These questions are very commonly asked from my relatives, friends and yoga students who are very much influenced by social media.
- Does Ayurveda Medicine have any side effects?
- Are home remedies safe to try?
- Why should I consult an Ayurveda Practitioner before buying any herbal medicine from a Grocery store or health food shop?
Let’s checkout the myths in the ayurveda medicine market:
- Ayurveda herbs / medicines are natural and have no any side effects!!!
- Anyone can buy it from the grocery store or health food shop as its food item.
- Ayurveda means home remedies.
- No need to see any Ayurveda Practitioners to start taking triphala, ashwagandha or alike that.
As we learnt in school that every single thing on this planet has an effect and side effects together, and without that it does not work. Not all side effects are serious. Some may not manifest immediately and improve over time. Infact, Ayurveda medicine has science behind it and it works very effectively when it is used correctly. Please use your kitchen as a pharmacy by knowing the effects and side effects of remedy/ies. Before you use a home remedy you need to understand what medicine is.
According to Ayurveda,
The vegetations that die when their fruits mature are called ‘aushadhi’. Example, the plant of banana and grains.
The rasa (essence) is called osa. Entity that contains this rasa is called ‘aushadhi’. As disease-free state is obtained through rasa, so the entity that contains rasa is called aushadha.(according to kashyap Samhita)
It has synonyms according to how it works.
- Chikitsita: That which alleviates disorders.
- Vyadhihara: destroyer of diseases.
- Pathya: beneficial for the channels in the body.
- Sadhana: that which is an instrument for performance.
- Prayaschitta: expiation.
- Prashamana: pacification.
- Prakriti Sthapana: that which helps recovery.
- Hita: wholesome.
- Bheshaja: therapeutics
- Maybe you do not know
How many types of medicines/ Aushadha are available?
- Promotes immunity
- alleviate the disorders
- Shaman: normalize the vitiated Doshas
- Shodhana: remove the causative factor from the body by purification
- Plant based:
- Vanaspati: Those bearing fruits without being preceded by flowers.
- Vriksha: Those bearing both flowers and fruits.
- Virudh: These are creepers and shrubs.
- Aushadhi: Those which perish after the ripening of fruits.
- Animal based:
- Jarayuja: Viviparous class of creatures like animals, human beings, beasts, etc.
- Andaja: Living beings originated from eggs like birds, snakes, creeping animals, etc.
- Swedaja: Organisms believed to be originated from sweat, like worms, insects, ants, etc.
- Udbhijja: Organisms believed to be originated from the soil, like cochineal insects, frogs, etc.
What are the things we should take care of?
The characteristics we need to keep in mind when using the Aushadha (medicines) are:
- Dose
- Time of consumption
- mode of action
- Location specific action
- Individual specific action
- Unexpected effects in inappropriate doses
- Examination
- Features of desirable actions
- Features of Undesirable actions
- Protocole after ingestion
- Variation of potency with season
- Instant action
- Pharmaceutical form
- Synergistic and antagonistic effects
Have you ever thought about these all options before using any home remedies?
Some ayurvedic medicines/ herbs have mass influence after COVID like Ashwagnadha, Shilajit, Guduchi, Shatavari etc. It may be helpful for a short term in some conditions. Personally, I have seen patients come with side effects of self medication so better to find the root cause of your problem, understand where you stand right now, what needs to be done and why?
A satisfactory conversation saves your time, energy and money to try different therapies and treatments. Also, help you to gain understanding about yourself, hurdles/ problems of not getting results and how to deal with that to improve longevity.
It is more advisable to find an authentic, experienced Ayurvedic professional before you try any therapy or medicine and discuss your problems with him/her.
Before choosing any Ayurveda Practitioner try these Free guides of 8 rituals to get balance in your life.
I hope this information may help you to understand the importance of an Ayurveda Practitioner in your life. If you are looking for a safe and satisfactory solution for your problems contact me directly.
