My excitement for Ayurveda began when I first read the phrase, "Ayurveda incorporates yoga." That statement was very exciting to me because although my knowledge of Ayurveda was limited, I had always connected deeply with yoga, so the idea that the two were intertwined intrigued me. As I dug deeper, I learned that Ayurveda is much more than just an ancient system of stretching, but is an entirely holistic approach to health that seeks to treat both the body and the mind. One article I came across referred to modern medicine as a "reductionist approach" compared to the holistic nature of Ayurveda. The term reductionist struck a chord with me, as it made me reflect on how Western medicine often focuses on treating symptoms rather than understanding and addressing the full context of a person's health.
This was especially
relevant to me because I have personal experience with chronic illness in my
family. My mother has suffered from debilitating migraines throughout her life.
Her migraines are severe, sometimes lasting days and usually cause her to
vomit. For as long as I can remember, she has been searching for ways to manage
her migraines, trying medication after medication, but rarely finding relief.
It’s painful to watch, especially during the worst of her migraines, when she’s
bedridden and unable to anything she wants to. Over the years, she has found
more success in using holistic practices, taking care of her overall health,
and focusing on the periods when she is pain-free. Those windows of well-being
have allowed her to enjoy her favorite activities, such as hiking, which has
brought balance to her life. Seeing her embrace holistic healing strategies,
despite the constant challenges, has made me eager to explore more about
Ayurveda and its potential to help people with chronic illnesses.
Ayurveda’s holistic
philosophy applies to chronic conditions, including one that uniquely concerns
me: diabetes. Diabetes is largely influenced by factors that are within our
control, yet many people are unwilling to make the lifestyle changes necessary
to manage or prevent it. Reflecting on diabetes has also pushed me to confront
my own habits. I know I live a largely sedentary lifestyle, and my diet is not
great to say the least. It consists almost entirely of cereal. I rarely make
time for physical exercise, beyond walking to school. It’s become clear to me
that if I don't change these habits, I could be setting myself up for long-term
health issues. Thinking about the potential of developing diabetes has made me
more introspective and motivated to improve my lifestyle, especially
considering the changes I could make to better align with Ayurveda and
improving the balance in all areas of my life.
My concern about diabetes
is not just the concern I possess for every chronic illness. Type 1 diabetes
runs in my family, and it’s a reality I can’t ignore. My cousin, only two years
older than me, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. His diagnosis was a shock to
all of us. Despite his efforts to manage the condition, his situation has been
made more complicated by the fact that he is uninsured and unemployed, meaning
he struggles to afford insulin. His mother has had to step in to help cover the
costs. This has made me especially aware of how fragile health can be and how
difficult it is to manage a condition like Type 1 diabetes without proper
support. The sudden onset of the disease is particularly terrifying. Johns
Hopkins lists the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes as including abnormal
thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, and nausea. I’ve noticed some of
these symptoms in myself from time to time, but I’ve avoided confronting them,
out of fear. However, after talking to my cousin and learning about his
experiences, I’m more alert to the possibility that I need to monitor my own
health more closely.
As I continued learning
about Type 1 diabetes, I found it fascinating how intricate the treatment
process is, especially with insulin management. There have been various types
of insulin distribution technologies, and the introduction of closed-loop
systems offer some hope for better control. These closed-loop systems are
devices that automatically monitor glucose and administer insulin. Still, the
unpredictability of blood sugar changes due to factors like stress, physical
activity, or diet means even the best technology can only do so much. The
promise of a fully autonomous closed-loop system in the future is encouraging,
but the reality is that managing diabetes is a constant balancing act.
Unfortunately, the cost
of insulin in the U.S. is a major issue. A vial of insulin can cost around
$250, yet it only costs a few dollars to produce. I was shocked when I learned
about this price discrepancy, especially knowing that it affects so many people,
including my cousin. The high price of insulin is largely due to a lack of
competition among manufacturers, which has created a sort of monopoly. The
reality that one in four patients in the U.S. has to ration their insulin
because they can’t afford it is appalling. I read about a young man who died
because he couldn’t afford insulin, and the idea that a life can be lost over
something so preventable feels deeply terrifying and inequitable.
Diabetes also made me
reflect on the balance within the body, a concept that Ayurveda emphasizes. One
of the most interesting things I learned was how diabetes affects the pancreas
and liver, disrupting glucose regulation and potentially causing a cascade of
other health issues. It made me appreciate how interconnected our organs and
systems are. This sense of interconnectedness reinforces Ayurveda’s focus on
balance. Everything in the body works together, and when one part is out of
balance, the whole system suffers.
The modern lifestyle has
made maintaining that balance increasingly difficult. I read a statistic that
physical inactivity is now considered a pandemic, contributing to rising rates
of obesity and diabetes, among other health issues. This really hit home for
me. It’s so easy to fall into a sedentary lifestyle, especially when social
norms and modern conveniences often encourage sitting at a device to be
productive. But knowing that something as simple as regular movement could
prevent or mitigate chronic illnesses has motivated me to make changes in my
own life.
My diet, too, is in need
of improvement. As I mentioned earlier, my diet consists primarily of cereal,
and while I’ve always seen this as a convenient, low-waste food, I’ve come to
realize that it’s terribly unhealthy. My research into the connections between
obesity, depression, and diabetes was a wake-up call. Many members of my family
have experienced depression, and some have gained significant weight during
depressive episodes. While obesity is not something I’ve fully confronted in my
own life, I know I need to stay aware when I’m feeling down. Ayurveda’s
holistic approach teaches that the mind and body are not separate, and
addressing both is essential for well-being. Changing my diet and incorporating
more nutrient-dense foods is a simple step I can take toward better health.
Exploring Ayurveda and my
diet also introduced me to the concept of the gut microbiome. I had always
thought of obesity as a simple competition between calories in versus calories
out. However, I learned that the gut microbiome plays a much larger role in
weight regulation and overall health. This was humbling, as I realized how much
I didn’t know about the complexity of our bodies. The microbiome’s impact on
our physical and mental health is profound, and I now see obesity and weight
management in a completely different light. It’s not just about diet and
exercise—there are deeper biological forces at play, and Ayurveda’s emphasis on
maintaining balance within the body makes even more sense in this context. I
had to apologize to family members who I had castigated for blaming their
weight on biological factors outside of their caloric intake, so I think this
consideration has improved my relationships.
I was especially
fascinated to learn that the gut microbiome can influence our circadian rhythm
and sleep patterns. I’ve struggled with poor sleep for years, often feeling
exhausted during the day and wide awake at night. It’s something that has
frustrated me, but now I’m curious about whether changes to my diet could
improve my sleep. I’ve already started incorporating more variety into my meals.
I read that some of the most important foods to add are oatmeal and beans, and
I’m hopeful that these small changes will lead to better sleep and a more
balanced life overall.
It was also surprising to
learn how early childhood diets can shape the gut microbiome. Growing up in a
low-income household, I didn’t always have access to the healthiest foods, and great
value cereals made up the entirety of my diet. I had no idea that my childhood
eating habits could have a lasting impact on my microbiome into adulthood, but
one of the studies showed that there the effects of juvenile poor diets can be
seen even six years later. While I can’t change my past, I’m hopeful that by
making changes now, I can still improve my overall health and bring my body
back into balance.
One of the most
surprising aspects of my research was learning about fecal microbiota
transplants (FMTs). The idea that healthy bacteria from one person’s gut can be
used to treat diseases in another person’s gut by restoring balance is
mind-blowing to me. The treatment wasn’t to directly kill the bad bacteria, but
to dilute it with beneficial bacterial. This was another example of many that
shows how much Ayurveda’s concept of balance applies to modern medicine, even
when the method might seem unconventional. The more I learn about Ayurveda, the more I
see how relevant its principles are to achieving long-term health, especially
when dealing with chronic conditions.
https://www.goodrx.com/healthcare-access/research/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands
https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/the-price-of-insulin-a-qanda-with-kasia-lipska/
https://newatlas.com/science/poor-diet-childhood-lingering-effects-gut-microbiome/
I've heard about the mouse experiments with the microbiome and obesity but I always imagined that "obese microbiome" caused increased appetite which lead to obesity. Your paper prompted me to fact check that and I learned that with the same quantity of food, the mice with the obese microbiome harvested more energy and stored more fat than the mice with the lean microbiome. I am very surprised. I've been struggling to resonate with the ayurveda concept this semester but your paper helped me see ways that I do. I am surprised how much modern medicine is still so focused on symptoms and not holistic treatment.
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