Sheela Krishnaswamy - Ayurvedic medicine has revived in popularity in the last few years. Why has this happened?

Anish M Kurias - This has happened because the public understands the ill effects of modern medicine, and they have also started appreciating the natural way of healing.

SK - Western countries show a lot of interest in Ayurveda. Is it only a temporary fad or are they moving away from modern medicine?

AMK - Westerners started understanding modern medicine as chemical medicine after they experienced side effects from it. They have started looking for other systems of medicine and Ayurveda is one of them. Since this understanding is from true experience I think this will last forever.

SK - People often use Ayurvedic references while praising single food items. For example, a teaspoon of ghee should be eaten with rice because it's good for health. Does such advise hold well for all humans?

AMK - I don't think this is right. Ayurveda believes in SHAD RASAYUKTHA AHARA [food with all tastes]. So a combination of foods is better than a single food for all age groups.

SK - How different is Ayurvedic therapy from modern medicine? What are the basic rules in Ayurvedic treatment?

AMK - The main difference is that Ayurveda treats the ROGI [person as a whole] where as modern medicine treats symptoms. Thumb rule in Ayurveda is to find the basic reason for the disease and eradicate it completely by correcting lifestyle, food habits, medicine and treatments. VYAYAMA [exercise] is also very important in Ayurvedic way of correcting the disorders.

SK - Ayurveda is believed to be all about herbs and is sometimes called a ‘vegetarian' medicine. How far is this true?

AMK - This is not true. We use many animal products in this system of treatment. For example, for muscular dystrophy and atrophy we use meat preparations externally and internally.

SK - Is alcohol used in Ayurvedic treatment?

AMK - Yes. We do not give direct alcohol but there are medicines in Ayurveda with alcohol base.

SK - Are Ayurvedic medicines 100% safe for use? Or do they contain toxic substances? Are they also free from side effects?

AMK - All Ayurvedic medicines are not always safe. There can be a lot of errors in selection of raw drugs, preparation method, using of vessels like aluminium for preparation, bottling, adding of preservatives, packing or storing of medicines, and all these mistakes make Ayurvedic medicines unsafe. Chances of toxic substances in Ayurvedic preparations are very less. Most of the time Ayurvedic medicines are free from side effects, but there are some possibilities of side effects if we use external medicine internally or if we use a larger dose of medicine than required for the person. Any medicine can be a poison when used by non-experts and any poison can be a medicine when used by an expert. Finding an expert in Ayurvedic system is very important to get 100% safe treatment.

SK - Why is the treatment process and efficacy of medicine in Ayurveda slow? It's unlike modern medicine where we see quick relief for the sufferers.

AMK - Since Ayurveda corrects the basic problems of the disease it takes longer healing time, but it always eradicates disease from its roots and so gives permanent results. Please remember that a fast moving car is more likely to cause an accident.

SK - Is a massage mandatory for all Ayurvedic treatments?

AMK - Massage is just 2% of the total Ayurvedic treatment. It's not at all mandatory.

SK - Panchakarma is believed to be a cure-all for many diseases. If this is true, how does it work?

AMK - Panchakarma means five types of treatment. These five treatments are used for cleansing of body. Ayurveda believes all disease is because of waste, which can be toxins, metabolic waste, undigested food, free radicals, etc. Since panchakarma treatments can clear all these wastes it is used as a cure for many diseases.

SK - Many people believe in foods causing ‘heat' or ‘cold' to the body. Modern medicine and nutritional science doesn't have any reference or evidence relating to this belief. Your thoughts, please.

AMK - There is nothing like that even according to Ayurveda. This is just a belief. According to Ayurveda, food is RASA PRADHANA [importance given for taste] not VEERYA PRADHANA [no importance given for potency]. The ‘heat' or ‘cold' reactions happen due to indigestion of food or abnormality in digestive system with some foods and for some persons.

SK - Till a few decades ago, we were able to get unadulterated foods and natural herbs and substances for Ayurvedic medicines. But that has changed now. Soil is not so clean, many of the foods are adulterated and plants are of hybrid varieties. Has this affected the Ayurvedic medicines quality?

AMK - Yes it has affected the medicine quality but we have solutions for this in Ayurveda. There are different types of cleaning procedures and potency increasing procedures of raw drugs which are applied before making the formulations.

SK - Can Ayurveda cure all health problems or are there limitations like in other forms of therapy?

AMK - Ayurveda believes in ROGI CHIKITHSA [treating patient as a whole] and not in ROGA CHIKITHSA [treating expressed symptoms], so there are no limitations in treating any health problems. However there are some limitations in treating some patients.

SK - There are several Ayurvedic products available off-the-shelf - both for internal use and topical application. How effective are they? Can they be taken without consulting an Ayurvedic physician?

AMK - People generally believe that all natural products are safe, and many companies cash in on this belief. But many of the drugs which are marketed as Ayurvedic or natural are not completely Ayurvedic or natural. Only reputed companies sell Ayurvedic products that are completely natural and safe. Taking any Ayurvedic medicine without consulting a doctor is not advisable. Please be careful when you deal with your health.

SK - Can Ayurvedic medicines be taken along with allopathic medicines if required? Or will a combined treatment have any adverse effects?

AMK - Some Ayurvedic medicines can be taken along with allopathy but not all. So please go to the right person to get the right advice.

SK - How do we differentiate between genuine Ayurvedic practitioners and quacks?

AMK - I don't have any idea about such scanning devices!

SK - Can you throw some light on ‘pulse diagnosis'? Is it still widely practiced?

AMK - There are many techniques in Ayurveda for diagnosis and pulse reading is one among that. This form of diagnosis needs good training. To my knowledge no Ayurvedic colleges in India give proper training for this. But there are some traditional Ayurvedic families in Kerala where proper training is given for pulse reading. This training will take minimum 4 to 5 years and it is very tough.

SK - Any other thoughts or words of advise for our readers?

AMK - Ayurveda is not a medical science but it is a life science. You need to follow the rules and regulations of this great science to obtain results.

We are grateful to -

Dr Anish M Kurias

HSR Layout, Bangalore
Phone - 080 6570 0609
Email: chairman@earthhospital.in / info@earthhospital.in
Website: www.earthhospital.in