New Delhi: Ayurveda’s importance in the modern world cannot be restricted to just one day or a few words but these can go a long way in spreading awareness about a culture of holistic healing that has been our ‘way of life’ since times immemorial. So, when Ministry of AYUSH prepares to celebrate the 9th Ayurveda Day today and the observance is said to be expansive… it’s a Diwali gift from the government to us. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his X handle to make this announcement on his own accord, apprising the Indian public of the “expansion” plans he has in mind for today’s inauguration and laying of foundation stone.
It is indeed a moment of pride for all of us, as Ayurveda (literally translated as Knowledge of Life), is India’s gift of traditional medical system that focuses on holistic health and wellness to the entire world. What started out about 3,000 years ago has today reached continents and cities that were once not considered “in our radar”. Such is the beauty of this science and system of holistic health, that it has quickly found acceptance for its unique ability to alleviate disease and improve overall physical and mental well-being.
It is unfortunate that with the rampant use of Western medicine, Ayurveda and a few other allied medical systems of science continue to remain on the fringe. But as an industry, it is making strides and has the potential to take over as a means of holistic healing… not just in India but rest of the world too. With this in view, to earmark a day as ‘Ayurveda Day’ and also announce expansion plans worth crores is a huge step in the right direction.
Ayurveda is a way of life, indeed
Unlike the allopathy and other forms of western medicine, Ayurveda is a system that works on proper healing and not just relief. It is an assured way of restoring balance in our deeply imbalanced modern lifestyle. What is needed is not to supress what ails us but to heal it in the most proper way so that side effects are minimal and over all well being is a guarantee. This is what Ayurveda is known to do.
It helps us detoxify on-the-go: Flushing out harmful toxins is an important cleansing mechanism (remember CTM for a jubilant skin). Even if you lead a very healthy lifestyle, toxins can come from other external sources, such as the environment, food, or even from within the body. The accumulation leads to a cocktail of health issues, including fatigue, digestive issues, and a weakened immune system. Instead of medication, these toxins can be reduced or even eliminated completely by introducing dietary changes, exercise, and the use of supplements and herbs. If there is a natural way of restoring the balance, why not give it a try?
Relieving pain, albeit naturally: Pain is the prime reason why humankind prefers allopathy over allied sciences. This is so because one feels the pain reduces after a few minutes of popping a pill. However, the pain (or the cause) has only been supressed for a limited time, it is only going to peak again. Since none of us are immune to pain, be it physical or mental, relief is a big consideration. Ayurveda, with its focus on toxicity as the chief cause of any disease, can not only help us in diagnosing the cause of this pain, it will also help us understand it better. With this clarity of thought, it will be easy for us to eliminate the cause from the roots.
Immunity is key: This is probably the biggest contribution of ancient medical sciences such as Ayurveda. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, immunity has become a household term. We all know that it is a key to our wellbeing. We know that if it is not functioning optimally, one could end up getting unwell. The importance of having a “strong immune system” is universally acknowledged, only a handful know how to get there. According to Ayurveda, one of the main challenges to a strong immune system is nothing but the interplay of toxins in the body. This can impede digestion on the one hand and also challenge absorption of nutrients that are vital in building and maintaining our immune system.
Busting stress: Anxiety and stress have become talking points these days. But did you know that it’s next to impossible to to avoid stress? Reducing stress points at identifying key triggers and taking concrete steps to nullify them. There are practices like meditation and exercises which can help considerably in improving mood, sleep, and reduce the risk of chronic health issues but this also not an optimal solution to the problem. Embracing a non-toxin lifestyle and understanding the body will go a long way in keeping stress at an arms length. Who wouldn’t want that to happen?
Why Ayurveda needs a boost
As has been established and acknowledged prior, Ayurveda is a scientific system that works on the entire physiological and psychological aspect of the body. It shouldn’t be mistaken as a fast relief method because Ayurveda works on the root of the problem and not on the problem itself. In this situation, people have found it difficult to corelate with this ancient science as they feel they don’t get results rapidly.
However, with able support from the government and other stakeholders, awareness on Ayurveda has increased manifold. Many Indians and westerners have sworn by this way of life and are leading this cause by their own example. Today’s inauguration of healthcare projects and other announcements by the prime minister is on the similar track and we hope with such expansions, Ayurveda will only grow.
