What would you do if you have a headache? Take a tablet right? Just imagine what Indian mothers or grandmas would do if you tell them you have a headache. Are you sure they would walk to a medical shop and buy your tablets? Nope! They would go straight to the kitchen to make you ginger or lemon tea.

 

That is how much Indians believe “ The food itself is medicine ”. Indians strongly believe in the concept of Ayurveda. The main concept of Ayurveda is that our food and a proper diet can cure most human diseases.

 

It also believes that a person’s lifestyle which implies mind, body, and environment can reflect on their health. You can find an ayurveda shop as equal to other medical shops in India.

 

This is because Indians still believe and use this ancient and natural medicinal system. From toothpaste to beauty products to medicines, Ayurveda is most relied on.

A brief history of Indian Ayurveda

 

Ayurveda is a 3000 years old natural system of medicine that originated in India. This Sanskrit word translates to the meaning “Science/Knowledge of life”. The deal is to maintain good health, not to fight with diseases.

 

There are many writings from 400BC to 200AD that have detailed descriptions of many medicinal herbs and formulas used for ayurvedic medicines and treatments. The Ayurveda has a natural and personalized approach for each person.

 

It believes that the same medicine or treatment cannot work for all. Each person has various factors causing the same problems, so the medicine or treatment should be advised according to those factors.

 

Ayurveda may be ancient but it also needs continuous research and development because of the environment, climate, animals, plants. Everything has changed. And the diseases have also changed accordingly.

 

This changes the human food and lifestyle as well. So you cannot blindly rely on the ancient methodologies, therefore, Ayurveda also needs research and development.

Ayurvedic products

 

Ayurveda is one of the oldest whole-body healing treatments. Ayurveda also believes that your entire body is connected with this universe. And if your mind, spirit, and body are in harmony with the universe, you would be healthy.

 

And if there is anything that disturbs or breaks that harmony that is when you feel sick. These disruptions can be external injuries, climate, and seasonal changes, emotions, and age.

 

The ayurvedic products can be classified into:

 

  • Ayurvedic medicines
  • Ayurvedic beauty and cosmetic products

 

Ayurvedic medicines

 

Ayurvedic medicines involve using herbs, spices, vitamins, proteins, minerals, and some metals like iron, zinc, mercury, or a combination of these. Rather than using it as a drug, ayurvedic medicines are usually considered as a health or dietary supplement.

 

The presence of metals like mercury and lead in some ayurvedic products makes it potentially harmful because regular intake of these can be toxic. In India, ayurvedic medicine is equally considered conventional to western medicine, Chinese traditional medicine, and homeopathic medicine.

 

It is mostly based on some alterations in our regular diet and nutrients, so ayurvedic medicine will take a longer time than usual compared to western medicine. But the side effects are significantly lesser.

 

Ayurvedic beauty and cosmetic products

 

When it comes to beauty and outer appearance, we Indians have used numerous homemade methods to enhance beauty. We all know how famous our ancient Indian beauties from sculptures and books are.

 

Do you think they used medicines or supplements? Definitely not! Using homemade, herbal, and ayurvedic products is their secret to beauty.

 

In India, there are many Ayurveda shops that sell beauty and cosmetic products made from natural ingredients. These products include:

 

  • Face wash
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Moisturizing Creams
  • Natural hair dye and hair care products
  • Oils
  • Lipsticks and lip balms
  • Blushes
  • Face creams and foundations
  • Face and body scrubs

 

 

The ingredients used to make these products are mostly milk, aloe vera rose and rose water, fruits, almonds, henna, herbs, and seeds.

 

Ayurvedic treatments and therapies

 

Ayurveda believes every person is made and combined with five basic elements of the universe which are: Water, fire, space, air, and earth. These combine and form the energy forces that control your body.

 

And any illness caused for your body means the disruptions of these energies. These can be classified into three doshas:

 

  • Vata dosha ( space and air)
  • Pitta dosha ( fire and water )
  • Kapha dosha ( water and earth)

 

All the treatments and therapies provided in Ayurveda are based on these three. The main goal is to cleanse your body and soul. The treatments provided in Ayurveda is as follows:

 

  • Massages
  • Blood purification
  • Enemas
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Special diet
  • Herbal remedies

 

These treatments are the natural processes to heal and cure the physical, mental, and emotional health and conditions of humans.