Is it safe to take Ayurvedic and Allopathic medicines together?
As more people turn to natural and holistic healing, many are exploring the combination of Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines to manage health conditions. The idea is to benefit from the strengths of both systems—Ayurveda, with its focus on natural herbs and lifestyle balance, and allopathy, based on modern pharmaceuticals and clinical research.However, while the idea of combining these two systems may seem promising, doing so without expert guidance can lead to serious health risks. Potential issues include drug interactions and concerns about product safety. This article examines the potential dangers, benefits, and precautions associated with mixing Ayurvedic and allopathic treatments, featuring insights from Jeevan Kasara, Director and CEO of Steris Healthcare Pvt.advertisementUNDERSTANDING BOTH SYSTEMSAyurveda is a 5,000-year-old Indian system of medicine that focuses on balancing the body, mind, and spirit using herbs, diet, yoga, and detox methods.Allopathy or modern medicine,e uses scientifically tested drugs and surgical methods to treat specific diseases or symptoms.While both systems aim to restore health, they differ greatly in their approach and composition, which makes combining them a complex decision.WHY COMBINING MEDICINES CAN BE RISKY1. Potential Drug-Herb InteractionsOne of the biggest concerns is how the substances interact inside the body.Ashwagandha, a popular Ayurvedic herb, can increase the sedative effects of sleeping pills or antidepressants.Turmeric, while a natural anti-inflammatory, may interfere with blood thinners like warfarin, increasing the risk of bleeding.Some antibiotics may disrupt gut bacteria, which affects the absorption of certain herbal medicines that rely on microbes to become active.These interactions may either reduce the effectiveness of treatment or increase toxicity, making careful supervision essential.advertisementQUALITY AND STANDARDIATION ISSUESUnlike allopathic medicines, most Ayurvedic products are not standardised or tested for safety in the same way.A 2022 study by JAMA Network Open revealed that 21% of Ayurvedic products sold in the US contained heavy metals like lead or mercury.Even common herbs like Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), known to boost immunity, can worsen autoimmune conditions when taken with immunosuppressants.Consumers are advised to buy Ayurvedic products from certified and trustworthy sources and always inform their doctor about what they are taking.INTEGRATED APPROACH: WHEN IT CAN WORKIn some cases, integrative medicine clinics offer treatment plans that combine both Ayurvedic and allopathic approaches under medical supervision.For example, a person with high blood pressure may continue taking prescribed allopathic medicines while also following Ayurvedic advice for stress relief, diet, or yoga. Similarly, certain herbs like ginger are sometimes used to help reduce side effects from treatments like chemotherapy.These combined approaches can be helpful, but only when used carefully and under the guidance of trained professionals from both systems.THE ROLE OF REGULATIONAnother problem is the lack of uniform global regulations for Ayurvedic medicines. In many countries, these products are sold as dietary supplements, which do not require safety tests before hitting the market.This can result in misleading labels, unclear dosage instructions, and inconsistent product quality.Patients undergoing long-term or critical treatment, such as chemotherapy or HIV medication, are usually advised to avoid Ayurvedic supplements unless cleared by a healthcare provider.advertisementIMPORTANCE OF OPEN COMMUNICATIONOne of the biggest issues is that many patients don't tell their doctors they're using Ayurvedic or alternative remedies.A 2023 survey by the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) found that 60% of patients who mix alternative and modern medicine do not inform their doctor.This silence can lead to serious health risks and poor treatment outcomes.Doctors urge patients to be fully transparent about all the medications and supplements they are using.KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE COMBINING SYSTEMSBefore using both Ayurvedic and allopathic treatments, consider:What is the goal? Is it to manage side effects, boost immunity, or treat a specific disease?Are you being monitored? Regular check-ups and lab tests are essential.Are your products safe? Only use verified, high-quality Ayurvedic products.Are your doctors aware? Make sure both your Ayurvedic and allopathic practitioners are in sync.CAUTION WITH A PURPOSECombining Ayurveda and allopathy can offer benefits, but only when done with informed caution, medical oversight, and clear goals. Not all herbal and modern medicines work well together, and in some cases, the combination can cause more harm than good.Until more scientific studies confirm safe combinations, patients should avoid self-medicating and seek advice from qualified experts in both fields. Responsible integration may hold great promise for the future, but for now, your safety depends on awareness, education, and professional guidance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Stress at work? Doctors see rise in heart diseases among young executives
Bengaluru | New Delhi: For 31-year-old techie Kumar, long hours at work carrying well into the night often led to stress eating, coupled with an occasional drink (or two) to 'take off the edge'. The excesses magnified over the weekend, till one day when what he suspected was an episode of indigestion turned out to be a heart attack. Kumar, who doesn't want to reveal his full name, has now been put on a strict diet by his doctor. He has been asked to cut out all unhealthy food, stop eating out and exercise. Kumar's is not an isolated case. Leading cardiologists are sounding the alarm bells as they see an increase in people in their 20s and 30s being hospitalised for cardiac issues. Ads By Google Ad will close in 27 Skip ad in 2 Skip Ad by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chuck Norris Begs Seniors: Avoid These 3 Foods Like The Plague Roundhouse Provisions Watch Now Undo Stress, lack of sleep, pollution and working at odd hours have all contributed to the increase in heart disease among young people, said noted cardiologist Naresh Trehan. 'The numbers are worrisome; out of 34 beds in my ICU, nine are occupied by patients under 40,' said Naveen Bhamri, vice-chairman of cardiology at Max Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi's Shalimar Bagh, who performed an angioplasty on a 39-year-old this week. 'A majority of my patients are in their 20s and 30s, who see long periods of inactivity due to being stuck at their desks, stressed out by the constant urban hustle and pressure to hit corporate targets.' Live Events Nishith Chandra, director, interventional cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in the national capital, said he is seeing 10-20 patients in the age group of 20-30 years every month with heart-related issues. The key drivers behind this trend are sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, high stress, poor sleep and mental health issues, Chandra said. "Undiagnosed hypertension, post-Covid heart inflammation, use of steroids and unsafe gym supplements, smoking, alcohol and recreational drug use are some other factors," he said. Hospitals across the country are reporting increased cases of young professionals having cardiovascular diseases, sudden cardiac arrests and heart attacks. 'Not all of them have the typical triggers like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and family history. Recent data shows that one in four individuals having heart attacks are aged 40 and under,' said M Sudhakar Rao, consultant - cardiology at Manipal Hospital, Sarjapur, Bengaluru. A 26-year-old who Rao recently treated for a clot removal and stenting of artery was sleeping only four hours daily due to work pressure and deadlines. Tight deadlines and work pressure, constant hustle culture and impending burnout are causing Indian professionals to remain in sedentary positions for most of the day, get less sleep, and turn to unhealthy, processed foods — all of which can contribute significantly to the risk of heart attacks, say medical professionals. India is the diabetes and hypertension capital of the world, and people are genetically more predisposed to getting heart diseases, often earlier than their counterparts in the West, said Mukesh Goel, senior consultant - cardiothoracic and heart and lung transplant surgery at Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. 'There's a difference of 10-15 years with the West.' Telehealth consultation data from Plum shows two-thirds of cardiac consultations come from the 25-40 age group, showing a premature cardiovascular ageing in India's prime working demographic. 'We've observed that 71% of Indian working professionals are at moderate risk of chronic disease, showing warning signs across blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and obesity,' Saurabh Arora, cofounder of the insurtech startup, told ET. Covid has increased the risk further, said Trehan. 'People who got serious Covid actually have much higher chance of developing heart disease because there is inflammation of the arteries, and the heart muscle became weak. So, if those who got serious Covid were not checked out then they should get it now'. Rising sales of cardiac products Sales of drugs in the cardiac category have risen almost 50% in five years to Rs 30,723 crore in the 12 months through May 2025, according to data from market research firm PharmaTrac. The rising rate of cardiac diseases is driving the growth of cardiac therapy, propelled by strong uptake in lipid-lowering agents, anti- anginal therapies and heart failure treatments. "Consumption of lipid-lowering agents, antianginal therapies and heart failure therapies have almost doubled in the last five years with Indians experiencing heart disease 5-10 years earlier than the global average. The age group has now come down to 30-40 years from earlier 50-60 years, said Sheetal Sapale, vice-president, commercial at PharmaTrac. Sales of cardiac products increased 11.7% in 2024 compared with the year before. Some companies are stepping up to drive better awareness on heart health and risk factors and running regular check-ups on cardiac health. Manipal Hospitals has ongoing partnerships with companies like Samsung and Goldman Sachs to drive awareness sessions and organise heart check-ups. Companies like CoinDCX and Meesho have included an ECG check-up for their teams, in addition to checks for risk factors like cholesterol, BP and glucose, said Plum's Arora. More and more forward-thinking employers — especially in sectors like IT/ITeS, BFSI, pharma, and consulting — are beginning to shift their focus from insurance to prevention, said Nimitha Menon, health risk management consulting leader at Mercer Marsh Benefits. 'Key initiatives being adopted include early preventive screenings and targeted lifestyle intervention programmes, advanced cardiac screenings, including ECG, lipid profiling, and calcium scoring from age 30 onward, as well as onsite diagnostic kiosks and partnerships with health check-up providers,' she said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
How breathing patterns change your emotional state
The simplest and effortless act that we do all day and night is to breathe. But did you know that every emotion we feel slightly alters the depth and rhythm of our breath? And this happens the other way round too. How we breathe influences how we feel too. The Language of Breath If you observe your own breath, you will find that when you feel any tension, your breath may become shallow and erratic. Anger may make it fast and forceful. When you are relaxed, your breath may seem slow, deep, and smooth. So, breath is not a mere mechanical exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It significantly mirrors the condition of one's mind. The Haṭha Yoga Pradipika states: चलेवातेचलंचचत्तंचिश्चलेचिश्चलंभवेत्। As the breath moves so does the mind. When one is made steady the other is steadied. Effect of Emotions on Breathing Patterns Here are a few common emotional states and their effect on breathing patterns along with a scientific reason for each: Anger Breathing pattern – forceful inhalations, breath-holding, tightness in the abdomen Reason – pressure gets built up in the body, muscular tension Anxiety Breathing pattern – shallow, rapid breaths Reason – increases sympathetic nervous activity or the fight-or-flight response, raises heart rate Sadness Breathing pattern – sighing, longer exhalations Reason – heaviness in the chest, reduced energy Fear Breathing pattern – breath holding, sudden gasping Reason – surge of adrenaline, temporary shutdown of cognitive ability Joyfulness Breathing pattern – deep, slow breaths Reason – Parasympathetic nervous system activated, reduction of stress hormones, stability of heart rate Scientific Explanation of What Happens in the Brain Modern studies on breath are now supporting what is stated in the yogic texts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Furious Audiologists Try To Ban This $100 Crystal Clear Hearing Breakthrough Top Trending News Today Learn More Undo Activation of the vagus nerve – Deep and slow breaths naturally stimulate the vagus nerve, which calms the heart, digestive organs, and the brain. This eases the body into a parasympathetic mode. Regulation of amygdala activity – Amygdala is the brain's emotional alarm system and breathing consciously reduces its activity to make a person feel relaxed. Increase in GABA levels – Some yogic breathing techniques increase gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which is a neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety. Improved heart rate variability (HRV) – Breathing deeply causes high HRV, and therefore, leads to better emotional regulation and mental strength. The Yogic View of Breath as the Bridge Breath is the medium yogis used to tame and master the monkey mind. In Indian philosophical language, it is called 'prana'. When it flows freely, our physical and mental systems function harmoniously. However, when it is blocked, some imbalance is likely to set in. Breath can be used consciously to manage what is unconscious such as our heart rate or emotional responses. Hence pranayama is not just a technique in yoga – it is a doorway to deeper truths. At The Yoga Institute, more than a 100 years ago, Shri Yogendraji explained 'prana' as 'bioenergy'. He was the first yogi to modify the traditional pranayama to suit the modern individual. Shri Yogendraji formulated easy and simple to follow techniques which are called Yogendra Pranayama. Among these, one very powerful technique is Yogendra Pranayama IV or Diaphragmatic breathing which has a calming effect on the nervous system and leads to emotional wellbeing. How to Practice Yogendra Pranayama IV or Diaphragmatic Breathing Most people have a shallow breathing pattern and they use only their chest and upper lungs. Unfortunately, this does not supply adequate oxygen to the body and can lead to tiredness and other physical and mental health issues. This pranayama is done supine, as the position aids maximum movement of the diaphragm. Let us see how to practice Diaphragmatic breathing. Starting position: Lie supine and pull up the knees, close to the hips. Keep the feet 1 foot apart or hip width; knees close to each other. Place your hand on your abdomen. One hand can rest on the side of the body, palms facing up or down, as per your comfort. Eyes kept closed. Image credits: Getty Images Steps: 1. Inhale gently, moving the abdomen upwards. 2. As soon as inhalation is complete exhale out smoothly, being aware of the abdomen falling or sinking in. 3. Keep the inhalation and exhalation count equal as per your comfort. Practice this as per your capacity and comfort, count not to exceed 3 seconds and do 10 rounds per session. Everybody can do this pranayama. In the beginning, it may take time to master this technique, especially if one is used to shallow chest breathing. When you practice consistently, you will experience the many benefits of breathing from the diaphragm. Diaphragmatic Breathing has a soothing effect on your nervous system and relaxes your entire body. Hence, it brings quietude and inner harmony. When Should You Breathe Deeply Since deep breathing helps in maintaining balanced emotional states, it is important to become more aware of your breathing patterns throughout the day and consciously make an effort to breathe deeply every now and then so that it becomes a habit. Deep breathing is especially good in certain situations such as the following. Before going to sleep: Practicing deep breathing just before you turn in to sleep, or even when you lie down in bed to sleep can help with conditions such as insomnia. During stressful moments: Deep breathing will calm your nerves and lower your stress if you practice it in moments of anxiety such as just before an important meeting or a performance. Before meditation: Deep breathing makes any meditative experience better by clearing your mind and inducing relaxation. Lifestyle changes to be emotionally stronger Breath is life. Every living creature breathes from birth to death. Breath is the basis of our very existence. Unfortunately, we don't give it much attention. If you begin to pay more attention to your breath, you will be surprised by its powers. Breathing mindfully and deeply has several emotional, mental and physical benefits. Emotional healing begins when one realizes that something as subtle as one's breath holds immense power. If we train our breath, emotions follow. And when we still our breath, our mind can become a mirror. (Dr Hansaji Yogendra) One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
International Yoga Day 2025: Perform These Yoga Poses At Work Today For Better Health
The International Day of Yoga, celebrated every year on June 21st, was declared by the United Nations in 2014 to recognise the global importance of yoga in promoting holistic health. Rooted in ancient Indian tradition, yoga blends physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to nurture both the body and mind. Its importance lies in encouraging people across the world to embrace a healthy and mindful lifestyle, regardless of age, background, or fitness level even in modern, fast-paced environments like workplaces. Keep reading as we share a list of yoga poses you can try at work for better health. Yoga poses you can perform at work 1. Seated cat-cow stretch (desk cat-cow) Sit on the edge of your chair with feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on your knees. Inhale, arch your back, lift your chest and chin toward the ceiling (Cow Pose). Exhale, round your spine, tuck your chin to your chest and pull your belly in (Cat Pose). Repeat slowly for 5–8 rounds. 2. Seated spinal twist Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor. Place your right hand on the back of your chair and your left hand on your right thigh. Inhale, lengthen your spine. Exhale, gently twist your torso to the right. Hold for 5 breaths, return to centre, and repeat on the other side. 3. Neck rolls Sit tall in your chair with shoulders relaxed. Drop your chin toward your chest. Slowly rotate your head in a clockwise circle. Complete 3 slow rolls, then reverse direction. Be gentle and move with the breath. 4. Chair pigeon pose Sit upright in your chair. Cross your right ankle over your left knee, forming a figure-4. Keep your foot flexed to protect your knee. Gently lean forward to deepen the stretch. Hold for 5–8 breaths, then switch legs. 5. Seated side stretch Sit tall with feet flat and spine straight. Raise your right arm overhead. Gently lean to the left while keeping your hips grounded. Hold for 5 breaths, feeling the stretch along your right side. Come back to centre and repeat on the other side. These office-friendly yoga poses take only a few minutes and can make a big difference in how you feel physically and mentally throughout your workday.
