Ayurvedic practices have become incredibly popular worldwide over the past decade or so. This is thanks to a revival and new appreciation for alternative approaches to medicine that go beyond the limitations of conventional medical methods. But do these alternative medicines actually work?
Ayurveda is one approach that has a great reputation. However, many people have been put off because of an association with homeopathy. The reality is that Ayurveda is not homeopathy. The origins of both practices are completely different. Homeopathy first appeared in the late 18th century after being created by Samuel Hahnemann, whereas Ayurvedic approaches originated thousands of years ago. Homeopathy has also attracted criticism, as many believe it to be deceptive because of the dilution process for drugs being used means that patients are experiencing a placebo effect when taking such drugs. In the case of Ayurvedic medicine, it is only a lack of clinical trials that have seen Ayurvedic medicine questioned by conventional medical practitioners.
The reality is that Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced for centuries in India and with great success. Already many sufferers of illnesses have felt the positive physical and mental by-products of herbs, oils and Ayurvedic knowledge. For this reason, many Western healthcare professionals now accept if their patients want to try Ayurvedic approaches should they not respond to more conventional treatments. You see a lot of people take online family nurse practitioner programs and then move onto learning about Ayurveda.
Ayurveda For Pregnancy Or Childcare
Ayurvedic medicine is extremely popular in India and across the world. These traditional studies have been passed down from ancient Sanskrit texts and teachers for thousands of years. One such area that has benefited from this knowledge is childcare and pregnancy.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, it is thought that a good pregnancy is dependent on parents being in the best place they can be from a physical, mental and emotional perspective. A large part of Ayurvedic literature on this subject details that the pregnant person should take herbal decoctions to meet nutritional needs – particularly for those who have a history of miscarriages and abortions. From the six-month mark onward, due to the foetus expressing intellect from this point on, pregnant women will want to adhere to a satvik diet. This is food that is natural, easy-to-digest and warm, as opposed to processed foods that are too hot and heavy. When the child has been born, successful breastfeeding – where possible – is thought to come from having a well-rounded state of mind, diet, regular sleeping, and good rest.
Also, according to Ayurvedic medicine and training, certain plants and food can affect both the quantity and quality of breast milk. Ayurveda approaches to pregnancy and childcare offer parents a chance to perform childcare from a warm and loving perspective that is well-intentioned towards the child’s development. Thankfully, Ayurveda courses exist that can teach parents these particular approaches so they can look after their children in the best possible way.
