It is true to say that a large percentage of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from chemicals which have been isolated from plants. However, the similarity to Ayurvedic herbal medicines ends there. The basic principle underlying the use of any pharmaceutical drug is that each single chemical, or active ingredient , is expected to produce an effect. For example, serotonin or noroadrenaline are frequently used in the treatment of depression as they can often be seen to temporarily reduce the symptoms. Blood pressure medications are often prescribed to dilate the blood vessels. It is, however, generally accepted that none of these medicines do anything to address underlying causes of the symptoms.

Ayurvedic medicine work in a totally different way. The most essential difference is that single chemicals are not extracted from the plant from which a medicine is made. Any one herb is like a factory of different chemicals and as the human body has its own ‘biosense’ – it is able to select from this array of items those which it needs to correct any underlying imbalances. The fundamental principle of Ayurvedic treatment is that illness is caused by an imbalance in the doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. No two people are the same in this respect, and it is the job of an Ayurvedic practitioner to assess these imbalances on an individual basis. On the basis of this analysis, Ayurvedic medicines and a treatment plan can be prescribed which are totally personalised to be effective for that one patient.

The benefits of such an approach go way beyond simply treating one symptom. To return to the example of depression, one of the most commonly used herbs in Ayurveda is Ashwagandha. Laboratory research has identified 35 chemicals in its roots and over 50 in its leaves. Some of the effects of this power house of ingredients are: anti-stress, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, memory enhancing, anti-arthritic, anti-tumour, aphrodisiac, and it is also an excellent liver tonic and detoxifier. The benefits to the patient will far exceed merely treating the depression and they will start to feel better in many other ways. For example, if an aggravation of Kapha is causing excess mucus to block the circulatory, respiratory and lymphatic systems all of these will be seen to improve.

This, in a nutshell is what makes Ayurvedic herbal medicines so very different from pharmaceutical drugs in their mode of action. When careful individual diagnosis has enabled the most appropriate Ayurvedic herbal medicines to be prescribed, the body’s biosense will do the rest. The end result can be multiple lasting health benefits – without the unwanted side-effects.

References:

Engels G, Brinckmann J. Ashwagandha. Herbalgram 2013; Issue 99:1-7.

Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review. Altern Med Rev. 2000;5(4):334-346.

Singh N.  An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011; 8(5 Suppl): 208–213.

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