Body and Mind are mutually related. They are 2 sides of the same coin. They work in coordination and carry on all the functions essential for our like process smoothly. If the body is healthy, the mind is healthy and if the mind is healthy, the body is healthy. Thus body and mind are entangled in an inseparable relationship. Thus we can conclude that there is essentially a physical component involved in mental problems and vice versa.
Ayurveda perspective of considering combined Body-Mind entity in causation of GI & other Metabolic Disorders……..
Ayurveda was the first medical science to establish the relationship between body and mind and also between physical and mental disorders.
According to Ayurveda basics,
In the physical ailments – the body gets affected by diseases first and later the mind gets affected. This happens because in Somatic (physical) diseases the Doshas (contaminants) of the body – Vata, Pitta or Kapha gets contaminated either singly or in combination and on a low immune background afflict the body tissues (dhatus) and cause diseases. Later the contaminated Doshas contaminate Rajas and Tamas – the Doshas (contaminants) of mind and hence afflict the mind in a later period.
In the mental diseases the process is reverse. In these Rajas and Tamas get contaminated first leading to manifestation of mental illness. Later these mind contaminants disturb the physical contaminants (Doshas) leading to physical diseases.
Thus in any disease – there is inevitable involvement of both body and mind. This probably was the first ever explanation of psycho-somatic factors in the manifestation of a disease.
सर्वॆऽपि रोगाः मन्देऽग्नौ सुतरमुदराणि।
{Sarvepi Rogah Mandagnau sutaramudaraani}
Meaning: All diseases are having their origin from the disturbed AGNI (digestion/metabolism) especially the abdominal problems (gut related problems or digestive diseases / gastro-intestinal diseases)
AgniMandhya or errors of digestion (metabolism) leads to Ajeerna (sluggish digestion / weak digestion / indigestion)
This Ajeerna is said to be “Sarva-Roga-Mula” i.e. Root of all the systemic diseases (psycho-somatic diseases)
There are many causes for Ajeerna. Among these causes of Ajeerna, Ayurveda has included the components of Shoka (Grief), Bhaya (Fear), Krodha (Anger) etc indicating a psychological component in the causation of a systemic or metabolic disease.
Some types of Atisara (diarrhoea) is said to be caused by Bhaya (Fear) and Shoka (Grief, Stress). The modern day concept of Nervous Diarrhoea or a stressful gut is evident to all of us. Nothing has changed over a period of evolution. Of course, the stress levels and their impact on many diseases have ascended the graph, thanks to the modern day life style and erratic diet.
The saga of unresolved gastro-intestinal and metabolic disorders………Involvement of “MIND FACTOR”
I have personally encountered many patients coming to my clinic with Gut related (Gastro-intestinal) and digestion related problems (with complications many times) viz loose stools, pain abdomen, constipation, nausea, flatulence etc. which have never been attended or shown response to any type of medication, treatment, changes of diet or counselling. I have seen people getting desperate and breaking down.
Why do some people suffer from so severe digestive and metabolic problems?
Why do many people not find any sort of healing remedies in spite of sincerely trying maximum available options and after visiting the best of doctors?
Why do people need so many opinions about the well being of their stomach and gut?
Why do people seek to so many specialities and yet give up hopes?
Why do people have bundles of test and investigation related documents and reports in their cupboards, heaps of prescriptions, printouts of lot of information from the net and bills as a proof of spending so much money on their stomach?
Have you ever thought why someone has to spend years and most of their life time in seeking remedy for their ailing stomach when its health lays in one’s own hand?
Answer…????
Because the problem is only seen with a partial perspective
Because the medical system most often miss the involvement of “MIND FACTOR” in the so called and so-diagnosed somatic or physical diseases
I think this discussion has left you with a lot of questions!!!!
Do mental disturbances lead to complicated and unresolved GI disturbances / digestive (metabolic) disorders?
If so, how and what diseases are manifested?
Do we have good remedy and relief for these disorders?
We will try to get some answers and possible remedies in the coming issue…
Keep reading this space for more updates…
Pictures courtesy:
http://www.drdianahoppe.com/gut-second-brain/
http://quotes.lifehack.org/quote/albert-j-nock/the-mind-is-like-the-stomach-it/
Dr Raghuram Y.S.
MD(Ay), Ayurvedic Rheumatology
Consultant Ayurvedic Physician
Speciality: Joint and Spine care
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Ph: +91-9480071422
Email: drraghuramys@gmail.com
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