Ayurveda Returning to Wholeness. Sheila Patel, MD Medical Director, Chopra Center for Wellbeing Mind-Body Medical Group Carlsbad, CA

Transcription

1 Ayurveda Returning to Wholeness Sheila Patel, MD Medical Director, Chopra Center for Wellbeing Mind-Body Medical Group Carlsbad, CA

2 WHAT IS HEALING? Experiencing self-regulation A process of self-organization Activating internal healing mechanisms Feeling at peace Feeling whole /connected to something greater Interference with self-regulation is central to the vast majority of health and social problems that plague modern society.

3 Ayurveda Ayu = Veda = Life Knowledge/wisdom Purpose: to heal, and to maintain the quality and longevity of life (through self-regulation) 3

4 4

5 Health and Disease Allopathic Model: Health is the absence of a definable disease Ayurvedic Model: Disease is the absence of vibrant health In 1948, WHO defined health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity 6

6 AYURVEDA HOLISTIC BODY/MIND/SPIRIT SYSTEMS BIOLOGY addresses the whole body PERSONALIZED DOSHAS-what is right for one person, may not be right for another; allows predictions of health PREVENTIVE/CREATES HEALTH--by treating the root cause PARTICIPATORY/MAINTAIN HEALTH BY DAILY LIFESTYLE PRACTICES health is our natural state and the system is always trying to achieve homeostasis/balance

7 Humans as a System EVERYTHING IS A SYSTEM from the macrocosm to the microcosm Humans are an intelligent system which senses and adapts to its environment/experiences 8

8 Fight or Flight Cannon 1930s Mind-Body Connection STRESS CNS General Adaptation Selye 1950 s Adrenals Medulla GI Adrenals Cortex Automatic functions Immune System/Inflammation Metabolism

9 General Adaptation Response to Chronic Stress 11

10 12

11 Treatment 13

12 14

13 Ayurvedic Treatments--treating the root cause 15

14 AYURVEDIC TREATMENT MEDITATION YOGA/PRANAYAM PROPER DIET/DOSHA SPECIFIC HERBS/SPICES MASSAGE/MARMA DETOX PROPER SENSORY INPUT DAILY ROUTINE REGULATION OF EMOTIONS

15 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Samadosha, samagnis cha Samadhatu-mala-kriyah Prasanna atma-indriya-mana Swastha iti abhidhyiate Susruta Samhita, Sutrasthanam

16 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Samadosha, samagnis cha Balanced doshas and strong digestive fire 18

17 Three Doshas: Mind-Body Constitution Vata Space + Air Pitta Fire + Water Kapha Water + Earth 19

18 20

19 Dosha quiz 21

20 AYURVEDA--INDIVIDUALIZED MEDICINE "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson 22

21 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Samadosha, samagnis cha Balanced doshas and strong digestive fire 23

22

23 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Samadhatu-mala-kriyah Balanced tissues-waste-elimination 25

24 The Dhatus = Tissues Rasa Rakta Mamsa Meda Asthi Majja Shukra Plasma Blood Muscles Fat Bone Bone Marrow & Nerves Reproductive 26

25 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Samadhatu-mala-kriyah Balanced tissues-waste-elimination 27

26 The Malas = Waste Products Mutra Urine Purisha Feces Sweda Sweat 28

27 DETOXIFICATION/ELIMINATION sweat 29

28 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Prasanna atma-indriya-mana Happy soul-senses-mind 30

29 What we think, we become --Buddha Our health cannot be separated from what we eat, what we do and what we think 31

30 In sum, we report that gratitude and spiritual wellbeing are related to better mood and sleep, less fatigue, and more selfefficacy, and that gratitude fully or partially mediates the beneficial effects of spiritual wellbeing on these endpoints. Efforts to increase gratitude may be a treatment for improving wellbeing in HF patients lives and be of potential clinical value.

31 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Swastha iti abhidhyiate Health is thus known 33

32 Ayurvedic Definition of Health Samadosha, samagnis cha Samadhatu-mala-kriyah Prasanna atma-indriya-mana Swastha iti abhidhyiate Susruta Samhita, Sutrasthanam

33 Ayurvedic Path to Balance Goals: Balance doshas/balance agni Reduce ama (toxicity) Ensure proper intake/elimination Tools and Treatments: Meditation Pranayam Yoga Cleansing/detox therapies Nutrition/Proper use of herbs Massage, incl. self-massage Emotional balance Mindful input of sensory experience Energy therapies Daily and seasonal routine/exposure to Nature

34 Healing Through Nature Grounding The quickest way to align with nature Research has generated evidence that connecting with the Earth can: Reduce inflammation Lower stress levels Improve muscle and joint pain Boost mood Promote a healthy immune system Improve sleep Being connected to the Earth gives us access to the negative charge (electrons) that exists on the surface of the Earth

35 Grounding promotes stress reduction as observed through modulation of central nervous system pathways (HRV) and also modulates inflammatory markers demonstrated by increase after one week of not grounding 37

36 Measurable decrease in 2 specific cell-membrane chemicals (phosphatidylcholines) correlating with serum cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes risk Plasma and serum levels of the metabolites of phosphatidylcholine are highly predictice of cardiovascular dz risk

37 AYURVEDIC DEFINITION OF DISEASE THREE SOURCES OF DISEASE/DISCONNECT 1. Physical imbalance 2. Emotional turbulence (mind) 3. Spiritual disconnect Treatment is individualized and with the understanding that everything is connected (the body is a system); goal is to re-establish wholeness. 39

38 Each of us is born with the gift of healing. We can help ourselves to heal and we can help each other to heal. We just need to be made aware of this gift and learn how to use it. 40