Why I integrate: Ayurveda, biohacking and more...

How come you work with all the different recommendations, not just Ayurveda? I get asked a lot.

*Taking a deep breath.

Where do I begin? I like to start by asking questions.

Integrating (verb): to bring together or incorporate parts into a whole.

Sounds very holistic to me!

How much allostatic load is a modern human subjected to versus thousands of years ago? The current toxic exposure, electromagnetic pollution, soil depletion, and screen time are a few stressors that a modern person is constantly exposed to, reducing Ojas (immune function).

Present environmental challenges fast exceed anything ancient healers could ever foresee. While the blueprint of human design has not changed, allowing ancient Ayurvedic knowledge to remain as relevant as ever and timeless, environmental degradation has led to the development of numerous new health conditions that were nonexistent thousands of years ago and absent from the Ayurvedic slokas.

Divergent physical reactions to Ayurvedic medicines are common in Western populations. There is no more compelling example to illustrate the struggle of adjustment than Dr. Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, who, in the 90s, came from India to America to develop Ayurvedic formulas for the premier Ayurvedic herbal company.

"Dr. Mishra held an exalted place in the Ayurvedic pantheon, having descended from a long line of 'Raj Vaidyas', Ayurvedic doctors who held the distinction of being chosen to treat the royalty of India", writes Marianne Teitelbaum, D.C. in Healing The Thyroid with Ayurveda.

Unfortunately, treating American patients was a shocking confrontation of Ayurvedic knowledge and modern challenges that led Dr. Mishra to develop many alternative methods of medicine administration, such as transdermal formulas. Americans' toxic, heated livers could not break down the herbal formulas, and the detoxification of Ama (toxins) had to be done particularly gently.

While honoring ancient wisdom, modern practitioners of Ayurveda also must consider the ever-changing condition and presentation of the human environment and health if they are to continue recalibrating the traditional teachings to the developing world.

I believe that keeping an open mind, experimenting, and adjusting conclusions are pillars of critical thinking. How else would an alternative practitioner differ from a mainstream doctrine? I love to stay up to date with modern research, experiment, and see what works.

Why reject any capable healing tool when we need all the help we can get?

Biohacking is the mentality of a hacker applied to human optimization. It is not about fancy gadgets and gimmicks but about working smarter, not harder. Weston Price, a dentist turned anthropologist, is believed by some to have been the first biohacker. A curious mind with a compelling story, dedicating his life to finding answers and creating a groundbreaking legacy of documented findings. There are many such pioneers in the health arena today, changing the way we understand modern man’s health.

Ayurveda will remain my filter as I sift through new research, diets, facts, and fads. Its framework for healing I believe is genius and unlike anything I have ever seen before and have explored!

Is it my responsibility to stay current? How does one find a way through a sea of nuance and corruption? Asking who paid for the study you are about to take as gospel is always a good place to start. Luckily, there are a lot of independent researchers and experimenters out there. I like to check what it is that they are selling and what is their story, as these facts always alter their credibility.

Unfortunately, there is a big disintegration between the traditional alternative healers and the biohackers, it seems. One of the bones of contention includes the issue of supplementation.

Are all supplements useless? The debate on supplementation rages in both Western medicine and alternative health arenas. Are there any black-and-white answers? It is my personal opinion that this territory is quite nuanced. One thing is sure- our soils are not as mineral-rich as they used to be!

I am the first to admit that there are a lot of hopeless supplements out there. But I've seen many nutraceuticals work, both on myself and patients, too, so I cannot simplify the issue. It depends on your digestive capacities (agni), the brand, production methods, and the product's value. It's like animal produce all over again!

When it comes to nuance, I'm a quality-tarian.

Why do some people from all medical fields, alternative or mainstream like to simplify, stick to their lane and never explore, or experiment?

Ram Dass said it best:

"First rule: Listen to yourself. Second rule: Be honest with yourself. The predicament is that you listen to your inner voice, and it leads you to a path, and then you outgrow it. And you don't want to admit that you've outgrown it because you've made a big investment in it. But you must be willing to let go, to stand as naked as a newborn child, again and again and again".

Knowing that you will always be learning, exploring, experimenting, finding, and growing sounds exhausting to some and exciting to others. I believe that honoring ancient traditions while exploring what modern science has to offer is a great strategy. I have seen both the rigid practitioners, cautious to the point of never expanding, and I have seen those lost in the sea of contradicting information, wasting their money and sanity on useless and dangerous therapies, believing everything they read.

How to find balance? Keep the curiosity and critical thinking but remove the judgment to see what truly works for you. Or find someone whose expertise you trust to help you out. Don’t forget that you are a unique case, your body is a wonderful feedback tool and the state of your physical and mental health is your result.

Let me know what is your view on this!

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