Recently, read about Heavy Metal Toxicity from Ayurvedic formulations. Many over the counter Ayurvedic* formulations have been found to contain heavy metals like Arsenic, Lead, Mercury etc.
Furthermore, lack of scientific validation is a little concerning. There is also a pressing problem of lack of standardization in prescriptions where multiple doctors might recommend different strengths of dosages.
It also does not help that practitioners are extremely resistant to change. One might think that with passage of time we learn more about compounds and their interactions with the human body. Then, shouldn't any field of medicine improve over time as a function of that?
These medical systems have a long history and deep cultural roots, which can sometimes lead to resistance to change or adaptation in the face of new scientific evidence or medical advances.
On the other hand, I find several merits in the Ayurvedic approach. The holistic approach is actually a great way to look at general wellness of the body, essentially how several systems interact with each other, which is sometimes missing in the reductionist approach of modern medicine.
Also, focus on prevention of diseases is another merit. Finally, natural remedies are easily accessible to people and being generally non-invasive in nature is a strong point in it's favour especially in a country like India where access to healthcare has been difficult for many.
What do you all think?
