Naturopathy and Ayurveda an Alternative Medical System

Naturopathy works with the principles of morbid matter theory, which believes that accretion of morbid matter in the body is chief cause of all types of diseases. It also proclaims that nature is the preeminent healer and body itself has the capability to reinstate its balanced, healthy state by suppressing diseases. There are various courses in Naturopathy that an aspirant can pursue. In addition to the Bachelors’ and Masters’ programs, aspirants can study the PhD programs in Naturopathy. Those who have completed the naturopathy courses can seek out for career in health cares, medical institutes or in research laboratories. In a business sense, they can also start clinics carrying out private practice. Ayurvedic medicine is a vast field of study, which has so many branches. Shalya chikitsa, Kayachikitsa, Urdhvanga chikitsa, Jara chikitsa, Vrishya chikitsa, Bala chikitsa, Damstra chikitsa and Graha chikitsa are the eight main sub divisions of Ayurveda. After completing the graduate or postgraduate programs in Ayurveda, aspirants can specialize in any of the branches of Ayurvedic medicine. Aspirants should pursue the course in any certified institute so as to turn out to be a licensed Ayurvedic Doctor. These professional can search for careers in Ayurvedic hospitals, Ayurveda Drug manufacturing companies, medical institutes, Universities and so on.

Naturopathy utilizes the ingredients of nature - earth or mud, water, sunlight or other forms of heat, fasting, fruits and vegetables. These substances are used because they are found in nature. Naturopathy considers these as 'natural' for our body, for healing.

Holistic ayurvedic medicine considers the balance of three humors (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), seven tissues and sub tissues, the metabolic and excretory substances as natural for our body. The peace, happiness, knowledge, wisdom, love, service and other good qualities with innate universal appeal are considered natural for our mind. Here is the main difference in paradigm between the two approaches. Naturopathy emphasizes the natural elements while Ayurveda puts emphasis on balance of various elements of our body and mind. What could be natural in Naturopathy could be unnatural in Ayurveda. For example, the person with specific constitution or ayurveda body type could very strongly react to some natural element as mud or water or some food or fruit and here Ayurveda considers the phenomenon as natural.

So Ayurveda further respects the individuality of the person while advising lifestyle, diet, exercise, herbs or other treatment modalities. This personal approach is a great feature of Indian Ayurveda. Both systems appreciate the natural tendency of our body to heal. Outer remedies and procedures help to support our inner core to recover and to jump back to healthy condition. Naturopathy emphasizes the vital force and its ability to heal the body and mind. Ayurveda further assists the inner vital force by actively restoring the imbalances in our tissues and humors and by actively detoxifying the body.

The concept of mind and consciousness and its integration with body is one of the foundational features of ayurvedic medicine. And this is a very rare combination of body-mind-soul medicine. Even in the western world, most people are engaged in body mind medicine. Ayurveda as well as Yoga place the consciousness as the most central aspect of our being that supports and sustains all the other aspects of our life – body, senses, mind, society, work and family. As we have Ayurveda body types based on three humors or doshas, there are different mind types in Ayurveda based on three primary psychological attributes – Satva, Rajas and Tamas. Ayurvedic medicine is not limited to the classification but definite measures for the health of mind are devised in the form of herbal remedies, emphasis on character and habits, and the practice of yoga and meditation. Though most of the alternative or holistic medicine considers our body to be a whole, yet they are rather limited in scope while dealing with the reality of body mind soul medicine. That is why I personally do consider them as a tool of holistic medicine or an approach of holistic medicine. And in this way, we are able to show proper regard for all systems and are able to overcome their limitations.

Our body is constantly detoxified everyday through sweating, breathing, passing urine and stool, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. This detoxification is going on at the cellular level, tissues’ level, organs’ level and at the level of whole body. Naturopathy assists this process of natural detoxification via its different modalities of treatment. Ayurveda accepts this and has incorporated all such measures as fasting, diet or organic food, sweating, cold and hot treatments, mud therapy, sun bath and massage for correcting the imbalance of humors and restoration of health. humors in the deeper levels of various tissues. And I call it ‘Facilitated or Induced Detoxification of Ayurvedic Medicine’. In the preparatory steps of Panchakarma therapy, the humors are aggravated slightly, softened and liquefied so that they are ready to be expelled out. In the main five steps of ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy, these ready-to-be-expelled-out humors are expelled out by natural orifices by induced vomiting, diarrhea, basti (ayurvedic medicinal enema), nasal route and blood letting. Not all these measures of Ayurvedic Panchakarma are used in every patient; the decision is made after thorough evaluation of the disease as well as the person.

Natural Ayurveda as well as Naturopathy can be used even when the person is healthy or to prevent any particular disorder to which a person is susceptible. In ayurvedic medicine, some rejuvenative remedies are described that are used to promote overall health or the health of a particular organ or to correct a particular condition. These measures can be used after partial or thorough detoxification as per the demand of the condition and the availability of time. Many such rejuvenative remedies are known by the name ‘Rasayana’ (Rasayana means the ability to rejuvenate all the tissues of our body, to infuse youthful energy and stamina, to prevent disorders and aging).

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