Ayurveda -A Layperson's Guide

Ayurveda (which literally means the science of life) is believed to be the oldest medical science. The science has holistic approach to health that makes the mankind to live long and healthy by achieving homeostasis. Ayurveda roots its foundation approximately 5000 years back by the Indian Health Gurus. However, the science now enjoys skyrocketing popularity across the globe. The basic principle of Ayurveda is preventing and treating the health ailments by strengthening the body's immunity and restoring the balance between mind, body and soul.

Ayurveda believes that every person has a distinct pattern of nature called prakriti (pronounced –pra kri tee). The prakriti is a special combination of physical, mental and emotional characters. Just as everybody has a unique fingerprint, Ayurveda says, every person has unique prakriti. Based on the prakriti the intensity of disease, signs and symptoms of health ailment vary and its treatment is fixed by looking at physical and mental tolerance of the sufferer.

According to Ayurveda, the human body has three basic humors or states namely; vata (pronounced –vaa taa), pitta (pronounced –pee tt aa) and kapha (pronounced –ka faa). Modern scientists believe vata as the humor governing all the neurological functions (including the bodily movements), pitta as governing all the digestive functioning (including absorption, assimilation, metabolism) and kapha as governing all bodily structure and strength (immunity, physical and mental endurance). Any disease would occur due to imbalance between these three humors.

Every science has limitations and so Ayurveda. Ayurveda is found not so useful in treating the acute illnesses (such as sudden cardiac arrest). Nevertheless, stubborn diseases such as diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, skin problems, infertility and indigestion can be successfully healed or controlled by practicing Ayurvedic therapies.

There is much hype about Ayurvedic Panchakarma that includes five purification therapies of the body. The Panchakarma therapies include special body massage, medicine induced emesis and purgation and the enema. However, depending upon the disease and diseased, the Panchakarma can be altered or modified. In my practice and observation, I have seen plenty of cases being miraculously treated using Kerala Ayurvedic Panchakarma Therapies. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, indigestion, SLE, OCD, depression, bronchial asthma etc -are few of the diseases that Ayurveda really masters on. However, again, as said in Ayurveda, it solely depends upon the patient's body response to the herbs used in treatment.

I have also observed that Ayurveda works wonderfully when the health ailment is approached internally as well as externally. Any one, if left, ends up in compromised results and that is why, I always prefer my patient to undergo internal and external treatment. However, there are some diseases that can be treated using internal medications. Likewise, the disease in its primitive stage can also be treated by just taking internal Ayurvedic medicines.

Ayurveda has promising results in acne (pimples), musculo-skeletal disorders, digestion problems and other neurological problems. Just like in modern medicinal science, Ayurveda has wonderful classification of the herbs and therapies that give the result exactly the way contemporary medicines give. It is not a secret anymore that your depression tablets may have plenty of side effects (including infertility), your painkillers may ruin up your gastric mucosa (can produce hyper acidity and severe gut pain) and so on. I do not state that they are the worst; indeed, modern medicines save the life but then, just for the symptomatic relief, one should not opt for synthetic derivatives.

Why take painkillers when you have herbs such as Sallaki and Guggulu (works on prostaglandin as modern analgesics); why take diuretics when we have herbs such as Punarnava (draws extra cellular fluids through the lymphatic drainage system); why take anti-depressants when you have potent herbs such as Ashwagandha (restores disturbed neurotransmitters and calms down the aggressive brain chemicals). Likewise, Gokshura works as natural kidney cleanser, Triphala as natural colon cleanser, Brahmi as natural memory booster and Shilajit as libido enhancer.

There is a big misunderstanding that herbal medicines do not have any side effects. They DO! And that is why, I always prefer patients to consult qualified Ayurvedic Physician before undergoing any Ayurvedic therapy or treatment.

Orthomolecular medicine – a nutritional way to restore your health

Before getting into the topic, let us make it clear that orthomolecular has nothing to do with orthopedics! In fact, the term is used for the therapy that uses larger doses of certain nutrients for preventing or curing the diseases than their normal dosage. The importance of diet in association with optimal health has been understood ‘in depth’ since thousands of years. Hippocrates quoted the ‘food’ as primary form of the medicine almost 2500 years ago. In addition, holistic medicinal system such as Ayurveda (rooting its history as far back as 5000 years!) describes food and nutrition as the basic pillar that supports the overall health. Ancient Egypt also showed the use of specific foods treating various health ailments.

James Lind, a physician in British navy was the first person who opined that there is a link between diseases and a lack of certain nutrients. He found that sailors on long voyages without foods containing citrus fruits developed diseases like bleeding gums, cracking of the skin and poor muscular tone, all the symptoms with typical characteristics of scurvy. However, the term orthomolecular was firstly applied by Linus Pauling in a paper that he wrote for the journal Science in the year of 1968.

The orthomolecular medicines work on the genetic basis. It says that genetic factors do influence the physical characteristics of the person and also, it affects one’s biochemical milieu. This was further evaluated that the diseases that have genetic rooting such as atherosclerosis, cancerous growth, schizophrenia, mental disorders certainly have biochemical abnormalities.

Nowadays, orthomolecular is a buzzword in medical science and there have been plenty of researches being conducted all across the world for using vitamins in larger dosage. For instance, The New York Times, in its issue writes that high doses of intravenous vitamin C fight cancer (The New York Times, September 13, 2005) based on the research conducted and leaded by researcher Dr. Mark Levine, the chief of the molecular and clinical nutrition section and senior staff physician at National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease. He revealed that at the highest concentration, vitamin C kills lots of cancerous cells without affecting the normal body cells. However, the exact mechanism for this is not known.

There are many proponents who say that orthomolecular treatment are grounded on individual’s biochemistry and they employ naturally occurring nutrients those are bioequivalent such as vitamins, dietary minerals, protein, amino acid, lipotropes and most importantly antioxidants that ultimately fight infections, cancerous growths and many other health ailments making the immune system strong and powerful. On the other hand, scientists are in continuous efforts to make orthomolecular therapy as a surefire for treating various diseases though it has retained its reason for being a great treatment option based on biochemistry and nutrition offering positive health.

As stated by the pioneer Roger J. Williams in concept of orthomolecular nutrition, “When in doubt, try nutrition first”, orthomolecular therapy is the best option that certainly comes before invasive surgeries and other medications.

A little about Cataract

Unlike other complicated surgeries, cataract is just a simple and straightforward procedure. However, one has to be quite careful choosing the center and should also know all about placing a new lens in the eye. To find authentic eye clinics in area nearby you, visit the 'find' page. Moreover, if you are aware of all the procedures being conducted during the surgery, it becomes easier for you to prepare yourself.

What is Cataract?

The lens in eye is situated behind the iris and the pupil and is composed mainly of water and proteins. The lens measures approximately 9X4 mm and has several layers. The outer layer (called as capsule), which surrounds the soft cortex is clear and very thin. The center part is a bit harder and is called the nucleus. The lens focuses light onto the retina at the backside of the eye and hence, enables a clear vision. Just like a camera, the lens focuses on the object that is near or far and makes it clear to an individual. The protein present in the eye lens has particularly arranged so that it maintains its clarity and also allows the light to get through.

In some cases, excessive building up the protein interrupts its clarity and lens becomes cloudy. It further does not allow the light to pass the through as a result of what the vision becomes blurred. This is medically known as cataract. Cataract generally turns bad to worse over the times and seeks surgical attention since it makes the lens dens and then takes on other part of the eye. Cataract can also progress to another eye; however, one may have better vision than another.

The health ailment of cataract differs from a person to person and its pace in progression is also varied from some months to even years. For some fortunate individuals, cataract does not spread rapidly and the vision is least affected.