The document discusses some myths and truths regarding Ayurveda. It clarifies that Ayurveda is a science-based medicine and not just empirical use of herbs. It has specific guidelines for diagnostics, treatment principles and use of therapies. Improper and irrational use of herbs can lead to health hazards. The document advocates seeking guidance from qualified Ayurvedic practitioners for safe use of herbs.

1. Dr.RemyaKrishnan MD ( Ayu) PhD
Associate Professor& HOD,
Dept of Dravyagunavijnan

2. MYTHS
 Ayurveda is an open cookbook Medicine
 Empirical use of medicinal plants as part of
different traditions, culture and practices is
Ayurveda .
 Any use of single drugs or formulations is
Ayurveda .
 Those who practice with medicines are all
Ayurvedic physicians.

3. TRUTHS
 Ayurveda incorporates “ Science based
Medicine” and not “ Medicine Based Science “.
 There are specific indications and
contraindications for mode of use as well as
use of medicines in different situations .
 Ayurveda incorporates specific scientific
principles, guidelines and protocols in
Diagnostics, Applied Pharmacology and
Medicine .

4.  It emphasises upon “HOW TO CHOOSE “ a
therapy more than ‘WHAT TO CHOOSE “.
 Treatment Principle Oriented Approach(TPOA)
of use of therapies is advocated in this
science .
 Hence “This medicine – That disease “
employment of medicinal plants is irrational
& UNSCIENTIFIC in Ayurveda.
 Ayurveda targets at intended effect (health)
and not mere some “benefits outweighing
risks”

5.  Tradition is that which is blindly followed by
different generations irrespective of their risks,
benefits and without any scientific basis .
 Tradition therapies possess uncertainity factor in
effects.
 Owing to the reasons mentioned before ,
Ayurveda is neither tradition nor culture, but
rather SCIENCE .
 Those practices like postpartum package care
and Karkkitaka therapies performed in Kerala are
some examples of tradition .

6.  “ jagathyevam anaushadham “-All plants are
medicinal ----BUT NOT IN ALL SITUATIONS”.
 The factors which chiefly determine the
medicinal effect are
:a.Yukti – Upaya – Science based rationale for
the choice of the drug in specific .
b. Artha – Prayojana- Utility of the drug as
mentioned by the science

7.  Ayurveda is not Herbal Medicine because it
has Science Based Evidence to guide Applied
Medicine .
 The public many times are misled that
Ayurveda is tradition and culture .
 Hence they use medicinal plants without any
appropriate medical guidance just either
because ,”many are doing this way ” or “we
have been doing this way for years “
 Manytimes, this end up in fatal health
hazards .

8.  To provide discriminative knowledge between
Traditional medicine and Science Based
Medicine.
 To promote public awareness regarding the
potential risks and dangers by irrational use
of medicinal plants in health care .
 To promote the rational use of medicinal
plants as First Aid .
 To clarify the suspicions regarding the use of
medicinal plants

9.  When you use even the most common
medicinal plants in your house yard , you
need to be cautious about the situation which
necessitated their use .
 Common cold with fever , insect bites , acute
trauma /wounds , acute vomiting / diarrhoea,
bleeding from fresh wounds etc are some
indications of First Aid .
 Do not use the medicinal plants in any
situations unless you are accurately directed
by medical practitioner.

10.  There will be abnormal secretions from nose
which could be white , yellow or green
depending on the grade of infection.
 Fever may or may not be associated .
 Lack of appetite, excessive tiredness , head
ache and lack of enthusiasm are mostly
present .
 Cough (productive / dry) may be present .

12.  Start the medicated water at the earliest –
Good for prevention and cure .
 Avoid any other ingredients in this water .
 Inclusion of other herbs would make this
combination unscientific and action
unpredictable.
 Drink this preferably hot in every hour little
by little

13. Chukku- 1 piece
crushed
Malli- 1 tsp , whole
malli
Karuppetti
Pepper – ¼
tsp+coffee
Boil in water for
some time and filter it

14.  Avoid Tulsi in coffee as it is not ideal for all
individuals.
 Tulsi could aggravate body temperature in
certain types of fever and can also fast
precipitate haemorrhage in those with
bleeding tendency .
 These drugs facilitate metabolism of
pyrogens and toxins released by the
pyrogens and ensures effective drainage of
them through circulation .

17. 15gms 10gms 5gms
Boil in 4 glasses of water , reduce to 1
glass and 1/3 glass to be taken thrice
in empty stomach

18.  Observing accurate scientific diet , medicated
water and regimen along with is important .
 Do not interfere this evidence based First Aid
by any other kinds of medications, both
internal and external.
 First Aid does not mean treatment , hence it
is compulsory to seek help from Ayurveda
medical practitioner , if recovery is not
attained in two days.

20.  Most commonly due to
infections/inflammation in GIT or as an
independent disease.
 Fever may or may not be associated .
 Could lead to severe dehydration and
electrolyte imbalance, if not properly
attended.
 Could lead to malnutrition in chronic cases .
 The cause is to be reversed not just
symptoms.

21.  The intrinsic cause of the disease could be
identified by a science based practitioner of
Ayurveda and hence seeking medical help is
important.
 But first aid medicated water ( Ayurvedic ORS)
should be started at the earliest.
 The ingredients of Ayurvedic ORS not only
checks the abnormal secretory activity, but
also improves digestion , metabolism and
fast restores the electrolyte imbalance .

22. Malaru + jeera
( 3 parts + 1 part )

23. Boil in four glasses of water and
reduce to 1 glass , take small doses
frequently and finish one glass in 24
hours.
Drink Ayurvedic ORS in small doses
frequently

24.  Do not use lemon tea in diarrhoea .
 Avoid using tender coconut, fruit juices,
unboiled water and all other health drinks .
 Avoid milk and milk products because if the
cause is infective/inflammatory, all these
could aggravate the cause.
 Stick to rice gruel + cooked green gram with
sufficient salt and pepper for 48 hours and
monitor the changes in your body
 Seek medical help if not subsiding

25.  Wash the wound thoroughly with clean water
 Dry and sprinkle turmeric powder abundantly
over the wound .
 Bleeding will stop fast and healing is also
facilitated.
 Turmeric could be used for bandaging in
insect bites also .

26.  Growing medicinal plants like, Guduchi
Neem, Amalaki , Vasa ( Adalodaka ),
Punarnava , Moringa, Bhoonimba ,
Kirathatiktha , Vacha, Brahmi , Kumari,
Haridra, Maricha, Kaidarya etc will help to
conserve these rich medicinal plant
resources.
 It will also help to purify the environment .
 But self use of them in both health
maintenance and curative aspects could invite
potential health hazards.

27.  All these drugs are medicinal do not mean
that they are the pertinent for you .
 The medicine for a situation is purely
determined by Science based evaluation and
appraisal of patient, disease and treatment
guidelines which is done by science based
practitioners of Ayurveda.
 Grandma’s medicine recipees or Tribal
Medicine do not have established scientific
basis which clearly demarcates them from
Ayurveda.

28.  Wide irrational use of herbs is reported in South
India as South India is abundantly rich in
medicinal plants .
 Self use and quack use is widely reported for
conditions like fever, gall stones, kidney stones,
Haemorrhoids , Jaundice, dysfunctional uterine
bleeding, Diabetes Mellitus, pregnancy and
postpartum care , health care as part of
traditions , skin diseases etc.
 More badly such kind of irrational use is seen
encouraged by many qualified Ayurvedic
practitioners also which gravely mislead the
public and the users.

29.  Ensure that you are using it under Ayurvedic
medical supervision.
 Single drugs are very potent unlike
formulations and unless they are cautiously
used, might cause potent health hazards.
 Never stick to any single drug therapy for
more than three days, unless it is medically
supervised.
 If you get any specific undesirable effect ,
then report the matter to doctor urgently .

30. Shashtika
Green gram
Rakthasali
Rock salt
Amalaki
Yava
Cow’s ghee

31. Paneer Beef
Pork
Fish
Curd
Black
gram

32.  “Oushadham hyanavijnatham namaroopagunaishthribhihi
Vijnatham chaapi duryuktham anarthayopapadyathe
Yogadapi visham theekshnam uttamam bheshajam bhavet
Bheshajam chaapi duryuktham theekshnam sampadyathe visham
Tasmaat na bhishajaa yuktham yukthibahyena bheshajam ”
( Cha. Su. 1 )