More Complementary Health Articles
Ayurveda As Alternative Medicine
People say that Ayurvedic medicine and natural medicine are “alternative medicine”, and while it is alternative to our Western culture’s medicinal institution, Ayurveda is the oldest natural medicine system known to man, making it the most traditional medicine system in human history. You can even see the principles of Ayurveda in Western medicine.
Currently, Western medicine is emphasizing the circadian rhythm concept as a wellness trend. Even Apple has a new feature called “Bedtime” to encourage people to perform activities at proper times. The American Sleep Association states, “Hormone production, appetite, and cell regeneration are associated with a person’s circadian rhythm.” In other words, if circadian rhythm is disrupted, patterns of hormone production, appetite and cell regeneration can also be significantly disrupted.
The American Psychological Association states, “…chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to health problems like obesity and high blood pressure…” and according to a study by the University of Chicago Medical Center, “When tested during the height of their sleep debt, subjects took 40 percent longer than normal to regulate their blood sugar level… similar decrease in acute insulin response is an early marker of diabetes.” Improper sleep cycles and lifestyle have potential to culture serious diseases.
Western medicine is honoring that lifestyle is an important factor for preventing diseases. Ayurvedic practitioners have held this as foundational concept for thousands of year. So much is dependent on benefic lifestyle.
In Ayurveda, this concept is referred to as the “proper time of day”. Waking up, eating, yoga, meditation, and sleeping all have a proper time to be performed. Waking up, yoga and meditation happen at sunrise or sunset, or vata hours. Eating happens between 6-8am, 12-2pm, and 6-8pm during pitta hours, and sleeping happens between 10-12 pm during kapha hours.
A pilot study performed at the University of New Mexico Cardiology Clinic and at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM, showed results suggesting a favorable effect for Ayurveda on arterial function and multiple risk factors in patients with established coronary heart disease through the introduction of an Ayurvedic diet, instruction in yoga, meditation, and breathing, and use of Ayurvedic herbs. Ayurvedic practitioners around the world are treating any and all of the same health issues and concerns that Western medicine is treating.
One Ayurvedic proverb says: Once the foundation of Ayurveda is set into the lifestyle, your good health will last for your lifetime.
