Is it all just a question of faith?
Evil tongues do not see Ayurveda as an effective system of medicine, just as they do not trust potentised homeopathic remedies („there is nothing in it“) or the Qi in acupuncture points („there is no such thing“).
„Try it out, in the end you'll end up with my scientifically based therapy and then you'll just have lost valuable time and money.“ This disrespectful attitude is still held by many „conventional doctors“ and thus unsettles their patients.
However, both sides are responsible for this disparaging attitude towards the effectiveness of Ayurveda: doctors who do not allow any other frameworks of thought and Ayurveda providers, some of whom treat sick people with half-knowledge, esoteric offers and without medical qualifications. This widens the gap between western modern and eastern traditional medicine. This is a great pity, because the greatest potential for prevention and therapy lies in their synergy.
What are the basics of successful Ayurveda therapy?
Ayurveda is teamwork! Over 2,000 years ago, four elements of successful treatment were described: Doctor, carer, medicine and patient.
The necessary qualities are assigned to each member. In addition to the best training, a doctor should have practical experience and purity of body, speech and mind. Carers should be loyal, skilful, attentive and loving in their treatment of patients. The medicine must be genuine, flawless, of high quality in all active principles (flavour, properties, potency, etc.) and suitable for a variety of preparations. And the patient needs a good memory, should be expressive, must be able to pay for treatment and needs a strong will to withstand therapeutic stress.
If one limb weakens, the success of the therapy is jeopardised. If the hoped-for results do not materialise, all limbs must be put to the test.
What therapist, carer and patient have in common is the necessary trust in each other, in the Ayurvedic system, in the individual procedures and in the fundamental prospect of healing or relief.
What role does the placebo effect play?
Unfortunately, the topic of placebo is still often misunderstood. Many people think of random effects with no scientific basis. Wrong! This effect has now been extensively researched and proven.
Placebo drugs are not based on imagination. They inhibit our perception of pain through the measurable release of endorphins. They promote the release of dopamine and thus alleviate symptoms in people suffering from Parkinson's disease. They regulate sleep disorders, reduce anxiety symptoms and lift the mood. They mimic the effect of a wide range of „real“ medications.
Placebo effects are based on trust, relationship, hope, expectation and conscious confidence. Experience also plays an important role in the context of classical conditioning, through which physical healing reactions can be learnt. What is particularly exciting is that placebos also work without deception due to unconscious processes, i.e. when we know that our „medicine“ does not actually contain any active ingredient. Simply taking bitter herbs can have a great effect, as we often associate them with a healing remedy.
We can utilise this effect, which is due to the power of our mind, in Ayurveda. It plays a major role who prescribes which remedies and therapies and when, how this advice is communicated and the appearance of the administration. For example, the same Triphala can have completely different effects for seemingly identical indications, depending on the mindset of the client and the prescribing therapist.
When can I expect my Ayurveda therapy to take effect?
Of course, this varies greatly from individual to individual and, in addition to the four links mentioned above, depends on many other factors such as the duration and severity of the illness, the age and regulatory capacity of the patient, the basic constitution and current deviations.
However, in my 25 years of practical experience, 12 of which were also spent in inpatient spa facilities, I was able to gain a certain amount of experience:
- The effect of an Ayurvedic Change of diet can be recognised and analysed after one month at the latest. In the first two weeks, adaptation reactions can occur that we should not overestimate. The stomach and intestines, appetite and thirst, blood sugar, circulation, body temperature and sleep must first get used to the new conditions. So if you have more flatulence after a few days than before, this is not unusual - and it is not despite, but because of new spices that your mucous membranes are not yet familiar with.
- One Lifestyle change can have short and long-term effects. Temporary adjustment reactions are also possible here, for example when changing sleeping times. Rhythm changes generally require more patience than directly effective measures such as hot water in the morning or tongue scraping. Exercise programmes work after a few weeks, whereas targeted breathing techniques have an immediate effect.
- Ayurvedic Food supplements have a quick and noticeable effect on the gastrointestinal tract, often within hours or days. If, on the other hand, we want to influence internal organs, alleviate chronic joint inflammation or regulate the hormone or immune system in the long term, we need patience. Here I give 3 months as a guideline, after which the effects should be subjectively perceptible and objectively measurable at the latest. The perception of a complete transformation for better or worse within a few days can rarely be objectified. My tip: observe changes at first without judging them immediately - and wait for the first follow-up appointment with your therapist.
- The Panchakarma cure is a time-limited intensive treatment using external applications and internal detoxification procedures. The effects can be achieved more quickly here than with outpatient measures - usually during the spa stay and also in the first few weeks afterwards. However, experience has shown that these effects do not last if the diet, lifestyle and mindset are not changed sustainably after a cure.
- Psychological measures to increase sattva and strengthen mental abilities have the strongest causal and lasting effect of all, but require time - weeks, months, years. Our mind tends to defend itself and avoid behaviour when we confront it with stressful thoughts, feelings and memories.
So, dear „conventional doctors“: think a little outside the box and open your minds to a different way of thinking that has endured for thousands of years and has proven itself in many advanced civilisations. If other paradigms help people, you should at least respect them.
And to the Ayurveda community: Deep trust is very important, but so is control and verification - whether it is about Ayurvedic products, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Don't believe everything you are told from India or by a guru. Instead, check it with your own senses and discerning mind.
