Ayurvedic Genomics: Establishing a Genetic Basis for Mind–Body Typologies

Abstract

Background: Ayurveda, India's natural health care tradition, has a unique way of classifying human population based on individual constitution or prakriti. Ayurveda's tridosha theory identifies principles of motion (vata), metabolism (pitta), and structure (kapha) as discrete phenotypic groupings. hypothesized in a paper published in this journal that there is a genetic connotation to prakriti and as proof of this concept showed a correlation between HLA alleles and prakriti type, establishing a rationale and preliminary experimental support for the concept of an association between HLA alleles and the Ayurvedic tridosha theory of individual prakriti types. This work is both part of and a catalyst for a wider revolution in the scientific investigation of Ayurveda in India, referred to as "Ayurvedic biology" and "AyuGenomics." Subsequently, Chen et al. (2007) reported a similar study in this journal using a classification based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory.Conclusions: The findings of a genetic basis for both Ayurvedic and TCM classifications indicate a commonality between Asia's great medical traditions in their diagnostic typologies and a genetic basis for Asian traditional medicine's theory of discrete and discernable groupings of psycho-physiologic differences. Accordingly, new horizons have opened for collaborative East-East research and for an individualized approach to disease management and activation of the full range of human potential, as articulated in Ayurveda and TCM.

Pre and Post-Treatment Effects: Estimation of Serum Testosterone and Lipid Peroxidation Levels on Moringa olifera Extract Induced Cadmium Exposed Rats

“…We concentrated the filtrate in rotary evaporator and dried in water bath. 14 We procured male Wistar Albino rats (4 months old) from the institu tional animal house. They were provided food and water adlibitum.…”

Genesis of Personalized Medicine: Relevance of Ayurveda in the Present Millennium

“…Types of treatment followed in ayurveda includes; (i) avoidance of disease causing and aggravating factors ('Nidan parivarjas'); (ii) purification treatment ('Shodhana' therapy); (iii) palliative treatment ('Shamana' therapy); (iv) prescription of diet and activity ('Pathya vyavastha'); (v) psychotherapy ('Satvavajaya'); and rejuvenating protocols ('Rasayan' therapy) [18]. Ayurveda uses whole crude plant, metal and mineral drug having a mixture of many ingredients [7,22]. It uses plant drugs either in single form or in complex compound formulations of many herbs and plants mixed together [8,22].…”

“…Just like the array of seven colors of rainbow, Ayurveda constituted seven possible "Prakriti" depending upon the consequence of individual or combinatorial proportions of "Tridosha" in each person to suit him/her in any one class among Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, Vata-Kapha and Vata-PittaKapha [1,3,5]. This stratification is free of any ethnic, racial, gender or geographical boundaries hence can be applied on entire human population to scientifically probe the existence of any possible genetic or molecular correlation with the distinguishable phenotypes of people belonging to seven different "Prakriti" classes [7,8]. Ayurveda conceives a four-dimensional definition of health (a far more smarter definition than the definition put forward by 'modern medicine') because a balanced condition of somatic and psychic humors ('doshas'), digestive capacity ('agni'), body tissues (' dhatu), excretions ('mala'), kriya (physiological activity) and soundness of soul ('atma'), sensory organs ('indriya'), mind ('mana') actually defines health (' Ayus').…”

A Complex, Nonlinear Dynamic Systems Perspective on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Research

“…The field of epigenetics, which focuses on gene regulation as it is affected by organism/environment interactions, is poised to demonstrate many productive areas of overlap and intersection with Ayurvedic medical theory. [43][44][45][46] Outcomes-based research in Ayurveda will be critical for advancing not only dialogue across paradigms, but also collaborative clinical work between medical disciplinestruly integrative medicine. Comparing and contrasting systems biology concepts with traditional Ayurvedic medical philosophy is a fruitful way to increase understanding of Ayurvedic science from the perspective of complex, systems theory.…”