What are the benefits and side effects of Ayurveda therapy?

Based on current clinical research and front-line practical experience, standardized Ayurvedic intervention has a clear alleviation effect on sub-health states such as chronic fatigue, mild to moderate emotional anxiety, and metabolic disorders. However, informal operations and the use of Ayurvedic preparations that have not undergone safety testing may also cause clear side effects such as liver and kidney damage and allergies. There is currently insufficient evidence-based basis for its therapeutic effect on organic diseases, and there has been considerable controversy.

I have been providing Ayurveda-related conditioning guidance for almost 6 years. Among the cases I have come across, the most obvious improvement was among a group of Internet practitioners who stayed up late all year long and had chaotic work and rest schedules. The one who impressed me the most was a boy who worked as a game planner. At that time, it was found that fasting blood sugar was critical and the cortisol circadian rhythm was completely disrupted. He felt groggy during the day and could not sleep at night. Suggestions given by Western medicine First, we changed his living habits. He followed us to adjust his pitta constitution for 3 months: he gave up iced coffee and late-night snacks, drank a cup of turmeric milk with black pepper every morning, and did full-body oil therapy and back massage twice a week. Later, the fasting blood sugar returned to the normal range after a review, and his sleep quality also improved. Even the seborrheic dermatitis that he had suffered from before was mostly gone. This type of issues that are closely related to lifestyle is originally the area where Ayurveda is good at. After all, its core logic is to adjust the match between the human body and the natural rhythm. To put it bluntly, it is to "calibrate the body through the four seasons". It does not focus on a certain symptom and prescribe strong medicine, but helps you return to the original running rhythm.

But there are many cases of fraud. Last year, I met a little girl who read about an overseas blogger who said that Ayurveda’s “clearing pills” can cure Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I found an agent to buy the product without any formal testing label, and within 20 days of taking it, she fell ill. I started feeling nauseated and fatigued, so I went to the hospital to have my transaminase test soared to 4 times the normal value. I was hospitalized for nearly a month to detoxify before recovering. Later, I sent the box of detoxification pills for inspection. The heavy metal lead content exceeded the national standard by more than 20 times, and there were several unlabeled toxic herbal ingredients.

Controversies in the industry have never stopped. Many practitioners who are deeply involved in Ayurveda believe that it is a holistic medicine that takes into account the body, mind and soul. It can often solve functional problems that modern medicine cannot solve. For example, many authoritative journals have confirmed that Ashwagandha, commonly used in Ayurveda, can indeed stabilize cortisol. The anti-inflammatory effect of turmeric has also been widely used in dietary supplements. But the doubts on the other side are also very real: most Ayurvedic therapies lack evidence-based data support in large samples, and constitution diagnosis relies heavily on the operator's personal experience. Many institutions on the market falsely boast about the efficacy, saying that it can cure cancer and cure diabetes. This is completely irresponsible and deceptive, and it delays patients' regular treatment.

In fact, for ordinary people, there is no need to worry about whether it is a "miracle medicine" or a "scam." If you just want to regulate your sub-health state, just find an institution with formal qualifications. The medicinal materials used have been tested for safety and will basically have no side effects. You may also get good conditioning effects. But if you really have an organic disease, you should just follow the doctor's instructions and take the medicine. Don't treat Ayurveda as an alternative therapy, otherwise it is really easy to cause problems.