Ayurveda and Diabetes

When speaking of body systems and their function, it is difficult to do so without the topic of homeostasis being brought up.  When we were asked to study Ayurveda, at first, I was a little skeptical of the subject.  Growing up in a home where vitamins and supplements were seen as essential, I have moved away from things like that for the most part.  This is not to say that I do not see any value in supplements or any other type of secondary medicine, they most certainly have their place and I believe there are beneficial treatments to be found within their scope.  For the most part though, I see modern medicine as the pinnacle achievement when it comes to human health. The modern scientific model works and it works well.  We hypothesis, we test, we fail, we try again, we make conclusions and then those conclusions are rigorously tested and reviewed by our peers.  Only after this process has happened is medicine applied and used for the public.  This method is safe, it is well organized and like I have mentioned, it is effective. 

Going back to my earlier skepticism, when I started researching Ayurveda, I was not sure what to think.  In most articles I could find it is described as a type of pseudoscience or alternative medicine.  These are not the type of words one usually likes to see when seeking to learn about genuine medicinal practices.  As I did my research, I found that there was good to be found in Ayurveda, maybe not as a scientific practice, but as an approach to both health and wellness.  The core idea of Ayurveda is harmony and balance within the body.  The name Ayurveda can be best translated to “Knowledge of Life and Longevity.” When looked at in this light, I believe a great deal of good can be accomplished by seeking balance in our bodies.  As I mentioned earlier, you can scarcely have a conversation about any body system without the topic being mentioned.  This is because at the core of all our bodies do, much of the purpose is to maintain homeostasis within the body.  When things are out of balance, we see a great deal of issues.

As we move on, I would like to look at what we have established.  In my opinion, Ayurveda as a medical practice does not fit in to the scope that modern medicine has established.  Many of its practices have very little actual research behind them and the ones that do usually have mixed results.  I mean no disrespect when I say that we live in an age where we no longer have to rely on guesswork or tradition to treat ailments and cure disease.  This is not to say such practices based on culture or religion do not have their place.  I would advocate for any individual who wishes to practice their culture, as long as it does not bring negative affects for those who do not desire any part in said traditions.  As students and teachers of science, however, we must choose to look at medicine and physical health in a way that is logical and methodical.  That is where the part of Ayurveda I agree with comes in to play.  I agree in the importance of balance and harmony that is found within all well-functioning body systems.  This core teaching of Ayurveda has a place in our research and should have a place in our daily lives.

During the course of this class, we have been learning about metabolic pathways.  Metabolic pathways are linked chemical reactions which occur in a series in our body’s cells.  As these reactions occur, they function to maintain homeostasis within the body.  Our bodies have a number of needs, the most abundant of which can be divided into three macronutrients; Lipids, Proteins, and Carbohydrates. Once ingested, these and all other nutrients must be broken down into the molecules that we need for proper cell function.  This is made necessary by the metabolic pathways we have been researching.  While I will not go into great detail for all the metabolic pathways in our bodies, I will be speaking a good deal more on the importance of carbohydrates for proper bodily function.

After digestion, carbohydrates can be found in the body in the form of simple sugars such as glucose.  Glucose is the most important energy source for our bodies.  Without it, we could not sustain ourselves and the balance found within our bodies would quickly get out of harmony. As we know, glucose is a driving factor in the process of cellular respiration. Without it, the Krebs cycle cannot start and we cannot produce the necessary amount of ATP that our bodies need to drive the many energy dependent reactions that take place in our body.  I don’t think I need to go into any detail about why having a dramatic decrease in ATP would be detrimental to our function. 

Once we get that glucose from the metabolic reaction of breaking down carbohydrates, we then need a way for our glucose to get into our cells. As glucose is a relatively large molecule, it cannot passively pass through our cell membranes and must be facilitated through by GLUT transporters.  This process is facilitated by the hormone insulin. Insulin, when triggered to be released from the pancreas, signals for cells to uptake glucose found in the blood stream.  This maintains a healthy level inside the blood and provides our cells with the materials they need to produce ATP. When this process does not work, we start to see a great deal of issues in the body and we begin to see them fast.

Now, as I begin to discuss diabetes and its implications, we will see how Ayurveda ties into the discussion.  Diabetes as a disease is characterized by the body’s inability to uptake glucose into its cells.  There are two causes of this.  In type 1 Diabetes it is caused by an issue in the pancreas where the body attacks the cells that create the hormone insulin.  Without insulin to signal the cell to bring in glucose, the body cannot do so.  Type 2 Diabetes is caused by a number of factors, the majority of which deal with poor diet, obesity, and low levels of exercise.  This causes for there to be more insulin in the body than the cells can keep up with.  Eventually the GLUT transporters start to diminish and with it so does the body’s ability to uptake glucose into its cells.

Type 1 diabetes is a genetic condition that can happen to people regardless of lifestyle.  Given this I will be focusing most of the rest of the paper on type 2 diabetes and how it relates to an Ayurveda type lifestyle.  As established, type 2 diabetes is mostly a result of a person’s lifestyle.  While there are probably genetic factors which can increase one’s chance, the likelihood of someone getting type 2 diabetes is largely dependent upon their own choices.  This by no means that I have desire to shame those who have or who develop type 2 diabetes.  As I continue, I simply hope to explore some of the implications of diabetes on our system and how a balanced lifestyle can help both to prevent, and to lessen to effects of type 2 diabetes.

It has been said by some that even before Covid, the US and other countries in the world were already experiencing a pandemic.  That pandemic is often said to be Diabetes.  While diabetes cannot be transmitted by a cough, blood to blood contact, or a bad needle; it can be transmitted by the culture which permeates our society.  We live in a culture where it is difficult to find healthy food for an affordable price.  Some research has shown that healthy diets, on average, cost an extra 1.50 per day.  This adds up when you take into account families with many kids or relatives.  Then there is the issue of knowing what to buy and how to cook it. Then we come to the issue of actually cooking the food and the time needed to do so.  Given all this, it is no wonder that there are fast food stores on every corner.  People need food and they often need it fast, easy, and cheap. 

As a culture we have shown that in many aspects we value productivity over health.  During the pandemic, many businesses switched to at home work.  While this was a good decision from a standpoint of not wanting to catch covid, I wonder the effects that it has had on the activity levels of many people. Many studies have shown that obesity rates increased during the pandemic.  Obesity, as we know, is a leading factor in the development of type 2 diabetes.  I wonder if we were so focused on one particular health issue that we have as a society neglected many others which will come to fruition in the coming years.

Going forward, knowing that diabetes is a large problem within our culture, what are the implications of this on the medical system and the health of society as a whole?  Some studies have suggested that as many as 40% of those who died of covid had diabetes as a comorbidity.  When calculated that is around 400,000 individuals with diabetes whose deaths are also linked to Covid.  400,000 people who would have probably had a much better chance of pulling through if not for their previous conditions.  While some of those would have probably died regardless of their existing conditions, I cannot imagine a world were having diabetes would have helped the problem. Going beyond covid, people with Diabetes usually have medical expenditures that account to 2.3 times what it would be if they did not have the condition. This is a huge toll, both on the provider and on the person who is in need of the care.  Going along with these increased costs, it is estimated that around 69 billion dollars in reduced productivity is caused annually by diabetes, as shown in data from 2012.

Diabetes has a heavy toll, not only on society but on the individuals which are affected by it.  Once diagnosed there is no cure and the lifestyle and daily routines of those who develop it are changed for the rest of their lives.  While there is not much we can do to change society as a whole, we can make changes in our own lives to help prevent having to deal with this issue.  In order to prevent diabetes in ourselves and our immediate families, it will take something that I have discussed at length in this paper, balance.  By incorporating this principle from Ayurveda into our lives we can take control over our own personal wellness and have an active effect on our health.  If we are not aware of the lives we live and the things we partake of, we cannot hope to combat the issues which plague us as individuals and as a society.  When it comes to our bodies and our health, metabolism is everything.  It is the basic of our function and has an effect on every other reaction and process which takes place in the body.  Knowing this, it is our personal responsibility to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  It will take a level of self-awareness and determination but I do not think I would be alone in saying that it will always be worth it.

 

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemochromatosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351443

 

https://www.endocrinology.org/endocrinologist/135-spring20/features/exercise-what-are-the-metabolic-benefits/

 

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/40-percent-of-people-whove-died-from-covid-19-had-diabetes-researchers-say

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/metabolism/art-20046508/

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda

Ayurvedic perspective on Diabetes

    Ayurveda is basically the connection between one’s body, mind, and spirit. These all work together with their own energies in order to maintain a balance that helps you have a balanced life. It has originated in India where it is referred to as a naturopathic, natural, alternative medicine. There are many plants and other forms of medications that are natural. There are some properties that are compared to Earth such as our five senses: hearing, touch, vision, taste, and smell. These are related to air, space, fire, water, and ground/Earth where they have different energies that will take on a different purpose for their own principle. There is energy everywhere and things which form Vata (space and air), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (water and earth). These are called Doshas and people can take tests on this to see how they are feeling in their environment and what to do to balance themselves out. The connection between parts of the body is that they all rely on each other in order to perform a specific task. It all starts from a chemical level with different functional units and builds up to organ systems and more. Our body and the environment are also influenced by each other because it depends on what we need for our bodies.

A unique remedy I came across was hair-oiling, it is thought to have many healing properties and is what people use to rejuvenate themselves. It is used to restore balance so that you can have a better mindset in order to make decisions and think in general. This shows that the body, mind, and spirit all are connected with each other and are really just the science of life. It uses many other forms than just the hair-oiling technique but uses diet, lifestyle, physical activity, herbs, and especially yoga as well to balance it out. It is also very focused on the individual and how each person has their own personalized plan best for the person. This makes sense because no one really is exactly the same as each other which is shown throughout society and the world that we live in that allows us to make our own decisions about what our goals are as well. By taking this holistic approach, it shows the root problem or main goal that one is desiring. Everything is more tied together and connected than we have thought. It is even informational that the place you live in can affect how to balance yourself out starting from that. This made me connect ideas of how no single thing will describe a person because there are so many other great factors that make up a person based on their preferences. Since an imbalance will cause or lead to diseases, it is important to be aware of these factors and how to manipulate each of the doshas into your own personalized plan.

Next, Metabolism is a very interconnected concept as its complexity is similar to the representation of a circuit board. So it relates to many different areas of study because living things have many systems that connect and work together. Cells constantly carry out reactions to keep them healthy, whole, and alive. These chemical reactions take place in the cell's metabolism working with signal pathways, regulation flux or flow, and overall balance of the body. There needs to be an analysis of the entire body in consideration so that we can give an accurate diagnosis of what treatments or adjustments to our diet and exercise.

Relating to pathways, Diabetes is one of the most common diagnoses and affects the United States at large pretty prevalently. This is caused by the imbalance in cells and between organisms which will affect society and healthcare as it has many connections to systems in living things (biotic). There are two different types of diabetes which consist of type 1 and 2. Type 1 would be when you are born with basically called hyperglycemia, less prevalent, auto-antibodies present, and can be at any age. Type 1 is also known as a slowly progressive T-cell mediated autoimmune disease because of how slow it builds up based on the chemical breakdown of nutrients in the body is not at its best. Type 2 would be when it is something that you develop later in your life based on diet and lifestyle where it is more prevalent, makes up almost 90-95% of U.S. diabetes, and mostly in adults. So during a fasting state, there is a normal glucose regulation. Once you eat, there will be a spike in metabolism that activates the liver production is inhibited and sugar levels also spike but it is healthy to have the levels out slowly and progressively which is what it should be like. This can be obtained from a careful balance in pathways to control glucose are major hormones involved in this balance. 

With that information, there needs to be controlled glucose production and clearance from plasma glucose and that depends on where. It can be from hepatic insulin and muscle fat insulin. Based on these levels of glucagon and insulin, will dictate the actions of cells and organs. This is what allows the cells to take up glucose. This implies that hyperglycemia is harmful because the body will be above and have too high of levels glucose. For type 2, there has to be a history of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, etc. to even put yourself at the risk of developing diabetes type 2. Looking at the big picture, other factors such as race/ethnicity and family history also play a big role in determining the diagnosis of diseases and illnesses because they can be part of the family genes that relate to certain diseases or factors that can either benefit or be traumatic to their health. 

For diabetes in general, it is very dependent on different factors that apply as well. So there are environment, social factors, and lifestyle which consists of diet and exercise. It is so up to what you can do for putting up with the odds of benefitting yourself the most as possible. The environment is an important thing to consider even though many people would say that it does not contribute to the underlying cause and why the disease affects them as much. This is because for many reasons we are so caught up in the moment of life where we are focused all of our energy in. This really shows that we need to take a holistic approach to examine our own lifestyle so we can do as much as possible to minimize the effects that it will bring. 

Beyond biology, diabetes is also quite important when compared with other things. There have been global pandemics, other top leading causes of death, and affecting our world at a base where things are out of our control. The pandemic is something huge that has affected each and every single one of us because we were impacted in one way or another. So that shows significance to our growth and learning of how to handle these situations as we haven’t really been able to experience that since there have been so much growth and advancements made throughout the years. In another sense, there are more diseases that are huge such as heart disease and other complications that are affecting even more individuals in their health. So it's important to focus on the things that we do have control over such as exercise, diet, and other factors that we do on a daily basis. Small things always accumulate to a large portion that is significant in our healthcare. Overall, metabolism is very interconnected and diabetes is just one of the many health complications that can affect the health of an individual at large.

The Holistic Approach to Diabetes

  The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health defines ayurvedic medicine as “treatment that combines products (mainly derived from plants, but may include animal, metal, and mineral), diet, exercise, and lifestyle.” Ayurvedic medicine is a naturalistic and holistic medicinal approach with origins dating back to more than 3,000 years ago in India. Ayurveda roughly translates to “knowledge of life” and creates a connection with the body, mind, spirit, and environment. Though not typically prevalent in western medicine, it is frequently practiced in many other areas of the world. While viewed as not fully practical there are some definite benefits to ayurvedic medicine. In this essay I will explore the practicality and downsides of ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of diabetes; a metabolic disorder.

In order to examine the effectiveness of ayurvedic treatment on diabetes the backgrounds of diabetes have to first be introduced. Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the body can not effectively produce or use insulin, a pancreatic hormone. The main types of diabetes I want to examine include type 1 and type 2. Diabetes is a very prevalent non communicable disease that affects a large group of people on a daily basis. The significance of diabetes mellitus is due to the lack of involvement of insulin in carbohydrate metabolism. As carbohydrates cannot be broken down effectively the energy source remains in the blood and exhibits hyperglycemia. The treatment of diabetes is often dependent on what type of diabetes is present. With type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes there is no production of insulin due to the destruction of insulin producing cells. This is often a lifetime disease with no cure and causing the body to require injected insulin in order to effectively metabolize carbohydrates. Type 2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes is a relative deficiency of insulin from an inadequate secretion of insulin. This type is becoming more common, especially as sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles continue to rise. If type 2 diabetes has progressed far enough it is often necessary to supplement with insulin through promoting a healthier lifestyle is often encouraged as well.

Ayurvedic medicine refers to diabetes as Madhumeha which translates to “sweet urine” to the presence of sugar in the urine. Ayurvedic treatment aims to bring the body back into equilibrium and treat the body through lifestyle changes such as drugs, diet, and exercise. Oftentimes an intense treatment called Panchakarma is used to begin treating the disease in which the body is detoxified and cleansed. This is done through the use of massages, baths, enemas, laxatives, and dieting. Herbal remedies are frequently used along with every day dieting, with dieting it is advised to avoid foods that are high in sugars in order to reduce intake levels of glucose. As mentioned before there is also strong pressure put on daily exercise (mostly yoga) in order to heal the body along with the soul together. Tissue treatment and healing are focused on by cleansing the body, tracking what goes into the body, and moving the body. The overall idea of ayurvedic practice is finding the imbalances in the body and treating them spiritually and physically.

Comparatively western medicine encourages lifestyle changes but may not be as effective at getting individuals to implement them as ayurvedic treatment. One strong benefit of ayurvedic medicine is it focuses on creating a personal change both emotionally and physically, allowing the patient to engross themselves in the healing process. The commitment and resolve to find a source of healing emotionally for a physical disease seems to be much stronger in ayurvedic medicine over western medicine. Frequently stress can lead to weight gain and only further unhealthiness and diseases so the focus put on becoming mentally healthy may play an important role. On the other hand, western medicine has the same focus on exercise but also focuses on scientific evidence over spirituality. Western medicine promotes the providing of insulin for diabetics which is crucial especially for those with type 1 diabetes.

As a whole I think that western medicine can benefit from the more holistic approach of ayurvedic medicine, especially by focusing on mental healing along with disease treatment. That being said western medicine is still important, especially in cases like diabetes where supplemental hormones such as insulin are needed. A combination of both a naturalistic and modern approach where elements of both ayurvedic and western medicine are instituted may be the most effective method for healing, especially when looking at metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

Basu, A., & Nandy, D. K. (2021). Diabetes. AccessScience. Retrieved June 24, 2022, from https://doi-org.proxy.li.suu.edu:2443/10.1036/1097-8542.190300

Gordon, A., Buch, Z., Baute, V., & Coeytaux, R. (2019). Use of Ayurveda in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Global advances in health and medicine, 8, 2164956119861094. https://doi.org/10.1177/2164956119861094

Sridharan, K., Mohan, R., Ramaratnam, S., & Panneerselvam, D. (2011). Ayurvedic treatments for diabetes mellitus. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (12), CD008288. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008288.pub2

Subbarayappa, B. V. (2001). The roots of ancient medicine: an historical outline. JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES-BANGALORE-, 26(2), 135-143.

Insane in the Brain

I enjoyed learning more about how the brain and drugs interact. Since people are driven by more impulsive parts of the brain until about 25 when it is fully developed, it made more sense to me why phrases like “Yolo” or “full send” become so popular with my age group since people’s brains are still developing and they’re more prone to do those risky behaviors. Those phrases can lead to people doing reckless things like excessive drug use or dangerous acts that could lead to brain injuries. I currently work at Chrysalis so I know how serious those brain injuries can be. Two of the individuals that I work with closely have experienced traumatic brain injuries, but they affect the individuals in completely different ways. One client is not very physically impaired, but he experiences extreme mood swings and gets angry easily. The other client is always very happy and does not have mood swings, but he is paralyzed on his left side, so he is physically impaired. I also have a cousin that experienced a brain injury about three years ago and she still experiences some migraines and trouble concentrating but her moods have been unaffected. This just shows how individualized each brain injury is and how they affect each person differently. The clients I work with will have frequent doctor visits and sometimes changes to their medication since their conditions are very fluid and shift often. I think that it is good that treatment for brain injuries is very personalized because sometimes that gets lost in modern medicine. I appreciate that the treatments for brain injuries are similar to concepts in Ayurveda in that way with individualized treatments.

            I found the reading about drugs to be very interesting because it listed the top four reasons college students use drugs as reducing stress, getting high, social pressure, and experimentation. Some of the adults in their 30s or 40s that I have talked to have said they experimented with drugs in college, so I was surprised that reason was not higher on the list. I also learned that prescription drugs are usually given orally due to the difference in how they are processed by the body compared to other ways like injecting or inhaling. The oral administration of drugs leads to longer effects and less of a harsh high and come down compared to inhaling or injecting which have a quick high and drastic come down. The combination of how different drugs affect the body and the ways that they are administered can lead to very different experiences making them unpredictable. The media also shows a lot of recreational drug use but does not show the risks that can come with that use which is dangerous because they downplay the danger or consequences that can come with prolonged drug use or mixing drugs. Because of that, I was not very surprised to learn that many of the hospital visits associated with drugs are when they are used in combination with another drug, often alcohol. I had not known that drug tolerance is a survival mechanism. It makes sense to me that the basic needs for survival such as getting food would produce a reward response in the brain in order to encourage that behavior. Drugs just mimic that response in the brain. Over time that would lead to more of a desire to obtain that reward feeling from the drugs instead of from those necessities for life which would lead to possible negative consequences like decreased appetite or malnutrition because they get a stronger brain response from the drug than from those survival tasks. The extended use of drugs also leads to a decrease in the number of dopamine receptors due to the excess of dopamine from drug use. I found it interesting that the body has ways of regulating that imbalance of neurotransmitters.

            Learning about diseases that directly affect the brain was interesting because many of those diseases affect other parts of the body as well which shows the interconnectedness of the body and that when one system gets altered it leads to problems in other systems. I recently took genetics, so it was cool to apply some of that knowledge since some of those diseases discussed such as Huntington’s or Tay Sachs are caused by duplications or insertions in the organism’s genetic code. Many of the diseases that were discussed have some genetic component which made me wonder why some people may be diagnosed earlier than others if they have the same mutation that causes the disease. The difference in when Tay Sachs is diagnosed could have a big impact on the life expectancy of the person which made me wonder why that is since it’s the same enzyme that gets affected in people with the disease. Could it be environmental meaning that people that did not require the enzyme as much in their younger years are less affected by the disease and have a better chance of living?

            The article that discussed Ayurveda and drug discovery was insightful because I had not realized how many of our modern medicines and medications had come from more natural and older ayurvedic practices. I appreciate that Ayurveda focuses on each individual and their needs since each drug can have different effects on people. My Grandma goes to a woman who has studied different ancient ayurvedic type medicines, so all of my Grandma’s medications are individual to her. I’m glad to know that some of those more ancient practices are adapting to modern-day and still being used since we have derived so much of modern medicine from those practices it would be harmful to get rid of them completely. 

Brain and Drugs

 

The brain truly does affect our entire body. There are so many connections that most would never think of. Some of my favorite examples are hearing stories about people that have multiple personality syndrome and in one personality they have a certain disease and in another they don’t. I think it is both facinating and a bit of folklore. But I do think that there is at least some truth with the connection between the brain and illness that are not directly found in the brain.

The complexity of the brain astounds me. It is so vast and all inclusive. Sometimes I cannot believe how intense the neurochemical functions are that make up the everyday functions of the human body. Espically topics like memory, learning and acquiring skills fascinate me. How is it that biochemical reactions can allow us to remember an event that happened several years ago? Or how is it that neurochemical pathways can be used so much that it allows our muscles to remember motion that we may not cognitively remember ourselves. It is truly facinating the ammount the brain does for the individual. I find it facinating that the more creases in the brain correlates to more intelegence. It makes total sence that they are increasing surface area and allowing for more neurons. If you are able to somehow increase your surface area intentionally, I would make sure to do that to maximize potential brain power.

With all the complexities that the brain encompasses it is no wonder that there is a host of issues that are associated with the brain. I think its facinating that there is predominate clusters that suggest that MS can have environmental influences. This is a great example of Ayurveda and how even the environment can affect neurological pathways.  There is much more avenues than degenerate diseases that can affect the brain and the Ayurveda of the entire individual. The fact that traumatic brain injuries are permanent and there is little that can be done about them is a testament to the complexity of the brain. When thoes neuropathways are lost they are gone forever. This is facinating to me because it is almost as though we spend our whole lives growing thoes pathways and integrating them into our lives that when they are destroyed, they may take another lifetime to work through them again.

Outcomes from TBI accidents can occur from as soon a minute to weeks after the primary injury, the goal of treatment is to ameliorate progression of secondary injury. I find it facinating that TBI's tent to change the personality of the individual. This to me just further demonstrates that the brain really is the central organ of our entire body, soul and mind.

The article we read in class I found absolutely facinating. It looked into what happens if after a concussion you spend some time to recover. It states that 99.3% of athletes used a symptom free waiting period after a concussion and that 72.7% of them saw system recover after 1 week. It says that 93.7% saw system recovery after 1 month. This to me shows the pliability of the brain. Yes, concussions can be very detrimental but if you "take it easy" after a concussion than 94% of the population will recover within a month. And 70% do it faster in just a week. This shows that the brain is able to repair "minor" damages like bruising and swelling, it’s when the brain starts to rupture that there are significant problems. These problems can affect Ayurveda of the individual so drastically as explained above. Beacsue the brain is all encompassing its important to look at it from a holistic point of view.

The brain is associated with more of the biological side of the brain, and the mind is associated with the more psychological and environmental influences. But in reality, there should not be a dichotomy. They are the same organ and are influenced biochemically just as much as they are from the environment. When dealing with personality disorders it’s important that we look the brain from both the mind and brain perspective because they are one in the same.  When the healthcare professional can combine both these to a more holistic approach then we are better able to treat the individual. It talks about bridging the mind and the brain, I think this is a very important crutial step to allow us to treat this so important organ. Treatment is key though and one of the best ways to treat the brain is by chemical warfare.

I find it facinating how drugs work so similarly and so differently from eachother. Some drugs mimic natural chemicals that the brain uses and some allow thoes chemicals to be released. This brings up a great concern that most are forced to face with when they spend their wholes lives consuming these drugs. That is do we really understand the long-term effects of altering the balance of the brain over long periods of time? I really don’t think that we do understand just what happens to the brain long term of taking these drugs. I think that long term exposure of just about any drug does have a negative effect eventually. But then that brings up the question of how long it takes to see an adverse affect? If it takes more than a lifetime to see the negative effects then it is defiantly not a problem to be taking them for a life time because the "consequence" is out of reach and we will be long gone before it gets here anyways. If these time intensive consequences are somewhat avoidable than what about the ones that are not?

I think it’s a strong point that most if not all people don’t understand what a drug is doing in our bodies. I think that we should educate this better so that people are understanding just what we are taking and how it works in our bodies. Yes, it is hard to teach complex subjects like neurochemistry and neurophysiology but I believe that it is crutial to fix our societal problem of drug addiction. That is if we even understand the addictions our selves.

 I really think that if we were able to understand what drugs do in our bodies then we will be able to teach it better. I think that because there is so much regulation on human based research studies it really dosent allow us to help people to the best of our abilities. I don’t condone illegal testing like you would see a mad scientest do in a movie but I do think that there is not much learning we can do by beating arround the bush. One must jump in and make sacrifices for the betterment of the general populations. If only we knew how, that would deserve all the prizes that could ever be given.

I think htat it is one of the social tragedies of this world is that the adolescent brain is more often exposed to addictive drugs than the fully developed brain. Talk about kicking them while they are down. I think that if we were able to teach kids to distinguish between their own confusion and the confusion of the adult word and to learn how to separate thoes then maybe they would be able to avoid such debilitating things like addictive and illegal drugs. These addictions affect so much of the individual, not just the brain and basic chemistry but it even affects others outside the normal scope of personal Ayurveda.

The paper we read in class talked about how Ayurveda and other holistic and native practices has produced natural drugs over several generations. These can be anything from plant materials to minerals, but all have a pharmacological effect. Some of them have even helped people to discover the main source of an illness because they already knew the solution. It also talks about how you can combine Ayurveda and traditional pharmacology to get better drugs faster and more safely by applying the native knowledge and expanding from there. I think this last point is espically important. It’s great that we have people working together on these kinds of things. It makes totally sence as well why would you start from scratch if a partial solution has already been discovered. It really allows for a better product and it is a great opportunity to allow people to grow and learn from eachother instead of fighting over differences you can find a common goal and work towards a better solution.

 

 

Our Insane Brains

             There is an old saying that goes something like this: “You never know what’s going on in someone else’s head.” Although this phrase is meant as a moral suggestion to not judge others because you don’t know their experiences, I believe it ties in brilliantly to our topics of research as of late and our prompt. While investigating the brain and the effect drugs can have on it (therapeutic or illicit) has been eye opening to the incredible sensitivity of our brain chemistry.

            Our brain is made of more than 100 billion interconnected nerve cells. These cells have developed the ability to communicate with one another via synapses. These systems enable neurotransmitters to be released from a pre-synaptic neuron and signal the post-synaptic neuron. The remaining neurotransmitter is then re-uptaken by the pre-synaptic neuron to be used later. Needless to say, the balances of these neurotransmitter chemicals are imperative to a properly functioning brain. 

            There it is again, that buzz word of the semester: balance. Yes, the investigation of the brain’s chemistry and its interactions with drugs continued to give us an application for the Ayurveda concepts. Drugs have one purpose: to alter the balance in your body. When drugs are used safely and therapeutically, they strive to establish or re-establish the proper chemical balance of a specific molecule in your body. When drugs are abused or misused, they will alter these balances as well, but likely for the worse as they aren’t being dosed in a controlled manner to treat an existing issue. 

            Before I go on, I would like to clarify a key point: drug us is not bad. When people hear “drugs” they immediately picture illicit chemical compounds which can land someone in jail for even having it. Drugs are actually just chemical compounds which mimic internal molecules in order to illicit a physical response. Illicit drug use is commonly misrepresented as “drug use” but is actually a classification of drug misuse. 

            That being said, the rise of drug misuse in the United States is becoming a massive issue. Opioid abuse is still prevalent throughout our society, and the age of first exposure to drug misuse culture is dropping every year. Children are starting to use illicit drugs at a young age. For obvious reasons, this is not a good idea. One of the major issues of this situation may also be one of the major causes. Our brains are masters of compartmentalization. They have developed a spatial division of labor in the brain. We have studied these areas (called lobes) and learned how each function. One of these areas is called the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is basically our elevated thinking center of the brain. This is the core of our problem solving, intellectual activities, and, more importantly, our judgement. Our frontal lobes don’t fully develop until well into adulthood, around our mid-30’s. This means that, until our mid-30’s, we will be more likely to make irrational and impulsive decisions. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s the way our brain develops: trial and error. Unfortunately, unlike deciding to jump off a swing and learning that you can break your arm if you do that, if you decide impulsively to try illicit drugs, there can be much worse consequences.

            There are plenty of drugs out there that do everything from knocking you out for surgery to helping clear your bowels. That being said, it is very clear why the specific drugs sold illegally are wanted. Unlike something like a laxative that has no real mental effects, every one of the “bad drugs” people use are active in altering balances of neurotransmitters. Although the mechanisms of action vary, they mostly target the same few neurotransmitters, usually dopamine. Dopamine is our “feel-good chemical.” It has evolved as a signal to the brain that it has made a good decision for survival. Natural events that produce dopamine are: eating, drinking water, having sex, and even nurturing. These make sense. They are all evolutionarily advantageous behaviors that the brain is positively reinforcing. However, this balance is the target for our evil drugs. Illicit drugs increase dopamine concentrations in our brains. This signals the brain that it has done a good thing. The brain associates the feeling of euphoria with the drug, creating a desire to do it again. Repeated use can bring up some serious issues, though.

Imagine you’re the owner of a logging company. Random, I know, but just go with it. You produce a steady flow of lumber to send off to your customers. Suddenly, a friend begins to drop off large loads of lumber for free at your site. You’re overflowing with stock, and don’t need to be producing as much labor. So, you fire some of your employees due to the lack of need for them. Out of the blue, after an extended period of time, your friend stops bringing you lumber. You’re now behind on production and unable to keep up with demand. This is what we call dependence. Dependence is when your brain has associated a compound as necessary for survival. In our analogy, the friend is the drug. It produces more of the neurotransmitter dopamine (lumber) and floods the brain with it. The brain in turn produces less dopamine in an effort to return these levels to normal. This is why drug abusers must continue to increase their dosage to maintain the same high. When a dependent user tries to stop misusing the drug(s), the brain goes into survival mode. Suddenly it’s not getting the signals that it’s doing the right thing. The brain perceives this lack of stimulation to the reward center as a sign that it is no longer surviving. This is why symptoms of withdrawal can be so brutal, the person’s brain literally thinks it is dying. Until the brain can re-establish the proper balance, the person will suffer from effects of low dopamine.

So why are these drugs even available? Why were they discovered? Well, doctors weren’t looking for a way to get people high, they were seeking to treat disease and stumbled upon these. The whole point of drugs is to treat imbalances of chemicals in the brain. But how bad can these imbalances actually be? Well mutations to nerve cells can lead to imbalances in neurotransmitter balances that can cause numerous brain diseases from Multiple Sclerosis to Tay-Sachs, there are a wide variety. These diseases can alter motor function, psychological and cognitive activities like MS. They can affect storage in the brain like Tay-Sachs. They can affect a person’s personality and/or mood like schizophrenia. They can cause detrimental development issues like autism or Down Syndrome. They could even be rare prion diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s disease. As impressive as the brain’s abilities are, it is still a fragile system. I’ve been able to see this first-hand.

My junior year of high school, my father suffered a massive stroke that, by all accounts, should have killed him. A cryptogenic ischemic stroke causing full blockage of his middle cerebral artery (MCA) deprived his entire right hemisphere of oxygenated blood. Fifteen minutes after onset, he was given a clot-busting drug, TPA. It had no effect, so he was flown to a different hospital which had an interventional radiologist. He underwent a procedure called an embolectomy in which a device was run through his femoral artery and retrieved the clot to end the stroke. Conscious the whole time and undermedicated, it was a daunting experience for him. After it was all said and done, his right hemisphere was deprived of oxygen for over 5 hours. None of the doctors who operated on him or saw him that night expected him to survive. 4.5 years later, he has made a miraculous recovery and still practices as a part time anesthesiologist today. His recovery has been a long and arduous task and is still ongoing. Damage to the brain can be long-lasting and stubborn. 

I’ve been present for some scary brain injuries in sports. Heck, I’ve been part of some scary brain injuries in sports. I’ve had friends life-flighted off the football field, take ambulances home from games, and even received a number of concussions on the field and, surprisingly, in the pool. But what I have learned through all these experiences, including my dad’s stroke, is to respect the robustness of the brain. Our brains are certainly sensitive and precise instruments, but their ability to heal and recover is unbelievable. The brain may have imbalances and issues, but its natural impulse to restore chemical balances, along with our pharmaceutical aid, allow it to recover from even the most dire of circumstances. 

Imbalances of the Brain

    Understanding the structure and complexity of the brain enables us to interpret environmental and physical signals on a regular basis. Each hemisphere and lobe of the brain contributes significantly to how the body systems function as a whole. The important thing to remember is that these all work together to interpret language, perception, memory, and reasoning. Our brain can adjust to our needs if we are in almost any environment. When exposed to extreme heat, the body sends a signal to regulate temperature by excreting sodium salts and nitrogenous waste (sweat), thus cooling the body. When we shiver (rhythmic muscle contractions) or get goosebumps, the brain raises the body's core temperature to achieve homeostasis. Because of its tremendous capabilities, our brain is frequently compared to a computer. The brain's over 100 billion nerve connections are what make it so complicated. The nerves communicate with one another via synapses that connect each cell. The mid brain, fore brain, and hind brain are the three main sections of the brain. It also comprises specific regions throughout the three divisions of the brain, such as the brain stem, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Without the brain, we would be unable to do the numerous functions that allow individuals to be human. When studying the brain, it is critical and fascinating to focus on the impact of medications, accidents, diseases, and mental disabilities on it. If something within the brain fails, as it does with any complex organ in our body, it can cause significant changes in the person's personality and conduct.

    One way that the brain can malfunction is through mental disorders. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), A mental disorder is a condition that affects a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, or mood. These diseases have a significant influence on day-to-day life and may impair one's capacity to relate to others. There are several mental illnesses, each with its own set of symptoms. They are typically distinguished by a mix of aberrant beliefs, perceptions, emotions, behavior, and interpersonal connections. Depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia and other psychoses, dementia, and developmental disorders such as autism are all prevalent mental diseases. Personality and mood disorders are the most prevalent types of mental illnesses. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is one of the most common mental illnesses and the main cause of disability worldwide. It affects an estimated 264 million individuals worldwide. Women typically are more impacted than males. A mental health issue is not the outcome of a single occurrence. According to the research, there are many, interconnected reasons. Genetics, environment, and lifestyle all have an impact on whether or not someone develops a mental health issue (NAMI 2017). In the last couple of decades there have been medical advances/strategies for preventing mental disorders.The impact of mental illnesses continues to rise, with serious repercussions for health, human rights, and economic consequences in every country.

    Another way that the brain can be affected is through traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A TBI is a brain injury that was induced by an external physical impact. It may result in a reduced level of consciousness. It usually causes impairments in cognitive ability or physical functioning, as well as mood, personality, impulsive aggressiveness, and impaired self-regulation. They are frequently regarded as a risk factor for mental illnesses. TBI’s are not the typical injury where they can be fully healed. The individual and how their body reacts greatly impact the level of healing after a brain damage. Even minor concussions can have long-term consequences, but moderate to severe brain damage can sometimes lead to near-complete recovery. Predictions are difficult because of the numerous variable elements that change across individuals, such as the part of the brain damaged, quality of rehabilitation and support, and the severity of injury (Helliwell 2019). No injury is the same and the consequence of similar injuries can be very different. Causes of TBIs include car accidents, firearms, and falls, open/closed head injuries, hypoxia, concussion, tumors, infections, strokes, and chemical/toxins. I've been working at Cedar City Chrysalis for the past year now, and I've assisted a number of people who have suffered from TBIs. While dealing with their emotional changes might be challenging at times, it is also satisfying to be able to assist people in need. 

There are several examples, both legal and illegal, of how these medicines influence the body's homeostasis. Because their chemical structure is similar to that of a natural neurotransmitter in the body, marijuana and heroin can stimulate neurons. This enables the medicines to bind to and stimulate neurons. Although these medicines resemble the brain's own chemicals, they do not stimulate neurons in the same manner that a natural neurotransmitter does, resulting in aberrant messages being transmitted across the network.Other drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamine, can stimulate neurons to release unusually high amounts of endogenous neurotransmitters or interfere with transporters, preventing the regular recycling of these brain chemicals. This, also, increases or disturbs normal neuron interaction.

    While illegal drugs have the scary ability to negatively affect the normal pathways that occur in neurons, we also need to recognize legal drugs and their abilities as well. Prescription drugs can be and are as scary as illegal drugs. Just like illicit drugs, prescription medications can change moods, emotions, physiological processes, and behaviors through interacting with the brain. When I had all four of my wisdom teeth taken out at the end of my 8th grade year I was prescribed hydrocodone acetaminophen. My dad has never been a big fan of taking major drugs and was wary of me after the doctor prescribed me the generic version of Vicodin. If I wanted to take painkillers during that time, I would have to use regular acetaminophen (Tylenol). If, and only if, the pain was unbearable I would be allowed to take ½ the hydrocodone acetaminophen. When I was younger, I never realized the side effects and the consequences of drugs and how they affected the body. I knew that addiction was common, but I did not realize that I could become addicted to prescription drugs. 

    When Ayurveda is brought into the discussion, it is clear that everything is interconnected. If the brain is undergoing stress or has a chemical imbalance, it can be mirrored in other organs throughout the body. Small difficulties might then compound, leading to a more serious or disastrous outcome. The Ayurveda idea was highlighted because of chemical imbalances in the brain produced by mental illnesses or drug usage. The body will then generate a sense of homeostasis as a result of the imbalances.

Gabbard G. O. (2005). Mind, brain, and personality disorders. The American journal of psychiatry, 162(4), 648–655. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.4.648

Helliwell, S. (2019, September 16). Can the brain heal itself after brain damage? Ison Harrison Solicitors. https://www.isonharrison.co.uk/blog/can-the-brain-heal-itself-after-brain-damage/. 

Mental health conditions. NAMI. (2017). https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions. 

Patwardhan, B., Vaidya, A., & Chorghade, M. (2004). Ayurveda and natural products drug discovery. Current Science, 86(6), 789-799. Retrieved July 16, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24109136

Pfaller, A. Y., Nelson, L. D., Apps, J. N., Walter, K. D., & McCrea, M. A. (2016). Frequency and Outcomes of a Symptom-Free Waiting Period After Sport-Related Concussion. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 44(11), 2941–2946. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546516651821

World Health Organization. (2019, November 28). Mental disorders. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders.