The Ayurvedic science has been one of the least understood and most misinterpreted fields of medicine. Whether it is about its efficacy, effectiveness or mode of action, the world sure needs to come a long way in understanding this ancient science.
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Ayurveda is a herbal science without doubt, but there is a branch called Rasashastra that deals with minerals, their compound preparations and their employment in the treatment of certain diseases. These minerals when combined with medicinal herbs form herbo-mineral compounds which are very commonly used in Ayurvedic treatments. Such herbo-mineral compound preparations have been proven to be highly effective in handling emergency conditions in a lot of diseases. The point is, any compound that is said to have a set of actions and benefits will logically also have a set of adverse effects as well. The advantage in case of Ayurvedic medicines is these side-effects occur only when the basic rules of medicine consumption are not followed systematically. Also, the side-effects are not extremely grave in nature and the guidelines to handling them are very well mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts and scriptures.
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The Ayurvedic medicines which are mineral-based undergo an intricate and strict supervision by the subject experts during the entire process of preparation. The minerals used are readily available in nature but are loaded with both chemical and physical impurities. The ingredients are firstly subjected to intense procedures that help them get rid of their impurities. All this is done with natural procedures that not only purify the minerals but also boost their potency by the most natural means. This makes the Ayurvedic medicines easily absorbable and highly potent sans the dangerous side-effects that otherwise come along with highly strong modern medicines.
If these medicines are prescribed by a “qualified” practitioner, there is no way they would cause any harm to the body. The body constitution (Prakruti) of the patient is the first criterion that is taken into consideration, the stage of the disease and severity being the other. All these aspects are looked into before forming a treatment plan.
Most importantly, since Ayurvedic medicines work on the root cause of the disease, just medicine consumption is not enough. A proper diet and lifestyle plan is required for the complete eradication of the disease. For ex. If you’re being treated for acidity, the foods that lead to acidity or an increase in body heat need to be controlled or completely avoided at least till the results start showing.
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Thus, it is essential to know that one must avoid self-prescription of Ayurvedic medicines just like in case of Allopathic medicines. Secondly, start going the Ayurvedic way only if you’re prepared to follow the dietary and lifestyle rules. If not, the symptoms of the disease might not subside and that leads to the belief that Ayurvedic medicines are far from effective. Thirdly, strictly see a qualified, registered Ayurvedic practitioner for a consultation.
The bottom line is, any medicine that is used improperly can cause some or the other complications. The fact that most Ayurvedic medicines are available over the counter in every nook and corner today is resulting in self-medication and side-effects and this fact is rarely considered before going ahead and blaming the science. Hence, it would be wise to conclude that, upon following the doctor’s instructions, Ayurvedic medicines are rendered to be absolutely safe.
Read Also: 3 Must-Have Ayurvedic Herbs In Your Kitchen Garden
DISCLAIMER: While we have taken steps to check the accuracy of information & practices shared here; it is not a replacement for a doctor’s opinion. it is important to first always check with your own doctor before trying any medication, practice or suggestion from this site.
