WHAT IS THE NEED OF THE TIME?

1. Over 125 million Americans suffer from a chronic disease
2. Over 40 million Americans have no health insurance
3. Another 36 million Americans are under-insured
4. Health care expenditures for the world in 2005 were estimated to be $2.2 trillion. Of that 1.2 trillion was spent in the U.S.
5. Health care costs continue to expand at a rate that far exceeds inflation
6. Inability to pay health cost is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the U.S.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION

1. 106,000 deaths each year due to the known effects of drugs
2. Medication errors harm 1.5 million Americans each year and cost over $3.5 billion to treat
3. 98,000 deaths occur each year due to medical errors
4. Over 204,000 deaths each year due to THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ITSELF, making modern medicine the 4th leading cause of death in the United States

PREVENTABLE DISEASE

1. Preventable illness makes up approximately 80% of the burden of illness and 90% of all health care costs
2. Preventable illnesses account for eight of the nine leading categories of death.
3. Up to 80% of all cancers are preventable: “Up to 80% of all cancers in the United States may be primarily the result of environmental factors…Environment encompasses a person’s way of life, including occupation, diet, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and sun exposure. Alterations of environment may be sufficient to prevent most cancers
4. More than 700,000 strokes occur annually in the United States – one every 40 to 50 seconds. Although stroke is one of the nation’s most expensive diseases to treat, costing $41 billion per year, most strokes (perhaps as many as two thirds) are preventable.
   
   

   Cause Estimated No. of Preventable Deaths Percentage of Total Deaths Tobacco 400,000 19 Diet/activity pattern 300,000 14 Alcohol 100,000 5 Microbial Agents 90,000 4 Toxic Agents 60,000 3 Firearms 35,000 2 Sexual Behavior 30,000 1 Motor Vehicles 25,000 1 Illicit Use of Drugs 20,000 <1 TOTAL 1,060,000 50

AYURVEDIC DEFINITION OF HEALTH

He whose doshas (fundamental physiological elements) are in balance, whose appetite is good, whose dhatus (tissues) are functioning normally, whose malas (waste products) are in balance, and whose mind and senses remain full of bliss (24 hours/day), is called a healthy person. –Sushruta

THE AYURVEDIC PARADIGM

Most fundamental principle of Ayurveda: Consciousness is primary–the physiology is influenced and guided by consciousness.

Corollary: The development of consciousness is fundamental to health

Prevention requires lifestyle (behavioral) changes.

Developing consciousness increases awareness—it develops an enhanced awareness of the body.

Increased awareness refines and enhances the feedback the body receives.

This refined feedback leads one naturally to develop healthful behaviors.

MEDITATION AND HEALTH

A field study was done analyzing 5 years of medical insurance usage between two groups. The first group was approximately 2000 regular participants in the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program and the second group was approximately 600,000 non-meditators. Both groups were members of the same insurance carrier. Results showed the TM group had lower medical utilization rates in ALL categories. Inpatient days were 50.2% fewer than the norm for children (0-18), 50.1% fewer for young adults (19-39), and 69.4% fewer for older adults (40+). Outpatient visits for the same age categories were, respectively, 46.8%, 54.7%, and 73.7% fewer for the TM group. When compared with 5 other health insurance groups of similar size and professional membership, The TM group had 53.3% fewer inpatient admissions per 1000 and 44.4% fewer outpatient visits per 1000. Admissions per 1000 were lower for the TM group than the norm for all of 17 major medical treatment categories, including 55.4% for benign and malignant tumors, 87.3% for heart disease, 30.4% for all infectious diseases, 30.6% for all mental disorders, and 87.3% for diseases of the nervous system. (Psychosomatic Medicine, 1987 Sep-Oct;49(5):493-507)It is hard to avoid the evidence that the state of mind has a significant impact on the state of the body.

WE ARE NOT THE BODY

The body is not one organism, it is a community of 50 trillion cells, each an organism in and of itself all working together. These cells are replaced on a regular basis.

Every 5 days the cells that line the stomach replace themselves.

Every 90 days the body has a completely new set of red blod cells.

Every 6 months the majority of the liver cells are replaced and the liver can grow a new lobe in 2 months if a lobe is surgically removed.

Even those parts of us which we think are so solid (our bones) are constantly being replaced, so that within 1 year over 98% of all the molecules in the body have been replaced.

If “you” are your body, “you” were not here a year ago—you have been replaced by a clever double. If we replace our bodies so frequently, the question must be asked: why does illness hang on so long? The answer lies in the state of mind...when the state of mind lingers on illness repeatedly, the new cells that replace old ones actually come in diseased.

WE ARE NOT THE BRAIN

The brain has about 1 trillion cells, but 9 out of 10 of these are just supporting cells, not neurons.

Out of the 100 billion neurons that we do have, at least 8 out of 10 are involved in coordinating movement, vision, hearing, planning.

That leaves less than 20 billion neurons for memory—that means there is less memory storage than most laptop computers have on their hard drive (20 Gig = 20 billion bytes).

It is impossible for human memory to fit into the brain.

We are more like a radio that “tunes into” memories than like a computer that stores them.

THE CONSCIOUSNESS MODEL IN DETAIL

The pattern of balance and imbalance in the physical body, or the pattern of health and disease is a result of non-material events that guide its re-creation (remember the body is constantly being re-created).

The intelligent pattern for the proper functioning of the body is stored in a template.

This template guides the functioning of the body.

We are the observer or that consciousness which shifts attention to the various levels or vibrations of the sea of consciousness that we refer to as thought, feelings, and sensations.

In doing so, our experience filters down through the levels of consciousness through the mind-body connection and guides and promotes either balance or imbalance.

In Ayurveda, consciousness is considered to be of primary importance in maintaining optimal health. Meditation techniques are emphasized to develop integrated holistic functioning of the nervous system. Discoveries by twentieth-century quantum physicists have now uncovered a fundamental role for consciousness in the physical world that correlates with this ancient knowledge of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda considers the ultimate basis of disease to be the loss of one’s connection to (or, one’s memory of) the unified field of pure consciousness, which is the innermost core of one’s own being. This loss is known as pragya-aparadh, or The Mistake of the Intellect. The ultimate basis of prevention and cure is restoring one’s conscious connection to (or memory of) this pure consciousness. This reconnection is the basis of an integrated approach to health care; integration of the different layers of life begins with reconnecting one’s life to the source of inner intelligence. The foremost means for accomplishing this are the Vedic techniques for developing consciousness, chief among them being meditation. A large body of research documents the observable effects of and many health benefits from meditation.

HEALTH CARE WITH AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is a natural health care system that originated in India more than 5000 years age. Its main objective is to achieve optimal health and well-being through a comprehensive approach that addresses mind, body, behavior, and environment. Ayurveda emphasizes prevention and health promotion, and provides treatment for disease. It considers the development of consciousness to be essential for optimal health and meditation as the main technique for achieving this.

Practioners look closely at the psychophysiologic constitution of a patient and treatment for any condition is highly individualized. Some possible considerations for treatment include: different dietary and lifestyle recommendations for each season of the year: utilizing common spices, herbs, and herbal mixtures in treatment; special preparations known as Rasayanas are used for rejuvenation, promotion of longevity, and slowing of the aging process; and purification procedures known as Panchakarma are used to remove toxins from the body.

Whereas Western allopathic medicine is excellent in handling acute medical crises, Ayurveda demonstrates an ability to manage chronic disorders that Western medicine has failed to successfully manage. It may be projected from Ayurveda’s comprehensive approach, emphasis on prevention, and ability to manage chronic disorders that its widespread use would improve the health status of the world’s population.

According to Ayurveda, the source of all existence is UNIVERSAL COSMIC CONSCIOUSNES and the meaning of the word AYURVEDA is the SCIENCE OF LIFE, an art of healthy living that surrounds all phases of life – body, mind, and spirit. Ayurveda believes that everything is made up of five great elements or building blocks. These are ether (space), air, fire, water and earth. These five great elements combine into three basic energies or functional principles called DOSHAS, which are present in varying degrees in everything and everybody. Space (ether) and air constitute Vata; fire and water combine to make up Pitta; water and earth constitute Kapha.

Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are present in every cell, tissue, and organ. When in balance they create health and when out of balance, they are the cause of disease. When in balance they generate noble qualities such as understanding, compassion, and love. When their balance is disturbed by stress, improper diet, environmental conditions or other factors, they can give rise to negative emotions such as anger, fear, and greed and of couse, disease or dysfunction.

While everyone has all 3 doshas, one is usually dominant, one secondary, and the third least prominent in any individual. We as practitioners determine the imbalanced dosha by taking pulses, history and physical examination, and then set about to help correct the imbalance with diet, herbal supplements, exercise, lifestyle modifications, meditation, and cleansing techniques.

1. VATA
   Vata is the bodily air principle -- It is the energy of movement, which includes communication and transportation. Composed of space and air, the Vata dosha has a body type of light build, thin with a cold, thin handshake; is usually enthusiastic, vivacious, talkative; is located in the physiology of the colon, joints, inside of bones, and nervous system; and has major functions in physiology of movement, transportation, and communication.
2. PITTA
   Pitta is the principle of fire, the energy of digestion, metabolism, and transformation. Composed of fire and water, The Pitta dosha has a body type of medium build, muscular with a handshake that has a crushing grip, with a warm hand; the psychology is intense, analytical, focused, generous, and goal-oriented; is located in the physiology of the liver, small intestine, and skin; and has major functions in the physiology with digestion, metabolism, and transformation.
3. KAPHA
   Kapha is the principle of water, the energy of lubrication, structure, and immunity. Composed of earth and water, the Kapha dosha has a large body build with a soft puffy pillowy handshake; psychology is jovial, sweet, loving, easy-going (like Aunt Jemima or better yet Santa Claus); is located in the physiology of the chest, and low back; and has functions in the physiology of structure, strength (immunity), and lubrication.

DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS

According to Ayurveda, diet is one of the main pillars of health. Foods are categorized in several ways, one being according to taste. Ayurveda describes six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent (spicy hot), bitter, and astringent (having a drying effect). Foods affect the doshas in different ways. For example, sweet, sour and salty decrease Vata, whereas pungent, bitter, and astringent increase Vata. One should eat foods that are suitable to his/her psychophysiologic constitution, or dosha, to maintain balance in the system. If the system is out of balance, foods can be used in a therapeutic manner to restore balance to the doshas.

Season is another important factor. Different doshas predominate during different seasons. The dosha predominance varies depending on climatic conditions and geographic location, so it will not be the same in every region of the world. In the USA, Vata accumulates when the weather is cold, dry, and windy. Pitta accumulates when the weather is hot. Kapha accumulates when the weather is cold and wet. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha generally increase during the following seasons:

1. Vata in late autumn and winter (when it is cold, dry, and windy)
2. Pitta in summer and early autumn (when it is hot and humid)
3. Kapha in spring (when it is cold and wet)

Therefore, foods that pacify Vata are recommended during winter, those that pacify Pitta are recommended during summer, and those that pacify Kapha are recommended during spring.

Common spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, ginger, garlic, and cinnamon have significant therapeutic utility. For example, scientific studies have shown that turmeric has anticancer properties – it protects DNA and stimulates detoxifying enzymes; it has anti-inflammatory properties and is hepatoprotective; antibacterial, antifungal, promotes wound healing; protects against heart disease: decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride levels, is antithrombotic, and prevents lipid peroxidation and aortic fatty streak formation. Coriander protects against heart disease and can be used to help treat diabetes. Cumin is antidiabetic. Ginger reduces lipids, and has anicancer properties. Garlic is antihypertensive, anticancer, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Cinnamon is effective in the treatment of diabetes. Common spices such as these are readily available, cost effective ways to prevent disease and in some cases provide treatment They can and ought to be used on a daily basis in preparing healthy meals.

Ayurveda’s material medica is extensive, with more that 700 herbs described in detail in the ancient texts. The herbs and herbal mixtures utilized in Ayurveda are prepared by using the various parts of the plant (eg., the root, leaves, fruits, bark, seeds, etc.). Ayurveda does not recommend isolating the active ingredient (usually done in Western pharmocology) because toxic side effects can occur and the synergistic benefits are lost. Extensive research has been conducted on Ayurvedic herbs over the past 100 years. For example, Neem has historically been used for treating a wide array of disorders and research is confirming a broad range of therapeutic properties. Neem is anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial, antifertility, antipyretic, antiulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antipsoriasis, anticancer, antioxidant, antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, analgesic, hepatoprotective, immune-enhancing, and diuretic. Clinical investigation of Neem includes studies that show it has significant hypoglycemic activity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and is highly effective in controlling gastric hypersecretion and treating gastroduodenal ulcers.

LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

Ayurveda offers many simple lifestyle recommendations for maintaining one’s health. Daily routine is very important. According to Ayurveda, the 3 pillars of health are diet and digestion, elimination, and sleep. One’s daily routine can have a profound effect in these areas. Different doshas are predominant during different hours of the day and night and this factors into the recommendations for daily routine. For example, the main meal of the day should be eaten around noontime since Pitta is predominant at this time and digestion will be strongest. The evening meal should be light. One should go to bed by 10 PM since pitta is once again predominant from 10 PM to 2 AM. During this time, Pitta works to digest any intermediate metabolites in the physiology and break down toxic wastes. If one stays awake during this time, the clean-up mode will not function as effectively. Also, hunger will set in and eating more food at this time will overload the system and result in more toxic wastes being produced.

Another reason to go to bed by 10 PM is because kapha is predominant from 6 to 10 PM. This dosha is associated with qualities of heaviness, so this is naturally a time when drowsiness and sleep will come more easily. It is recommended that one get up in the morning by sunrise, which is during Vata predominant time. This dosha is associated with movement and lightness, so arising around this time will facilitate feeling energetic and refreshed. Kapha is predominant from 6 to 10 AM; rising during this time will create a feeling of heaviness and lethargy.

The quality of sleep is very important to one’s health for both physical and psychologic reasons. Deep sleep is rejuvenating to the body, and during this time health-promoting chemicals are manufactured. One of these chemicals is interleukin-2, which has anticancer activity.

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