Ancient Indian Ayurvedic Therapy

Ancient Indian Ayurvedic therapy is a traditional life science system that originated in the Indian subcontinent and has been spread for more than 5,000 years. Its essence is to achieve healing by adjusting the balance between the individual's body and mind and nature. It belongs to the category of complementary and alternative medicine recognized by the World Health Organization. It has a certain auxiliary effect on sub-health problems such as chronic metabolic disorders, emotional anxiety, and sleep disorders. However, it is by no means a "panacea" spread online. It cannot replace modern medical treatment at all, and the practical standards of different schools vary greatly. It is best for ordinary people to make professional physical determinations before trying it.

The year before last year, I stayed in Kerala, South India, for half a month to experience traditional Ayurvedic treatments. I stayed at a local physical therapy center that has been open for three generations. The physical therapist knocked on the door at 6 o'clock in the morning. The Shirodhara medicated oil dripped on my forehead was prepared by my family using more than 30 kinds of herbs for seven days in advance. When the warmth and heat flowed down the hairline, my mind, which was still awake, suddenly became empty. I was working on a project for almost two months at that time, and it took me an hour to turn over to fall asleep. On the third day after finishing the work, I could basically fall asleep by touching the pillow for 10 minutes. But a girl with chronic eczema who went with us fell into a trap. After three days of full-body medicated oil massage, the eczema spread all over her arms. The old traditional doctor said that this was a normal reaction of "toxin efflux" and that it would be fine after another week. But we later found When I asked a doctor who practiced modern modified Ayurveda in Mumbai, they directly said that it was a misjudgment of her constitution. She has a Pitta constitution and is on the hot side. The medicinal oil she used contained a lot of warm ginger and cinnamon. It would be strange if it did not aggravate the condition and she should stop immediately.

Interestingly, the current schools of Ayurveda are so different that sometimes you think they are two completely different things. The traditionalists in North India emphasize "completely complying with the local natural rhythms." For example, if you eat local mangoes and drink neem juice in the summer in India, when you move to China, you should adjust it to the Chinese 24 solar terms, and you cannot copy Indian recipes. ； The new improved Ayurveda in the West has weakened the religious and regional attributes, turned the body constitution into a simple test, and focuses on lightweight conditioning. For example, people with a Vata body constitution can drink more hot drinks and stay up less late, and do not need to strictly limit food. ； There are also many Internet celebrities talking about "Ayurveda", which is actually a health meal with turmeric and an essential oil SPA with a different name. It is a pure marketing concept and has nothing to do with serious healing.

I have been practicing Ayurveda for almost 3 years. I have tried many methods and encountered many pitfalls. I followed the trend and bought Triphala powder to treat constipation. I have a mixed pitta constitution and it really works. My mother has a typical Vata constitution and her stomach is cold. After drinking it for two days, she could not straighten her waist. Now there are only two small methods that I use for a long time: one is to rinse my mouth with cold-pressed coconut oil for 10 minutes in the morning. I have been doing this for half a year. I have basically never had the problem of bleeding after brushing my teeth before. ； The other one is to cook turmeric rice twice a week after winter and add a pinch of black pepper to help absorb the curcumin. I didn’t even catch a cold last winter. To be honest, don’t believe in any “universal healing formula”. The core of Ayurveda is that thousands of people use different methods. What others use to be miraculous may be poison to you.

Of course, Ayurveda has always had its share of controversies, especially the claims made by many merchants about “curing cancer” and “curing diabetes”. Regular practitioners, whether traditional or modern, would shake their heads after hearing this. I saw local news in India before. A type 2 diabetic patient believed in folk remedies, stopped his anti-diabetic medicine and drank the so-called "Ayurveda divine water". Within half a month, he was admitted to the ICU due to ketoacidosis. The World Health Organization has long made it clear that Ayurveda can only be used as a supplement to modern medical treatment to improve the symptoms of chronic diseases and improve the quality of life. It can never replace regular treatment, especially for people with organic diseases. Random attempts will only delay the condition.

In fact, people now have a great demand for traditional therapies. The essence is that the fast-paced life has left them with sub-health that cannot be found. Whether it is Ayurveda or traditional Chinese medicine, the essence is to teach you how to get along with your own body. If you have tried various methods but can't get rid of minor problems such as insomnia, flatulence, and inexplicable irritability, it doesn't hurt to find a regular practitioner to try. Just don't hold on to any expectations of "curing all diseases," and don't stop taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor when you get mad. After all, your body is your own, so it's always right to be more stable.