Every year, the World Ayurveda Day is observed to honour the holistic path of lifelong wellness. Ayurveda teaches that your body is a self-healing system. As chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease continue to rise, this ancient science offers true healing that begins by restoring balance.
According to the World Health Organisation, chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory disorders are now the leading causes of death, claiming over 41 million lives every year. Modern medicine often addresses these conditions through symptom management, diagnostics, medication, and lifelong control.
But Dr Yogrishi Vishvketu, Yoga Educator and founder of the Akhanda Yoga Institute, Rishikesh, believes there’s another path. “Ayurveda reminds us that the body has an innate capacity to heal when given the right environment and rhythms,” he tells Moneycontrol. “It’s not just about prevention, it’s about tapping into the body’s super-intelligence to reshape even chronic illness at the cellular level,” he adds.
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5 ways how ayurveda helps heal chronic illness:
Dr Vishvketu lists the following health benefits of ayurveda
- Digestion as foundation: Long before gut health became a cause of worry, Ayurveda was clear: digestion rules everything. Poor digestion leads to ama, or toxic build-up, which is now revealed by modern findings around inflammation and microbiome imbalance. Eating for your Dosha, at the right time, supports long-term healing.
- Circadian rhythms: From sleep cycles to detox and cellular repair, Ayurveda’s daily (dinacharya) and seasonal (ritucharya) routines help align the body with nature’s timing. Today, even science connects to circadian biology and even autophagy, the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells.
- Panchkarma goes deep: “Panchkarma is not just a detox, it’s cellular housekeeping,” says Dr Vishvketu. These therapies clear long-held toxins, reignite the digestive fire (agni), and help restore balance between the Doshas, leading to better immunity and energy.
- Emotion and stress: Ayurveda doesn’t separate mental and physical health. Chronic stress, emotional suppression, and lifestyle imbalance, all contribute to long-term illness. Practising techniques like breath-work, meditation, yoga, and herbology help to address both the mind and body.
- Power of self-healing: “When we live in alignment with nature cycles, we remember that chronic illness is about reaching clarity, vitality, and joy,” says Dr Vishvketu. According to a study in the International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine (IJAM) Ayurveda‑integrated group showed better improvements in preliminary symptoms, as well as objective markers (HbA1c, fasting / post‑prandial sugar, insulin resistance) than standard treatment alone.
1. What is Ayurveda’s approach to chronic illness?
Ayurveda promotes balance in the body to heal chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, harnessing the body's self-healing capabilities.
2. How does Ayurveda support digestion?
Ayurveda prioritises digestion as the foundation for health, advocating eating according to one's Dosha to prevent toxic build-up and support long-term healing.
3. What role do circadian rhythms play in Ayurveda?
Ayurveda aligns daily and seasonal routines with natural cycles, supporting cellular repair and detoxification processes, and connecting with modern circadian biology.
4. How does Panchkarma contribute to healing?
Panchkarma involves deep detoxification and cellular housekeeping, reigniting digestive fire and restoring balance between Doshas for enhanced immunity and energy.
5. How does Ayurveda address mental health?
Ayurveda integrates mental and physical health, using techniques like breath-work, meditation, and yoga to manage stress and emotions, contributing to overall wellness.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for a specific health diagnosis.
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