BYU Asian Studies Journal
Abstract
The importance of a full understanding of Ayurvedic medicine and other traditional practices. By recognizing how Ayurvedic medicine was disparaged during the colonial period by the Western world, explaining the significance of social determinants of health within the context of Ayurvedic medicine, and acknowledging the importance of spiritual and mental health on physical health as understood today. During the colonial period in India, changes came in many forms, not the least of which was the dismissal of a century’s old medical tradition that had contributed to the health of millions of South Asians. This health tradition is focused on prevention of diseases rather than curing illnesses or treating symptoms. It focuses on the larger social determinants of health and overall wellness something that has only recently come into play in Western medicine. Going along with this the Ayurvedic tradition emphasizes the importance of mental and spiritual health in conjunction with physical health. This interplay has led to greater mental health outcomes in India than in the Western world according to the World Health Organization. Emphasizing the importance of overall wellness rather than simply curing disease.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Emma
(2024)
"Biomedical versus Ayurvedic Traditions: The Triumph of Indian Medicine in a Postcolonial World,"
BYU Asian Studies Journal: Vol. 9, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/asj/vol9/iss1/5
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