How to become An Ayurvedic Practitioner

• Ayurveda Doctor
• Ayurvedacharya
• Ayurveda Vaidya

What do Ayurvedic Practitioners do?

An Ayurvedic Practitioner would typically need to:

• Manage medical/health problems of patients by analyzing the cause of imbalance through a complete Prakriti analysis to assess dietary habits, lifestyle choices, and mental state of the patient, also checking BP and pulse rate
• Prepare a tailored plan for the patient, which may include advice on diet, lifestyle, massages, yoga, meditation, clothing, location of residence, and herbal supplements while explaining the medicine dosages and the effect of therapy in easily understood terms
• Monitor the patient and assess the effects of the current plan before moving on to subsequent/alternate methods
• Plan Therapeutic Weight Management for patients and schedule regular follow-ups to review the plan and its effect on weight
• Counsel the patient/client on how to preserve health, eliminate impurities, reduce stress, fight disease, and promote happiness and fulfillment
• Make notes, both as a legal record of treatment and for the benefit of other team members
• Resolve queries of walk-in clients and promote health education through various in-house seminars and external activities
• Achieve individual targets for every month

Ayurvedic Practitioners usually consult with their patients indoors. They keep their workplaces pleasant, clean, hygienic, and relaxing as possible to help patients relax and optimize their treatment. Some specialized Ayurveda centers may require their Ayurvedic Practitioners to travel to different cities to meet patients. The ancient texts prescribe a dress code of white or brownish yellow clothes for the Vaidya or Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Ayurvedic Practitioners employed by a professional organization generally work regular hours. Those in private practice can set their schedules.

For the most part, Ayurvedic Practitioners work for themselves. Those who wish to work elsewhere will find employment openings in newspapers, job portals on the internet, and in-campus placement programs of schools offering Ayurvedic Practitioner training.

Ayurvedic Practitioners are generally employed by: 

• Hospital Dispensaries Run by the Government
• Public & Private Academic Institutions
• Government & Private Research Institutions
• Management & Administration Departments of Government & Private Organizations
• Government, Private, Cooperative & Autonomous Drug Manufacturers
• Government Drug Control Authorities
• Clinical Trial Wings of Pharmaceutical Firms
• Government & Private Hospitals
• Medical Tourism Entities
• Ayurveda Speciality Centres
• Third-Party Accreditation Authorities
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Healthcare Centers
• Ayurveda Expert Departments in Insurance Companies
• Advisory & Consultancy Departments in Private & Autonomous Organizations
• Embassies
• Alternative Health Clinics
• Charitable Medical Centers

Professional associations and organizations are a crucial resource for those interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications as an Ayurvedic Practitioner.

• Use of different dosages of herbal medicines because of lack of standardization and quality control of herbal drugs used in clinical trials
• Wide variation in the duration of treatment because inadequate randomization and small sample sizes prevent statistically significant results
• The unique taste and aroma of Ayurvedic medicines interfere with deciding on appropriate placebos

You may need to complete an internship to earn an accredited certificate. The best way to learn about Ayurveda is to contact Ayurvedic Practitioners in your area and ask to interview them. Although most run one-person practices, it may be possible to find work of some kind with a successful Ayurvedic Practitioner or a clinic in your area, especially if you live in a large city. It is impossible to obtain direct experience in Ayurvedic Medicine in high school. So, try and take as many classes in health education as possible.

Significant knowledge of the Hindu tradition and Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas, and the Ayurvedic texts would prove beneficial. While Sanskrit is offered in high schools in India, students in other countries can take advantage of correspondence courses. Students in large cities may find Sanskrit courses at universities or teachers in an Indian community.

Since this tradition comes from India, many aspiring Ayurvedic Practitioners earn their degrees there. In India, the basic qualification is Ayurvedacharya / Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS). It takes five and a half years to complete, including one year of internship. You can also enroll in the less common program for Doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery.

Many accredited private alternative medicine colleges and clinics outside India offer formal graduate training programs in Ayurveda including courses in psychology, anatomy, physiology, herbology, nutritional imbalance, vital points of the body, healing techniques, massage, and chemistry. It involves a lot of hard work as the candidates have to study all the applied aspects of modern medical science and the vast science of Ayurveda.

Most employers prefer that the Ayurvedic Practitioner employed by them is certified. Certification demonstrates competency in a skill or set of skills, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three.

Certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain the professional credibility and stand out in a competitive job market. The education requirements and the duration of a certificate course, depend on the area of specialty chosen. Ayurvedic Practitioners who plan to work as Physicians must take an examination to be licensed to practice.

For Ayurvedic Practitioners who establish their private practice, advancement and financial success are directly related to their business skills and the quality of treatment they provide. They may become owners of larger practices.

Some Ayurvedic Practitioners may advance by taking up faculty positions in Ayurvedic colleges. Those employed in wellness centers can advance to supervisory or managerial positions over the years.

Job prospects are better for candidates with certification and higher degrees.

Ayurvedic Practitioners can choose to specialize in nutrition, lifestyle, natural herbs, facials, herbal wraps, Ayurvedic massage, yoga, and stone therapy massage. Certificate and fellowship courses are available from reputed institutes in various specializations.

Post-baccalaureate programs in Ayurvedic Medicine typically take one to two years, requiring between 500 and 1500 clinical hours for completion. Certified Ayurvedic Practitioners may pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate program in Alternative Medicine and Surgery.

A Holistic Way of Life

Ayurveda is a way of life rather than merely a healing system. An Ayurvedic Practitioner treats the whole person, not only the symptoms that a patient displays. Diet and digestion are cornerstones of the treatment plan and help bring the patient to a state of balance gradually and safely.

Healing with Food and Herbs

Ayurvedic Practitioners must have a thorough and holistic knowledge of food, traditional nutrition, and cooking. Panchakarma is a robust set of cleansing practices, ideally undertaken over 30 days under the guidance of an Ayurvedic Practitioner. The practice and art of healing from natural and locally available herbs make Ayurveda cost-effective while providing cure without side effects or creating another disorder.

The Importance of Licensure

When licensed practitioners of paramedical professions, like nutritionists, psychologists, naturopaths, massage therapists, and acupuncturists are trained in Ayurveda and use Ayurvedic techniques in their professional work, they may also be called Ayurvedic Practitioners. Any non-MD who practices the full range of Ayurvedic medicine in the West, however, is seen as illegally practicing medicine without a license.

Budding Interest of MNCs in Ayurveda

Specific reports may not be in favor of statutory regulation for Ayurvedic Practitioners and other herbal traditions. In such cases, Ayurvedic Practitioners may be severely undermined in some countries, and the public cannot safely access Ayurvedic therapies. However, budding interest in Ayurveda demonstrated by big multinational companies (MNCs) has led to gainful employment in clinical trials and research.

Potential Pros&Cons of Freelancing vs. Full-Time Employment

Being a freelancer offers freedom with flexible schedules, working hours, and location. Freelance Ayurvedic Practitioners have full ownership of the business and can afford selectivity in terms of the variety of projects and clients. On the flip side, lack of stability and security is just as much a possibility as unlimited earning potential. Freelancing spells out increased responsibility, effort, and risk. Self-employment tax may become the bitter reality just as paid holidays, sick/maternity/paternity leave, and eligibility for employment benefits turn into distant dreams.

An Ayurvedic Practitioner who chooses to be a full-time employee has access to company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Boredom compounded by the inability to pursue passion projects due to lack of time or effort, lack of flexibility, lack of ownership, lack of variety, and the need to budget money for commuting and attire costs are factors that weigh against full-time employment.

An Uncertain Future

An independent report by Professor David Walker of the Herbal Medicines and Practitioners Working Group published on 26th March 2015 was not in favor of statutory regulation for Ayurvedic Practitioners and other herbal traditions. Consequently, Ayurveda Practitioners are severely undermined, and the public cannot safely access their therapies in the UK.

What you eat, where you live, even the colors you are attracted to can be explained by Ayurveda.

“Chikitsa” (treatment ) for humanity ailing from complications from drugs, drug resistance, as well as quirky and autoimmune diseases, is always fruitful. Ayurveda may earn a lot of money; it may become Dharma (service to society); it may foster friendship; it may bring name and fame. Becoming an Ayurvedic Practitioner is one of the most satisfying career options for those interested in the ancient Indian science of holistic healing.

When diet is wrong, medicine is useless. When diet is correct, medicine is needless. Avoid prescribing unnecessary medication and making false claims.