Ayurveda

1
Ayurveda

• Ancient system of healing developed in India. It
  focuses on unbalances in life energies as
  etiologic for disease states. By eliminating
  unbalanced states, we cure the root of disease,
  not simply the symptoms, broadly defined as
  nearly ANY physical manifestation of disease
  (pain, fever, CHF, pneumonia, etc).

2
The Doshas

• The life energies previously mentioned are
  encapsulated into three entities known as Doshas
  Vata, Kapha, and Pitta.

3
Vata Dosha

• Defined by movement- sometimes referred to as the
  wind or air.
• The senses
• Motion
• Creativity
• Action

4
Pitta Dosha

• Defined by its relation to Fire
• Metabolic
• Digestive
• Perception of the outside world after mediation
  by the senses (i.e. mental status).

5
Kapha Dosha

• Defined by preservation and solidity.
• Physical strength
• Immunity
• Emotion
• Regeneration

6
Prakriti

• Our Nature- does not change
• There is an ideal proportion of doshas for each
  person. The key is determining the individuals
  balance and bringing him in line with it. There
  is no perfect formula for everyone.

7
The Ayurvedic Encounter

• Consists of long (1 hr to often 2 hrs) interview
  and physical.
• Determine entire course of ones day.
• Find how each activity affects the individual and
  when it began.
• Individualize a treatment plan based on the
  information gleaned

8
Treatment

• Individualized
• Determine best method for rebalancing the Doshas
  based on lifestyle and individual characteristics.

9
Diet

• Critical to Ayurveda
• Food alters our doshas based on the interaction
  of its intrinsic categories with our Prakriti.
• Altering intake can greatly alter the balance
• Includes supplements and everyday food
• Certain combinations must be avoided

10
Exercise

• Our imbalances often depend upon certain physical
  strengths/weaknesses.
• We can alter some of these through targeted
  exercises or elimination of certain activities.

11
Yoga

• Yoga simply means path in Sanskrit
• There are many Yogas in addition to the
  physical one we see hyped on TV.
• The most important is breathing Yoga.
• Spiritual paths (i.e. Yoga of faith) are critical
  as well.

12
Daily Habits

• Sleep
• Regularity of activities
• Work
• Worldview and stress
• Et al

13
Trials?

• I postulate that western trials are ill suited
  for evaluation of this system
• Our trials rely on a certain reproducibility.
• The Ayurvedic system is so individualized and
  complex that it cannot be encompassed into
  protocols.

14
Trials (cont)

• Individual doctors will assess patients
  differently and recommend diverse treatment
  plans.
• These plans are all valid, however, in their
  ability to rebalance the doshas.

15
Does it work?

• It has survived for at least 6000 years (despite
  the failure of many different systems).
• Patients tend to show improvement according to
  many anecdotal sources.
• It has always been popular.