L6-Ayurveda Medicine Flashcards
Ayurvedic Medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems originating from India.
What is it?
a. k.a Ayurveda
- A “whole medical system”: Defined by NIH as “complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved over time in different cultures and apart from conventional or Western medicine.”
- Holistic: integrates balance of body, miind and spirit
The term “Ayurveda” combines 2 Sanskrit words.
Ayur=?
Verda=?
- Ayur = life
- Veda = knowledge or science ( “the knowledge of life” or “the science of life”)
T/F: Ayurvedic Medicine is considered a CAM.
TRUE
Provide e.g. of popular therapies (4).
-yoga, meditation, massage, herbs
Describe the history.
-handed down by word of mouth and written records
-over 2000 yo
>main texts: Caraka Samhita, Susruta Samhita
-has long been the main system of health in India
Describe the education & training centres around the world.
(hint: India & NA)
India:
-approx 200 colleges/schools
-~5.5 years of training including an internship
NA:
-US: growing # in US
-no licensing boards in Canada/US - b/c of this it is important to ask A practitioner about their training.
List the 3 diff training & scopes of practices.
- Ayurvedic practitioner
- Ayurvedic therapist
- Ayurvedic counsellor
Ayurvedic Philosophy.
Describe the 5 guiding principles.
- Health is not the absence of disease, but state of balance between body, mind and spirit
- Universal interconnectedness
- 5 elements
- Life forces (doshas)
- Body’s constitution (prakruti)
Ayurvedic Philosophy.
State & describe the 4 balanced states of health.
- Health consists of balanced state of:
1. 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta, Kapha - govern all body’s activities
2. 7 tissues: Dhatus - responsible for structure of body and functioning of organs
3. 3 wastes: Malas - > feces, urine, sweat
- produced and eliminated appropriately
4. Gastric Fire: Agni - biological fire/ heat energy that governs metabolism
- Interconnectedness.
Describe
- all things in the universe (living/non) are connected
- health probs can result when person is out of harmony w universe
- disruptions to balance can be phys, emotional, spiritual or combo
- The Five Elements.
Describe.
-provide the foundation of the physical world (space, air, fire, water and earth)
=building blocks of all material existence
- Doshas.
Describe.
- life forces; life energies
- govern all physical and mental processes of the human body and mind
- Doshas.
State the 3 doshas.
What are they composed of?
-also derived from the 5 elements, but 2 elements are predominant in each
Vata – composed of space and air
Pitta – composed of fire and water
Kapha – composed of earth and water
- Doshas.
What does each dosha correspond with?
How does this affect an indie?
- Corresponds with a certain body type and personality type, and a greater chance for certain health problems
- It is the varying combinations of these doshas that contributes to an individual’s unique mind-body constitution
- Constitution/Prakruti.
Define Prakruti.
-a unique proportion of doshas which is derived from the union of your parent’s doshas at the time of conception
- Constitution/Prakruti.
T/F: Prakruti can change over one’s lifetime.
FALSE!
-Prakruti is aunique blueprint that does NOT change over one’s lifetime
- Constitution/Prakruti.
In most individuals, one dosha ___, and a second dosha ___
- Predominates
2. Strong influence
Restate the 3 doshas & what they are composed of.
- Vata – composed of space and air
- Pitta – composed of fire and water
- Kapha – composed of earth and water
- Vata
Define.
Vata - energy of movement
- Physical and mental qualities that reflect the elemental qualities of space and air
- Quick-thinking, thin, fast- moving
- Vata
Vata is described as “King of Doshas”. What does that mean?
Gives motion to Pitta and Kapha
- Vata (Stephanie)
List the 8 characteristics and provide examples for each.
- Dry: dry skin, hair; constipation
- light: thin body frame, light sleep
- cold: cold hands/feet
- rough: cracked skin, nails
- subtle: subtle fear, fine tremors
- clear: clairvoyant
- astringent: likes sweet, sour and salty
- mobile: fast walking, many dreams
- Vata
Describe re: physiologically & psychologically.
-Physiologically: governs breathing, talking, nerve impulses, movements in muscles and tissues,
circulation, assimilation of food, elimination, urination, menstruation
-Psychological: governs communication, creativity, flexibility, quickness of thought
- Vata
If balanced, what happens?
Active, creative, gifted with a natural ability to express and
communicate
- Vata
If unbalanced, what happens?
Anxiety, bodily disorders related to dryness dry skin and constipation
- Vata
List common vata disorders.
- arthritis
- high/low bp
- urinary disorders
- headaches
- dry, scaly skin
- low energy
- chronic energy
- heart disease
- low back pain
- intolerance to cold
- Pitta
Define.
-The energy of digestion and metabolism
-Physical and mental qualities that reflect the elemental qualities of fire and water
>Fiery personality, reddish complexion
- Pitta (Andrea)
List the 11 characteristics and provide examples for each.
- hot: good digestive fire, strong apetite
- sharp: sharp teeth, distinct eyes
- light: light/medium body frame, fair shiny hair
- oily- soft oily skin, does not like deep-fried foods
- spreading- rash, acne, inflammation; want to spread their name/fame all over the country
- sour- sour acid stomach, sensitive teeth
- bitter- n/v
- pungent: heartburn, feelings of anger
- fleshy smell- foul smell under armpits or mouth
- red: flushed skin
- yellow: yellow eyes, skin
- Pitta
Describe re: physiologically & psychologically.
- Physiologically
- Provides body with heat and energy through breakdown of food
- Governs digestion and related to hormones - Psychologically
- Governs joy, courage, willpower, anger, jealousy and mental perception
- Pitta
If Pitta is balanced, what happens?
Joyful disposition, sharp intellect, courage and drive
- Pitta
If Pitta is unbalanced, what happens?
(the fire of the body and mind becomes “unruly”)
- Anger, rage and ego
- Infection, inflammation, rashes, ulcers, heartburn and fever
- Pitta
List common Pitta Disorders.
- heartburn
- ulcers
- GI disorders
- rashes
- eye disorders
- intolerance to heat
- Kapha
Define.
- energy of lubrication and structure
- Provides the body with physical form and structure
- Helps maintain strength and immunity and control growth
- physical and mental qualities that reflect the elemental qualities of earth and water-> solid body frame, soft temperament
- grounded and smooth flowing
- Kapha (Tae/Steph Pt II)
List 10 characteristics and provide examples.
- heavy: heavy bones and muscles, grounded
- slow: slow walk, talk and digestion
- cold: cold clammy skin, steady appetite
- oily: oily hair, skin
- damp: congestion in chest
- smooth: smooth skin, calm nature
- soft: soft pleasing look, love, care
- static: loves sitting and doing nothing
- viscous: sticky; loves to hug
- cloudy: in early morning mind is cloudy, desires coffee
- Kapha
Describe re: physiologically & psychologically.
Physiologically
► Moistens food, lubricates joints, gives bulk to our tissues
Psychologically
► Governs love, patience, forgiveness, greed, attachments
- Kapha
If balanced, ?
Naturally good health, rugged bodies, mental peace
- Kapha
If unbalanced, ?
Obesity, nasal congestion, mucous, lethargy, depression
- Kapha
List common disorders.
- obesity
- DM
- colds/flus
- allergies
- hypothyroidism
- excessive sleeping
According to A philosophy, disease results when there is an imbalance of one or more of the 3 doshas.
What can an imbalance in a dosha be caused by?
- An unhealthy diet or lifestyle
- Too much or too little mental / physical activity
- Not being protected from environmental factors weather, chemicals or germs
Dx.
What are the 2 things you need to determine before Dx’ing an indie?
- Prakruti: primary (dominant) dosha
>Relative balance of the 3 doshas - “Vikruti”
>Determine their “current state” of the doshas
Dx.
What are the 3 doshic states?
- Balanced: all 3 doshas are in equilibrium
- Increased: one dosha is > proportion (i.e. “aggravated” or “excess state” )
- Decreased: one dosha < proportion “reduced” or “depleted state”
Dx.
Compare & contrast a person in excellent health v imbalance.
In person with excellent health, the proportions of their current state (vikruti) will be the same as their constitution (prakruti)
► An imbalance in a dosha will produce symptoms that are related to that dosha
► Tx is based on categorizing and balancing an individual’s dosha
Dx.
Methods of Dx.
- Questions: diet, lifestyle, sx
- Observation of physical characteristics
- Taking the pulse (each dosha is thought to make a particular kind of pulse)
- Examining stool and urine
Tx.
List 4 goals of therapy.
- Eliminate cause of disease
- Reduce symptoms
- Correct and prevent doshic imbalances 4. Rebuild and support the body
Tx.
List the tx options.
- yoga
- stretching
- breathing exercises
- panchakarma
- meditation
- herbs
- specific foods and diets (nutrition is very big in ayurvedic med, ie what types to eat or what types to avoid)
- tiny amounts of metal and/or mineral preps
- hands on therapy (massage of “vital points)
Tx.
List the specific treatment options.
- Panchakarma
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Herbs
Tx.
Describe Panchakarma.
-Cleansing – to eliminate impurities
-Combination of treatments including:
>Fasting, herbs, special diets, enemas, sweating, other therapies
Tx.
Describe Yoga.
-Asanas (yoga poses and exercises) used for health
reasons
-Used to balance the doshas
-Effective in treating depression, anxiety, low back pain, HTN, obesity, increasing immune response
Tx.
Describe Meditation.
Health benefits widely known and studied
Tx.
Describe Herbs.
-Huge pharmacopia of herbs
>Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India=official compendium for quality standards of single drugs of plant origin
-Aware that some preparations may be mixed with metals
CASE
LOL
Does Ayurveda work?
-long hx of use
-difficult question, as holistic type ayurvedic medicine does not lend itself well to RTC’s
>whole system is broken up into distinct intervention strategies
-study each intervention separately to see if effective
-interactions among tx strategies may act synergistically rather than additive and simplistic
List research difficulties.
- Many studies have been small & often have methodological flaws
- Most preps contain combos of herbs, thus difficult to know which component is having an effect
- Need to design and structure studies to account for way it was intended to work in practice
List the 4 common ayurvedic herbs.
- Ginger
- Tumeric
- Guggul
- Ashwaganda
- Ginger.
List 3 tx uses.
- Digestion
- OA
- N/V
- Ginger.
How does it help digestion?
(hint of fats/CHO & Pr)
Dyspepsia (most common):
1. Improves digestion of fats & CHO
>MOA: increases pancreatic lipase & amylase activity & bile acid volume and secretion
- Improves digestion of Pr
>MOA: increases pancreatic trypsin
- Ginger.
How does it help OA?
- conclusion of 5 RTCs: modestly efficacious and reasonably safe for tx of OA
- reduced pain and disability (has been shown to inhibit COX2, therefore less LTs)
- Ginger.
How does it help N/V?
(hint: 1. pregs, 2. post-op, 3. chemo)
- PREG:
-MUST use dried root not extract (too strong and can stim uterine contractions)
-found to be some benefit and no risk
POST OP
-shown to be more effective than placebo
CHEMO
-more effective than placebo
- Ginger.
List AE and DI’s.
- AE: Gi upset
- DI: anticoag effects: high doses may decrease platelet aggregation, but typical doses will have little effect
- Turmeric.
Describe.
- flowering plant in the ginger family
- flavourful spice and used as a coloring agent for both food and fabric
- main ingredient in Asian curry
- primary active agents in tumeric are the curcuminoids (iecurcumin)
- can add freely to diet or use a standardized extract
- Turmeric.
What is it good to tx? List 4.
- Arthritis
- Cancer prevention
- Digestive aid
- Alzheimer’s
- Turmeric.
How does it help tx arthritis?
Anti-inflammatory effects
- curcumin inhibits 5 and 12 lipooxygenase and cyclooxygenase
- possibly effective and likely safe
- Turmeric.
How does it help Px cancer?
- may decrease the risk of colorectal, prostate, and gastric cancers
- it is bactericidal to H.Pylori and decreases adhesion to stomach mucosa (H.pylori increases risk of GI cancers and leading cause of gastric cancer)
- Turmeric.
How does it help as a digestive aid?
- salivary and gastric secretions are stimulated by the aroma and pungent taste of spices
- curcumin induces gallbladder contractions
- Turmeric.
How does it help tx Alzheimer’s?
-possible correlation btwn low level of alzheimer’s dementia in elderly indian pop and the consumption of tumeric (curry)
- Turmeric.
List AE, cautions, CI’s.
-AE: GI upset, contact derm (minor)
-Avoid:
1. Gallstones or bile duct obstruction as curcumin induces gallbladder contraction
2. Pts on anticoag/anti-platlet as it inhibits aggregation
-CI: preg (as therapeutic dose as it causes uterine stimulation)
>BUT can use spice
- Guggul.
Describe.
- tree that grows in dry areas in India and Pakistan
- sap has long Hx in A medicine
- Guggul.
What is it good to tx? List 4.
- Obesity
- Arthritis
- Lowering cholesterol
- Atherosclerosis
- Guggul.
Describe effects.
-1 study have shown to decrease TC, LDL, VLDL, TG and increase HDL; another more recent showed small increase in LDL
- Guggul.
T/F: Guggul is likely effective at treating obesity.
FALSE!
ALSO insuff evidence to rate for hyperchol, OA, RA
- Guggul.
T/F: Guggul is superior to placebo.
TRUE!
- Guggul.
Proven to be generally safe, however, list some AE & CIs.
- GI upset, diarrhea most common
- CI in preg (uterine stim)
- Guggul.
List some DIs.
- guggul decreases effectiveness of propranolol and diltiazem
- may have anticoag/antiplate effects
SO CLOSE!
KEEP GOING!
- Ashwaganda.
The root of Ashwaganda used as rejuvenating tonic for thousands of years.
List some uses.
- Premature aging and debility
- Classified as “rasayana”
- Classified as “adaptogen”
- Often used in combo, but also alone for chronic illness and inflam disorders (anti-inflam, anti-tumor, anti-stress, anti-ox)
- Ashwaganda.
Define Rasayana.
enhances longevity, youth, memory, intellect, immunity, and physcial endurance
- Ashwaganda.
Define Adaptogen.
increase resistance to stress, general “tonic”
- Ashwaganda.
List AE’s & CIs.
- insuff evidence to rate effect
- possibly safe for short term (<12wks)
- no other AE
- Ashwaganda.
T/F: Likely unsafe in preg
TRUE!
- Ashwaganda.
List DIs.
Increases effects of:
- Barbiturates
- Thyroid function (T4 - in large doses)
- Hypoglycemic effects in diabetic pts
Safety.
Most A Tx are safe however it is important to caution pts with some Tx. List some examples.
- Fasting, enemas, strong herbs, use of emetics, purgatives
- W/ re: yoga - same as any other exercise regime
- DIs - esp. meds for high risk things such as blood thinners
- Potentially toxic (ingredients not studied, heavy metal concerns)
List regulations.
> Health Canada - NPN
>Internet
Describe concern w heavy metals.
-in some, heavy metals are intentionally combined w herbs w belief that they increase potency of herbs in formulation
>rasa shastra
-> mercury, lead or arsenic; study found 1/5 did contain one of these at levels that could be harmful
