Ayurveda Tiers of treatment in the Light of Diabetes

A Disease can be classified based on many aspects, from physical, chemical, psychological, or even spiritual. Most importantly, a disease can be classified as an imbalance of some sort in the body. Too much or too little of anything can produce harmful effects on the body, causing disease. A non-communicable disease accounts for more than 60% of mortality, modern deadly diseases are often harder to treat because they are not caused by lack of hygiene, a visible bacteria or parasite, or by spreadable means. The major disease-related causes of death in the world are cardiac arrest, cancer, strokes, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. The majority of these are from a lack of balance in the body and not by another organism, virus, or natural disaster. To better understand the disease, and to better treat disease, one must understand what is the imbalance in the body and how to best restore balance. When this imbalance is understood, preventative measures can be set to prevent disease in the body. Ayurveda addressed these imbalances, and while its roots start in India, its practices have spread to all parts of the world. It is often called eastern medicine or osteopathy. These techniques focus on treating the body as a whole and focus on healing the mind, body, and soul concerning disease, and promoting a healthy body and mind to prevent disease.

 

            Ayurveda concerns the whole person in ‘body, mind, and spirit’ combining these to be an integrated whole organism system. Often a disease caused in one part of the body can be due to an imbalance in another part. This is why this technique focuses on healing the body as a whole, as the body functions as one complete unit. A lack of support in any of the three fields can greatly impact the health of an individual. The heart is seen as an important aspect of the body, it's traditionally associated with many emotions and Ayurveda states that the channel of the mind is rooted in the heart. Anatomically the heart is rooted in every cell in the body through the circulatory system. This being said, it would make sense that the heart is the center of balance for the mind and its vast network connects it to all of the body. Ayurveda classifies sickness much differently than modern medicine does. Ayurveda treats disease like it’s always there and is constantly working to improve the body to prevent disease through diet and exercise and natural supplement use. This technique can be applied to any disease as it works towards preventing illness rather than waiting for illness to strike and then treating it. This method of treatment appears to be more logical, as the solution should lean towards preventative illness rather than the treatment of illness. It is through education on preventative measures that Ayurveda techniques make patients’ lives happier and healthier overall.

 

            This technique can be applied to one of the major leading causes of death in the nation, diabetes. Type two Diabetes is caused by an excess amount of sugar in the blood, its reign is expanding in the western world where fast food and sugar are ingrained into every aspect of modern life. The amount of sugar affects the overall balance of the body, when blood sugar is out of balance, over time, it can develop into diabetes which affects the body’s ability to use insulin and metabolize sugar. Without the proper uptake of insulin in the body, cells cannot turn sugar into energy via metabolism and continue homeostasis of life which can lead to the death of the individual. In type two diabetes, the body’s cells lose the ability to recognize insulin in the active sites of membrane-bound proteins. However, this disease can be prevented through changes in lifestyle from diet to exercise. This is where Ayurveda techniques can play a major role in decreasing the ever-increasing number of diabetes patients.

 

            An interesting concept of Ayurveda is Ritucharya or a seasonal regimen of healthy living. This can be explained as a routine to cope with impacts caused by disease and the adjustment of certain aspects of life to bring balance back to the body. In the modern world, one would see this as getting a seasonal flu shot, in the wintertime tanning or taking vitamin supplements during the vitamin D deficient season of winter, or a daily routine specific to an individual to prevent the disease from occurring. In the context of diabetes, there is no injection or supplemental treatment to prevent it. There is a new rising technique for prediabetics that if qualified can bring balance back to their body. The key lies in the gut. Those who are prediabetic and know it, whether through a diagnosis or family history, can prevent diabetes through maintaining balance, which can relate to Ayurveda techniques, from exercise and moderation of diet. Additionally, diabetes can also be associated the gut microbiome diversity. “Fecal microbiota transplant from lean healthy donors has also been found to be successful in improving insulin sensitivity in men with metabolic syndrome” (Ferranti). In this study, they found associations between obesity and insulin resistance with a lack of gut microbiome flora, which can lead to type two diabetes. Recently gut microbiota transplantations had occurred from healthy individuals to those who lack intestinal microbiota diversity to improve health conditions. This study did that with male recipients who had metabolic syndrome or a collection of numerous metabolic risk factors. After six weeks of these gut microbiota transplantations, they found that the insulin sensitivity of recipients increased, meaning their cells were better able to take up glucose in the bloodstream into the body cell quicker and in higher amounts. This is fascinating because this simple solution could help a lot of people at risk for type two diabetes not develop diabetes. Additionally, these individuals can apply more Ayurveda techniques in addition to the transplant to maintain their gut microbiome flora such as the increase in fibers in their diet to regular exercise.

 

Type two diabetes is caused by a gene-environment interaction that can better be prevented if individuals are properly educated about these risk factors rather than a national scale of body weight and height that determines if one is obese. Type one diabetes relies more upon the gene factor of the interaction, while type two is more reliant on the environment. Dinacharya, or daily regimen for healthy living, is another concept of Ayurveda that can be applied most often to diabetic patients. There is a saying that once a person stops moving, they die. This theory has been backed up by many examples, as an older person who decides to start using a wheelchair is closer to death than if they continue to walk places. Lack of physical activity weakens the muscles and bones of the body, destroying the conditions that allow the body to strengthen itself. In the younger population, less exercise, or worst, no exercise can cause insulin resistance due to the increase of blood sugar and fat accumulation in the body, reducing insulin sensitivity of the body. Ayurvedic exercise techniques do not require intense several hours a day gym routine. Ayurveda continues to focus on the individual and promotes each individual to develop their exercise routine they enjoy that works the body to maintain health. They focus on performing at fifty percent of capacity, this allows the body to break a mild sweat while still pushing the body to perform. Often yoga is associated, as it can be done as a person gets older and in addition to the physical benefits also has mental benefits that align with the other practices of Ayurveda.

 

Additionally, the practice of Sadvaritta, known as principles of right conduct and a healthy mind, and Achara Rasayana, a code of conduct in the way a person should and should not live, can also be used to prevent diabetes. There have been many studies done to understand how powerful the mind is. The mind has control over the body, and often the brain wants to be right more than it wants to be happy and healthy. This is a common thread in psychological diseases but can be applied to diabetes as well. A healthy social life and healthy relationships can promote a healthy mind, and when the mind is happy the health and happiness of the body often follow. Yoga is most often used in ayurvedic preventative techniques because it allows the mind to meditate creating a sense of balance and allowing significant psychological and physiological changes and improving the sense of well-being in the individual.

 

While the days of gene alteration, test tube babies, and genetic medication are not far ahead, the best and long-lasting treatment for health boils down to diet and exercise. Disorder in lifestyle has been seen to develop type two diabetes through the increase of blood sugar to the lack of physical activity. Ayurveda techniques have been applied for centuries and continue to be an effective treatment of diabetes through the strong emphasis on preventative and promotive aspects of a healthy life. Ritucharya promotes seasonal changes to maintain health, Dinacharya focuses on daily regiments that build a healthy body, Sadvaritta derives a healthy mind, and Achara Rasayana builds a healthy soul. While all these aspects can be applied to any disease, they especially can be applied to diabetes and the treatment and prevent the disease through the building and maintaining of a healthy body, mind, and soul.

 

Cited Sources:

    Ferranti, E., Dunbar, S. B., Dunlop, A. L., & Corwin, E. J. (2014). 20 things you didn’t know about the human gut microbiome. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 29(6), 479.