Perhaps what distinguishes Ayurveda from other medical disciplines is that Ayurveda places great emphasis on regular detoxification of the body and, thereby, removing the impediments to health and healing.
Ayurveda does not advocate for temporary relief of aches and pains. It looks to address the underlying cause of pain, which is often linked to poor digestion, poor nutrition, and the accumulation of toxins in the body. Toxins can include undigested food deposited in our joints and open spaces throughout the body.
Let us consider, for example, someone who is overweight and suffering from knee pain. Simply prescribing “more exercise” and a weight-loss diet may not help that person become free of pain; rather, it could aggravate the condition and induce mental stress. An Ayurvedic doctor, on the other hand, looks beyond the person’s weight problem and considers the role of toxicity – undigested matter – in the knee joints, causing heat and pain. In order to address the inflammation, the knee joints need to be rid of toxins and lubricated with healthy fluids, internally and externally. Once the knees are healthier and the pain subsides, yoga and exercise are likely to be more effective and sustainable. This is one way to understand the Ayurvedic approach in very simple terms: detoxify the body and thus restore its capacity to heal itself. In the process, the immune system is fortified and energy levels are tremendously enhanced. And when that happens, enormous confidence arises in the mind that health, healing and happiness are possible and unwanted viruses can be fended off with ease.
In Ayurveda, the greater emphasis is prevention of ill health as well as self-healing. Ayurveda seeks to empower individuals to live their lives in such a way as to slow down the effects of aging and to develop routines and habits of self-care that ultimately promote and sustain self-healing.
