Investigating Disease in Light of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an idea that focuses on the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. It’s an ideology that seems foreign to many, but it manifests itself in our daily experiences more than we think. Principles of diet and exercise are focused on helping people have the motivation to keep their body in a healthy state. Many religious traditions teach that the body is the home of the spirit, and that the individual is comprised of these parts balancing with each other. That which affects the body also affects the mind and spirit and vice versa. Some people and groups use this idea in working in many disciplines and especially in serving people. For example, there is a Christian mission in the Dominican Republic dedicated to serving the people within impoverished areas where people are in need of basic necessities. The resources they focused on providing were medical care, education, and spiritual care.  They had a motto that defined the focus of their efforts. Their guiding principles was to strengthen the body, mind, and soul of the people. There it is--Ayurveda. They had a strong belief that each aspect of the life of the person had to be strengthened together, and that the strength of each was dependent upon the other. It worked well for them. It gave them a goal and specific areas to work with. It is important that multiple aspects of the whole are considered to bring about the best outcome.

When looking at disease and wellness in light of Ayurveda, multiple pieces fit together to create the whole picture. There is the body aspect which requires a thorough investigation into the facts and the science behind what is occurring in the body. It requires testing and investigation. Then there is the mind aspect. How does treatment affect the person? How is the person’s lifestyle and motivations going to affect the course of the disease? Are they mentally fit to deal with what might be required of them? Are the effects on the mind worth the risk to heal the body? It’s a broad concept that can open the door to a valuable way of thinking about wellness and disease.

The biology of disease is all about this great balance. One change elicits a response, for good or bad. Each aspect of the organism is connected to the other. Issues with mental health may cause changes in hormone levels and metabolism. Sleep deprivation may lead to metabolic changes and increase the risk of certain diseases. The whole system is in constant motion working toward balance and equilibrium. Disease comes from an imbalance or lack of proper function. In Ayurvedic medicine, for example, they use a method called Panchakarma which uses multiple methods to cleanse the body, mind, and consciousness. It is designed to help the person eliminate toxins in the body that might contribute to organ dysfunction and chronic disease. They emphasize the need for reducing stress through means such as meditation to slow the aging process and allow for balance and a strong immune system. The whole aim of this medical perspective is establishing a state of balance in the body to provide optimal health and wellness.

Some diseases are defined by their origins in and causation of imbalances. Seeing these diseases in light of Ayurveda can be enlightening. Diabetes is one of these diseases. Diabetes is often described as a pandemic, but it is not a quick killer. It is slow if uncontrolled and damage can be irreversible. Even though diabetes has a specific set of symptoms and involves specific organs and mechanisms, it is not isolated from other systems. The changes it causes have a cascade effect. For example, cardiovascular disease is now a major concern that can arise from uncontrolled diabetes. The mechanisms for this connection have been researched and the imbalances are small and specific, but powerful. When researching about diseases such as diabetes, we need to consider the effects on the whole person and not just those things that are obvious. Diabetes not only results in imbalances but the risk of its development from imbalances themselves. Some of these imbalances come from sources that might not be expected. For example, many sleep apnea and sleep disordered patients over 65 are diabetics and sleep deprivation is now showing to be a factor in the onset of insulin resistance. Sleep and diabetes have a connection that can’t be ignored.

Just as the onset of diabetes is caused by imbalance, it is best treated by reinstating balance. With Type I diabetics, supplementing insulin helps reinstate normal processes. Type 2 diabetics have a more difficult journey to balance. Physical inactivity and diet are the large components that contribute to the onset of the disease. A battle between the body and the mind has to take place to make changes in lifestyle that can recreate balance. In other words, the body must become balanced with the mind and the motivations of the spirit to bring control. Helping diabetics develop this control is one of the greatest challenges in their care. It’s unclear what the best way to inspire this change is.  Is it better education? The fear factor? Incentives and/or policies and laws? Each individual has to find their own balance, I guess. It could be that we focus too much on the body aspect and that doesn’t resonate with people. We emphasize weight loss, what to eat and not to eat, certain amounts of needed exercise. Maybe the perspective should be the whole picture, the mind and the spirit. Instead of talking about weight loss goals, maybe the goal should be the cultivation of a lifestyle that promotes wellness. Being healthy is an individual bar that everyone can reach, while establishing a number of pounds to be lost can be simply discouraging. People should be educated about what it looks like and feels like to be healthy and then be allowed to use their mind and their ambitions to get there.

Imbalance from diseases such as diabetes are not only present on a personal, biological level, but can also be seen on the societal level. Society is similar to a body, and the same concepts can apply on this level. Diabetes care has a hefty price tag and can put a burden on any economy. Money that has to be put forth for diabetes care cannot be used in other deserving areas. Some areas in need of focus might need to be overlooked. The cost of care isn’t the only concern. Indirect costs resulting from loss of productivity put a large burden on society. This goes to show that imbalances in individuals can create issues that affects millions of people. Analyzing diseases in this societal perspective reinforces the need for investigation into the best way to restore proper function. Society is made up of individual people. Making sure things are functioning properly therefore should become the responsibility of the individual.

Understanding disease states and dysfunction is complex and requires taking into consideration so many aspects that might not be obvious. Researching disease in light of Ayurveda can open up so many paths that can broaden understanding. Realizing the body is in constant balance and that one imbalance can have a cascading effect can guide research into ideas that might not have been obvious before. Diabetes is a great example of a disease that can be better understand with the idea of balance in mind, but all diseases have some form of imbalance and realizing that can open our eyes to just how much of an impact it might be having. In our personal lives, we need to understand the results of our choices, both in personal and health-related matters, can be far reaching. Balance is an essential component in our lives. We all need a little Ayurveda. A balance between the body, mind and spirit.