tested for metal content. Of the 193 products sampled, one-fifth of the products contained lead and mercury, as well as arsenic. Results were roughly the same for Ayurvedic products manufactured in the United States and India. Researchers determined that the products that contained lead, mercury and/or arsenic contained levels of these metals that were high enough to be toxic for human consumption.