Government Medicine vs. Holistic Healing

DMG said ...
I'm not looking to fight SHE. I actually think Ayurveda is interesting. It doesn't completely (or in some cases accurately) describe the disease process, but that's a limitation in technology of the era.

SHE made a mistake by stating that it was 'obvious' that an opioid (any opioid) caused cardiac arrest, when it was actually something rather unique to meperidine (which she likely did not know) that could have caused his heart to fail. I figured SHE would appreciate the correction.

Also, SHE makes a mistake by stating that medications are tested for only a years on lab rats, and then tossed into circulation (which shows a misunderstanding of the bench to clinical trials process), while forgetting that "herbs have been tried and tested for over 5000 years on humans" means trial and error directly on human subjects--damn the morbidity and mortality. I don't think we'd want that system to continue today..would you? Everybody has to back up their statements. Ayurveda students don't get a pass. Hopefully, a debate with me will help her hone her debating skills. I wish her luck.

MOTI, at least SHE understands Ayurveda enough to describe how the body works according there way of thinking (I don't think the descriptions are all accurate or correct, but that's another discussion--it is intriguing as some of the descriptions seem to parallel modern science in some ways). SHE doesn't have to invent science as she goes, like you.

Maybe you should stick to politics and leave anatomy and physiology to the professionals. Hmm?

SHE, just so you know I don't view Ayurveda as the "enemy". But as far as changing my practice... something you might prescribe has to meet as high a level of evidence as the current medical standard of care. My advice when you are out of school would be NOT to go out of your way to pick fights or speak poorly of modern medicine, as many of my colleagues will speak ill of Ayurveda without giving it any consideration. In the United States we have more sway.

Charlatans on the internet without ANY training, however, pushing holy water...I have ZERO respect for.
SHE said...
DMG,

You are probably right about the cause of death:

“Any opioid naturally occurring or synthetic can cause respiratory depression (really shallow breathing) to the point of death (which is where I'd place my bet if I were a betting man).”

I agree with you that this was not the best treatment option.

I think more than a friend, he would have benefited from some yoga, Ayurvedic/Chinese herbs and meditation.

I am concerned about the allopathic treatment approach, because it does not treat the root cause. A local administration of Meperidine simply alleviates the pain temporarily. It is better to treat the cause of the pain, than offer temporary relief “BAND-AID”. I am not against western medicine if the benefits outweigh the adverse effects. If I am in a car accident, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE rush me to the nearest ER. But, also, hook me up with some herbs to aid in a faster recovery.

I believe pain should not be treated with a drug having an extensive list of side effects such as Meperidine. Natural herbs combined with yoga, breathing exercises, marma therapy, and meditation is a better treatment option than injecting a drug locally.

An Ayurvedic approach would be to find the cause of the pain. Pain can be caused by the diet, the mind (psychosomatic), stress, over-exertion, age, an injury, etc. Depending on the cause of the pain, a treatment plan is formulated.

Eastern medicine treats the entire human. The mind, body, and spirit are interconnected. I believe this integration of mind, body, and spirit is lacking in the western approach to illness.

In martial arts and yoga one can train the mind to have a higher tolerance to pain. By meditating and concentrating the mind on the internal workings of the body, we can begin to control our body even at the cellular level. This may be far-fetched for the western thought, but in the east we believe the mind is capable of curing diseases and leaving the body at will (see Nirvikalpa Samadhi).

Classes in Vipassana meditation or similar practices could be an effective treatment or lifestyle change in treating the cause of pain.

Also, manipulation of specific marma points or pressure points may help treat the root of the pain depending on the cause.

Internal or topical herbal treatments made from Ayurvedic herbs can also help treat the cause of pain. For example: Bala (Sida cordifolia) or Rasnadi churna.

As for your comment on human lab rats: Of course these naturally growing herbs were tested on humans at some point in the long history of Ayurveda. That is my point. They have already been used and tested for thousands of years. Many of these herbs still exist today because they work.
Modern science should recognize this and integrate these herbs because they have already been proven safe and effective throughout our history. A classical Ayurvedic textbook says this: “By knowing one science alone one cannot arrive at a proper conclusion. Therefore a physician should study other sciences in order to arrive at a correct diagnosis. (Susruta Samhita Sutrasthana 4.6)” Perhaps, it is time to start integrating.