Work with an Ayurvedic Practitioner
Ayurvedic Health Counselors (AHC) are specialists in Ayurvedic preventive and lifestyle medicine. They identify a patient’s constitution and current imbalances, then work with patients to establish health/wellness goals and make recommendations to restore balance and maintain health. These principles are used at every level of clinical practice to provide care.
Ayurvedic Practitioners (AP) specialize In Clinical Ayurvedic treatments, working with individuals who are sick with mild, moderate, or serious disease. They incorporate plant medicine and other modalities into their treatment plans for individuals.
Ayurvedic Practitioners appreciate the benefits of Western medicine and do not advocate leaving your medical doctors to seek care for your conditions. They will want to know about the care you are currently receiving so they can recommend treatments that are compatible. They will also ask you for permission to contact your medical provider so they can discuss the treatments they are recommending. If you prefer not to give this permission, your Ayurvedic Practitioner will encourage you to discuss the Ayurvedic treatments with your provider.
Is the Practice of Ayurveda Regulated?
Although Ayurvedic practice is not currently regulated in the United States, the profession is growing and has identified the need for common standards among practitioners. The National Ayurveda Medical Association (NAMA) is a good source for information about the profession and its growth in the United States. NAMA was instrumental in developing the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board, which certifies Ayurvedic Practitioners who have met specific standards and pass a rigorous certification exam.
A recent development in the Ayurvedic community has been the promotion of accreditation of Ayurvedic educational programs, which will ensure that Ayurvedic educational institutions/providers meet standards that have been set by the Ayurvedic practicing community. The Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission (AAC) is the accrediting body who follows the processes and requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education to provide accreditation to Ayurvedic programs. Accreditation is a process for educational programs to ensure quality education, while certification is a process for practitioners to ensure informed practice. These movements are relatively recent, so practitioners are just beginning to seek certification, and programs are just beginning to seek accreditation. Over time, however, this will be a way for patients to identify qualified practitioners and for students to identify qualified programs.