The Difference Credentials Make: Why Our Medical Approach to Ayurveda Matters

I often get asked about the difference between myself and various types of “Ayurvedic practitioners” out there (quote marks used to reflect the term others use, not to be somehow condescending) - for example, Ayurvedic health coaches. It's an important question, and one that gets to the heart of what makes The Buddha's Medicine unique.

Let me start with some context: I'm not an "Ayurvedic practitioner." Absolutely no shade at Ayurvedic practitioners of various kinds. I personally know some wonderful people who are Ayurvedic practitioners. But I am not a lay person in the domain of medicine. I'm a medical doctor with over a decade of clinical experience who has deeply integrated years of study and direct mentorship in Ayurvedic medicine into my practice. This distinction is crucial.

Some more helpful context: In the United States, Ayurveda exists in an unusual space. Unlike conventional medical practice, chiropractic medicine, naturopathic medicine, and acupuncture, there is no authoritative licensing or oversight body for Ayurvedic practitioners. This means that anyone can sign-up for a certificate program of some kind and length just about anywhere, and then potentially promote themselves as a physician-level healer without the depth of education, clinical experience, or hands-on training necessary to actually be a physician-level healer. While many practitioners can and do complete valuable training programs of various kinds - for example, in basic Ayurvedic nutrition, Ayurvedic lifestyle coaching, Ayurveda-based yoga instruction, and Ayurvedic massage - they do not have the ability to provide comprehensive medical care; their ability is limited by both legal constraints and the scope of their training and experience.

A typical lay Ayurvedic practitioner in the US might complete a certification program ranging from a few months to a couple of years. While these practitioners can offer valuable wellness guidance and support, they cannot:

Order or reliably interpret medical tests and imaging;
Read modern studies and interpret them in context with all of the nuance and caveats they contain;
Diagnose medical conditions;
Prescribe, de-prescribe, our provide counsel on medications;
Perform medical procedures;
Fully understand potential interactions between conventional treatments and Ayurvedic therapies;
Or otherwise offer comprehensive, high-level Ayurvedic medical care.

In contrast, as a triple board-certified physician, I bring a comprehensive medical foundation that includes:

A complete medical education (MD);
A master's degree in public health focusing on epidemiology (MPH);
Complete residency training and board certification in Family Medicine;
Additional board certifications in both Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) and Lifestyle Medicine (DipABLM);
Extensive clinical experience in various medical settings, including office-based family practice with integrative medicine, family obstetrics, hospital medicine, addiction medicine, HIV medicine, and post-acute care;
More than 15 years of dedicated study and practice of Ayurvedic medicine (as of the time of writing);
And more.

This means that my patients are not choosing between conventional medicine and Ayurveda – they're getting the full spectrum of both healing traditions, thoughtfully integrated by someone qualified to practice both. I operate as a modern integrative medicine physician and apply the profound wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine to each person's care. To be clear and not just sit on my high horse, there are absolutely other qualified physicians out there - especially those who received a degree from Ayurvedic medical school in India and underwent additional allopathic medical training. My own mentor, Vaidya Vasudha Gupta, is in this category. The number of providers of that caliber, training, and experience is small, though.

And this is precisely why I chose my unconventional path. Over the past decade, I've built a foundation that bridges multiple worlds: a medical doctor's training and clinical experience, public health expertise, and deep immersion in Ayurvedic medicine.

So how does this actually look for you, as a patient, or as someone who is thinking about becoming a patient?

When you walk into my office, you're not just getting a surface-level Ayurvedic consultation, nor are you getting the usual, cookie-cutter western medical care – you're getting both the depth of Ayurvedic medical care and the insights of modern medical science, seamlessly integrated. I can read your lab work and understand the subtleties of your doshas. I can prescribe conventional treatments when necessary (such as antibiotics for that UTI) and/or guide you through treatments you are already receiving, while navigating possible interactions with Ayurvedic herbal medicines and therapies. Most importantly, I create custom treatment plans that draw from the best of both worlds.

This integrated approach allows me to:

Perform thorough medical evaluations that incorporate both western diagnostics and traditional Ayurvedic assessment;
Understand when conventional medical intervention is necessary and, and how to favor Ayurvedic lifestyle and other natural therapies otherwise;
Guide you through your care process safely;
And navigate the complexities of modern healthcare without getting stuck in them.

I view my role as more than just a healthcare provider. I'm a bridge between two powerful healing traditions, and a guide on your journey to wellness. My goal isn't just to treat your symptoms – it's to help you discover and address the root causes of your health challenges while reconnecting you with your body's innate healing wisdom.

The path to genuine healing often requires more than a single approach. By bringing together the precision of modern medicine with the holistic wisdom of Ayurveda, we can work together to create a treatment plan that truly serves your individual needs and supports your journey toward optimal health.

Here's a practical example of how this integrated approach works: Let's say that someone comes to me with chronic digestive issues. I know assess their condition through multiple lenses. From a western medical perspective, I can order and interpret necessary lab work, review and interpret imaging studies and reports, rule out serious pathologies, and understand potential pharmaceutical interactions for medications they may already be taking. At the same time, I apply Ayurvedic principles and diagnostic techniques to evaluate their agni (digestive fire), understand their prakrti (constitution) and vikrti (current imbalances), and assess health of the body's tissues. And I always consider seasonal and lifestyle factors that might be contributing to their symptoms.

With this comprehensive perspective, we then construct a treatment plan together that might include:

Targeted, individualized, non-prescriptive nutritional modifications based on both modern dietary science and Ayurvedic principles;
Exercise and lifestyle adjustments that honor circadian biology and dinacharya (Ayurvedic daily routine);
Mind-body interventions that tend to the psychoemotional needs of that person;
Appropriate botanical medicines, hand-designed and hand-blended in small batches by yours truly, selected with full knowledge of potential interactions with any current medications;
And conventional medical interventions when necessary, integrated thoughtfully with traditional approaches.

My unique background also means I understand the language of both worlds. I can communicate effectively with your other healthcare providers when called to, translate complex medical terminology into accessible concepts, and help you make sense of the modern healthcare system without compromising my commitment to authentic Ayurvedic practice.

This is particularly important because health and healing aren't one-size-fits-all. Each person's journey is unique, influenced by countless factors – from genetics and environment to lifestyle and spiritual practices. By drawing from both of these healing traditions, we have more tools at our disposal to create a truly personalized approach to your health.

The Buddha's Medicine represents my vision for what healthcare can and should be when we break down the artificial barriers between healing traditions. It's about creating a space where ancient wisdom and modern science can coexist and complement each other; where we can honor both the sophisticated precision of modern diagnostic tools of conventional medicine and the profound, lasting insights of Ayurvedic healing at the same time.

You already hold the keys to your own healing. My role is to help you unlock that potential, drawing from the full spectrum of medical knowledge – both ancient and modern – to support you on your journey to optimal health.

As always, if you are curious about how our Ayurvedic, integrative health approach can support your health (or the health of a loved one), you can book a cost-free, 15-minute Consultation with Dr. Matt. During this consultation, you'll experience firsthand how our radical acceptance philosophy creates a unique and supportive environment for your healing journey.

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Professional disclaimer: please do not initiate any herbal or other medicinal interventions without the guidance of a knowledgeable provider.