A Temple of Your Own, Ayurveda vs. American Health System
Cultures effect on Spiritual and Health
Article Review:
C. Ferreora-Vorkapic, and other
researchers conducted a study to explore the yoga-based benefits in a
school-setting. Adolescents are confronted with a large amount of life
stressors at school and home. They are not taught ways to cope with their
stress. It contributes and is a causal factor in the development of mental
health and behavioral problems that are prevalent in adolescents, including
anxiety, depression and behavioral problems. A recent survey study indicated
that 7.5% of adolescents meet the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual for Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition Criteria for one or more mental health
conditions. There is now a greater need for addressing children’s mental health
needs. It is known that one half of adults population will experience at least
one DSM mental disorder (Roberts RE). There needs more devotional and interest
in seeking treatment to address these conditions- they can not go untreated.
This would addresses the significant adolescent mental health burden and also
possibly prevent the high severity and prevalence of adult primary and comorbid
mental health disorder( Kessler RC). Studies have shown improvements in: (1) test anxiety
and field independence in elementary school students; (2) objective measures of
stress including heart rate and blood pressure in prehypertensive African
American adolescents; (3) work habits, cooperation, and academic performance in
middle school students;; and (4) restful alertness, emotional intelligence, and
academic performance in middle school students (Rosaen C,). There
is also a preliminary report of benefits from a combined Tai Chi and
mindfulness-based stress reduction program ( Wall RB.) The purpose of the
present study was to employ a preliminary, exploratory evaluation to identify
which psychological constructs may be useful to include in future studies to
evaluate the psychological benefits of an in-curriculum yoga program in
secondary school adolescents. Students were randomly assigned either to regular physical
education classes (PE) or to 11 weeks of yoga practice based on the Yoga Ed
program. Typical 30-minute Yoga Ed sessions included 5-minute initial
relaxation and breathing techniques, 5- minute warm-up, 15 min of yoga poses,
and 5-minute closing relaxation. Each session also had a theme that was
discussed by the instructor, such as yoga philosophy and method- ology,
nonviolence, mind-body interactions and awareness, body systems, stress
management, emotional intelligence, and similar topics.
Students frequently commented on the relaxing effect of the
yoga sessions and their learned ability to relax, such as: “…enjoyed being able
to let go of everything, zone out and relax.”; “…felt like the class was a
relaxing prep for the rest of the day.”; and “Savasana [supine deep relaxation]
made me relax and calmed me down.” Improvements in coping with stress were also
commonly noted in comments such as: “…an opportunity to de-stress in the middle
of the day and recollect myself…it gave me tools to use in everyday life, now I
have techniques to de-stress myself on my own.” General improvements in
mood and positive affect were also commonly reported, as reflected in comments
such as: “I could reflect on my day in a positive way. This class gave me more
energy and made me more content.”; “…helped me improve my posture. I’ve had
feedback from friends and family that I’m more centered.”; and “The challenging
postures were positive for me, I liked pushing myself. I always felt more
relaxed after the class.” Some students remarked on improvements in
sleep. Overall the students in the controlled yoga group showed a
significant change in anger control and fatigue.[1]
The yoga students progressed positively with their psychological well-being,
mood disturbance, tension and anxiety. While the group not practicing yoga
worsened in all the controls.
Through research based study Streeter and
Whitfield address the questions of whether changes in mood, anxiety, and GABA
levels are specific to yoga or related physical health. Healthy
subjects with no significant medical/psychiatric disorders were randomized to
yoga or a metabolically matched walking intervention for 60 minutes 3 times a
week for 12 weeks. Mood and anxiety scales were observed with a magnetic
resonance spectroscopy scan, before and after yoga for 12 weeks. The yoga
subjects reported greater improvements in mood and greater decrease in anxiety
than the walking group. The yoga group had positive correlations between
changes in mood scales and changes in mood scales and changes in GABA levels.[2]
GABA levels is a neuro transmitter that sends chemical messages through the
brain and nervous system, it regulates communication between brain and cells.
This can affect people who had depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. When
practicing yoga in the study it has shown to improved levels, and helped
decrease anxiety, and improve mood.
Catherine
Woodyard, assess how yoga has therapeutic
effects and provides benefits to the mind and body. Also, it discusses the
importance that health care professionals need to be informed about the nature
of yoga and the evidence of its therapeutic effects. The yoga postures and
practice is to treat your mind and bodies health conditions. It involves the
instruction in yogic practices and teaching to prevent reduce and alleviate
structural, physiological, emotional and spiritual pain, suffering or
limitations. Results from this study show that yogic
practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve
respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of
addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep
patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life. The results from
the study show that by acknowledging the unity of the body, mind, and spirit it
helps people in their pursuit of peace, calmness, and greater wholeness and
integration in their lives. While modern medicine has the ability in many cases
to heal physical diseases and alleviate psychological disorders, it is argued
that a purely medical approach is far less effective in healing the emotional,
intellectual, and personality layers of the human entity. [3]
One study found that female
yoga practitioners attribute their positive feelings and sense of well-being to
yoga practice and report less self-objectification, greater satisfaction with
physical appearance and fewer disordered eating attitudes compared to non-yoga
practitioners.( Dittmann KA 2009). Regular practice of yoga resulted in a
significant decrease in the time taken to fall asleep, an increase in the total
number of hours slept, and in the feeling of being rested in the morning.[30] Additionally, yoga had a
positive influence on sleep patterns in individuals with lymphoma.[16] Furthermore, participation in
yoga classes improved self-reported quality-of-life as well as measures of
physical function among an elderly population (Oken BS 2006). The growth of
tumors and other cancer indicators are exacerbated by stress, thus it is especially
important for people with cancer to reduce and manage stress effectively.
(Desikachar K, 2005).
Patwardhan
connects Ayurveda with evidence-based medicine, and creates a study to show how
it positively effects health. The article explains the meaning of
evidence and indicates the need to adopt epistemologically sensitive methods
and rigorous experimentation using modern science. The author analyzes the
statues of Ayurveda medicine based on personal behavior, peer interactions, and
published research. Ayurveda is the traditional systems of medicine that
practices holistic principles primarily focused on personalized health.
Originated in India, Ayurveda is one of the ancient yet living health
traditions. Life in Ayurveda is conceived as the union of the body, senses,
mind and spirit. The concept of Prakriti or individual nature
has a central role in Ayurveda therapeutics. There are over 400,000 registered
Ayurveda practitioners. The government
of India has a formal structure to help its quality, education and practice.
The article discusses the difference in Ayuruveda and Western biomedicine.
There is a significant increase in recognition to disciplines like system
biology of modern science toward holistic concepts. Sanskrit savvy scholars from
India should not be considered as the only custodians of knowledge and practice
of Ayurveda.[4]
Several Western scholars like Meulenbeld have contributed to emergence of the
new Ayurveda. (Morandi A. 2010) Many countries in the world especially Germany,
Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, United States have institutions where Ayurveda is
correctly practiced with respect to traditions and high professional competence.
(Bell Iris R. 2005.) Ayurveda is experiential, intuitive and holistic, whereas
that of the modern medicine is based more on experimental, analytical and
reductive reasoning. (Shankard D. 2010)
The influence of culture on health is evident. Culture
affects perception of health, illnesses and death, beliefs about causes of
disease, approaches to health advertisement, how people experience and express
pain, where patients go to for help, and the treatment that is a common or
preferred. Culture is a set of shared values, beliefs, language, and
accumulated knowledge, assumptions, and values that are passed between
individuals, groups, and generation. Culture influences the way one lives,
learns, and behaves. Culture factors impact our health.
Cultural diversity is a large contributor to a
populations health. There is knowledge
that cultural activity participation influences self-perceived health,
life-satisfaction, self-esteem, physical and mental health. Dr. Mary Duhyn,
accompanied by fellow physicians conducted a study of diverse cultural
communities while using evidence based strategies to increase physical activity
for use with underserved racial or ethnic groups. The main focus was participants
perceptions about 1) the benefits of engaging in physical activity, 2) the
proposed evidence-based strategies for increasing each community’s level of
physical health, 3) the benefits and barriers to following the proposed
interventions for increasing physical activity. The results entail that all
groups considered that being physically active was part of their culture, and
participants found culturally relevant suggestions for physical activities
appealing. Barriers to physical activity were not culturally specific; they are
common to all underserved people ( lack of time, transportation, access,
neighborhood safety, or economic resources). The results indicated that
evidence based strategies to increase physical activity need to be adapted for
cultural relevance for each racial or ethnic group. The research shows that un deserved
populations are likely to respond to strategies that increase social support
for physical activity and improve access to venues where they can be physically
active. [5]
Dia Sanou along with other colleagues research the
acculturation and nutritional health of immigrants in Canada. As immigrants enter
Canada they are healthier than Canadian born (i.e., the Healthy Immigrant
Effect), they experience a deterioration in their health status which is partly
due to the transition in dietary habits and physical activity.2 Immigration related cultural changes
have been found to be independently associated with high blood pressure,
increasing the risk of obesity across generations. The methods in the study
included conducting a scoping review of national, provincial and local studies
that focus on nutritional health of immigrants living in Canada. The five research priorities
that arose from the prioritization process included (1) risks and benefits of
traditional/ ethnic foods; (2) access and outreach to immigrants; (3)
mechanisms and coping strategies for food security among immigrant families;
(4) mechanisms of food choice in immigrant families; and (5) effective health
promotion strategies that work for immigrant populations including health
promotion, education and training in nutrition and interventions targeting the
broader social determinants of health. The findings suggested that immigrant
nutritional health in Canada is embryonic and may evolve quickly as there are
important issues that need to be addressed and urgent evidence to guide
culturally appropriate dietary practices after the change in environment.[6] The
study concludes that there is an urgent need to guide these cultural
appropriate practices. Addressing these issues would beneficial to both the
Canadian health and nutrition environment realities, and the immigrant’s unique
cultural needs, helping reduce the burden of the healthy immigrant effects on the health system.
Brian Young
(2003) an economic psychologist published a study “ Does food advertising
influence children’s food choice?” , the
purpose of the study was to look at the influence of advertising as one of the
various factors that have role play in the diets of children. The study
established research by examining parameters and how they are interrelated from
the point of view of theories of consumer behavior. Through the study it was
identified that consumer socialization is an active process of making sense and
coping with everyday problems posed by the economic and commercial world. Young
analyzed if children understand the information being presented to them, in
particular, whether or not they understand advertising and marking
communications. Bulmer states that by eight years of age almost all children
seem to have a concept of the multi stage process of supply chains and believe
that the profit is desires result of most advertising.[7]The
young adolescents can take the mature detached position of seeing another
person’s perspective as relating to social group membership or social system
within which they operate. According to the study this evidence can declare
that advertising to children under the age of twelve is unfair. Hitchings and
Moyniham (1998) conducted a study with a sample of 169 children to find if the
correlation of television and food consumptions are interconnected. The results
support the hypothesis that television advertisements influence food choices. It
is also shown that families make influences on one another’s food choices.
Decisions are made collectively and dilemmas are resolved.
Carol M.
Devine and her fellow colleagues from the Division of Nutritional Sciences at
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York conducted a study to show how ethnicity is
one of the factors that play a role in food choices. This project examined how
ethnicity is enacted in food choices among 86 adults in one U.S. city,
purposively recruited to vary in ethnic identity. The conceptualization of this
study can help nutrition educators working in a multicultural society to
identify processes underlying ethnic food choices. The study used people who
had affiliations with multiple ethnic groups, parents with different ethnic
traditions, were married or cohabitated with a person from another ethnic
group, grew up in a mixed ethnic neighborhood, or aligned themselves with
another subculture through membership in a religious or cultural group. The
evidence shows that woman in all the groups were likely to take on the family
food manager role, but men in some groups did the shopping. Interactions
between ethnic ideals and roles became apparent when households were joined by
people with multiple ethnic traditions because the person within the main food
management role could be held responsible for learning to prepare the foods
from the culture of his or her partner. An example in the article, a young
Puerto Rican woman reported she had to learn to cook with garlic when she met
her Dominican boyfriend because Dominicans use more seasoning than Puerto Rican
people. A changing environment in a particular role can shape ethnicity induced
ideals, identities and interactions with food choices. Nutrition education and
clinical counseling may be enhanced with cultural sensitivity and insights by
which different ethnicities choose food, and can be assisted in dietary
counseling and education. It is important for practitioners to understand their
clients and the community they work, including the ways ethnicity is enacted in
food choices. Furthermore, nutrition
educators should be knowledgable about the multiple ethnic identities and
experienced of clients and their families, such as in life-course experiences
with food, migration, and acculturation. In conclusion, food choices are shaped
by many forces with ethnicity being a major one. Expressions of ethnicity in
food choices varied by time ( e.g., stage of life, holidays), place (e.g.,
home, work, public/private), and food. [8]
Introduction:
In a time where the world is run by
greedy pharmaceuticals and corporate companies it is of the esscence that we
build transition back to the roots of a holistic natural ways of life. Culture is interconnected with the health of
the humans. The traditional Indian diet surpasses the Standard American Diet on
a nutrition scale by far. Evidence based research, indicates that Indian customs are healthier
than the American way of life. Through a
proper diet people can eliminate the risk of obtaining death threatening disease
and cancer. The adoption of Indian
culture to America can improve overall health of the population.
Religion:
The
foundation texts of India culture are the Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra and Bhagavad
Gita. These texts are known to guide Hindus, Jains, and Buddhist to live their
best life. The Sutras prevail 196 affirmations outlining the eight-fold path.
The Sutras were founded around 1st century BCE. The Sūtra was in
Pali, a Indo-European language that
closely related to Sanskirt, which later was translated by Patanjali. Sutra
means “thread” of wisdom. The ancient texts are still attributed today, all
over the world today in many different translations. The texts together reveal
the nature of life obstacles and display how to reach higher awareness, set
goals, and be fulfilled. Although, the ultimate way to find direction to
understand the deeper aspects of life is by experience. The authoritative text
discusses yoga, the traditional Indian practice of postures. Yoga’s dominating
ancient text Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Vasistha and Hiranyagarbh are studied
and help guide a more traditional practice. Hindu orthodox tradition holds the
Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali to be the foundation text of classical Yoga
philosophy. Hindus and Jainism live by ethical rule or moral imperatives of the
Sutras. Eighty percent of the Indian population is Hindu, and follow the
ethical guideline to the traditional texts. According to Patanjali, the eight
limbs described in the text are the Yamas (moral discipline) and the Niyamas(
Ahisma (non violence) Asana ( body posture) Pranayama ( breathe control)
Pratyahara (withdraw of senses) Dharana (concentration) Dhyana (meditation) and
Samadhi (bliss). The practice of yoga is only one step on the path toward a more
meaningful life. The eight-fold path provides moral and ethical actions as an
individual to your relationship with yourself and others. The Yamas and the
Niyamas are external versus internal. The yamas (YAH-mah) is a set of ethical standards
on how we act towards others. The five Yamas are ahisma ( non harming) Satya
(non falsehood)Asteya ( non stealing) Brahamacārya (moderation) Aparigraha (non
possessive). All of these yamas, aren’t
only non stealing physical belongings of others, but other things such
as time, and space. For example, don’t make plans with someone and then cancel
continuously because then you are stealing there time and energy they are
putting out there for you to use. Also 40% of Indians do not eat meat, because
that enforces harm and killing on other beings. They view cows as sacred,
because they are such peaceful animals. The niyamas ( nee-YAH-mah)
is moral observances towards oneself. When we turn our inner awareness inward
it helps improve the work we are doing on the outside. The five niyamas are
habits and behaviors, the first one is śauca (purity). The last four are
santosa (contentment) Tapas (acceptance of all) Svādhyāya (self-study) and
Īśvarapranidhāna (surrender to higher source).
Buddhism is one religion that follows the path, but yoga is not to get
confused with a religion. Patanjali begins
with the verse “atha yoga anushasanam”,
which means “now the yoga is given or shared.” The first word of the verse—atha—reminds us that our yoga practice is
about what we are doing and thinking right now. When we practice and commit to
a practice we bring that practice into our daily lives and relationships, in
real time. Even though we are living in the 21st century we are
incorporating ancient wisdom, and being here now to live and practice greater
self- awareness (Lizzie Lasaster, 2016). Hinduism is the belief that there is
one true god, the supreme spirit, called Brahman. The spirit may be in multiple
forms, and pervades the entirety of the universe, and is represented by the
sacred symbol Om. The Hindus believe that Brahman is present in every person as
the eternal spirit or soul.
Eighty-three percent of Americans identify themselves
as Christians, and thirteen percent, have no religion. Similar to Yama and the
Niyamas are the Ten commandments. The Christian belief follows the law of the
Old Testament in the Holy Bible:
1.
I am the Lord thy God, thou shall not have any
gods before me.
2.
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the
form of anything.
3.
You shall not misuse the name of
the Lord your God.
4.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5.
Honor your father and your mother.
6.
You shall not murder.
7.
You shall not commit adultery.
8.
You shall not steal.
9.
You shall not give false testimony against
your neighbor.
10. You
shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, or property.
Christians
believe Jesus was the creator of all life, and he is a vital of the religion. It is believed he is the
creator and in power of the universe. Christians do not commonly believe in the
non-killing of animals, for they use to sacrifice animals when disobeying the
Lord. Commonly in the Christian religion, they give thanks to God for giving
them the opportunity to have food.
Medicine:
Ayurveda is one of the oldest
systems of healing in the world. The Rig-Veda, Indians oldest philosophical
text describes Ayurveda theory in depth through its versus between 4500 and
1600 B.C. The theory of Ayurveda was recorded in its entirety as an up Veda (subtext)
of the Yajur-Veda, one of the four major Indian texts. The text is original and
written in verse form, not work of any one person. It is codification of health
traditions passed down over centuries. Ayurveda developed through Indian
culture when ill-health grew and people became concerned. Sage Bharadwaj, chief
or founding father of Indian medicine practices held convocations in order to
obtain the essence of Ayurveda. Sage Charaka, is known to be the founding
father of Ayurveda. He was also the first physician to describe multiple
sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s disease and many
other known conditions. Susruta, is said to also be the world’s first surgeon.
He has material analyzing the month by month fetus in the womb. His work was
later confirmed by modern science using highly technological diagnostic
instruments. Susruta says “During the third month of pregnancy, all organs and
all the limbs emerge simultaneously. When the sense organs manifest and the
latent mind activates, there is a throbbing sensation in the heart.” Modern
science knows this is a fact ( Shubhra Kishan, 2003). This ancient system of health
techniques arose in India thousands of years ago. Indians believe health is a
result of human’s interconnectedness between the self, personality, and
everything that occurs in the mental, emotional, and spirituality of a person.
A person with a spiritual practice supported by high amounts of studies and
data, is more likely to have better mental health and adapt more quickly to
health problems compared to those who are less spiritual (Koenig HG, 2005).
Ayurveda states that the functioning of all creation, the mineral, plant and
animal kingdoms, can be understood as the interactions of three fundamental
energy complexes (erroneously called doshas). The belief is that every
individuals body works different therefore
treatment is distinctly based off an individual body type. The three
energies are vata, pitta and kapha – signifying the dynamic or mobile,
energetic, nonmaterial aspect of nature; the transformative, intelligence
aspect; and the structural, physical aspect respectively. Vata, is a person of
thin build, dry, rough nails, restless movement, volatile nature. Pitta, is a
person of strong pulse, hot urine, reddish skin, loud voice, exaggerated
emotions. Kapha is one of a strong
build, soft skin, thick greasy hair, slow digestion, relaxed nature. In the
human physiology these three energies tend to interact in a harmonious and
compensatory way to rule and sustain life. The constitution, prakruti is given much importance in
Ayruveda. The Sanskrit prefix “pra” means “original” and “kruti” means
“creation”. Ones prakruti is the balance of the three doshas at the moment of
their creation. So, an Ayurvedic doctor wants their patients to be as they were
when they were “created” in the womb.
When continuously performing activities or habits that do not agree with
your dosha, the body will be out of balance.
aThe doshas are the physiological forces of the body. Ones composition
is defined in terms of the inherent balance of the three doshas. Medical
implication for this is particular people will have a natural predisposition or
sensitivity to certain medicines and this can be predicted. Three governing
principles are nothing but energy themselves, they can be influenced –increased
or decreased – opposite energies. Ayruveda teaches the use of specific herbs
and spices to treat your body type.[9] For
example heat increases pitta, dryness increases vata, and liquid increases
kapha. So one who has an imbalance of pitta may want to eat warm foods to
become balance. Also certain things can disturb your doshas. Imbalance is the
continued experience of some stimulus – mental, emotional, or physical, real or
imagined that overwhelms the body's ability to maintain its identity. Some
believe that over time and chronicity, defective space in the organism (from
genes, prior disease, trauma, congenital defect, etc.), disease can develop and
manifest in the weak organ or tissue. When disease begins to grow the doshas, meaning impurities, can
pollute or contaminate the physiology. Cross cultural studies done by
Anthropologist have investigated aspects health
belief systems, patient beliefs and ethnomedical practices. The way
doctors go about healing is a result of their culture. Culture impacts health
care process, outcomes, quality, and satisfaction of a patient. India has
lower cancer rates than the US. Michael Greger M.D says that any type of cancer
needs hundreds of genes to be modified to change a normal cell into a cancer
cell (Gregor M.D, 2015). Chemo therapy is common treatment of cancer in the US.
It has progressed to be very specific, but the ineffectiveness, safety
concerns, and high cost of this therapy has leads to many questioning the long
term effects. Drug companies are currently trying to develop chemo drugs that
are multi targeted. Although, many plant based products accomplish the same
thing, but naturally. For example, curcumin, the phytochemical that gives the
pigmentation to in the spice turmeric and the reason curry is yellow, is a
common spice indigenous to India. Curcumin is responsible for giving turmeric
therapeutic effects. Cancer does appear to be lower in regions where turmeric
is heavily consumer. Indian culture consists of a variety of spices constitute
weight and consume some of most antioxidants-packed class of foods in the
world. Data indicates that common
cancers in the Western world are much less prevalent in regions where turmeric
is widely consumed in a daily diet. Overall cancer rates are lower in India
than the western countries. Men in the United States get 23 times more prostate
cancer than men in India. Americans get between ten to eleven more times
colorectal cancer, nine times more endometrial cancer, seven to seventeen times
more lunch cancer, eight more times bladder cancer, and five times more breast
cancer, and nine to twelve more times kidney cancer. This means that there are
hundreds more percent breast cancer, thousands of percent more prostate cancer.
India accounts for one sixth of the world’s population, with the highest spice
consumption in the world. Epidemiological studies in India are helpful in
understanding the relationship between diet and cancer. As well, dietary habits
of the two countries are very different. This can also be a contributor as to
why there are lower health issues in India. Indian food consist of more plants
and less animals products, “ relatively low intake of meat and mostly plant
based diet, in addition to a high intake of spices”1. Forty percent of Indians are
vegetarians. According to Dr. Gregor, India is also one of the largest
consumers of fresh fruits and vegetables. The cultural diet of Indians consists
of pulses, beans, chickpeas, and lentils. A Indian diet consist of food pairing.
Food pairing is when foods share the most flavor compounds with others and
which food pairing have the most flavor compounds in common. Food should be
looked at as medicine. In every other country in the world, vegetables are
consumed for breakfast, while in America that seems strange.
Ayurveda
is the traditional systems of medicine that practices holistic principles
primarily focused on personalized health. Originated in India, and now adopted
in other cultures around the word, Ayurveda is one of the ancient yet living
health traditions. Life in Ayurveda is conceived as the union of the body,
senses, mind and spirit. The concept of Prakriti or individual
nature has a central role in Ayurveda therapeutics. There are over 400,000
registered Ayurveda practitioners. “Effects of Ayurvedic treatment on
forty-three patients of ulcer colitis”,
concluded that 80% of the patient had healed by the end ofthe study (
Patel, Kalapi, Gupta, 2010). The
government of India has a formal structure to help its quality, education and practice. Another
article discusses the difference in Ayuruveda and Western biomedicine. There is
a significant increase in recognition to disciplines like system biology of
modern science toward holistic concepts. Sanskrit savvy scholars from India
should not be considered as the only custodians of knowledge and practice of
Ayurveda. Several Western scholars like Meulenbeld have contributed to
emergence of the new Ayurveda (Morandi A. 2010). Many countries in the world
especially Germany, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, United States have
institutions where Ayurveda is correctly practiced with respect to traditions
and high professional competence. ( Bell Iris R. 2005.) Ayurveda is
experiential, intuitive and holistic, whereas that of the modern medicine is
based more on experimental, analytical and reductive reasoning. (Shankard D.
2010) When someone is sick with a disease, cold, or infection the “social norm”
is to go to the a clinic or to your family physician. The doctor then diagnoses
the patient and sends them to their local pharmacy to pick up a prescription.
The prescription names are usually unfamiliar to the patients, and they are
informed by the pharmacist on how to take the medicine. There is much that is
lost in translation through this time. American’s are not properly educated on
the medicine they are given, because they “trust” the title of doctor. Pharmaceutical drug companies advertise cures,
while they are actually creating more health problems down the line. It will
cure the infection, but not the disease. Drugs suppress the symptoms, and harm
other parts of your body. For example, being on warfarin (a blood thinner) and
simvastin ( a cholesterol drug) can increase the risk of bleeding problems. Another example, the blood pressure
drugs known as ACE inhibitors relaxes
blood vessels to decrease pressure but constrict pupils, stimulate
digestive secretions, and constrict the bronchi in the lungs causes a harsh
cough (Pick OB-GYN N.P, 2012). Medication can help
lower the blood pressure and cholesterol, but constantly put stress on the
body. A stressed body leads to more health issues. To avoid prescription drugs
Americans need to understand the quality of nutrition. Americans in medical
students study pharmacology more than nutrition. Due to this, doctors can’t
correctly educate their patients on how to improve their health. There are
numerous studies that haven’t been studied yet when a patient is consuming
three or four medications, with 100 percent drug communication. Some are
helpful, but people need to be aware that they can ch
ange
our physiology and need to be taken with caution. They the easy way out, but
its more beneficial to get to the root of the problem. Pharmasutical drugs are widely commercialized
as well as Mcdonalds. The more advertisements the more Americans truly believe
this products is as “good” as it is showed to be. While, what we eat fuels the
body. A recent FOIA investigation uncovered documents that show how the Food
and Drug Administration in the United States manipulates media and science
press. While 40% of Indians are vegetarians, while 3.2% of the Americans are
vegetarians with 0.5% of those people being vegans. From a scientific/
biological perspective there are major benefits of meatless diets. Our
ancestors were mostly plant-based and meat was a rare treat, because our
digestive systems aren’t really built for digesting meat. Katherine Milton an
anthropologist say that some ancestors were successful in their diets while
others were not. Some hunter-gathers obtained their nutrients all from a eating
plants, while other obtained nutrients and energy from “ wild animal fat and
protein, but that “does not imply that this is the ideal diet for modern
humans, not does it imply that modern humans have genetic adaptations to such
diets ( Zuk, 2013). Doctor Joanne Kong “Our standard American diet, also
known as SAD, has put our country at the top of the list in the world for
obesity, which increases the risk for serious health problems. Overwhelming
scientific evidence links the consumption of meat and meat products to numerous
diseases. . . . The World Health Organization (WHO) now places red and processed
meat at the same danger level as cigarettes and asbestos. Meat is the new
tobacco.” The American diet is number one in obesity rates in the world, which
leads to many more health issues in the human body. The American Dietetic Association has now
weighed in with matters of a vegetarian/vegan diet, to show that they are
healthful and nutritionally adequate and provide many more health benefits and
a treatment as certain diseases. A study found that vegans and vegetarians ate
more vegetables and legumes and less junk food than meat eater. As well, they
take in more supplements. Research generally states that Americans who eat less
meat engage in a healthier lifestyle practice than other result in a healthier
mind, body and soul.
In the West majority of people focus on one
limb of yoga and that is asana which is the branch that focuses strictly on
the physical postures. Yoga in the
modern west, is primarily a physical practice. Although, in recent studies asana has been incorporated into school
systems helping mental health issues of many. A former yoga teacher who grew up
in India grew up in a family who regularly read ancient text such as the
Bhagavad Gita, and now teaches in Toronto.” People are becoming more sensitive
to themselves and to each other because of yoga, but the moment people make
yoga into competition, they’ve lost the point. Yoga is about how you treat
people, and how people treat you. Our whole life is the practice, not just when
you enter the room you’re suddenly a saint. And that’s what it has
become.” She says. She didn’t want to be
named because, she says she is already vocal enough about issues in the
Toronto’s yoga community. On the lighter aspects of things, the incorporation
of yoga and meditation has made a positive impact on physical and mental health
in communities. Adolescents are confronted
with a large amount of life stressors at school and home. Although, they are
not taught ways to cope with their stress. It contributes and is a factor in
the development of mental health and behavioral problems that are
prevalent in adolescents, including
anxiety, depression and behavioral problems. A recent survey study
indicated that 7.5% of adolescents meet the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders,
Fourth Edition Criteria for one or more mental health conditions. 21st
century education systems need more assistance in addressing mental health . It
is known that one half of adult’s population will experience at least one DSM
mental disorder (Roberts RE). Mental illness cannot go untreated or else it
will negatively impact future generations. Yoga and mindful practice has shown improvements in: (1)
test anxiety and field independence in elementary school students; (2)
objective measures of stress including heart rate and blood pressure in PR
hypertensive African American adolescents; (3) work habits, cooperation, and
academic performance in middle school students;; and (4) restful alertness,
emotional intelligence, and academic performance in middle school students (Rosaen C,). The psychological construction of this study will be useful
for future studies to evaluate the psychological benefits of an in-curriculum
yoga program in secondary school adolescents. Students were randomly assigned
either to regular physical education classes (PE) or to 11 weeks of yoga
practice based on the Yoga Ed program. The students had a theme that was
discussed by the instructor, yoga philosophy and method- ology, nonviolence,
mind-body interactions and awareness, body systems, stress management,
emotional intelligence, and similar topics. Students began to comment how they obtained the ability
to relax, such as: “…enjoyed being able to let go of everything, zone out and
relax.”; “…felt like the class was a relaxing prep for the rest of the day.”;
and “Savasana [supine deep relaxation] made me relax and calmed me down.” Other students said they experienced
improvements in dealing with stress and commented: “…an opportunity to de-stress
in the middle of the day and recollect myself…it gave me tools to use in
everyday life, now I have techniques to de-stress myself on my own, I could
reflect on my day in a positive way. This class gave me more energy and made me
more content.”; Some students remarked on improvements in sleep. Overall,
the students in the yoga group showed change in anger control and fatigue. (
Streeter, 2010) The yoga students progressed positively with their
psychological well-being, mood disturbance, tension and anxiety. Another study
addresses whether changes in mood, anxiety, and GABA levels are specific to
yoga or related physical health. ( Whitfield, Owens, Rein, 2010). Healthy
subjects with no significant medical/psychiatric disorders were randomized to
yoga or a metabolically matched walking intervention for 60 minutes 3 times a
week for 12 weeks. The participants mood and anxiety scales were
observed with a magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan, before and after yoga for
12 weeks. The yoga subjects reported greater improvements in mood and greater
decrease in anxiety than the walking group. (Karri, Yakkind, Jensen, 2010).
GABA levels is a neuro transmitter that sends chemical messages through the
brain and nervous system, it regulates communication between brain and cells.
The yoga group had positive correlations between changes in mood scales and
changes in mood scales and changes in GABA levels. GABA effects peoples
depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. This displays that practicing yoga in
the study has shown to improve levels, and help decrease anxiety, and improve
mood. (Streeter, Whitfield, T.H Owen, 2010).
The Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine, published
a study, Effects of Yoga Versus Walking on Mood, Anxiety, and Brain GABA
Levels: A Randomized Controlled MRS Study ( Streeter, C.C., Whitfield, T.H.,
Owen, L., Rein, T., Karri, S.K., Yahkind, A, 2010). The article discusses the
important nature of mediation and yoga that western health care professionals
should be informed about the therapeutic effects physiological, emotional and
spiritual pain, suffering or limitations. Results from this study show that yogic practices enhance muscular
strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and
cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction,
reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns,
and enhance overall well-being and quality of life. The results from the study
show that by acknowledging the unity of the body, mind, and spirit it helps
people in their pursuit of peace, calmness, and greater wholeness and
integration in their lives. Despite the fact that, modern medicine has the
ability to heal physical diseases and alleviate psychological disorders, it is
argued that a strict medical approach is far less effective in treating
emotional, intellectual, and personality layers of the human entity. The
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine reported a study that female yoga practitioners
attribute their positive feelings and sense of well-being to yoga practice. In
result report less self-objectification, greater satisfaction with physical
appearance and fewer disordered eating attitudes compared to non-yoga
practitioners.( Dittmann KA 2009). Regular practice of yoga resulted in a
significant decrease in the time taken to fall asleep, an increase in the total
number of hours slept, and in the feeling of being rested in the morning.
Additionally, yoga had a positive influence on sleep patterns in individuals
with lymphoma. ( Oken BS 2006). The participation in yoga classes improved
self-reported quality-of-life also the measures of physical function among the
elderly population. The growth of tumors and other cancer indicators are
exacerbated by stress, thus it is especially important for people with cancer
to reduce and manage stress effectively. (Desikachar K, 2005). “The Yoga Boom in Western Society: Practitioners Spiritual vs. Physical
Intentions and Their Impact on Psychological Wellbeing” (Ivtzan, I & Jegatheeswaran, S.
2015) prepared a study of 235 practitioners from the UK. The
practitioners reported positive measurement shift in their intentions. It has
been proven that physicians with greater spiritual intentions reported
significantly higher psychological wellbeing. This can be helpful for future
conceptualizations of the practice, implying that Western societies should
adopt characteristic of the Indian-rooted
spiritual aspect of health management. As yoga practice and mindful breathing become more regular and
grounded in the practitioner’s life, they will shift from attaining motivations
such as stress management to obtaining on a spiritual journey towards Samadhi (
union with yourself). Practitioners usually practice for to the physical
benefits of yoga. As they build a connection to their practice they become more
grounded in their spiritual involvement strengthens (Ivantzan 2015). This shows
that Western yoga, like classical Indian yoga, cultivates the opportunity for
spiritual growth in practitioners as it could help sufficiently improve their
skills in their field. Implying this, the study shows credibility to studies
conducted by Büssing (Khalsa SBS) and Wilson and Spencer (Wilson SR) who reveal
that Western yoga helps benefits transformational processes of spirituality and
transcendence among people in the eastern medical field. In the West, media is
a huge aspect of promoting medicines in the 21st century. The
psychological gains of yoga should be exploited through media and display
promotional advertisements in order for perceptions of yoga to shift from a
solid fitness and health promoting exercise to a practice which enriches one’s
spiritual and personal growth. Itai Ivatzan, Department of Psychology,
University of East London, UK believes that everyday psychological gains of
spiritual yoga practice should be made more explicit through media
representations and promotional advertisements. This will enhance perceptions
of yoga to shift from a primarily fitness and health promoting intervention to
a practice which enriches one’s spiritual cultivation and personal growth.
Although, author Molvier et al (2013) argued that yoga traditionally was never
intended to cure specific ailments, but has been beneficially curing people
West. Gannon and Life’s (Gonna S. 2002) believes that asana of Western yoga can
cultivate states of transcendence. The research found that eudemonic and
hedonic aspects of practitioners well beings are promoted amongst those who
attribute something to spiritual meaning and motivations to their practice.
(Shapiro. 2006) Historically, Indian yogic culture ascribes spiritual meanings of implications
of practicing yoga with a spiritual bearing. [10] “This
observation bears significance to how other faiths are perceived and received
within the United States, particularly within the current jittery climate
generated by Islamophobia and the perceived threat of brownness.” (Semati,
2010). The Hindu element of yoga turns people away from engaging in the
meaningful intercultural dialogue. Recent studies show that one-fifth of U.S.
Americans self-identify as religiously unaffiliated and “nones” which is
agnostic, or simply choose to have no particular religious affiliation. Yet 68%
believe in God, 37% classify themselves as “spiritual” but not “religious,” and
21% report that they pray every day (Pew Research Center, 2012, October 09).
When following up with questions responses say that dissatisfaction with organized
religion, rituals, and materialism are the core reasons most Americans between
the ages of 18 and 50 choose to disassociate from the “religious” and embrace
the “spiritual.” The popularity of other
cultures spiritual practices, such as t’ai chi and yoga, is frequently
catergorized by an active attempt to distance the practice from being
religious. Americas tend to engage in these activities more for the physical
benefits, and later on their journey realize the spiritual aspect. A recent
project explores how non-Indian yoga instructors communicatively negotiate
religion and spirituality both in their classrooms and daily lives. Some say
yoga is a product of framework of globalization and transculturation, the
product of cultural appropriation (Rogers, 2006) and symbolic displacement
(Wilson, 2012).
[1] Devine, Carol, “Are There Benefits from Teaching Yoga at
Schools? A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials of Yoga-Based
Interventions.” Based Complementary and
Alternative Medicine, (2017):1-17
[2] Streeter,
C. C., Whitfield, T. H., Owen, L., Rein, T., Karri, S. K., Yakhkind, A., . . .
Jensen, J. E. (2010). Effects of Yoga Versus Walking on Mood, Anxiety, and Brain
GABA Levels: A Randomized Controlled MRS Study. The Journal of
Alternative and Complementary Medicine,16(11), 1145-1152.
doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0007
[3] Woodyard,
Catherine. "Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Yoga and Its Ability to
Increase Quality of Life." International Journal of Yoga4,
no. 2 (2011): 49. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.85485.
[4] Patwardhan,
B. (2014). Bridging Ayurveda with evidence-based scientific approaches in
medicine. EPMA Journal,5(1).
doi:10.1186/1878-5085-5-19
[5]“Figure 2f from: Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016)
Taxonomic Revision of Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity
Data Journal 4: e7720. Https://Doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720.”
doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7720.figure2f.
[6]
Sanou, Dia, et al. “Acculturation and
Nutritional Health of Immigrants in Canada: A Scoping Review.” SpringerLink,
Springer US, 18 Apr. 2013, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10903-013-9823-7.
[7] Young,
Brian. “Does Food Advertising Influence Children’s Food Choices? A Critical
Review of Some of the Recent Literature.” International
Journal of Advertising, vol. 22, no. 4, 2003, pp. 441–459.,
doi:10.1080/02650487.2003.11072862.
[8] Devine,
Carol M., et al. “Food Choices in Three Ethnic Groups:
Interactions of Ideals, Identities, and Roles.” Journal of Nutrition
Education, vol. 31, no. 2, 1999, pp. 86–93.,
doi:10.1016/s0022-3182(99)70400-0.
[9]
Patwardhan, B. (2014). Bridging Ayurveda with
evidence-based scientific approaches in medicine. EPMA Journal,5(1). doi:10.1186/1878-5085-5-19
1 Greger,
Michael. “Why Are Cancer Rates so Low in India?” NutritionFacts.org,
nutritionfacts.org/2015/05/05/why-are-cancer-rates-so-low-in-india/.
[10] Ivtzan, I., & Jegatheeswaran, S. (2015).
The Yoga Boom in Western Society: Practitioners’ Spiritual vs. Physical Intentions
and Their Impact on Psychological Wellbeing. Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy,05(03). doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000204)
Comments
Post a Comment