Carli Hill
Objectives
Introduction to Ayurveda Tridosha theory Reported benefits Reasons for caution Current Research Conclusions
Introduction to Ayurveda
Comprehensive system that places equal emphasis on the body, mind and spirit, and it strives to restore the innate harmony of the individual Ayurveda is the combination of two Sanskrit words
ayu meaning long life ved meaning knowledge Knowledge or science of life
Practiced in India for over 5000 years Covers all medical fields Diagnosis done by observation, touch, and questioning Four components to disease management
Physician, Drug, Patient, Attendant (such as a nurse)
Tridosha Theory
Three energies/doshas
Pitta digestion, metabolism, emotions Kapha lubrication, structure, synthesis Vata movement, physical and mental function, degeneration
Reported Benefits
Slowing the aging process Promoting health of all the organs of the body Reducing fatigue and stress Nurturing the body with proper diet Healing disorders of the nervous system
Caution
Herbal/metal/mineral Ayurvedic treatments
Safety dependent on following a complex procedure Many include heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic 1 in 5 herbal products produced in South Asia have toxic levels Reports of lead poisoning
A biostatistical approach to Ayurveda: quantifying the Tridosha. Joshi R. J Altern Comp Med. 2004;10;5;879-889.
Hypothalamic digoxin, hemispheric chemical dominance, and the tridosha theory. Kurup R, Kurup P. Intern J Neuroscience. 2003;113:657-681.
Objectives
Show that the three doshas represent different states of hemispheric dominance Show how hemispheric dominance relates to certain disease and psychological states
Methods
90 individuals aged 20-30 years divided into six groups
Right hemispheric dominance, left hemispheric dominance, and bihemispheric dominance The three doshas vata, pitta, kapha
Factors continued
Serum lysosomal enzymes, total glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and different GAG fractions, glycolipids, and carbohydrate residues of glycoproteins Free radicals and scavenging enzymes RBC membrane composition
Serum digoxin and RBC Na+-K+ ATPase activity assessed in several disease states and psychiatric conditions (15 cases or individuals per condition) to find a correlation between tridosha and disease
Conclusions
Correlation between tridosha and hemispheric chemical dominance Link between doshas and predisposition to diseases and psychological states
Classification of human population based on Ayurvedic concept of Prakriti. Patwardhan B, Joshi K, Chopra A. J Altern Comp Med. 2005;11:349-353.
Objective assess relationship between prakriti and phenotype in a healthy population Methods
76 subjects DNA extracted and genes typed Prakriti assessed
Results frequency of certain alleles associated with vata and kapha, but pitta had no significant association with any alleles Conclusion correlation found, but need larger sample size
Conclusions
Evidence supporting/validating the tridosha theory of Ayurveda looks promising More research needs to be done to gather a larger body of evidence Additional research needs to be conducted in the area of Ayurvedic herbs
Biochemical, pharmacological, and toxological especially
Online Resources
Seattles Ayurvedic acadamy and clinic: http://www.ayurvedaonline.com/ Ayurvedic Institute: http://www.ayurveda.com
Questions?