This presentation covers basic introduction of Ayurveda followed by importance of household spices in Ayurveda. It also includes the basics of meditation and minfulness with key differences and similarity. The presentation have links to relevant scientific publications that can be referred for more detals.

1. Ayurveda & Meditation
Integrative Medicine Selective
St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
23 March 2018
Presented By:
Murli Mishra
B. Pharm, PhD (Toxicology)

2. Contents
• Introduction
• Basic principles of Ayurveda
• Medicinal value of few common spices
• Meditation & supporting scientific evidence
• Basic process of meditation

3. Ayurveda
• Ayus (Life) + Veda (Knowledge)
• It’s not medicine, it’s way of life
• Indian holistic system of healing
• Developed 5000 years ago
• First mention in Atharvaveda (i.e. One of the first four books that
are used as guiding philosophy behind Hindu way of life)

4. Basic Principles
• Based on cosmic connection between all living & non-living entities of the universe
• Guidance to maintain good health, prevent diseases, cure the existing ailments
• Life = Body + Mind + Spirit (or Soul)
• Body = Vayu (Air) + Agni (Fire or Heat) + Jal (Water or Fluid) + Prithvi (Earth or
Minerals) + Akas (Free Space)
• Tridosha:
1) Vata = Vayu + Akas = Communication & Movement (including nerve impulse)
2) Pitta = Agni + Jal = Digestion & Transformation (Moderation & Control)
3) Kapha = Jal + Prithvi = Cohesiveness & Lubrication (love, patience, forgiveness)

5. Application of Tridosha
• Balance of three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) determines
current and future health
• Vata imbalance: Dermatitis, Muscle atrophy, Kyphosis,
Fibromyalgia, Erectile dysfunction, Insomnia, Seizures, Paralysis,
Anxiety
• Pitta imbalance: Inflammation, Heartburn, Ulcer, Baldness, Visual
problems, Irritability, Anger, Ego, Jealousy
• Kapha imbalance: Obesity, Respiratory disorders, Love,
Obsession, Narcolepsy, Lethargy

6. Treatment Options
• Balanced nutritional diet to correct the imbalance (Personalized)
• Yoga (postures & breath control)
• Meditation & mindfulness
• Herbal medicine (e.g. leaves, barks, flowers, fruits, extracts, ashes)
• Animal products as medicine (e.g. Musk, Conch shell, Sea shell,
Deer horn, Bile products, Animal fat, Animal meat, Egg shell, Pearl
& other gems)

7. Medicinal values of household items
• Bay leafs
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon
• Celery
• Coconut
• Coriander
• Cumin
• Curry Leaves
• Fenugreek
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Lemon
• Mint
• Mustard
• Nutmeg
• Pomegranate
• Tamarind
• Turmeric

8. Turmeric
• Botanical name: Curcuma Longa
• Culinary spice (One of the cheapest spice)
• Cosmetic value: Improves complexion, treat fungal infections &
eczema
• Medicinal Value: Anti-inflammatory, wound healing, cancer
prevention, mild anti-diabetic properties, protective against
neurodegenerative diseases, pain reliever
• Bioavailability: Milk and/or Black Pepper increases the
bioavailability for systemic effect (Effective against colon cancer if
consumed alone)

9. Turmeric

10. Black Pepper
• Botanical name: Piper Nigrum
• Culinary spice (King of spices or Gem of Spices)
• Medicinal Value: Weight loss, improve digestion, boost
metabolism, relieve cough & cold, treat skin problems, anti-
infectious property, Chemoprevention, anti-oxidant, anti-
inflammatory, improves semen quality
• Bioavailability: Highly bioavailable; Improves the bioavailability of
curcumin
• Warning: Excessive use may lead to diarrhea

11. Cardamom
• Botanical name: Two members of family Zingiberaceae
• Culinary spice (One of the most expensive spices in past)
• Medicinal Value: Cardio-protective, Heals bad breath, Prevention
of food poisoning, Aphrodisiac, Anti-asthmatic, Treat chronic
hiccups (aqueous extract), Selective anti-infectious properties
while sparing normal gut microbiome, Anti-depressant
• Bioavailability: Aqueous extract is best

12. Mental Health in Ayurveda
• Life = Body + Mind + Spirit (or Soul)
• Mind is a connecting link between Body & Spirit
• Any imbalance in body (e.g. pathological conditions) or cosmic
manifestation of spirit (i.e. environment or universe) has potential to
affect the mental state
• In other words, physical and mental health cannot be separated (they
are interdependent on each other and cosmic/environmental forces in
our surrounding)
• Yoga is best way to prevent or correct physical imbalance
• Meditation (with or without Yoga) can be used to heal the mind as well
as body

13. Hierarchy of benefits (as per ancient
text)
• Stress reduction & reduce burnout
• Improves observational skills & concentration
• Reduce sleep
• Heal self
• Pain management
• Connect with cosmic energy and use it to achieve higher goals
like healing others (Currently these practices are followed in few
Buddhist monasteries in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, & Tibet) **NOT
AN ENDORSEMENT**

14. Mindfulness Vs Meditation
Mindfulness Meditation
Awareness of reflexive thinking Discipline beyond reflexive thinking
Thoughts can wander Thoughts are controlled/minimized
Passive process Active process
Acknowledgement of processes Control of processes
Best for stress management Everything mentioned on last slide
Works best for ‘External locus of control’ Can be used irrespective of locus of
control (i.e. External or Internal)
e.g. listening music, day dreaming,
reading book, enjoying a shower,
watching sky or ocean
Controlling thoughts and focusing it on a
particular visible (open eye) or
imaginary (closed eye) entity

15. Energy Centers in Meditation
• Basis of
meditation in
Hinduism &
Taoism
• Not followed in
Buddhism
• Buddhism
concentrates
more on a
separate method
called Mantra
(i.e. also
important in
Hinduism)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjt8dLJnoPaAhVqwYMKHbZd

16. Scientific Evidence

17. Limitations of Scientific Evidence

18. Process of Meditation
• Location: Find a place best for your comfort (most people prefer quiet
area; Sea, River, & Hills are most popular for higher goals)
• Posture: Three major religions based on meditation (Hinduism,
Buddhism, & Taoism) recommends sitting crossed legs with relatively
straight back. However, there are records of practitioners who did not
follow these recommendations and still achieved higher goals of
meditation. You can use any posture from yoga and use it along with
meditation.
• Basic Process: (1) Breath Control; (2) Slowing the breath; (3) Focusing
on any entity; (4) Slowing down the thoughts; (5) Minimizing the
number of thoughts; (6) Focusing thoughts to achieve a goal

19. Sleep Meditation or Yoganidra
• Purpose: Can be used to improved quality of sleep or reduce the sleep
requirements (1 hour of Yoganidra supposed to compensate for 4
hours of sleep)
• Posture: Lying in bed or soft surface or relaxed position on sofa.
• Basic Process: (1) Completely relaxed position; (2) Breath normally; (3)
Scan your body with your awareness; (4) Identify the points of
discomfort; (5) Imagine blood or cosmic energy is healing your
discomfort; (6) Repeat the process;
(7) To reduce amount of sleep, you should remind yourself that you
are doing meditation, not sleeping
(8) Skip step 7 if your purpose is to improve quality of sleep

20. Thank you