Friday 26 / July / 2024
New Delhi: Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine, originated over 3000 years ago. It is one of the most scientific systems of health that focuses on the human being as a whole - body, mind and soul!
The principles of Ayurveda are scientific and focus on the root cause of the problem rather than a quick fix solution. Ayurveda has been well adapted by our able doctors, who are called Vaidyas, to suit the needs of the 21st century, yet retaining its core wisdom.
This was evident during India's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. A nation of 1.3 billion people has emerged successful in this fight. This is in complete contrast to the predictions that there will be a total collapse in the health care system, given the population and the crowding in cities. And in this battle, the role of Ayurveda doctors was significant. Mild to moderate cases were successfully handled by Ayurvedic doctors under the guidance and protocol laid out by the Ministry of Ayush.
Ayush is a ministry dedicated to traditional systems of healing in India. Ayurvedic herbs like Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Turmeric (Curcurma longa) have antiviral properties. And certain herbs like Karpura (Cinnamomum camphora) are excellent bronchodilators and are capable of increasing the oxygen saturation. At times where there was a shortage in the supply of oxygen, these wonder herbs played a pivotal role in safeguarding the patients.
By efficient handling mild to moderate cases, Ayurveda physicians relieved the critical burden of care doctors. Good immunity! This was the core factor in our fight against the pandemic. People with low immunity were more likely to have severe forms of Covid and their recovery was also delayed whereas those with better immunity fared better.
The science of Ayurveda since thousands of years has emphasized this concept of Immunity building. Herbs like Aswagandha (Withania somnrfera), Pippali (Piperlongum), Gooseberry (Emblica offcinalis) are wonderful immune boosters. Aconcoction of these herbs was prepared and administered to many people as part of preventive care during the pandemic. One of the main factors an Ayurveda focuson during consultation is the diet and lifestyle. The texts of Ayurveda have given a lot of importance to this.
Every disease has a specific diet protocol mentioned. For example, when a person is affected with viral fever or respiratory symptoms, they are asked to avoid milk products and fresh fruits. Instead, They are advised to have light warm food like soups, gruel and boiled vegetables. This was the diet recommended for most of our patients in India during the pandemic. And it has certainly helped in faster recovery of the patients and India's recovery from the pandemic.
However, the fear associated with the pandemic, led to a slew of home remedies and herbal medicine recipes being put out on social media. Though some were from qualified and reliable sources, most of them were not. And some of the over the counter remedies put out were unscientific and capable of harming the patients. For example, daily usage of pepper and betel leaf tea was recommended. But if a person suffering from gastritis or gastric ulcers consumes this, it will only aggravate the symptoms.
So, Ayurvedic practitioners also took up the role of preventive healthcare advisors, Where diet and lifestyle recommendations were given taking into consideration the complete medical history of the patient. Mental health was yet another area of concern during the pandemic. Constant news about the spread of the virus, reports on casualties, being confined to homes were a few factors that had a proven psychological impact on the masses.
The moment a person's Covid test turned positive, there used to be a mode of panic. Not just for the affected person but the entire family and even their close relatives as well. Ayurveda doctors stepped in to give constant assurances to the affected family and to give the much needed psychological support.
Among the 7,70,000 registered Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Sidhha and Homeopathy) doctors in India, 55.4/% (4,28,884) are Ayurveda practitioners. in a nutshell, in India's fight against the pandemic Ayurveda physicians took up the mantle of the familyphysician.
They were not just treating mild to moderate cases, they were taking complete care of the patients, including body, mind and soul! Ayurveda Vaidyas play a key role in India's healthcare system. It is time to wake up to the reality of Ayurveda practitioners' role in global healthcare delivery - in the fields of preventive healthcare, lifestyle consultation and the much needed family physician. -- It is time to wake up to the reality of Ayurveda practitioners' role in global healthcare delivery - in the fields of preventive healthcare, lifestyle consultation and the much needed family physician.
It is time to wake up to the reality of Ayurveda practitioners' role in global healthcare delivery - in the fields of preventive healthcare, lifestyle consultation and the much needed family physician. --
