Ayurvedic medicine: An introduction for nurses

Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient Indian form of healing. It is gaining popularity as part of the growing interest in New Age spirituality and in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In this article the principles and practices of Ayurvedic medicine are outlined. In doing so, the safety of ayurvedic medicine is explored in the context of evidence-based practice and the implications of Ayurvedic medicine for nursing are discussed. It is concluded that an awareness of Ayurvedic medicine may help nurses to be cognisant of its benefits and potential complications if it is used with conventional medicine. Although the therapeutic value of ayurvedic treatment is yet to be fully established through randomized control trials, its potential in terms of health promotion, nutrition and spirituality are acknowledged in the emerging literature.