Ayurveda and Disease

Natalie Thomas

BIOL 4500

Curated paper 1

Ayurveda and Disease

Ayurveda is one of the most significant concepts behind understanding the connection between the mind and body. This concept of a mind/body connection has many names, but is most commonly referred to as “The Science of Life”, when specifically citing Ayurveda.  This ancient practice has been a staple in scientific research for a long time. By incoorportating this holistic view into scientific research, many alternative actions have been discovered to combat the issues that modern medicine cannot completely solve. 

This holistic approach to understanding the body has always been an interest of mine. The definition of what holistic medicine is helps to convey the message that this is a process of utilizing every aspect of the body, not just bits and pieces. When examining a machine it is important to look at the small parts to fix the issue. However, without a comprehensive knowledge of the system as a whole, the process of finding a solution can be tedious, time consuming, and otherwise useless. An organism can be viewed in the same way as a collection of systems. If not everything is working in harmony, the whole system could collapse. So, it makes sense that the body could resolve some issues associated with disease by restoring the proper balance. 

In an article called Ayurveda and the battle against chronic disease: An opportunity for Ayurveda to go mainstream?, Alex Hankey explains how Ayurveda could become mainstream if evaluated and adopted properly. Of course it isn’t a fix all process, but there are many benefits to the practice. It was significant that a lot of the practices associated with Ayurveda could be explained in a manner that resembles techniques of modern science. In Ayurveda, the idea that the Doshas are out of balance is the underlying explanation of why our bodies experience disease. The balancing techniques that Ayurveda introduce are generally aimed at external changes to the individual as a whole, in order to regain internal and overall balance. The concept that regulatory systems in the body and the evolution of organisms are linked, creates a complexity that shouldn't be ignored. Equilibrium has always been an important aspect to any biological system, so it is vital to create the balance necessary for the body to remain healthy. 

The complexity of the human body is amazing. There are systems of checks and balances that keep every system running correctly. Even the smallest of changes can have great impacts on the entire system. This is especially apparent when discussing metabolic diseases. The onset of Diabetes is one such example of a system imbalance. This disease affects the amount of glucose present in the bloodstream. If the level of blood glucose is not maintained carefully, the effects on the body can be detrimental. These harmful effects aren’t only specific to the body but also to other aspects of life. These other areas can be financial, emotional, and psychological. So, if not maintained well, this disease can take over a person’s life. By incorporating Ayurveda practices to maintain a specific lifestyle, diabetic patients can begin to see a change in their condition.

 Like stated before, the whole idea of Ayurveda is to maintain balance in all areas. If one part of the system becomes overbearing or insufficient, the body loses balance, and this is when diseases begin to present themselves. There are many articles that have been published using Ayurveda to treat diabetes. The main idea is to bring back the necessary balance in all areas in life, especially physically, so that the body can start to regain this necessary balance. One article that I found focused specifically on the “Use of Ayurveda in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.”(Gordon et. al.) The benefits that come from using Ayurveda treatments are actually very consistent with the treatments that allopatric medicine would also prescribe. By using this form of integrated medication, patients will be better able to control their symptoms and bring balance back into their system. The conclusion of this study essentially described the benefits that would come from implementing theis type of treatment. 

Additionally there are many more benefits that can relate to the biological/spiritual balance that Ayureveda can provide. One article titled Low glucose relates to greater aggression in married couples, delved into the idea of aggression levels and how glucose levels can affect this. In addition to this first study, we were also given two other studies that also focused on self-control, aggression, and glucose levels. One study called Sweetened Blood Cools Hot Tempers: Physiological Self-Control and Aggression, also looked into this idea that glucose levels can help an individual avoid unnecessary aggression. Their methods included looking at four different studies to test the same hypothesis. 

In addition to looking at healthy individuals, this study also looked at how diabetes and other metabolic diseases were correlated with factors such as crime rates, low self-control, and killing rates. These studies all came to the same solution that inadequate glucose levels lead to greater aggression, less self-control, and higher violence. By implementing Ayureveda techniques the balance of the system would be affected on a greater scale. As patients are able to maintain their glucose levels the individual will be better able to contribute to a balanced, functional society. After the individual benefits, their personal social webs will also benefit from the ripple effect that this balance provides. And eventually, the community levels will also begin to see an improvement. However, in order to benefit from this, changes would have to be implemented. This means that more adequate healthcare, patient follow through, and hunger would need to be addressed in addition to the individual needs. 

The physical benefits that come from Ayureveda can also help to combat many mental health challanges that come from a system imbalance. An article from the National Institute of Mental Health put out a piece talking about Chronic Illness and Mental Health. The article starts off by explaining what depression is, how it can affect a person, and how treatment can lessen the symptoms. The article then goes on to explain that individuals who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness have a higher chance of developing depression. There was a list of chronic diseases that have an especially high chance of causing a person to develop depression. Diabetes was included on this list and it makes a lot of sense. There was an emphasis that individuals who experience both depression and a chronic illness will have more severe symptoms.

 In addition to this relationship, the inverse is also true. People who have depression have a higher chance of developing a chronic illness. The body is unable to care for itself when suffering from depression, and people are less likely to seek medical attention (National Institute of Mental Health). With all of these factors working together, it is so important to seek treatment to help lessen the pain that can come from either factor. It may not be a perfect system, and it may not seem like much is happening, but there will be a difference that can help to slowly improve a person’s life. 

It is evident that the systems which keep our lives running smoothly take a lot to keep aligned and balanced. By keeping these systems healthy, the bigger system will also benefit. Each small area can have a large impact. By utilizing Ayureveda, the balance can be more easily explained and protected. Research will also be benefitted by allowing the concepts of Ayureveda to influence the direction that they go to find the answer, to regain proper balance. 

Works Cited

Bushman, Brad J., et al. “Low Glucose Relates to Greater Aggression in Married Couples.” PNAS, National Academy of Sciences, 29 Apr. 2014, www.pnas.org/content/111/17/6254.abstract. 

Chronic Illness & Mental Health. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health/index.shtml. 

DeWall, C Nathan, et al. “Sweetened Blood Cools Hot Tempers: Physiological Self-Control and Aggression.” Aggressive Behavior, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21064166. 

Gordon, Allison, et al. “Use of Ayurveda in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.” Global Advances in Health and Medicine, SAGE Publications, 7 Aug. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6686320/. 

Hankey, Alex. “Ayurveda and the Battle against Chronic Disease: An Opportunity for Ayurveda to Go Mainstream?” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Medknow Publications Pvt Ltd, Jan. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3149400/.