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Exploring insights towards definition and laws of health in Ayurveda: Global health perspective

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Abstract

The current healthcare system is focused on disease management. Our current approach to treatment begins only after the diagnosis, and then attempts to treat the symptoms and prevent the progression. Despite increased global healthcare spending, there has been an increasing incidence, and severity of diseases pointing to impaired health of the populace. This progressive deterioration in general health has created an unsustainable increase in healthcare costs that has hampered the economy. Much of the rising costs in healthcare are secondary to treating the progression of preventable diseases and focus on creating new treatments. There has been an ongoing discussion of incorporating a "defense" or prevention as part of our health system. However, there are few established guidelines beyond tactical use of vaccination in known infectious diseases and screening for chronic diseases and cancers. Ayurveda has the core competency and strategy for prevention of disease. Sushruta has propounded the laws of health, which are unknown to the current healthcare system. This article describes these laws and strategic combination of Ayurveda (defense) and modern medicine (offense) to create a complete healthcare system. This system is called Symbiohealth and is potentially more effective, less expensive, less toxic and creates a healthier society.
AYU
identify the factors contribute to disease process and recommend
removing them, such as diet and exercise in heart disease.
Patient: So, your defense strategy is only against diseases where
the cause is known? That does not seem like a proactive defense
strategy, but more like a reactive tactic. In order to have a good
defense strategy you have to ask different set of questions, such
as why the majority of population does not have a specific disease
most of the time? What is health and how it can be protected,
enhanced, and rejuvenated?
Doctor: That makes sense!
Patient: Doctor, are there any laws of health?
Doctor: I don’t know. I have not read anywhere.
Patient: After all, when Newton discovered the laws of
gravity – they have always existed and exhibited a particular
pattern. There must be undescribed laws of health, don’t you
think?
Doctor: Hmmm… And so the dialogue continues.
I started to ask the question, what is health?
Modern medicine healthcare providers understand
health as the “absence of disease”. The World Health
Organization (WHO) uses a more holistic view of health;
“state of complete physical, mental and social well‑being
Introduction
Having practiced modern medicine for many years in the field of
rheumatology, I have the views and opinions on healthcare similar
to those of any experienced physician in my field of practice. But
when I had a heart attack a few years back, I found myself in the
position of the patient. Since then, an internal dialogue has been
going on between the patient and the doctor within me.
A question that my “patient self ” asks my “physician self ” is, as
a modern medicine physician what can you do at the fundamental
level to help your patients?
Doctor: We can ask four questions leading to the diagnosis,
etiology, pathology, pathophysiology and treatment of the disease
afflicting the patient.
Patient: In other words, you find the disease and try to remove it?
This seems like an offense strategy. What do you do to prevent
disease, or what is your defense strategy?
Doctor: In the case of known infectious diseases, we create
vaccines and in certain diseases where the cause is not known, we
Address for correspondence: Dr. Gopal Basisht,
1300, Edgewater Dr. Orlando, FL 32604, USA.
E‑mail: gopalbasisht@gmail.com
Invited Article
Exploring insights towards denition and laws of health in
Ayurveda: Global health perspective
Gopal Basisht
Senior Consultant Rheumatology, Orlando Health, Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract
The current healthcare system is focused on disease management. Our current approach
to treatment begins only after the diagnosis, and then attempts to treat the symptoms and
prevent the progression. Despite increased global healthcare spending, there has been an
increasing incidence, and severity of diseases pointing to impaired health of the populace. This
progressive deterioration in general health has created an unsustainable increase in healthcare
costs that has hampered the economy. Much of the rising costs in healthcare are secondary to
treating the progression of preventable diseases and focus on creating new treatments. There
has been an ongoing discussion of incorporating a “defense” or prevention as part of our
health system. However, there are few established guidelines beyond tactical use of vaccination
in known infectious diseases and screening for chronic diseases and cancers. Ayurveda has
the core competency and strategy for prevention of disease. Sushruta has propounded the
laws of health, which are unknown to the current healthcare system. This article describes
these laws and strategic combination of Ayurveda (defense) and modern medicine (offense)
to create a complete healthcare system. This system is called Symbiohealth and is potentially
more effective, less expensive, less toxic and creates a healthier society.
Key words: Allopathy, Ayurveda, disease, health, healthcare, prevention, Symbiohealth
Access this article online
Website: www.ayujournal.org
DOI: 10.4103/0974-8520.158975
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AYU | Oct‑Dec 2014 | Vol 35 | Issue 4 351
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Basisht: Are there Laws of Health?
352 AYU | Oct‑Dec 2014 | Vol 35 | Issue 4
and not merely absence of disease or infirmity.”[1] After a
“global conversation” and a 2 days meeting in Netherlands in
2009, a group of healthcare academicians, practitioners, and
administrators proposed a new definition of health as “ability
to adapt and self manage in the face of social, physical,
and emotional challenges.” It was also observed that WHO
definition has “unintentionally contributed to medicalisation
of society, as more and more human characteristics are
recruited as risk factors for disease and it minimizes the role
of the human capacity to cope autonomously with life’s ever
changing physical, emotional, and social challenges and to
function with fulfilment and a feeling of well being with a
chronic disease and disability.”[2,3] The definition of health
should be specific, clear and should guide the healthcare
provider how to achieve it. Between the period of 1200 BC ‑
600 BC, Sushruta, a great surgeon and teacher of Ayurveda[4]
defined health as “a state of equilibrium of Tridosha
(fundamental physiological governing principles of the
body), Agni (metabolic and digestive processes) and Dhatu
(principles that uphold the formation of body tissues). Waste
products are excreted well. The sense organs, mind and the
soul are in a state of bliss.”
A careful look at the Ayurvedic definition reveals that this
definition not only defines health but also includes a path to
achieve it.
I call these five laws of health, and have enumerated them
below:
First law
Connection to the source (consciousness), Indriya or sensory
faculties (vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch) and psyche
should be working well in coordination with body and the
person is in a state of bliss. This is achieved by meditation,
Pranayama (disciplined breathing) and Yoga exercise.
Meditation
According to National Institute of Health meditation may
reduce activity in the sympathetic nervous system (fight‑or‑flight
response) and increase activity in the parasympathetic nervous
system (heart rate, breathing and digestion), resulting in a
variety of medical benefits.[5]
Pranayama
Breath regulates systems of the body and slow deep breathing
cleans out the system and prolongs life.[6] The practice of
Pranayama has been shown to reduce the frequency of asthma
attacks,[7] increase vital capacity of lungs, reduce cholesterol,
lower blood pressure, slow down heart rate and regulate adrenal
cortical functions.[8] All of this increases immune system
function.
Yogic Asanas or exercise
The amount of exercise needed by an individual depends upon
the psycho‑physiological constitution or Prakriti of a person and
season of the year. Many scientific studies support the health
benefits of regular moderate exercise or Yoga.[9]
Second law
Equilibrium of the three Doshas is the second requirement of
health. The Doshas are fundamental physiological governing
principles of the body and are described in further detail later.
The equilibrium is achieved by daily and seasonal purification
of excessive Dosha.
Third law
Equilibrium of Agni (responsible for digestion, metabolism
and transformation) is third requirement of health. Most of
the disease states are from decreased Agni (Mandagni). Agni is
stimulated by:
Discipline in eating guided by state of physiology and disorders
in system or Prakriti (body type). By eating warm, light and
fresh food when hungry. Stimulation of Agni by herbs like
ginger and Panchkola. Ayurveda describes diet and nutrition
covering the taste, quality of food, time of the day and season
and state of body physiology.
Digestive stimulants help in digestion of food and Ama (partially
digested food and toxins).
Fourth law
All seven Dhatus or principles that uphold the formation of
body tissues with their subtypes (Upadhatus) need to be in
balanced state. Dhatu potentiation and quality improvement is
done by Rasayana (rejuvenation) treatments, which are:
• Conscious eating (Ahar Vidhi Visheshayatana)
• Behavioral (Achar Rasayana)
• Anti aging and immune enhancing preparations (Oushadh
Rasayana)
• Purfication therapies (Panchkarma).
Fifth law
Waste products of digestion and metabolism at various levels
be well excreted.
Avoid suppression of natural urges
Evacuate and clean body cavities regularly.
The above five methods not only help in their specific
category but also reinforce all others. For example, Meditation,
Pranayama and Yoga, helps in balancing the Doshas, Agni,
Dhatus and excretion of waste products.
Establishing a state of equilibrium in the body, as described
by the laws of health, and in the universe is a key element in
achieving perfect health.
As a matter of fact, Ayurveda begins the study of health
with consciousness and takes the knowledge‑seeker through
the aforementioned Laws of Health, while also describing
a comprehensive lifestyle to follow these laws. Ayurveda,
therefore, provides an excellent defense strategy. On the other
hand, modern medicine starts from conception of fetus and
addresses symptoms of disease. It has a comprehensive method
of identifying and treating a disease, but not preventing it.
During this period, I also started to identify various phenomena
in life where there is duality, for example duality in thinking
is reflected in right or left‑brain persona. Left brain thinking
is linear with narrow focus of attention, articulate, good
in arguments, attention to detail, narrow cause and effect
relationship, quick results in the fast pace life of today.
On the other hand, right brain thinkers possess broad and
sustained attention, are alert and connected, are emotional,
use metaphors (and artistic expressions), and are generally not
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Basisht: Are there Laws of Health?
AYU | Oct‑Dec 2014 | Vol 35 | Issue 4 353
argumentative.[10] Most of us have become left brain thinkers
since the time of Isaac Newton. Duality is also observed in
vision (central and peripheral vision), physics (Newtonian vs.
Quantum) and personal relationship (man and woman).
Duality is also present in medicine. I view this duality as the
offense (treatment) and defense (or preventative) approaches to
health. The current system of medicine takes a predominantly
offensive approach to healthcare.
Over the last 50 years, there has been an increasing incidence,
frequency and severity of chronic diseases pointing to impaired
health of the populace.[11] This progressive deterioration in
general health has created unsustainable increase in healthcare
costs that has hampered the economy. There has also been
impaired health of the planet with environmental degradation.
In the recent years, there have been efforts to improve the
environment or the health of the planet. It has faced opposition
because of prohibitive cost, myopic thinking and the inability
to comprehend the problem. Human beings are a microcosm
of the planet[12] and exhibit holographic phenomenon.[13]
Improvement in our health is crucial to the improvement of the
planet’s health [Figure 1].
According to Ayurveda, the evolution starts with consciousness
creating five elements; space, air, fire, water, and earth. These
five elements in different combinations create the three Doshas.
These Doshas are fundamental physiological governing principle
of the body. Each person is born with unique combination of
these three Doshas called Garbhaj Prakriti, which remains fixed
for life. This is compared to modern science where each person
is born with unique set of genetic polymorphisms. The effect of
environment, food, and lifestyle alteration and stress can lead
to disequilibrium of Dosha (Jataj Prakriti). When there is too
much alteration of Dosha, pathology or Vikruti occur causing
diseases, if not checked. Parallels to this concept are being
studied in basic science laboratories Epigenetic alterations can
turn on or off certain genes, in response to the environment,
diet, and lifestyle‑with consequences of aging and diseases.[14] If
good genes are suppressed and bad genes are activated, disease
occurs. However if good genes are activated and bad genes are
suppressed, health occurs [Figure 2]. This process has been
described in cancer[15] and various other autoimmune diseases[16]
and aging.[17]
It seems both systems (Ayurveda and modern medicine) address
the same issue, but at two different levels of physiology‑while
Ayurveda describes a disease at the phenotypic level, modern
medicine explains it at the genetic level. Ayurvedic scholars,
thousands of years ago, lacked current technology and
microscopy to identify genes. They bypassed that handicap by
using phenotype to provide personalized care to all patients.
Let us see some of the phenomenon where this overlapping of
thinking between Ayurveda and modern science is seen:
Ayurveda heralded the concept of personalized medicine
in its identification of unique body type or Prakriti of a
person. Prakriti is phenotype of unique genetic sequence.
On identification of Prakriti and its alteration (Vikriti)
physician knows what disease a person is predisposed
to and is able to diagnose the disease in early stages
before the disease manifestations begin and can provide
Ayurvedic treatments, diet, exercise and other lifestyle
measures
Today modern medicine is just beginning to explore how to
administer treatments and drugs that are highly tailored to
an individual’s genetic and chemical makeup and lifestyle
There is research supporting the role of Dosha or Prakriti
in relation to disease. Recent studies have shown that
different teams of Ayurvedic practitioners can consistently
identify a combination of Dosha in a person. In addition,
surveys created by an Ayurvedic team could predict
patient’s illnesses by identifying imbalances in Doshas[18]
Ayurveda described the concept of genetics thousands of
years ago. The great Ayuvedic practitioner Charaka referred
in 1000 BC to “Bijabhagavayava” as the combination of the
Bija (what we know today as the male sperm and female
ovum), Bhaga (what we today call the mitochondria) and
Avayava is the DNA.[19] He wrote of the imbalances that
result when the parents have Dosha imbalances and pass
along diseases to their children
Ayurveda identified the interconnectedness between the
mind and the body and their reciprocal effect on health
when the two are not in balance
A key factor of Ayurveda is the idea that the mind and
the body are not separate; what happens to one influences
Figure 2: Pathway to health and diseaseFigure 1: Microcosm / Macrocosm holographic phenomenon
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Basisht: Are there Laws of Health?
354 AYU | Oct‑Dec 2014 | Vol 35 | Issue 4
the other. There can be no mental health without physical
health and vice versa, and one’s entire life and lifestyle
must be in harmony before one can truly be called healthy
Recent medical studies are finally connecting the impact
of psychological states such as anxiety and depression on
physical diseases. There is also comprehensive evidence that
personality traits – such as resiliency or optimism – can
have profound impacts on longevity and immunity[20]
Charaka,[21] in context of Krimi (parasites), discussed
about the concept of macro and micro‑organisms
divided into two categories viz. pathogenic and
nonpathogenic.[22,23] These two categories of parasites
seems to simulate with “friendly” and “unfriendly”
bacteria. Evidence is emerging that bacterial flora is
linked to increased incidence of chronic and autoimmune
disease.[24] Furthermore, overuse of antibiotics can alter
the gut flora, causing irregularities in gut function,
including diarrhea and constipation
The emerging field of epigenetic, or the study of why
certain genes “turn on” or “turn off,” is beginning to look
at what Ayurveda described thousands of years ago. In
other words, genes do not necessarily dictate our destinies.
Lifestyle changes including diet and removing stressors
can help patients fight back against genetic disorders.
Epigenetics can control the expression of genes. It is like a
charioteer controls the horses of a chariot or like software
of a computer
It is thought that lifestyle, psychological states, and one’s
physical environment alter or maintain gene expression
levels and patterns
An unhealthy lifestyle “turns on” the bad genes through
an epigenetic process, which in turn stimulates the
excessive formation of pro‑inflammatory cytokines or other
disease‑producing proteins. We have medicines that block
the effect of these cytokines, but we don’t know how to
stop their formation. And medicines often have toxic effects
But if we can figure out what factors can “turn on” the
good genes and “turn off” the bad genes, then we can
prevent disease. Recent studies suggest a link between
Ayurvedic Tridosha principles and phenotypes[25]
Ayurveda can also better inform us about what causes
diseases, even before patients become symptomatic
In Ayurveda, there are six stages of disease:
Sanchaya (accumulation), Prakopa (aggravation),
Prasara (dissemination), Sthana Samshraya (localization),
Vyakti (disruption), and Bheda (manifestation). There
are no symptoms or vague complaints during the first
four stages. If a patient comes to a doctor during the first
four stages, the patient is often labelled a hypochondriac,
as modern medicine frequently does not have screening
techniques to identify early stages of disease.
Dual Healthcare Strategy
A common question asked is “Are you talking about alternative
or complementary medicine?” The answer is no. Currently
modern medicine, or offensive strategy, providers are looking
for treatments that are less toxic and/or more effective for
conditions where there is no current treatment available. This
article seeks to provide an answer to their search. The proposal
is a healthcare system where offense and defense strategy are
used based upon the need of the individual. A person without
disease does not need any treatment but should prepare
himself to protect his body from disease. However, if disease
occurs, an offense strategy will be utilized to treat the disease
symptoms and eradicate the cause of the disease. In addition,
an ongoing defense strategy will lessen the morbidity and
mortality secondary to the disease. While there is dialogue
about a defensive approach within the modern medicine
community, there are very few guidelines and research available
to both doctors and patients. However, in Ayurveda there is
comprehensive defense strategy.
Sushruta described the traits of health between the period of
1200 BC ‑ 600 BC[4] and Ayurveda provides ways to achieve that.
These laws should be debated and tested with the same rigor
applied to modern science. A physician should be able to identify
any disequilibrium in the patient’s physiology, guide the patient
to re‑establish equilibrium and simultaneously identify and treat
disease. This combination of defense and offense strategy can
provide the best and most cost‑effective outcome. This system
is called Symbiohealth [Figure 3]. As discussed earlier modern
medicine physician tries to answers four questions leading to
diagnosis, etiology, pathology and pathophysiology and treatment to
help patients with disease. Symbiohealth practicing physicians tries
to answer the four questions for treatment of disease and five more
questions for prevention of disease.
Acknowledgements
The author gratefully acknowledges the following for help in editing
and critiquing the article: Dr. Kartik Pattabhraman, Prof. S.K. Khandel,
Dr. Yogesh Deole, Dr. Sampath Parthasarthy, Dr. Bethany Powers,
Prof. R.H. Singh and Dr. Hari Sharma.
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Figure 3: Symbiohealth
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How to cite this article: Basisht G. Exploring insights towards denition and
laws of health in Ayurveda: Global health perspective. Ayu 2014;35:351-5.
Source of Support: Nil, Conict of Interest: None declared.
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... After a thorough review of available concepts of health across medical systems, he found that the best definition of health is described by Sushruta and then he proposed laws of health. It is well described in Ayurvedic classical texts [15]. To learn and know more about Ayurveda, he enquired about the most used text and edition of Ayurveda text and received an answer as 'Charak Samhita'. ...
... Comfort and health are important indicators of wellness, manifested through sensory response and perception. One of the treaties on health states that 'Connection to the source (consciousness), indriya or sensory faculties (vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) and psyche should be working well in coordination with the body, and the person is in a state of bliss' 70 . ...
Article
Water vapour in the air is an essential element that directly affects all animate and inanimate constituents of the planet. It is a fundamental constituent in all interactions that characterize life and planetary systems. Water vapour in the air is distinctly associated with the functioning of the human sense organs. All five senses, i.e. smell, touch, sight, sound and taste respond to water vapour in the air. The sensory mechanisms determine a human being's physiological and psychological balance, which is the foundation of wellness, relevant on a planetary scale. However, the sensory mechanisms associated with water vapour in the built environment have not been discerned holistically, particularly its role in human wellness. The present article reviews sensory perceptions and responses attributed to humidity/water vapour in the built environment and examines its role in promoting human wellness, drawing insights from diverse interdisciplinary disciplines.
... Ayurveda defines health as not merely the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It emphasizes the importance of preventive measures and lifestyle practices to maintain optimal health and balance (Basisht, 2014). ...
Article
Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine originating from the Indian subcontinent, has gained significant attention and recognition worldwide. Ayurveda emphasizes a holistic approach to health and disease management, focusing on the balance between mind, body and spirit. Traditional Ayurvedic practices incorporate various therapeutic interventions, including herbal medicines, dietary modifications, yoga, meditation and lifestyle modifications. With growing interest in natural and alternative therapies, Ayurveda has become a subject of extensive scientific investigation and integration into modern pharmaceutical practices. This review is to provide an updated and comprehensive understanding of Ayurveda¢s role in pharmacy and its potential contributions to the field of healthcare.
... . Other measures: Dhupana (fumigation) of the house by antibacterial substance like-Neemleaf, Sarshapa, Loban, Karpura, Ghee(27)(28).People can significantly reduce the risk of catching coronavirus by applying opening and closing public bathroom doors, paper towels with them.XIII. Five laws of health: daily practice of all the five-health law lead to establishment of an equilibrium state of themind and body(29).i. First law:Connection to the source (consciousness), Indriya or sensory faculties (vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch) and psyche should be working well in coordination with body and the person is in a state of bliss. ...
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COVID-19 originated in China and spread worldwide , resulting in the pandemic of 2020. COVID-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2, new emerging zoonotic corona virus of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) family. In India, several initiatives have been taken to utilize the vast potential of Ayurveda in this pandemic. The Ministry of Ayush, a nodal Ministry of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, has released a set of guidelines for boosting immunity and measures for self-care by using Ayurvedic principles (Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, 2020). Further, the Indian Prime Minister in its address to nation also mentioned about using Ayurveda medicines for improving immunity against COVID-19. This has led to surge in demand of Ayurvedic medicines. This article describes that daily practicing of Ayurvedic medicine and preventive measures, can developed an immunity and can fight against this pandemic and create a complete healthcare system.
... The five laws of health are formulated based on close observation of dynamic health mechanisms. [18] They denote various components required for the preservation of equilibrium state at personal, family, social, and universal levels. Table 2 depicts their importance. ...
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The pandemic COVID-19 has changed the global perspective and placed the health of humans and society on priority. The health-care systems across the world faced challenges and got engaged in finding solutions. However, individual responsibilities to take care of health by following advisories issued by government authorities were expected to prevent spread and illness. This provokes the thoughts on pivotal role of a person at a microlevel to help and reduce the global burden of diseases and preservation of health. It leads to a healthy society at macrolevel or development of universal health-care management. At this time, it becomes essential to review the concept of health in medical sciences and design a strategic action plan for its preservation at large scale. Ayurveda provides a deep insight into personalized approach toward health termed as “Swastha.” It is needed to understand and elaborate this approach in today’s times to provide affordable, easily accessible, and convenient health care. This article describes the concept of health, clinical assessment, and its application to preserve and protect the health of humans, society, and ultimately the planet.
... Normal functioning of the Agni, along with the homeostasis of the three doshas (functional units) Vatha, Pitha, and Kapha, and seven Dhathus (seven types of tissues) are deemed prerequisites for Health (3). ...
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Objective: The purpose of this study was to review and analyze the tools available for the assessment of Agni and its derangements, including grahani dosha. Methods: A review of the published literature was conducted online using PubMed, Science Direct, and Google scholar. The keywords for the search included, "Agni,", "Agni Bala,” “Agni vaishamya," "Grahani dosha”, “Assessment tool “, and “Questionnaire”. The initial search retrieved 37 articles, of which seven were screened, classified, and coded for further analysis including their content, methodology as well as utility in clinical practice. Results: The review discovered four tools aimed at assessing Agni and three for diagnosing grahani roga. All were different with regards to the domains assessed, mode of administration, and methodologies in which they were developed. Only two of the tools for Agni assessment were prepared following proper methodology including the evaluation for their reliability and validity. The absence of a gold standard against which these tools can be corroborated is a major drawback, because of which these tools were neither subjected to stringent scientific validation nor evaluated for their clinical utility. Conclusion: None of the tools available for review could be deemed best at accurately detecting Agni and its dysfunctions. Two of the tools were developed adopting proper methodology, however, the feasibility of these in a clinical scenario has to be established with further studies. Additionally, there was no tool directed at assessing grahani dosha in specific disease states, which necessitates further research to develop and validate tools, especially in specific disorders.
Article
According to Ayurveda, a healthy person should have an equilibrium of doshas, good digestive power, the perfect combination of dhatu, good excretory system, the well-organized activity of different parts of the body along with a happy state of Atma, Indriyas and Manas. So, Ayurveda emphasises both physical and mental health. In this research work, an attempt has been made to focus on mental health. In the present era, everyone tries to fulfil all their physical desires; therefore, almost everyone appears to be stressed and confused in these lifestyles. Acharya Charaka has mentioned symptom dhee dhriti Smriti vibhramsha in Ch. Sha. 1/98-101, in which he told Rajas and Tamas that they are the main doshas involved in dhee dhriti Smriti vibhramsha. Modern science has many techniques or scales to diagnose the disease, but our Ayurveda science does not have such a diagnostic scale. The modern diagnostic scale is based on modern concepts. It does not entirely fulfil the Ayurvedic diagnostic view. Therefore, not all Ayurvedic principles are fully incorporated into these scales. Ayurvedic treatment is based on Samprapti Vighatana. So, there is a need to develop an Ayurvedic diagnostic scale as per Ayurvedic concepts of dhee dhriti smriti vibhramsha Samprapti. So, we have tried to develop an Ayurvedic diagnostic scale to diagnose the Dhee Dhriti Smriti Vibhramsha as per Ayurvedic pathogenesis of dhee dhriti smriti vibhramsha.
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Foods containing various nutrients are consumed by all living being, undergo metabolic process in the gastroin-testinal tract (GIT) where agni plays an important role. The concept of agni and digestion has been systematically explained in Ayurveda. The word Agni literally means fire, however, in Ayurveda it represents various elements that influence and direct the course of digestion and metabolism in living organism. The process of digestion , metabolism and assimilation works in coordination with three sets of agni; Jatharagni, Bhutagni and Dhatvagni. Similarly, three stages of Avastha paka (metabolic process) consists of, madhur (sweet), amla (sour) and katu (pungent) paka that takes place in the stomach, duodenum and intestine respectively. After that bhutagni (digestive process) and dhatvagni (absorptions of food at tissue level) comes in action. Five Bhutagni (digestive factors) digest the respective bhautika element (essential elements) present in the food materials and nourish their own specific bhutas (tissues) of the body. Functions of dhatvagni are mainly two, fold, one is synthesis of new tissue and second is to yield energy for the function of tissue. After the action of various agni, the food is separated into nutrient fraction and waste fraction. Nutrients are used for the nourishment while the waste fraction is excreted from the body.
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Background -People's lifestyles have become very mechanical in the modern day. Everyone is in a rat race to meet their goals, which causes stress. The repercussions of this stress on a person's physical and mental health are further. The healthy development of emotional attitudes and personality that coexist peacefully with the entire society or community is what is meant by mental health. Sadvrittapalan, application of Acharrasayana, Yoga, and meditation practises are crucial for mental health prevention. Yoga consists of eight steps, and to control the sense organs called Indriyas, Pranayam is crucial. Significant and simple form of Ashtakumbhaka is Bhramari Pranayam. The humming sound of Bhramari Pranayam causes vibrations in the body that directly affect the hypothalamus of the brain, relieving tension and bringing about calmness and happiness throughout the body. In order to offer a better answer, this article discusses the function of Bhramari Pranayama in the prevention and promotion of mental health. Material & Methods:-The data used in the current investigation was gathered from primary and secondary sources, namely literature reviews of major Ayurvedic Samhitas and texts and widely disseminated research publications. Conclusions:-This study demonstrates the critical impact Bhramari Pranayama plays in both the prevention of mental illness and the treatment of mental diseases like stress, anxiety, and depression. Ayurveda claims that continuous practise of Bhramari Pranayama reduces the Raja and Tamadosha and increases Satvaguna, thereby aiding in the development of mental health.
Chapter
Metabolic syndrome is an interrelated cluster of pathogens such as obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, cancer, and insulin resistance leading to endocrinal disorders. In the 21st century, progression of the disease is rapid increases due to change in the lifestyle of humans having a chance to develop metabolic change, and in some cases, mutations occur, which drastically affects the endocrine functionality and subsequently causes syndrome X. In modern medicine, different medications are available but only to maintain the condition lifetime. For the complete cure, WHO focused on the traditional knowledge in 2004, using the herbal medicine to cure all metabolic aliments. According to ancient medical treatment, metabolic syndromes are completely curable. They divided the disease progression stages and formulated the different dosage forms. All the data obtained from the ancient herbal medicine treatment are not evidence-based. So, the researchers all around the world focused on the evidence-based proofs to confirm whether herbal medicine shows efficacy in curing the metabolic syndrome or not.
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Ayurveda is one of the oldest health sciences of the world with concepts of tridosha and prakriti being core philosophies. These core concepts allow implementation of ways for not only personalized medicine and treatment but also personalized prevention. In the light of modern or current science, evidence has surfaced connecting the concepts of tridosha and prakriti with metabolic pathways, chronic diseases, and various genotypes. Such evidence has thrown up insights about the universality of Ayurvedic concepts as well as their apparent association with concepts in current science. This review was undertaken to consolidate the evidence of such associations which exist between prakriti and metabolic systems, chronic diseases, and genotypes with the objective that a case can be made for drawing out the clear linkages that might exist for prakritis being distinct phenotypes representing certain genotypes. A corollary to such discoveries can be the possibility of newborns being screened for their prakriti by genetic testing, which will enable the prevention of various chronic diseases for such children via the implementation of various dietary, lifestyle, and habitual changes, as required, from an early age. This implementation of preventive practices from an early age may result in such children leading healthy, disease-free, more productive lives. Thus, eventually, this can be an opportunity to practice personalized preventive health, which is not a possibility in other systems of medicine especially western systems of medicine. Personalized preventive health is one step further than personalized medicine and is a very novel idea with far-reaching implications.
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Thousands of years ago yoga originated in India, and in present day and age, an alarming awareness was observed in health and natural remedies among people by yoga and pranayama which has been proven an effective method for improving health in addition to prevention and management of diseases. With increasing scientific research in yoga, its therapeutic aspects are also being explored. Yoga is reported to reduce stress and anxiety, improves autonomic functions by triggering neurohormonal mechanisms by the suppression of sympathetic activity, and even, now-a-days, several reports suggested yoga is beneficial for physical health of cancer patients. Such global recognition of yoga also testifies to India's growing cultural influence.
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The current WHO definition of health, formulated in 1948, describes health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”1 At that time this formulation was groundbreaking because of its breadth and ambition. It overcame the negative definition of health as absence of disease and included the physical, mental, and social domains. Although the definition has been criticised over the past 60 years, it has never been adapted. Criticism is now intensifying,2-5 and as populations age and the pattern of illnesses changes the definition may even be counterproductive. The paper summarises the limitations of the WHO definition and describes the proposals for making it more useful that were developed at a conference of international health experts held in the Netherlands.6
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Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a severe microvascular complication frequently associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, is a leading cause of renal failure. The condition can also lead to accelerated cardiovascular disease and macrovascular complications. Currently available therapies have not been fully efficacious in the treatment of DN, suggesting that further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of DN is necessary for the improved management of this disease. Although key signal transduction and gene regulation mechanisms have been identified, especially those related to the effects of hyperglycaemia, transforming growth factor β1 and angiotensin II, progress in functional genomics, high-throughput sequencing technology, epigenetics and systems biology approaches have greatly expanded our knowledge and uncovered new molecular mechanisms and factors involved in DN. These mechanisms include DNA methylation, chromatin histone modifications, novel transcripts and functional noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs. In this Review, we discuss the significance of these emerging mechanisms, how they mediate the actions of growth factors to augment the expression of extracellular matrix and inflammatory genes associated with DN and their potential usefulness as diagnostic biomarkers or novel therapeutic targets for DN.
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Cancer is one of the most common human diseases. It is long known that mutations in key regulator genes are hallmarks of all cancer types. Apart from these classical genetic pathways there is more and more evidence that also epigenetic alterations are crucially involved in tumourigenesis. In this review we discuss and summarise recent findings of mechanisms responsible for cancer formation apart from the classic genetic mutations. Furthermore, we show how epigenetic and genetic mechanisms could depend on each other and contribute together to cancer formation. We focus mainly on post-translational histone modifications since they are one of the major epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression and when they are imbalanced this can result in cancer.
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In a BMJ editorial in December 2008 Alex Jadad and Laura O’Grady called for a “global conversation” about how we define health (BMJ 2008;337:a2900). This week Jadad and colleagues present the results of that conversation, initiated via a blog on bmj.com to which a good number of you responded (http://bit.ly/r6Usyh), and concluded at a two day meeting in the Netherlands in December 2009 (doi:10.1136/bmj.d4163). They propose a new definition of health as “the ability to adapt and self manage” in the face of social, physical, and emotional challenges.Why should we be interested in defining health? Because if health is the goal of healthcare and research, we need to know what it looks like and how to measure it. As these articles explain, the currently accepted definition, formulated by WHO in 1948, is no longer helpful and is even counterproductive. Its emphasis on “complete physical, mental and social wellbeing” was radical in its day for stepping away from defining health as the absence of disease. But it is absolute and therefore unachievable for most people in the world. As Richard Smith, one of the authors of this week’s article, pointed out in a BMJ blog, it “would leave most of us unhealthy most of the time” (http://bit.ly/ngzpes). Indeed, the article says that the WHO definition has contributed unintentionally to the medicalisation of society, as more and more human characteristics are recruited as risk factors for disease.The WHO definition is also unworkable for other reasons, the authors say. In the face of an ageing global population with an increasing burden of chronic disease, it “minimises the role of the human capacity to cope autonomously with life’s ever changing physical, emotional, and social challenges and to function with fulfilment and a feeling of wellbeing with a chronic disease or disability.”Jennifer Bute provides a moving example of this human capacity. While still practising as a general practitioner she developed the first symptoms of dementia as well as cardiac problems (doi:10.1136/bmj.d4278). Without minimising the challenge of what she has had to endure, her cardiologist comments that coping and adapting were probably easier for her than for others less resourceful and capable. If health is our goal, and if the new definition meets our current realities, the next question is: how can we build and sustain the human capacity to adapt and cope?Edwin Heathcote is the architecture correspondent for the Financial Times. He describes one approach to maximising human health—the development of “age friendly” cities (doi:10.1136/bmj.d4418). This initiative aims to reverse the trend of removing or excluding older people from active life in cities. How can these people be brought back so that not only they but also the city survive and flourish? The answer, it turns out, is not the current vogue for ramps, big bold signs, benches, and lots of green space.This week’s articles are the start of six weeks’ coverage building up to the UN summit on non-communicable diseases in September. Other articles will focus on how we should be tackling the key shared risk factors behind the global epidemic of chronic disease—poor diet, alcohol, tobacco, and physical inactivity. As always, we hope for your input via rapid responses on bmj.com.NotesCite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d4817FootnotesFollow BMJ Editor Fiona Godlee on Twitter at twitter.com/fgodlee and the BMJ at twitter.com/bmj_latest