Ayurveda vs Allopathy – The year 2020 has been a year of change – change in perspective, attitude, and lifestyle. The world came to a halt which gave individuals enough time on their hands to reflect and re-establish their priorities. As a result, happiness has become the new-rich & the demand for a healthy lifestyle has become the new normal.

This, in turn, has breathed life into an age-old debate of “Ayurveda vs. Allopathy” and which is better to lead a more healthy and happy life. To add to this debate; “which medicine has the treatment of COVID-19 – Allopathy or Ayurveda?” is another conflict. Allopathy has been unsuccessful till now in finding a cure. On the other hand, Ayurveda – the science of life promotes a preventive lifestyle, and doctors are claiming that those who have strong immunity need not worry about any virus!

Amid all the turmoil caused by the pandemic, one more confusion is the last thing you would want to have. That's why we are here to share facts and make you aware of both worlds so that you could choose for yourself.

Ayurveda and Allopathy – A Brief Introduction

Ayurveda has been around for more than 3000 years and is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Ayur' and 'Veda,' which translates to 'Knowledge of Life.' It focuses on guiding human beings to maintain health by using nature's inherent principles to bring an individual back into equilibrium with their true self.

According to Ayurveda, all illnesses or disorders in our body arise because of three doshas i.e., Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Every disease or disorder in humans is caused by an imbalance of the three Doshas. That is why Ayurveda gives us a model to look at each individual as a unique makeup of these three doshas (and sub-doshas), thereby designing treatment protocols that specifically address a person’s health challenges. In other words, Ayurveda targets preventive ways to stay healthy or the root cause of the problem and then tries to eliminate or ease the symptoms using natural methods.

Allopathy, aka modern medicine, involves the treatment of diseases by conventional means. It is about symptomatic therapy in which drugs are prescribed according to symptoms. It rarely ever seizes the root cause and is argued to work only on the tip of the iceberg. Nevertheless, it is the most effective, researched, and accepted way of treating diseases as it curbs symptoms and shows results instantly. 

Ayurveda Vs Allopathy – Arguing Pros and Cons

Now that you have a basic understanding of Ayurveda and Allopathy, let's have a look at their pros and cons. This will further help you understand the difference between Allopathy and Ayurveda.

1. Ayurveda believes in “prevention is better than cure” and suggests preventive ways to help us stay healthy. If we already have an imbalance (of the three doshas) in our body, then Ayurveda helps target the root cause of the health concern and thus prescribes the natural means (diet, lifestyle, herbal preparation, etc.) for holistic treatment based on the individual’s body composition. There are around 1100 plants that have medicinal values and are exclusively used to suit one’s body composition or Prakriti. It is a permanent cure as it eliminates the cause. On the other hand, Allopathy targets the symptoms instead of the root cause. For example, Allopathy only tries to suppress arthritis symptoms instead of eliminating the root cause of arthritis. Hence, many times, patients have to depend on the drugs even for their whole life in case of diseases like arthritis, asthma, and diabetes.

2. Ayurveda uses herbs, oils, spices, and other natural remedies with zero to minimum side effects. However, Allopathy prescribes drugs that more than often cause side effects if consumed for a long time. These drugs have withdrawal effects as well.  This particular reason has forced the world to rethink the importance of the traditional medicine system. According to the World Health Organisation, the percentage of people worldwide who rely on non-conventional medicine climbs up to as high as 80.

3. Ayurveda is said to be slow and subtle. Because it works on the root cause, it might take many days or weeks for symptoms to disappear. On the other hand, because Allopathy works on the symptoms, it gives relief quickly. For example, if you are suffering from some infections, diarrhoea, pain, or anything that requires your immediate attention and treatment, then it is better to opt for Allopathy.

4. There are some diseases for which there is no guaranteed cure in Allopathy yet. But Ayurveda shows promising results with dietary, lifestyle changes, and natural methods. For example, stress. It is now proven that stress is the primary cause of various illnesses. If we try to see through Ayurveda's lens, a human being is a body, a mind, and a spirit. Therefore there should be harmony between all three if a man wants to lead a perfectly healthy life. Ayurveda offers the most promising treatment for stress, as it encourages the balance between body, mind, and spirit through lifestyle interventions and natural therapies. It prescribes yoga and meditation along with herbal treatments to maintain a healthy body, mind, and soul.

5. Ayurveda is traditional science and has to rely on modern medical science for testing, surgeries, and instant pain relief. Allopathy or modern medical science uses advanced technology for tests and scans, which help detect many health problems that otherwise can't be detected. But at the same time, Allopathy is highly expensive and out of the common man's reach and Ayurveda offers highly cost-effective and reliable solutions for ailments.

Ayurveda over Allopathy

An indisputable benefit of Ayurveda over Allopathy is that it can be helpful where Allopathy fails. For example, Madhumita is the sure-shot remedy for diabetes; Nirgundi Juice has an unbelievable positive influence on stress, anxiety, and restlessness. Satavar Juice is beneficial for women’s reproductive health-related problems, and Divya Rsayan Churna is known to be effective in premature ejaculation, oligospermia, and other male sex health-related problems. Jyotishmati Rasayan, Safeda Kaskari, Soam Lata are the best natural remedies for balancing the aggravated Doshas. 

Also, Ayurvedic Rasayana, which are proven immunomodulators, can be used in cancer treatment! On the other hand, Allopathy is still struggling to find a cure that guarantees treatment for such diseases.

Moreover, some Ayurvedic practices are scientifically validated. One such practice is the use of a copper pot to store water before drinking it. It is now proven that copper kills many harmful bacteria and thus purifies the water. Such simple and quick practices can help improve health to a great extent.

Also, we can’t ignore the fact that Allopathy has been unsuccessful in finding a cure for Corona, while Ayurveda has many products that can boost immunity and make the fight against it a lot easier.

Allopathy over Ayurveda

Though Ayurvedic medicine maintains a promising status, there are still some reasons why it is lagging. Not enough research is done in recent times to support and promote Ayurvedic remedies as opposed to modern medical science. 

Allopathic medicines promise fast relief compared to Ayurvedic treatments, which is why they are still the number 1 choice of people to relieve chronic pain and infections.

In some random cases, there have been detectable levels of heavy metals in a few Ayurvedic formulations of some brands. Therefore, the lack of standards and proper process to decide consistency in the chemical composition and bioactivity of Ayurvedic formulations has worked in favour of Allopathy in the international market.

Ayurveda vs. Allopathy: - Choose According To the Need of the Hour

It is safe to say that Ayurveda is more of a ‘preventive’ measure and Allopathy is more of a ‘curative’ measure. Both of these are equally important depending upon the health condition and stage. 

But if it is at all possible to avoid illness, then one should not wait for the symptoms to surface and then search for the treatment. In this regard, Ayurveda is definitely of immense help as it is possible to eliminate the diseases even before their symptoms appear through Ayurvedic treatment modalities such as Panchkarma. Many herbal remedies have proven to be effective in boosting the immune system, such as Chayvanprash, Brahmi Juice, Giloy Juice, and many more.

Ayurveda and Allopathy Together

For health problems like asthma and arthritis, where Allopathy fails to provide satisfactory results, it is best to use Ayurveda and Allopathy together. But it is still recommended to consult a health professional because our goal is to achieve good health. Both of these medical streams are there to help you, and you should choose one best suiting your needs.

We at HealthyBazar not only provide awareness of natural holistic ways of keeping healthy, but also make these Ayurvedic and Unani consultations, and treatments available online, supported by the availability of a wide range of herbal products available online. All the products on-site are genuine and one can also consult with the best ayurvedic and Unani doctors.

Also Read: Is Unani Medicine Effective in Chronic Diseases?

We want to add that Ayurveda is not just a medicine system but a science and a way of life. It briefly explains the knowledge and lifestyle which favors each individual’s well-being necessary to lead a healthy, happy, and comfortable life, both physically and mentally.