Ayurvedic medicine

Ayurvedic medicine (Ayurveda) is a traditional form of medicine from the Indian subcontinent. This field of medicine is derived from classical Hindu texts and is centered around herbal and mineral substances as well as surgical techniques.

Current status

Western scientists have begun studying Ayurveda both as individual treatments and as a holistic system. However, few tests have resulted in concrete or statistically significant results at this point.

Based on the World Health Assembly Resolution on Traditional Medicine of 2014 (WHA62.13, as well as the 2008 Beijing Declaration on Traditional Medicine), the WHO has established a traditional medicine strategy, which involves Ayurveda among other complementary health systems.

Theory

The eight components of Ayurvedic medicine are:

• Kāyacikitsā: general medicine
• Kaumāra-bhṛtya: pediatrics
• Śalyatantra: surgical techniques and the extraction of foreign objects
• Śālākyatantra: treatment of ailments affecting ears, eyes, nose, mouth, etc. ("ENT")
• Bhūtavidyā: pacification of possessing spirits, and the people whose minds are affected by such possession
• Agadatantra: toxicology
• Rasāyanatantra: rejuvenation and tonics for increasing lifespan, intellect and strength
• Vājīkaraṇatantra: aphrodisiacs and treatments for increasing the volume and viability of semen and sexual pleasure.

Risks

Some supplements manufactured in India have been found to have high levels of toxins, particularly the heavy metals lead, mercury, and arsenic.