4 Key Differences between Ayurveda & Western Health Models

Ayurveda and Western medicine have different approaches to understanding health and wellness. Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It is based on the belief that the mind, body, and spirit are interconnected, and that maintaining a balance between them is essential for good health. It sees the whole person holistically.

1. Prevention VS Reacting to Symptoms

One of the key differences between Ayurveda and Western medicine is their contrasting preventative and symptomatic approaches. Ayurveda’s key focus is on preventing illness rather than treating it, using natural remedies such as herbs, diet, and lifestyle changes to maintain or improve health. Whereas western medicine, on the other hand, is a system of healthcare that has its roots in Europe and North America. It is based on the scientific method and seeks to treat illness when it is already present, through drugs, surgery, and other medical interventions. Western medicine generally focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases rather than preventing them in the first place or importantly addressing the underlying imbalances and root causes that may be causing them.

2. Diagnosis Methods

When it comes to diagnosis, Ayurveda uses a holistic approach to assess a person's health, taking into account factors such as their constitution, lifestyle, and environment and this begins when working with me through an in-depth consultation form. In contrast, Western medicine tends to focus on specific symptoms and uses diagnostic tests such as blood tests, imaging, and biopsies to identify the underlying cause of the symptoms.

3. Approach to Treatment

Another important difference between Ayurveda and Western medicine is their approach to treatment. Ayurveda focuses on promoting balance and harmony in the body through natural remedies such as herbal medicine, massage, and yoga. In contrast, Western medicine relies heavily on pharmaceutical drugs, surgery, and other medical interventions to treat illness.

4. Mind-Body Connection

Another difference between Ayurveda and the Western approach is the mind-body connection. In Ayurveda, the mind and body are seen as interconnected and interdependent. The mind and body are both made up of the same five elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth) that combine in unique ways to form three doshas or energies known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. According to Ayurveda, maintaining a balance between these doshas is essential for good health and well-being.

The mind is seen as having a significant impact on physical health, and the state of one's mental and emotional health is believed to have a direct effect on the balance of the doshas in the body. For example, Ayurveda recognises that stress and negative emotions can disrupt the flow of energy in the body and lead to imbalances in the doshas, which can result in physical symptoms such as digestive issues, headaches, and insomnia.

Ayurveda also recognises that the body can influence the mind. For example, imbalances in the doshas due to poor diet or lifestyle habits can lead to feelings of lethargy, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, Ayurveda emphasises the importance of a balanced diet and lifestyle practices such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to maintain a healthy mind-body connection.

Whereas, in Western medicine, the body and mind have traditionally been treated as separate entities. Medical specialties are often divided into physical health and mental health, with hospital consultants specialising in one or the other. The focus of physical health specialties is on diagnosing and treating physical diseases and conditions, while mental health specialties focus on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. I experienced this when I went to see a gastroenterologist, ears nose, and throat specialist, and a cognitive behavioural therapist. They were all separate pieces of my health puzzle rather than being looked at as a whole picture.

This separation can lead to a fragmented approach to health care, where physical symptoms are treated separately from emotional or psychological symptoms. For example, a patient with chronic pain may be treated with medication to manage the pain, but little attention may be paid to the emotional and psychological impact of the pain on the patient's quality of life. This doesn’t happen 100% of the time but I have experienced this myself and I know family, friends, and clients have too.

However, there has been a growing recognition in Western medicine of the importance of the mind-body connection and the need for a more integrated approach to health care. This has led to the development of interdisciplinary fields such as psychosomatic medicine and integrative medicine, which aim to bridge the gap between physical and mental health.

In these fields, the focus is on treating the person as a whole, rather than treating physical and mental symptoms separately. Treatment plans may include a combination of medication, psychotherapy, mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation, and lifestyle modifications such as exercise and dietary changes.

One example of the mind-body connection in Western medicine is the placebo effect, where a person's belief in the effectiveness of a treatment can lead to actual physiological changes in the body. Another example is the impact of stress on physical health. Chronic stress can lead to the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, which can have negative effects on the immune system, cardiovascular system, and other bodily functions.

Research has also shown that certain psychological interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction can have positive effects on physical health outcomes. For example, these interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of chronic pain, improving immune function, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Conclusion

Overall, Ayurveda and Western medicine have different philosophies and approaches to healthcare. Ayurveda emphasises prevention and natural remedies, while Western medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating illness through medical interventions.

Ayurveda recognises that the mind and body are interconnected, and the balance between the two is essential for good health and well-being. The practice of Ayurveda aims to promote balance and harmony between the mind and body through a holistic approach to health and wellness.

More recently, Western medicine has began to recognise the complex and dynamic relationship between the mind and body and the ways in which psychological factors can impact physical health. The study of the mind-body connection is an area of ongoing research and has important implications for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of health conditions.

Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses, and people may choose to combine elements of both systems to achieve optimal health and wellness.

Discover more about Ayurveda for health and in particular anxiety over on Instagram at sam.anxiety.relief.coach