Sally Kohn: We knew very little at the time when Ayurveda came about and objectively, we know much more now. She says there's something enchanting about ancient India or ancient China or ancient Mesopotamia. But this bizarre notion that they held some kind of like privileged or sacred wisdom is either forgotten or totally unavailable to us now, especially that they knew how to heal. "I actually want to push back on one thing where you said we don't have a lot of antiquity here in North America," she says.
Is there scientific legitimacy to the ancient Indian medicinal practice of Ayurveda? Dave Farina joins us on this Skeptical Sunday to find out!
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:
- Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicinal practice based on balancing doshas (life forces) and natural therapies like diet, yoga, and meditation.
- The belief in ancient wisdom's superiority to modern medicine and the allure of nature attract some people — especially those with anti-pharmaceutical sentiments — to Ayurveda.
- The marketing and commercialization of Ayurvedic products and treatments contribute to its multi-billion dollar industry.
- Ayurveda's emphasis on "detoxing" and "toxins" is based on misused terminology and misconceptions. Critics argue that Ayurveda's reliance on outdated concepts and lack of scientific evidence makes it ineffective and potentially dangerous. Despite the criticism, Ayurveda continues to be popular globally, with many proponents advocating its holistic approach to health.
- Integrative medicine seeks to combine Ayurveda and other alternative practices with evidence-based modern medicine, though this remains controversial.
- Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
- Connect with Dave Farina on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, and check out the Professor Dave Debates podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts. Dave’s book, Is This Wi-Fi Organic?: A Guide to Spotting Misleading Science Online is out now!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/874
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