Throughout my undergraduate studies and learning experiences the human body has been presented as a fascinating combination of complex cellular interactions, chemical reactions that lead to function, and an immune system that is capable of identifying harmful bacterial and viral infections and fighting against them. While these things are vital to understanding health and the protection from diseases these lectures sometimes miss on the fact that all of these functions and networks are all interconnected. This gap was filled when I explored the idea of Ayurveda, which is an ancient holistic framework that allows one to view organisms not as organs and bodily fluids, but rather as a dynamic network that depends on other parts to function properly. A proper balance of Ayurveda allows the human body to function properly, but this is thrown off when there are imbalances or disruptions of the harmony of these systems, or as taught in ayurveda these doshas. Some of these disruptions in the body’s doshas cause a whole host of issues pertaining to overall health. This principle of harmony is mirrored by our modern, western understanding of physiology and is exemplified in our cellular metabolism and the human microbiome. In these systems, the breakdown of fuel and microbial diversity can be affected by these imbalances that Ayurveda warns against. When our metabolic pathways become overwhelmed by excess fuel and our internal ecosystems are disrupted, balance collapses and gives rise to complications that will have lasting effects. By pairing a holistic and relationship based model with modern medicine it will expand the possibility to better understand and even sometimes treat root causes of these imbalances rather than just managing downstream symptoms.
Charaka, an ancient physician and scholar accredited to being one of the founders of Ayurveda taught, “Life is the combination of body, senses, mind and reincarnating soul. Ayurveda is the most sacred science of life, beneficial to humans both in this world and the world beyond.” A holistic approach on the interconnectedness of our bodies, minds and physical senses dictates the limits of the health of that same body and mind. In Ayurveda each system of our bodies is described as a dosha, an energy, these energies when working properly flow into the system and create a balance. But when one doshas becomes out of balance, it tips the metaphorical scale and throws off the entire system. Ayurveda searches for a way to return these doshas to balance and to restore the overall health and harmony of the system. These can be obtained through regular exercise, a balanced and healthy diet, the betterment of mental health and uses of natural herbs and meditation. While this might not cure the downstream effects of these imbalances Ayurveda teaches that it can help stop the causes of these diseases. Two core principles that are heavily affected by imbalances in the body are Agni and Ama. Agni is the body’s metabolic fire driven by digestion and contributes to the absorption of nutrients and physical vitality. Ama is the toxic metabolic residue that accumulates when the Agni falters which leads to problems in the microbiome and in our metabolic pathways.
The body fueling itself and the dosha of Agni comes from our metabolism and its pathways. Metabolism is the chemical and physical processes in living cells that will convert food and drink into the energy bodies need to sustain life. There is an apparent flux of fuel in the metabolism that stems from the catabolic breakdown and anabolic synthesis; this is a mirror of the Ayurvedic concept of Agni, the fire that digests food and turns it into energy. When the catabolic and anabolic pathways work together and there is a balance it allows the fuel to move smoothly through our cells. Sometimes when the cells don’t need more nutrition but it keeps being produced, it leads to congestion and the body enters a state of overflow where cells are saturated and lose their capacity to remove byproducts. This is when Ama is present and a backup of toxic material doesn’t allow the metabolism to function as normal. An example of this build up is seen in Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease or MASLD. When someone develops MASLD, adipose tissue develops a resistance and continuously leaks fatty acid into the bloodstream. While this happens, there are high levels of glucose and insulin circulating in the system that will eventually signal the liver to synthesize even more fat cells which leads to hepatic overload and lipotoxicity. In Ayurveda this uncontrolled storage and overnutrition smothers the Agni and throws the entire body out of balance.
When this damage occurs it leads to consequences of the lack of metabolic breakdown. One of the most damaging conditions to patients when metabolism is hindered is diabetes, and not only physically. According to a 2022 report by the American Diabetes Association, the total economic burden of diabetes per year is estimated to be 412.9 billion dollars. When broken down, the study claims that 306.6 billion stemmed from direct medical expenses which means that almost one in every four dollars spent in the country goes to the care of someone with diabetes. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes face nearly twenty thousand dollars a year in medical expenses. The real catch is that these dollars go to management of downstream symptoms without actually treating the root cause of the issues developing. Ayurvedic therapies, if implemented early, could actually treat the cause of these diseases. Restoring metabolic balance requires consistent daily movement, unrefined whole food, and routine fasting to clear cellular waste, and rekindle the Agni.
Along with the metabolic flux, the human body is also an interconnected habitat for microbiomes that influence overall health. The human body is covered and lined with microbiomes, they make us who we are. Our skin, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, along with other microbiomes dictate how our bodies react to our diets and interaction with our environments. One example is our mouths, these microbiomes have a rich oral flora that regulates acidity, breaks down food via amylase and protects hard tissues structures. However diets that are not in good balance, that contain sugars and lots of acidity, disrupt the microbiome and poor unhealthy bacteria will begin to outcompete beneficial commensal bacteria. This can be treated with modern remedies, but our microbiome is vital to our health and is a life long process.
Even as we begin our lives we begin to start developing a microbiome, this starts as early as the womb and through which process a baby is delivered. A baseline is established early and carried into our adulthood. Newborns that are delivered vaginally are able to use the maternal bacteria to begin creating their microbiomes, while babies who are born via Cesarean section acquire a differing version of bacteria to jump start their microbiomes. After birth this process continues based upon whether or not a child is breastfed or formula fed. A breastfed infant will receive certain oligosaccharides that cannot be exactly replicated by synthetic formulas, which will lead to a development of differentiating microbiomes. This early microbial education aligns with the hygiene hypothesis that investigates the idea that immune competence requires direct environmental exposure to a diverse collection of harmless microbes. Shielding a child from ordinary dirt and microbial challenges deprives the developing immune system of necessary training, which could lead to dysregulation of immune disorders.
Arguably one of the most important microbiomes for our health and ayurvedic balance is the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is in constant conversation with the metabolism and a connection with the mind. This affects energy shaping and the storage of tissues. Animal studies have shown evidence of this connection. A study involving mice and a fecal transplant showed that skinny and healthy mice, when implanted with feces of obese mice, began to change their calorie extraction and increased adipose tissue storage without any change in diet. Gut microbiomes are vital to more than we think but they are susceptible to modern intervention more than most of these microbiomes. Overuse of antibiotics and frequent regimens can wipe out the healthy bacterial communities and even permanently remove bacteria that has been developing our entire lives. This disruption has even been linked to increased adiposity and altered caloric output.
Bringing these systems together shows that human health is an interconnected network where cellular biochemistry, a microbial ecology, and lifestyle influence one another. The microbiomes, a healthy metabolism and other bodily functions serve as the biological engines of an ayurvedic balance. Working together they drive nutrient breakdown, metabolic flux, and control fueling and protect the body from imbalances which lead to diseases. Recognition and implementing practices of Ayurveda like consumption of whole foods, regular exercise, and mindful thought practices can protect lifelong microbial flora and metabolic pathways. Modern medicine excels at pinpointing molecular mechanisms and Ayurveda provides the perspective that is needed to see how relationships can govern long term health. Pairing a holistic model with modern medicine expands the possibilities to understand and treat root causes and best help entire populations to avoid diseases.
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