Ayurveda and the brain

    We all know that the brain is one of the most complex organs. This great complexity is evident in the simple pieces of its structure, like wrinkles on the surface. Wrinkles are significant because they increase surface area and this means that there are more neurons. The brain and its neurons are highly specialized. This specialization means that different parts of the brain control different functions. For example, the brain is composed of two halves that are connected by a small piece. Each half specializes in different forms of thinking and the connecting piece allows communication. Even the different lobes of the brain have specialized functions. The Frontal lobe is responsible for higher-order thinking and voluntary movement. The Parietal lobe on each side controls our senses. The Temporal lobe is in charge of our visual and audiological memory. The Occipital lobe at the back recognizes color, words, and movements. Finally, the Cerebellum at the base of our brain controls essential body functions like balance, coordination, and posture. Damage to any one of these areas could have detrimental effects on our well-being. Damage can occur physically or physiologically but both will have adverse effects and possible disease.

    Many types of brain diseases cause imbalances that affect overall health. Brain diseases are divided into several categories that have various effects on the brain. Included in these classifications are diseases such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. Most people are familiar with these diseases.  There are lesser-known diseases such as Myasthenia gravis and Tay-Sachs as well. Regardless of the disease, health will be affected. Diagnosis of any one of these will necessitate changes to lifestyle, medications, activities, and situations. It is important to make these changes with health in mind to ensure that the proper choice is being made for the person who is diagnosed. Too often we make choices based on lesser knowledge which leads to increased problems. This problem is not just isolated to the diagnosis and treatment of disease, but to many other situations in life. The more informed we are, the more sound our decisions will be.

    Throughout my research for the project proposal, I was able to learn a lot about certain plant products and what they can do for the body. This directly ties to many of the things I have learned over the last few years about nutrition. I learned how important it was to provide the correct type of fuel for the body. I had not done specific research on any plant products, but connecting what I had learned from the research about plants and the tips from the past expanded my knowledge. Learning from different sources at different times allowed me to have a more complete picture. That knowledge has helped me to make more informed decisions that have already blessed my life. Another idea that I found in research that I had learned previously was that of fasting. In the past, I had learned that intermittent fasting was a way to manage weight and use fat stores as energy. I put that to the test and was able to improve my health. Imagine my surprise when I learned that fasting could also be used to prevent cancer by the same mechanism. Fasting forces your body to burn ketones for energy instead of glucose, which helps to lose weight and slow down cancer growth. This is a prime example of increased knowledge that helped me to make better decisions for my health. I have maintained balance to avoid disease.  However, not all diseases can be avoided. At times we may inherit characteristics that cause us to be prone to disease.  We can also be in environments where disease is unavoidable. Some unavoidable diseases include neurological disorders.

    Myasthenia gravis, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease fall under the category of neurological disorders. These can affect motor function and emotional and cognitive health. Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is when neurons in the brain and spinal cord become demyelinated over time. The degradation of the myelin sheaths is the result of an autoimmune response whose cause is unknown. Many of the symptoms that occur affect the patient’s ability to function in everyday life, especially the advanced symptoms. One of the most interesting things about MS is that it occurs more often in certain regions of the world but only under the age of fifteen. MS has an inactive and active phase. Corticosteroid treatment can be given in the active phase to manage symptoms but the inactive phase is where recovery can occur. The inactive phases can last many years so this reprieve is very helpful to a patient’s health. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with MS six years ago as a teenager. To most, it seems that he can live a normal life. He does go to the hospital every six months for testing and treatment but otherwise is able to live normally. This may just be my limited perspective and he may have other challenges that I am not aware of. I have been told stories of some of the active phases where he does exhibit some symptoms and his life is severely affected. He struggles with travel, going into new situations, being in warm climates, etc. He can manage life more easily when he is in a set routine. Management of his symptoms becomes easier in controlled situations. That is a lesson we can learn as well.

    One way to think of balance is by living within our boundaries. That is what my brother-in-law has found works for him and it can work for others also. We cannot control everything, but we can do certain things to help ourselves live better.  We realize when we have reached our limits and when we need to push ourselves. By setting routines and following them our physical and mental health will improve, along with productivity. This approach of routines and boundaries may not work for some due to disease. Huntington’s is a genetic disease where the expansion of repeat region leads to a dysfunctional protein and can lead to dementia. Tay-Sachs is another congenital disease caused by a frameshift mutation that is out of the control of the patient. Even some cases of Alzheimer’s disease have a genetic component. These genetics make it difficult to avoid consequences, even if you live within your boundaries. In these cases, balance may take the form of living with the disease as best as possible.

    Similarly, traumatic brain injuries can be hard to avoid. Many happen as accidents. However, certain actions can be taken to minimize the risk of brain injury. Proper safety precautions help to lessen risk. However, not all risks can be mitigated and these unfortunate events can cause drastic changes in personality, mood, and cognition. These changes will affect interactions with other people, especially families, coworkers, and friends. A common occurrence of traumatic brain injury is a concussion. Most people know someone who has suffered a concussion through sports or other activities. We have learned much more about concussions over the last couple of decades, but have much to learn. Improvements in recognition and treatment yield positive results but poorly handled situations regarding concussions still happen. I have never had a concussion myself, but some of my friends have sustained them. Now at the clinic, I see patients who have suffered concussions and take personal medical histories from them. Concussions are terrible injuries with side effects. Episodes of confusion, nausea, vomiting, and photosensitivity are common. Recently restructured guidelines now require a Symptom-Free Waiting Period for concussed athletes before they return to activity. Any of the aforementioned symptoms, or additional concussion symptoms, must be resolved before full participation is permitted. From a 2016 study, we see that a waiting period was implemented in 99.3% of the cases studied, up from 60.3% (Pfaller). This shows that improvements have been made. This is a great step forward because repeat concussions are extremely common. Another common form of TBI happens from blast force. It transpires when exposed to explosives and damages the brain between white and gray matter or the blood-brain barrier. This can lead to central nervous system disorders such as PTSD, loss of consciousness, and other forms of altered mental state. The recovery of patients depends on events in their cells and biochemical processes that can range from a few minutes to weeks.

    One of the risks of brain injury can be a personality disorder. Two of the most studied personality disorders are borderline and antisocial personality disorders. A comprehensive analysis will not be attempted here, but both show that there are many crossovers between our genetics and our environment when it comes to such disorders. This relates to Ayurveda, which stresses the connection between the environment and the body. The connections between our body and our health are much more than the medicines we take and the genes we have. Our environment plays a massive role in our health. Striving to improve our environment will improve our health. There are aspects of health outside of our control, but the efforts made will have a positive effect. We can give ourselves better health.

    Sometimes we can improve our health on our own and other times it requires outside help. At times this help may come in the form of drugs. Drugs play a big role in the brain by altering communication. Drugs work on neurons and neurotransmitters to change the way the brain sends, receives, or processes signals from biological pathways. The small molecules of drugs affect the pathways to cause responses in the body. Effective drugs are similar in structure to naturally produced chemicals. We know that structure determines function. Drugs that mimic natural chemicals can specifically bind to produce desired results. Different types of drugs will produce different results. Common types of drugs include stimulants, depressants, narcotics, psychedelics, hallucinogens, inhalants, and designer drugs. These drug classes are grouped by the effect that they have on the body and the brain. The resulting communications between brain cells will be changed to produce a different response due to the presence of drugs.

    Administration of drugs is a simple process. First, the drug must be introduced to the body, whether orally or via injection. The mode of introduction will affect the concentration and how long the drug will remain in the system. Then it will circulate to reach the target cells where it will bind to the proper receptors and produce the desired effects. Afterward, it will be separated from the receptor, broken down, and excreted from the body. Extensive testing of drugs leads to products that are safe when used within the correct limits. Incorrect use is known as drug abuse and can lead to health problems. However, even proper long-term drug use changes the central nervous system at the receptors and transporters by rearranging synapses and rewiring neural connections. The power of the brain allows this overdose to become a new normal, thus acclimatizing to the constant stimuli. In the future higher amounts of the drug are required to produce the same effect and can lead to addiction. Changed brain composition convinces the user that they require certain substances for survival and will promote continual drug use. 

    Factors that increase the risk of addiction include genetics, family history, parental attitude, drug use in high school, expectations of friends and family, mental health, and membership in a fraternity or sorority. In the slides, it mentioned gateway drug theory which seemed fascinating. Gateway theory states that if you begin to use one type of drug, your likelihood to use other types of drugs increases. This is a controversial topic. Some arguments against gateway drug theory seem nonsensical. They argue that since all drugs increase the likelihood of using drugs, there is no such thing as a gateway drug. They prefer the common liability model that states those who abuse drugs are at higher risk to develop mental health disorders that lead to increased drug abuse. Another senseless argument they make is that because addiction recovery is possible, there are no such things as gateway drugs. Alteration of the brain does not take away the ability to choose otherwise no recovery would be possible. Both of these arguments against gateway drugs seem unstable at best.

    Regardless of the stance on gateway drugs, caution must be exercised while using and prescribing drugs. Drugs can be antagonistic or synergistic. They inhibit or augment the effects of other drugs. Mindful prescription is essential due to possible side effects. Medications produce a variety of effects including physiologic changes, mental and physical dependence, relationship conflicts, productivity loss, and other medical complications. There are additional effects like increased crime, the need for treatment facilities, and drug-related policing, that go beyond the individual. Physiological complications range from increased heart rate and blood pressure to altered reality, organ failure, and induced anxiety. These bodily imbalances are caused by drugs. Careful prescription can circumvent the more dangerous side effects and life imbalances. We know that Ayurveda seeks to correct imbalances and is a useful strategy. 

    Medicine has a base in plants. Ayurveda seeks to exploit that knowledge in treatment today. In ancient times, and isolated regions now, medicine was and is derived from plants. However, changing world circumstances have caused indigenous medicine to be less common. The advances in organic chemistry and other fields of science pushed modern medicine forward. The changed focus reduced interest in natural products and placed more emphasis on synthetic medications. That has been the focus of the pharmaceutical industry for many years and medicinal plants have faded into irrelevancy. Hence the emphasis in the earlier paragraphs on drugs. Lately, there is renewed interest in medicinal plants due to drug-resistant pathogens and side effects of current medications. I see this often at the clinic where some patients prefer plant-based products. For example, taking red yeast rice instead of a statin medication to help lower cholesterol. The utilization of agriculture to mass produce plants with medicinal properties is one of the more promising routes to evade these pathogens and side effects. One of the issues with the agricultural approach is the expensive cost. It is suggested that we go to the plant remedies from the past as a starting point to save time and money. The concept of plants as medicine is Ayurveda. In India, we know it is the dominant form of healthcare compared to modern medicine, especially for chronic conditions. Available literature shows 2000 plants with medical properties that can be used as starting points for the mass production of medicinal plants (Patwardhan). Now updated regulations are required to ensure plant products function properly and can be used safely in treatment. As we move forward, Improvements in drug development like this will reduce the length of time, amount of money, and toxicity of new drug developments. Safer, cheaper, and faster medications will be a boon for many. 

    Advancements in medicine will continue to be made. In the search for cheaper and safer medications, new avenues will be explored to find new solutions. Taking ideas from past knowledge can accelerate progress. Many ideas have been discussed here and implementation will improve health. There is much that we can learn about the benefits that plants give to the human body. They can help to prevent disease and maintain balance. Balance can also come through routines and schedules. Living within boundaries will place proper precautions that protect from brain injuries. Management of medications can prevent abuse, addiction, and further brain injury. We can see that health is not isolated to any one area, but rather a connection between many areas of life. A balance in our lives will bring us good health and that is what Ayurveda is all about.

 

Works Cited

Patwardhan, Bhusan, et al. “Ayurveda and Natural Products Drug Discovery.” Current Science, vol. 86, no. 6, 25 Mar. 2004, pp. 789–799.

Pfaller, Adam Y., et al. “Frequency and Outcomes of a Symptom-Free Waiting Period after Sport-Related Concussion.” The American Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 44, no. 11, 2016, pp. 2941–2946., doi:10.1177/0363546516651821.