The year 2014 marked my thirtieth year in academia. I received my doctor of philosophy degree in biochemistry, and subsequently spent 20 more years teaching at university. I studied protein structures, enzymology, bioenergetics, pharmacology, genetics, and molecular biology. While biotechnology was emerging as a new discipline, unlike my colleagues, I decided to work on traditional medicine, which was then out of fashion. This gave me the unique opportunity to study multiple disciplines in the biomedical sciences. I worked in the pharmaceutical industry, and was involved in natural product drug discovery and development. I also participated in a few interesting clinical studies.
I interacted with medical doctors as well as Ayurvedic Vaidya (traditional Ayurvedic physicians). I noted that these two disciplines differed in their outlooks on the same disease, or symptom. When the situation arose where a senior Ayurveda Vaidya would assert that double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are not suitable for studying the effects of Ayurvedic treatments, this was looked upon by the scientific, medical establishment as an excuse and as an example of the Ayurvedic community’s reluctance to embrace modern methodology. The Vaidya explained that they treat every individual differently; they maintained that cardiac diseases can be prevented, and even reversed. Yoga experts knew that performing simple breathing techniques and asanas can remedy insomnia. When the Vaidya and Yoga experts offered this knowledge, they were often ridiculed. Later, the field of pharmacogenomics evolved as basis of person-specific, drug responses; possibility of reversing cardiac diseases was accepted; and top medical centers like the Cleveland and Mayo Clinic integrated Yoga into their treatment regimen. Now after 30
years, when the importance of epistemology is being recognized and whole systems clinical trials are gaining wider acceptance, integrative medicine has already become a reality.
Through my participation in several laboratory experiments, I learned and experienced the value of traditional wisdom. It was hard to believe our own results. I witnessed how traditionally prepared medicines were safe and effective than solvent extracts of the same botanicals; how simple formulation could bring about serological conversion of rheumatoid factor, and how the concept of
Prakriti has a genetic basis. In 2010, I was invited to lead a new institute
in Bangalore, the Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. Here, we would endeavor to demonstrate, using scientific methodology, how integrative approaches have enormous potential to benefit humanity.
As a biomedical researcher, I have published over 100 research articles and reviews in scientific journals. In my mind, publishing in this way sufficed to spread our concepts and approaches among peers. At this stage, Dr Gururaj Mutalik, who has a family background in the Ayurveda tradition and rich experience as an eminent professor of modern medicine, became my mentor, and was instrumental in changing my mind-set. At his urging, I decided to take on the project of writing a book on integrative approaches to medicine. My student Dr Girish Tillu is an MD in Ayurveda. He has in-depth knowledge of Indian philosophy and Yoga. He has been working with me as a research scholar and editorial associate for over 12
years. We, the authors of this book, bring a unique blend of relevant expertise from our respective domains. The first author is a biomedical researcher, the second author is a modern medicine physician scientist, and the third author is an Ayurveda and Yoga expert. We prepared a concept note, and decided to approach the best publisher in biomedical sciences—Elsevier.
This book is being published when the world is facing major human health challenges. There is a sharp increase in noncommunicable diseases, difficult-to-treat, chronic conditions, and lifestyle disorders. The current global focus is more on medical care than health care. Current biomedical research is focused more on diseases, drugs, and therapies. The cost of medical treatment is becoming unaffordable. The pharmaceutical industry is facing a severe innovation deficit. The magic bullet approach of the twentieth century is no longer relevant. Modern medicine is facing unprecedented challenges, and people are exploring new ways to meet these challenges.
In this book, we advocate a fundamental shift in mind-set from illness/disease/drug-centric, curative therapies, to person/health/wellness-centric, integrative modes of the future. The experience, knowledge, and wisdom from traditional and complementary systems like Ayurveda and Yoga have much to offer. We are convinced that high quality, biomedical research which integrates modern medicine, Ayurveda, and Yoga is the best prescription for the future of global health care.
Through scientific inquiry, we are now discovering the processes and principles which underlie the healing potential and reality of the ancient wisdom-based practices, such as Ayurveda and Yoga. It is our hope that this book, with its transdisciplinary approach, will bring a new perspective into focus, and serve as an inspiration and impetus for the further integration of these two powerful modes of healing. Humanity has only to benefit from such an exploration.
Bhushan Patwardhan, Pune, India