Personal health in the Information age
Never before in the history of humankind have we had access to so much information with regards to health, prevention, diseases, and their cure. It’s exponentially growing, it’s available online and furthermore, it’s available to the common man. Some of this data is sourced from the thousands of years we have been accumulating health wisdom, most notably from India in the form of Ayurveda: the most tried and tested and complete health diagnosis and treatment system. More recently, data from modern technology is providing access to unprecedented amounts of personal health data from DNA to gut bacteria tests.
There is much to be gleaned from all this new information. So what to do with it all? How do we turn the data into intelligence to make use of it. Is ancient knowledge overshadowed by the findings of modern science or does it compliment the holistic approach?
Ayurveda and genetic constitution
Ayurveda is the first science that divides people based on their distinct body type (Prakriti). According to the Ayurveda, there are also three Doshas (Metabolic systems: Vata, Pitta & Kapha), that govern the body. The dominance of one Dosha in the body decides the Prakriti or the body type of a person. Therefore, each person has a unique body type.
Today, modern medicine is discovering a new genetic link in human evolution. In 1957, American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon proposed a theory of 3 distinct body types: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, and Endomorph. He did an extensive study and came across with impressive proofs in his book, ‘Atlas of men’. However, this theory was discredited by most of scientists at the time. This theory is the closest to the Prakriti concept of Ayurveda. More recently there is a new wave of interest in this theory.
According to a recent study in Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad, India, the Prakriti theory of Ayurveda has a genetic basis. In this research, 3000 people were tested for their genetic type and Prakriti. Scientists found that 52 genetic markers are found only in people with dominant Pitta Dosha. The other two Doshas — Vata and Kapha also showed some differences. This scientific study is one of the important parameters to judge the genetic basis of Prakriti theory in Ayurveda.
Also, Ayurveda describes many traits that a person inherits from his parents. These traits are called Sahaj (matrij — maternal, pitraj — paternal). Likewise, genetic disorders are also described as Sahaj roga in Ayurveda. Ayurveda considers defective “beej” or genes to be responsible for genetic diseases. Usually, genetic disorders are not curable in Ayurveda but can be helped to manage them throughout life.
Ayurvedic concept of gut bacteria
Ayurveda says that Agni or the digestive fire is the very basis of life. Also, traditional Ayurveda treatment focuses on achieving the optimal internal environment inside the alimentary canal. Ayurveda does not refer to any microbiomes. However, Prakriti or the body type theory of Ayurveda elaborates on the Agni or the type of gut environment a person might have, depending on his body types. For example, The Pitta Prakriti has very strong digestive power. It indicates that a Pitta Prakriti person may have a high concentration of bacteria that help in the proper digestion of the food.
Also, the Prakriti or the body type defines the kind of diseases you are more likely to face. For example, a Vata Prakriti person is highly susceptible to all kinds of pain-related disorders like migraine, joint pain, body ache, menstrual cramps, sciatica, etc. Pitta Prakriti people are highly vulnerable to all sorts of inflammatory disorders, blood, and skin diseases. Therefore, if you are a Pitta Prakriti person, you might be more susceptible to Vitiligo, Leprosy, IBS, and all fever-related disorders.
All people with Kapha dominant Prakriti are more prone to Obesity, Diabetes, Digestive problems, etc. And these predictions usually are very accurate. In the context of gut bacteria, Ayurveda says that the body type is the reason why certain bacteria inhibit the body and produce specific results. If the body type is not suitable, they might not be able to survive inside the body.
Modern gut bacteria tests
Today, gut bacteria (microbiome) tests can inform us of specific important bacteria strains that may be missing from our gut’s biodiversity. While that may prove to be helpful, according to Alexander Khoruts (in 2018), a Gastroenterologist, test results are of low resolution and it is very difficult to predict particular diseases. He goes on to say, “… it is important to appreciate microbial communities as functional networks, and that their functionality cannot be defined as a mere summation of individual microorganisms. Microbes, just like people, vary their behavior in accordance with the context that may be provided by the activity of other microbes and the host.”.
Different types of diets
Traditional foods like Tempeh, Kefir, Kombucha, Kefir, Miso soup have all become household products because of the excellent effect they have on digestion; they are all fermented products. Fermentation leads to an increase in the enzymatic content of these products which assists digestion. According to Ayurveda, digestion is the foundation of a healthy metabolism.
Due to extreme commercialization, we are getting many exotic products everywhere. Tempeh is a natural product of the Javanese tropical climate, and Kombucha is native to Japan. It is good to have everything available across the world. But it is more beneficial for the companies than for the individuals consuming them. According to Ayurveda, locally grown food and cuisine are the best for the natives. Therefore, Tofu is best for Japanese; Tempeh is best for natives of Java, Dosa (Indian Crepes) is best for South Indians, and Kefir is best for Russia and the Middle east.
These traditional diets across the world are very healthy because they are compatible with the local people. In Japan, people drink green tea as it faces extreme cold temperatures. However, South Indian culture promotes coconut water because southern India has a scorching climate. Coconut is a blessing to a hot tropical climate because of its natural cooling effect but it can cause a cough and cold to people in Japan.
Simplicity is the core of Ayurveda, advising that what we need naturally grows around us and that we must respect and preserve the native biodiversity in plants and animals.
Conclusion
One clear insight from all this information is that we are all unique and that nutrition and health advice is to be tailored if we are to optimize our health and health diagnosis. This spectrum of health data that we can currently access includes: DNA tests, Allergy tests, Micro-biome tests, Blood analysis, GP reports, Self-reporting (diet, water, exercise), and Wearables.
Bhavin, a doctor from the UK is working on an information portal that puts our health information in our hands where we can view our own GP records and store additional health data like that from Wearables.
For the first time, we have data that can help us begin unlocking the complexities of the human health system that can lead to much more accurate diagnosis, and compliment holistic medicine systems like Ayurveda.
By Arjun Thandi and Dr. Kanika Verma, Ayurveda Physician BAMS, PGDPC
References
A clinician’s guide to microbiome testing
by Alexander Khoruts is a gastroenterologist and member, AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research & Education scientific advisory board.
