Term Paper on "Western Holistic Systems and Ayurveda Comparison and Contrast"

Term Paper 7 pages (1946 words) Sources: 2

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Ayurveda and Western Science: Compare and Contrast

WESTERN HOLISTIC SYSTEMS and AYURVEDA

COMPARE and CONTRAST

The objective of this work is to compare and contrast Ayurveda and Western Holistic Systems and further to answer the questions of: (1) What is unique to Ayurveda? (2) How does Ayurveda work harmoniously with other holistic approaches?; and (3) Which approach to health and healing makes more sense- Ayurveda or Western style holism?

Has medical science overlooked holistic medicine for too long? This could perhaps be true particularly in light of the offerings that holistic medicine is able to claim in cures for disease. Ayurveda means: "...the science of life or science of longevity..." (Remski, nd) or it has also been said to mean the "science of optimal living." (Remski, nd) Ayurveda is a holistic medical science that was developed both within and by the Vedic culture beginning almost 7000 years ago. Ayurveda is a treatment of the 'whole person' and insists that "fundamental harmony on all levels of experience must be achieved in order for health to offer its beneficial purpose: the evolution of consciousness away from the isolated, contracting, self-concerned activity of egoism, and toward its natural and original state of expansive union with the sublime." (Remski, nd) the use of food and herbs is stated to be geared toward balance of the biochemistry. Exercise is used towards balancing the physical structure. A study was conducted and reported by Partha, Shankar, and Shenoy (2002) in the work entitled: "A study on the use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies in and around Pokhara sub-metropolitan city, western Nepal" and the reason the study was conducted is stated to be because: "An increasing number of patients the world over are increasingly preferring complementary and alternative medicines." (2003)

I. Ayurveda - Uniqueness Identified

Ayurveda "recognizes that every individual has a unique constitution; a set of conditions, characteristics, and life circumstances. Therefore, Ayurvedic treatment must properly address this unique constitution to maximize the benefits of treatment in the prevention or cure of disease. Ayurveda holds that an individual is healthy only if the mind, body, emotions and soul of the individual are perfectly aligned with the universe or the cosmic intelligence. This view of a unique construction is parallel to the modern science concept of DNA. (Lim, 2006) Techniques of breathing are for nurturing the life-force and ethics while mantra and mediation are used toward balancing the mind. (Remski, nd; paraphrased) Ayurveda focuses toward the individual treatment based on what that person needs and does not use across-the-board treatment without considering the individual such as does medical science.

II. Educating the Ayurvedic Practitioner

In Ayurvedic education, the student learns the qualities and properties of the elements first and then is able to comprehend those qualities at play and is able to "guide them towards their natural harmony." (Remski, nd) the Vedic scriptures have been transferred in learning from teacher to student through use of memorization and recitation. Remski states that Ayurveda is a "Vedic Science..." And that this worldview "which is share by all spiritual traditions that have arisen from India can be briefly summarized as follows:

1) All experience derives from a single, ineffable source that is referred to by many terms: pure consciousness, the ground of awareness, the ground of being, etc. This source is the natural home of consciousness, towards which consciousness longs to return;

2) the ability of consciousness to harmonize with its source is obstructed by its tendency to indulge in self-centered thought that creates a failure of natural wisdom: conventional human life is made possible through this devolution;

3) Consciousness may return to its inherent bliss through the process of a disciplined understanding of its nature, along with a gradual implementation of techniques to purify the failures of wisdom and their subsequent derangements of mental and physical faculties;

4) the purpose of life is experience, and liberation from experience. (Remski, nd)

II. Ayurvedic Medicine: Three Types of Illness

Ayurveda holds that illnesses are one of three types: "Vata-based, Pitta-based, or Kapha-based." (Lim, 2006) the following is a description of each of theses types of illness:

Vata Illnesses - These are "airy in nature" and include insomnia, addiction constipation, excess gas, headaches, anxiety and agitation. Because these are Vata illnesses, Vata-based stressors will aggravate and enhance theses illnesses. Vata stressors include physical pain, noise, bright lights, unfamiliar situations, and dry, astringent Vata foods;

Pitta Illnesses - These illnesses are "fiery in nature. They include fevers, ulcers, diarrhea, inflammation, heart attacks, and stomachaches. Pitta stressors such as extreme heat, physical activities, and hot, spicy Pitta foods can aggravate Pitta illnesses; and Kapha Illnesses - These illnesses are watery and earthy in nature. They include obesity, lethargy, gluttony, arthritis, asthma, tumors, and excess phlegm. Kapha stressors include damp atmosphere, wet coldness, excessive water retained in the body and wet, earth foods. (Lim, 2006)

John a. Herlihy writes that: "The miracle of Ayurveda in our title represents a miraculous functioning of the natural order rather than some kind of overturning of nature and refers to a 'science-of-life' philosophy of health and well-being in India that dates back over 5,000 years." (2003) Herlihy additionally relates the traditional Islamic saying of: "For every disease on earth there is a corresponding cure in nature." (2003)

III. History of Ayurveda

In the work of Cooper (2004) reporting the '12th International Congress of Oriental Medicine: Oriental Medicine and Biotechnology in the Post-Genomic Era- WHO's Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005" relates that the Code of Hammurabi (1900 BC) which was discovered by Edwin Smith Papyrus gave demonstration of surgical practices. "The Hippocratic doctrine (460-377 BC) regards the body as being formed of four cosmic elements:

1) Air;

2) Earth;

3) Fire; and 4) Water." (Cooper, 2004)

Stated is the fact that blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile are the working principles of the body and that they "...constitute the nature of the body." (Cooper, 2004) Pain and disease are that which results from '...disharmony of these elements." (Cooper, 2004) the Atharva-Veda, Ayurveda, Charaka-Samhita and the Sushruta-Samhita contain records of ancient Hindu medicine with the first recording use of 572 herbs and the latter recording use of 760 herbs.

The fundamental principles of Ayurveda comprise the "panchamabhutas" or the "five great elements." (Cooper, 2004) it is held by the panchamabhutas that five bhutas are that which man is composed of. The five bhutas are stated to be:

Tridosas, vata (ether and wind)

Pitta (bile, as represented by fire and water);

Ayurvedic (heat humor) and Kapha (phlegm or water and earth; and Mahat (spirit)

IV. Western Holistic Systems and Ayurveda: The Difference

The basis of Western medicine is physiological and biochemical observations and is sated to be "skewed towards reductionism - breaking down organisms to the cellular, subcellular and molecular levels." (Cooper, 2004) the focus of Western medicine is the body parts which are disease which often are suppressed symptoms and Western medicine opts for results that are immediate in nature instead of "long-term fortification of the whole body." (Cooper, 2004) Dr. Torsunov states that according to "the opinion of modern science, the polluted environment, people's mistakes in behavior, and incorrect attitude toward their bodies..." is the causes of all the diseases of man however while to some degree this is correct ayurveda holds that the primary reasons "...for all diseases and suffering is the absence of true understanding of one's eternal, imperishable nature..." (Torsunov, 2007) Western medicine is however, becoming more accepting and even desirous of holistic forms of treatment for illness and disease. "More people are combining convention medicine and the use of alterative treatments in their search for better health and wellness." (Torsunov, 2007)

The difference that exists between Western holistic systems and Ayurveda is the fact that these alternative treatments in the Western world are generally complementary in nature, or in other words, are treatment combined with other more traditional medical treatments. Complementary and alternative therapies have been classified by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCAAM) into five categories which are those as follows:

Alternative medical systems - systems which are based on complete systems of theory and practice inclusive of holistic medicine and naturopathic medicine;

Mind-body intervention - various techniques for enhancement of the capacity of the mind in its' effect upon the bodily functions and systems including techniques such as "cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, prayer, mental healing, art, music and dance therapy." (Healing Choices, 2007)

Biologically-based therapies - Makes use of natural substances including herbs, foods, vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal products and natural substances.

Manipulative and body-based methods - These methods make use of the movement of part of the body and include chiropractic, osteopathic manipulation, and massage.

Energy therapies - make use of energy fields. Bio-field therapy manipulates the bio-fields through application of pressure or manipulation of the body through placing hands in or through these fields. (Healing Choices, 2007)

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