Being ill is one of the natural phenomena that man has been dealing with for thousands of years. According to historical records, some illnesses and diseases, which are now under control, are said to have killed thousands of people due to the lack of awareness and proper treatments. Since then, in response to this threat to the human race, practitioners have developed a number of medical systems. Among them, Ayurveda medicine and western medicine have gained in popularity. However, even though Ayurveda and western medicinal treatments are similar in some aspects, the main focus, side effects, and quality control have been some important aspects that need to be taken into consideration when weighing the pros and cons of the two medical approaches.
There are some pretty solid similarities to show why those who seek medical treatment have been equally attracted to Ayurveda and modern medicine. One similarity is that both approaches are two widely accepted medical systems used to provide the public with health care. The fact that the two systems are being constantly monitored and regulated by recognised professional bodies is, in addition, another important aspect that demands attention. For instance, Ayurveda Medical Council is the apex body of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) is the statutory body of western medicine in Sri Lanka. Moreover, traditional medicine and modern medicine are similar in their approach to address illnesses and diseases with medicines. .
Having been the mother of all medicine, Ayurveda, which dates back thousands of years, has long been a popular choice of medicine among people despite a bit of criticism. One of the key features of this traditional approach that has contributed to this popularity has been the focus of treatment; that is, Ayurveda medicinal treatment focuses on the cause. This, in turn, leads to prevention. Side effect-free drugs have also been another main characteristic this system has.