Like any ancient school of study, Ayurveda is often looked upon with suspicion and skepticism, there is enough research and personal testimony to effects and miracles that come out of the Ayurvedic way of life.
Here we look at a few common ones –
Myth – Ayurveda is a slow cure
This is a general fallacy about Ayurveda. It is this myth that keeps people away from seeking the help through Ayurvedic therapies most of the time. There are fast curing medicines in Ayurveda too.
The aspect of slow cure is because the curing Principle in Ayurveda is different from allopathic or modern medicine. Modern medicines usually treat the symptoms. Ayurveda diagnoses the root causes of the disease and tries to uproot them.This curing process is time-consuming; thus the cure too.
Myth-Ayurveda is home remedy
Ayurveda is not just a form of treatment, it is a way of life. Yes, it is a lot about herbs and home remedies, but that’s not all to it. If adopted in their entirety, ayurvedic principles can be extremely beneficial in making your life more balanced, healthy and productive. Ayurvedic treatment taken under the supervision of a qualified physician is based on many parameters of the patient as well as the disease. So, it should not be compared to Home-remedies. Better instead is to ask your physician about a particular remedy to be used or not.
Myth-Ayurveda is only meant for people with chronic ailments
Most people do not approach Ayurveda in the initial stages of their problem as they believe it is only meant for chronic stages of diseases. Although, it has been proven effective in treating chronic disorders especially diabetes, arthritis, asthma, obesity, skin diseases, etc. It is also beneficial for people suffering from common ailments like indigestion, headache, cold & cough, fever, etc. Herbal medicines, Panchakarma therapies, and customized diet and lifestyle plan are recommended to each patient in Ayurveda, irrespective of the severity of the disease.
Myth-Ayurveda Medicine is only another Alternative Therapy.
Ayurveda system of medicine is incorrectly quoted as an alternative therapy as this has always been the most ancient and complete system of medicine. It has been in existence since times immemorial, long back before the emerging of all other therapies. Moreover, in India, we deem that Ayurveda origins straight from the Gods more than five thousand years ago!
The word Ayurveda itself is derived from ‘Ayush’ which means life, and ‘Veda’ which means science. Therefore, Ayurveda is the complete ‘Science of Life’. The importance of Ayurveda can be acknowledged by the mere fact that a whole Veda has been dedicated to it. We need to understand that Ayurveda is an ancient heritage. It is a treasure to be valued and acknowledged so as to provide the humanity with a life full of health, vigor, and vitality.
Ayurveda has been considered by a majority of society as a treatment method similar to allopathic or homeopathic. But, in fact, Ayurveda scripts clearly construe that it is purely a lifestyle. I would want to say here that although Ayurveda therapy generally calls for more patience and endurance both on the part of the patient as well as the doctor, yet its efficacy cannot be undermined. The effectiveness of this natural therapy may be cited by this example. Whenever there is a rip in a cloth or a crack in a pitcher, we intend to rectify it using the similar material that it is made of (cloth and mud respectively). Similarly, any fault in the human body also demands to be corrected by use of natural resources, as much as possible. Our body absorbs and responds much better to nature and Ayurveda is all natural!
Myth-Ayurveda is primitive and not a scientific system of Medicine.
Fact-Ayurveda is the science of life. It is the traditional form of medicine for more than 5000 years. It was very well documented when civilization had not even started in the western countries. The human anatomy was well known and the knowledge about human body was obtained by dissection of dead bodies. There were researches and clinical trials that kept on increasing the knowledge gained. Diagnosis of each and every disease, description and use of each herb, mineral, and facts about food were recovered and systematically documented.
“Charaka Samhita” and “Sushruta Samhita” are the two ancient treatises on Ayurveda that have stood the test of time. Even surgery was known to the Ancient People and Sushruta is considered the as Father of Surgery. Research in traditional medicines has confirmed the efficacy of most of the natural substances used by Ayurveda doctors. The beauty of Ayurveda is that it can, not only treat persons who are ill but also gives utmost importance to maintain health in healthy people so that everyone can enjoy health.