By
Abdulmubeen Mundewadi
Alternative medical therapy in modern times has been gradually gaining acceptance worldwide. It is estimated that nearly 60 percent of the population resort to some form of alternative therapy in order to treat their health problems. Ayurvedic medicines have a special role in the treatment of chronic disorders, and are being increasing used both by the lay public as well as by medical practitioners. However, there are some strongly prevalent myths regarding the use of Ayurvedic medicines. This article seeks to explain and clarify the misconceptions regarding Ayurvedic medicines, and also lays down some guidelines for the correct use of these medicines.
The commonest myth regarding Ayurvedic medicines is that these medicines are completely safe, and can therefore be safely consumed by the patient on his/her own, without a physician's prescription or advice. This belief has led to large-scale self-medication by people all over the world, often leading to disappointing end-results, side-effects, or unwanted after-effects. Another myth, often propagated for commercial reasons, is that a single herb, or a single medicinal product, is capable of treating all or diverse medical conditions.
While it is true that most herbal medicines have a wide safety margin, there are also several herbs which can have very strong side-effects, e.g. Bhallatak (Semicarpus anacardium), even with a few doses, can cause skin rash and blisters, and burning urine with bleeding; Kuchla (Strychnos nux-vomica), taken in high doses and for prolonged periods, may cause convulsions; and Sarpagandha (Raulwofia serpentina), taken long-term, may cause depression and increased suicidal tendency. Ayurvedic preparations which contain minerals and Bhasmas may cause toxicity due to incorrect manufacturing methods, or the presence of heavy or toxic metals. There is also a small risk of a cross-reaction with other medications.
Most patients do realize that treatment may differ from disease to disease, and from patient to patient, and also that the same patient may require different treatment approaches from time to time. However, the failure of modern medicine to comprehensively treat a host of assorted chronic ailments; the urgent need for resorting to alternative therapy (especially Ayurvedic treatment); and the local unavailability of such medicines or the related treatment expertise, has forced the average patient to seek medicines online. To facilitate decision-making for such patients, the following do's and don'ts while ordering Ayurvedic medicines online, have been enumerated.
Alternative medical therapy in modern times has been gradually gaining acceptance worldwide. It is estimated that nearly 60 percent of the population resort to some form of alternative therapy in order to treat their health problems. Ayurvedic medicines have a special role in the treatment of chronic disorders, and are being increasing used both by the lay public as well as by medical practitioners. However, there are some strongly prevalent myths regarding the use of Ayurvedic medicines. This article seeks to explain and clarify the misconceptions regarding Ayurvedic medicines, and also lays down some guidelines for the correct use of these medicines.
The commonest myth regarding Ayurvedic medicines is that these medicines are completely safe, and can therefore be safely consumed by the patient on his/her own, without a physician's prescription or advice. This belief has led to large-scale self-medication by people all over the world, often leading to disappointing end-results, side-effects, or unwanted after-effects. Another myth, often propagated for commercial reasons, is that a single herb, or a single medicinal product, is capable of treating all or diverse medical conditions.
While it is true that most herbal medicines have a wide safety margin, there are also several herbs which can have very strong side-effects, e.g. Bhallatak (Semicarpus anacardium), even with a few doses, can cause skin rash and blisters, and burning urine with bleeding; Kuchla (Strychnos nux-vomica), taken in high doses and for prolonged periods, may cause convulsions; and Sarpagandha (Raulwofia serpentina), taken long-term, may cause depression and increased suicidal tendency. Ayurvedic preparations which contain minerals and Bhasmas may cause toxicity due to incorrect manufacturing methods, or the presence of heavy or toxic metals. There is also a small risk of a cross-reaction with other medications.
Most patients do realize that treatment may differ from disease to disease, and from patient to patient, and also that the same patient may require different treatment approaches from time to time. However, the failure of modern medicine to comprehensively treat a host of assorted chronic ailments; the urgent need for resorting to alternative therapy (especially Ayurvedic treatment); and the local unavailability of such medicines or the related treatment expertise, has forced the average patient to seek medicines online. To facilitate decision-making for such patients, the following do's and don'ts while ordering Ayurvedic medicines online, have been enumerated.
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