२१ सप्टेंबर हा दिवस जागतिक अल्झेमर्स दिन म्हणून ओळखला जातो. साजरा केला जातो असे म्हणणे चुकीचे ठरेल कारण आनंद देणारे क्षण किंवा विषय साजरे केले जातात. अल्झेमर्स मध्ये खूप यातना दडल्या आहेत. अल्झेमर्स डिसीज म्हणजे काय, तो कोणी शोधून काढला, त्याची लक्षणे काय असतात, काय काळजी घ्यावी लागते, होऊ नये म्हणून काही उपाय करणे शक्य आहे का, आधुनिक वैद्यक शास्त्र ह्या विषयी काय सांगते अल्झेमर्स दिसीज बद्द्ल आयुर्वेदाचा दृष्टिकोन काय आहे ह्या विषयी जाणून घेऊ या.
अलोइस अल्झेमर नावाच्या एका जर्मन डॉक्टरने १९०६ साली ह्या आजाराचा शोध लावला. त्यामुळे ह्याला अल्झेमर्स डिसीज नाव देण्यात आले. मेंदूतील पेशींची विचित्र गुंतागुंत आणि चमत्कारिक गुठळ्या अशा अवस्थेत एका मृत स्त्रीचा मेंदू त्याने अभ्यासला. स्मरणशक्तीच्या विचित्र लक्षणांमुळे तिचा मृत्यु झाला होता. त्या लक्षणांचा संबंध तिच्या मेंदूच्या रचनेशी असल्याचा तर्क करणारा हा जगातील पहिला शास्त्रज्ञ म्हणून ओळखला जातो. अगदी साध्या सोप्या भाषेत सांगायचे तर अल्झेमर्स डिसीज म्हणजे विसरभोळेपणा वाढत जातो. पहिले पहिले नाव विसरणे नंतर नाती विसरणे, जेवण खाणे विसरणे, आपली स्वतःची लक्षणांच्या वेळी घरातल्या इतरांना हा अगदी थट्टा मस्करीचा विषय होतो. रोगाचे गांभीर्य कळू लागले की डॉक्टरांकडे धाव घ्यावी लागते. वास्तविक तेव्हा फार उशीर झालेला असतो. कारण अल्झेमर्सची सुरुवात मेंदूमध्ये झाल्यानंतर जवळपास दहा वर्ष उलटल्यावर मगच सुरुवातीची लक्षणे दिसू लागतात असा शास्त्रज्ञांचा अभ्यास आहे. ६५ वर्षे वया नंतर शेकडा २० टक्के लोकांमध्ये अल्झेमर्स होण्याची शक्यता असते असा निष्कर्ष अभ्यासातून काढला गेला आहे.
अल्झेमर्सची कारणे काय ?
आज ह्या रोगाची वैद्यक शास्त्राला ओळख होऊन १०३ वर्षे झाली आहेत. पण ह्याचे कारण फक्त ३ शब्दांत सांगता येते ‘‘नक्की माहित नाही’’ अनेक संस्था, डॉक्टर्स, शास्त्रज्ञ, वैज्ञानिक आपल्या ज्ञान कौशल्याची शिकस्त करुनही आज ह्या आजारावर नक्की इलाज सापडलेला नाही ही बाब खरी आहे. मुळात कारणच माहित नाही तर उपचार करणार तरी कुठल्या आधारावर? ह्या आजाराचे निदान करण्यासाठी फक्त लक्षणांचाच आधार घ्यावा लागतो. आधुनिक तंत्रज्ञानावर आधारित यंत्रसामुग्री पण विशेष उपयोगी पडत
नाही. मृत्यू नंतर शवविच्छेदन करण्याची वेळ आली तरच त्याचा उलगडा होतो.
अल्झेमर्स होऊ नये म्हणून :
अल्झेमर्स होऊ नये म्हणून काय काळजी घ्यावी ह्या विषयी बरेच काही वाचायला मिळते. त्यात ‘‘नियमित व्यायाम करावा, सकस - हलका व आपल्याला पचेल असाच आहार घ्यावा, ताजी फळे - पालेभाज्या खाव्यात, आनंदी व उत्साही वातावरण ठेवावे असे काही उपाय सांगितले जातात. हे उपाय सर्वसाधारण प्रकृती उत्तम ठेवण्यासाठी पण सांगितले जातात, अल्झेमर्स होऊ नये म्हणून विशेष असे ह्यात काहीही नाही. नाही म्हणायला डोनपझिल आणि रिव्हास्टिगमिन नावाची दोन औषधे आहेत. शौचाला पातळ होणे, सतत लघवी होणे, मळमळणे, उलटी, निद्रनाश, चित्रविचित्र स्वप्न, चक्कर, वजन घटणे, हाता-पायात गोळे, सांधेदुखी, डोकदुखी अशी अनेक लक्षणे होतात. शिवाय इतर औषधांच्या उपयुक्ततेवर विपरित परिणाम होतात. हे उपचार रोग बरा करण्यासाठी नसून फक्त तात्पुरता आराम देण्यासाठी आहेत एवढे लक्षात ठेवले पाहिजे. थोडक्यात म्हणजे अल्झेमर्स डिसीज वर हमखास उपयोग होईल असा काही इलाज आज तागायत आधुनिक वैद्यक शास्त्रात नाही. पण शास्त्रज्ञानी ह्या विषयावर जो कही अभ्यास केला आहे त्यावर आधारित काही आयुर्वेदिक तत्वांचा आणि उपचारांचाही एक वेगळी दिशा दाखवणारा एक प्रामणिक प्रयत्न आपण करू शकतो.
मेंदूचा विचार :
मेंदूची रचना किंवा घडण करण्यामध्ये ७० टक्के वाटा स्निग्ध पदार्थांचा आहे आणि ३० टक्के वाटा प्रथिनांचा आहे. म्हणजेच मेंदू हा मुख्यतः लायपोफिलिक भाग आहे. आयुर्वेदाच्या सांगण्यानुसार चार स्निग्ध पदार्थ असतात ते म्हणजे ‘‘घृत-तैल-वसा-मज्जा’’ अर्थात - तूप, तेल, चरबी आणि मज्जा म्हणजेच मेंदू किंवा हाडांमधली चरबी त्यातल्या रासायनिक घटकांबद्दल सूक्ष्म विश्लेषण नसलं तरी त्यांच्या गुणधर्मांबद्दल सखोल माहिती उपलब्ध आहे. ह्या मेंदूच्या कार्यक्षमतेत वाढ होण्यासाठी आयुर्वेदात जे उपाय सांगितले आहेत त्यांचा अभ्यास वेगळ्या प्रकारे केला पाहिजे. तुपाबद्दल आयुर्वेदात केलेलं वर्णन असं आहे -
‘‘शस्तं धी स्मृति मेधाग्नि, बलायुः शुक्र च क्षुषाम,’’...
म्हणजेच गायीचं तूप हे मेंदूच्या तीन क्रिया, ‘ज्ञान ग्रहण करणं, ते योग्य प्रकारे साठवून ठेवणं आणि वेळेवर स्मरण होणं ह्यासाठी श्रेष्ठ आहे. आधुनिक शास्त्रज्ञांच्या अनेक संशोधनांचा अभ्यास केल्यावर ह्या श्लोकाचा खरा अर्थ कळतो. स्निग्ध पदार्थांचा उपयोग गर्भावस्थेपासून मेंदूच्या पोषणासाठी कसा होतो ह्या विषयी एक पुस्तक प्रकाशित झाले आहे. इटलीच्या सेराफिना सल्वाति ह्या शास्त्रज्ञाने मेंदूच्या मायलिन नावाच्या महत्वाच्या आवरणाचा मुख्य घटक स्निग्ध पदार्थ असून त्याचा मेंदूच्या घडण्यामध्ये किती मोलाचा वाटा आहे ह्यावर प्रबंध प्रसिद्ध केला आहे.
नाकातून औषध देणं
‘‘नासा हि शिरसोद्वारं...’’ म्हणजे नाक हा मेंदूचा दरवाजा आहे असं छोटसं वचन आयुर्वेदात सांगितलं आहे. ह्या विषयी ‘विहाई यांग’ नावाच्या शास्त्रज्ञांनी एक प्रबंध लिहिला आहे. फ्युचर न्युरोलॉजी नामक अमेरिकन जर्नल मध्ये (२००८,३ (१) १-४) ह्या विषयी विस्ताराने वर्णन आहे. ब्लड-ब्रेन-बॅरियर मुळे मेंदूच्या अनेक विकारांसाठी उपयोगी ठरणारा मार्ग म्हणजे नाकातून औषध देणे. नाकाच्या आतल्या श्लेष्मल त्वेचेतून स्निग्ध पदार्थ जलद गतीने मेंदूकडे पोचवले जातात. तोंडावाटे घेतलेली औषधं ब्लड-ब्रेन-बॅरियर मुळे मेंदूच्या विकारात कुचकामी होतात किंवा फारच अल्पांशाने उपयोगी पडतात. त्यासाठी नाकातून औषध देणे हा सहज, सोपा आणि परिणाम करणारा मार्ग आहे.विहाई यांग यांच्या प्रबंधाचा हा सारांश आहे. आयुर्वेदात एक - दोन ओळींच्या श्लोकांत जी माहिती दिली असते ती म्हणजे एखाद्या क्लिष्ट गणिताचं सोपं उत्तर जगात असंख्य शास्त्रज्ञ वर्षानुवर्ष अभ्यास करून जे निष्कर्ष काढतात ते उत्तर आयुर्वेदात एक-दोन ओळींच्या श्लोकात दिलेलं असतं.
अल्झेमर्स मधे आयुर्वेद :
अल्झेमर्स डिसीज मधे मेंदूच्या पेशी क्रमाक्रमाने सुकण्याची क्रिया घडते. मेंदूच्या पेशींची रचना भरपूर स्निग्ध पदार्थांच्या उपस्थितीतून झालेली असते. त्यासाठी आयुर्वेदात वर्णन केल्याप्रमाणे ‘‘घृत नस्य’’ म्हणजे गायीचं तूप ४-६ थेंब नियमितपणे घालण्यामुळे अल्झेमर्स होण्याची शक्यता टाळता येऊ शकेल. इंद्रियांच्या पोषणासाठी तूप नक्कीच उपयोगी होऊ शकेल असा विश्वास आपण बाळगण्यास हरकत नाही. डोळ्यात तेल घालून लक्ष ठेव, कानात तेल घालून ऐक, तैलबुद्धी हे वाक्यप्रचार प्रचारात आले त्यामागे काहीतरी शास्त्रीय अभ्यास नक्कीच असणार. नाकातून प्रविष्ट केलेलं एक विशिष्ट फ्लूरोसंट औषध NXX-066 हे मेंदूतल्या CSF (सेरिब्रो स्पायनल फ्लुइड) मधे २ मिनिटांच्या आत शोषलं जातं असा अभ्यास स्वीडन मधील शास्त्रज्ञांनी करून त्याविषयी माहिती प्रसिद्ध केली आहे. EEG म्हणजे मेंदूतील विद्युत यंत्रणेचा वेग तपासण्याची
एक यंत्रणा आहे. त्यात P300 नावाची एक रेषा (Wave) ज्ञानेंद्रियांपासुन मेंदूपर्यंत संवेदना पोचवण्याची गती मोजण्यासाठी अभ्यासली जाते. स्निग्ध आहार दिल्या नंतर ही गती कशी वाढते ह्या विषयी शास्त्रीय लेख प्रसिद्ध झाले आहेत.ओमेगा ३ जातीच्या स्निग्ध आहारामुळे ही गती वाढते असं सिद्ध झालं आहे. ओमेगा ३ हे माशापासून काढलेले तेल आहे. अमेरिकेत दुधापासून लोणी काढणं त्यातून तूप तयार करणं ही गोष्ट माहिती नसल्यामुळे कादाचित त्या शास्त्रज्ञांनी ओमेगा ३ चा वापर केला असावा. भारतात साजुक तूप तयार करण्याची कला अवगत आहे त्यामुळे माशा पासून काढलेल्या तेलाची आवश्यकता नाही. आहारात स्निग्ध पदार्थांचा वापर कमी कमी होत चालला आहे हे पण अल्झेमर वाढण्याचं कारण असू शकतं. आयोवा युनिव्हर्सिटी मधे स्टॅटिन्स वर एक संशोधन प्रसिद्ध झालेले नुकतेच वाचण्यात आले. हजारो केसेस केसेस मधे अभ्यास करून असा न िष्कर्ष काढण्यात आला आहे की, स्टॅटिन्स (रक्तातील चरबी कमी करणारे औषध) मुळे अल्झेमर्सची शक्यता खूप प्रमाणात वाढते. कोलेस्टेरॉल हा यकृतात तयार होणारा घटक मेंदूच्या पोषणासाठी फार महत्वाचा आहे. त्याला प्रतिबंध केल्यामुळे मेंदू शुष्क होऊन त्याची कार्यक्षमता क्रमाक्रमाने कमी होत जाते.
तोंडावाटे औषध घेणं?
अल्झेमर्स विकारात तोंडावाटे औषध घेऊन कितपत फायदा होईल ही शंकाच आहे. ब्राम्ही, शंखपुष्पी, वेखंड, तुळस, केशर अशा अनेक गुणी वनस्पती उपयोगी पडू शकतील पण त्या नाकाच्या मार्गाने दिल्या तर त्यांचा परिणाम नेमक्या ठिकाणी, लवकर आणि अचूक होऊ शकेल. अशा वनस्पतींनी सिद्ध केलेलं गायीचं तूप ४-६ थेंब रोज नाकात सोडावं. वयाची पन्नाशी उलटली की ही एक सवयच लावून घ्यायला हवी. ‘‘काही फायदा झाला नाही तरी अपाय तर नक्कीच होणार नाही’’ आयुर्वेदावर नितांत श्रद्धा असणार्यांना ह्या वाक्याचा खूप राग येतो. पण अल्झेमर विकाराच्या यातना बघितल्या की, खरेच हे वाक्य आवर्जून म्हणावसं वाटते. कारण रोगाची सुरूवात मेंदूच्या पेशींमधे सुरू झाल्यानंतर १० ते १५ वर्षांनी अल्झेमरची लक्षणं दिसायला सुरूवात होते. तेव्हा उपचार करण्याची वेळ केव्हाच टळून गेलेली असते.
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Showing posts with label संशोधन. Show all posts
Showing posts with label संशोधन. Show all posts
NCCAM:Meditation for Health Purposes
Introduction
Meditation for health purposes is a mind-body practice in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).a There are many types of meditation, most of which originated in ancient religious and spiritual traditions. Generally, a person who is meditating uses certain techniques, such as focusing attention (for example, on a word, an object, or the breath); a specific posture; and an open attitude toward distracting thoughts and emotions. Meditation can be practiced for various reasons--for example, with an intent to increase physical relaxation, mental calmness, and psychological balance; to cope with one or more diseases and conditions; and for overall wellness. This Backgrounder provides a general introduction to meditation and suggests some resources for finding out more.
Key Points
People practice meditation for a number of health-related purposes. Resources for published research results on meditation are listed at the end of this Backgrounder.
It is not fully known what changes occur in the body during meditation; whether they influence health; and, if so, how. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and some other components of the National Institutes of Health are sponsoring studies to find out more about meditation's effects, how it works, and what diseases and conditions it may be most helpful for.
If you are considering or using meditation or any other CAM therapy, talk to your health care provider about it. This is for your safety and a complete treatment plan.
What Meditation Is
The term meditation refers to a group of techniques, most of which started in Eastern religious or spiritual traditions. These techniques have been used by many different cultures throughout the world for thousands of years. Today, many people use meditation outside of its traditional religious or cultural settings, for health and wellness purposes.
In meditation, a person learns to focus his attention and suspend the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. This practice is believed to result in a state of greater physical relaxation, mental calmness, and psychological balance. Practicing meditation can change how a person relates to the flow of emotions and thoughts in the mind.
Most types of meditation have four elements in common:
A quiet location. Many meditators prefer a quiet place with as few distractions as possible. This can be particularly helpful for beginners. People who have been practicing meditation for a longer period of time sometimes develop the ability to meditate in public places, like waiting rooms or buses.
A specific, comfortable posture. Depending on the type being practiced, meditation can be done while sitting, lying down, standing, walking, or in other positions.
A focus of attention. Focusing one's attention is usually a part of meditation. For example, the meditator may focus on a mantra (a specially chosen word or set of words), an object, or the breath.
An open attitude. Having an open attitude during meditation means letting distractions come and go naturally without stopping to think about them. When distracting or wandering thoughts occur, they are not suppressed; instead, the meditator gently brings attention back to the focus. In some types of meditation, the meditator learns to observe the rising and falling of thoughts and emotions as they spontaneously occur.
Meditation is practiced both on its own and as a component of some other therapies, such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong. This Backgrounder focuses on meditation practiced on its own.
Top
Meditation for Health Purposes
Meditation used as CAM is a type of mind-body medicine (one of the four domains, or areas of knowledge, in CAM). Generally, mind-body medicine focuses on:
The interactions among the brain, the rest of the body, the mind, and behavior
The ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors can directly affect health
People use meditation for various health problems, such as:
Anxiety
Pain
Depression
Mood and self-esteem problems
Stress
Insomnia
Physical or emotional symptoms that may be associated with chronic illnesses and their treatment, such as:
Cardiovascular (heart) disease
HIV/AIDS
Cancer
Meditation is also used for overall wellness.
A large national survey on Americans' use of CAM, released in 2004, found that nearly 8 percent of the participants had used meditation specifically for health reasons during the year before the survey.
Examples of Meditation
Mindfulness meditation and the Transcendental Meditation technique (also known as TM) are two common approaches to meditation. They are also two types of meditation being studied in NCCAM-sponsored research projects.
Mindfulness meditation originated in Buddhism. It is based on the concept of being mindful, or having an increased awareness and total acceptance of the present. While meditating, the meditator is taught to bring all her attention to the sensation of the flow of the breath in and out of the body. The intent might be described as focusing attention on what is being experienced, without reacting to or judging that experience. This is seen as helping the meditator learn to experience thoughts and emotions in normal daily life with greater balance and acceptance.
TM originated in the Vedic tradition in India. It is a type of meditation that uses a mantra (a word, sound, or phrase repeated silently) to prevent distracting thoughts from entering the mind. The intent of TM might be described as allowing the mind to settle into a quieter state and the body into a state of deep rest. This is seen as ultimately leading to a state of relaxed alertness.
Top
Looking at How Meditation May Work
Practicing meditation has been shown to induce some changes in the body, such as changes in the body's "fight or flight" response. The system responsible for this response is the autonomic nervous system (sometimes called the involuntary nervous system). It regulates many organs and muscles, including functions such as the heartbeat, sweating, breathing, and digestion, and does so automatically.
The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts:
The sympathetic nervous system helps mobilize the body for action. When a person is under stress, it produces the fight-or-flight response: the heart rate and breathing rate go up, for example, the blood vessels narrow (restricting the flow of blood), and muscles tighten.
The parasympathetic nervous system creates what some call the "rest and digest" response. This system's responses oppose those of the sympathetic nervous system. For example, it causes the heart rate and breathing rate to slow down, the blood vessels to dilate (improving blood flow), and activity to increase in many parts of the digestive tract.
While scientists are studying whether meditation may afford meaningful health benefits, they are also looking at how it may do so. One way some types of meditation might work is by reducing activity in the sympathetic nervous system and increasing activity in the parasympathetic nervous system.
Scientific research is using sophisticated tools to learn more about what goes on in the brain and the rest of the body during meditation, and diseases or conditions for which meditation might be useful. There is still much to learn in these areas. One avenue of research is looking at whether meditation is associated with significant changes in brain function. A number of researchers believe that these changes account for many of meditation's effects.
Side Effects and Risks
Meditation is generally safe. There have been a small number of reports that intensive meditation could cause or worsen symptoms in people who have certain psychiatric problems, but this question has not been fully researched. Individuals who are aware of an underlying psychiatric disorder and want to start meditation should speak with a mental health professional before doing so.
Any person who is interested in using meditation as CAM should consider the following:
Meditation should never delay the time it takes you to see your health care provider about having a medical problem diagnosed or treated, and it should not be used as the only treatment without first consulting your provider.
It is important to discuss any CAM therapies you are considering or using (including meditation) with your provider for a complete treatment plan and your safety.
If you are interested in learning meditation, ask about the training and experience of the instructor (see also NCCAM's publication "Selecting a CAM Practitioner").
Find out whether there have been any research studies published on meditation for the health condition you are interested in (see the resources in "For More Information" below).
NCCAM-Supported Research
Some recent studies supported by NCCAM have been investigating:
The potential effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique to prevent and treat heart disease
Mindfulness-based stress reduction to relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and, in a different study, chronic lower back pain
What happens to the brain's activity and structures during Buddhist insight meditation (which includes mindfulness) in a study that uses a brain scan called fMRI
The long-term impact of meditation on basic emotional and cognitive functions and on mechanisms in the brain that are involved in these functions
Meditation for health purposes is a mind-body practice in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).a There are many types of meditation, most of which originated in ancient religious and spiritual traditions. Generally, a person who is meditating uses certain techniques, such as focusing attention (for example, on a word, an object, or the breath); a specific posture; and an open attitude toward distracting thoughts and emotions. Meditation can be practiced for various reasons--for example, with an intent to increase physical relaxation, mental calmness, and psychological balance; to cope with one or more diseases and conditions; and for overall wellness. This Backgrounder provides a general introduction to meditation and suggests some resources for finding out more.
Key Points
People practice meditation for a number of health-related purposes. Resources for published research results on meditation are listed at the end of this Backgrounder.
It is not fully known what changes occur in the body during meditation; whether they influence health; and, if so, how. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and some other components of the National Institutes of Health are sponsoring studies to find out more about meditation's effects, how it works, and what diseases and conditions it may be most helpful for.
If you are considering or using meditation or any other CAM therapy, talk to your health care provider about it. This is for your safety and a complete treatment plan.
What Meditation Is
The term meditation refers to a group of techniques, most of which started in Eastern religious or spiritual traditions. These techniques have been used by many different cultures throughout the world for thousands of years. Today, many people use meditation outside of its traditional religious or cultural settings, for health and wellness purposes.
In meditation, a person learns to focus his attention and suspend the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. This practice is believed to result in a state of greater physical relaxation, mental calmness, and psychological balance. Practicing meditation can change how a person relates to the flow of emotions and thoughts in the mind.
Most types of meditation have four elements in common:
A quiet location. Many meditators prefer a quiet place with as few distractions as possible. This can be particularly helpful for beginners. People who have been practicing meditation for a longer period of time sometimes develop the ability to meditate in public places, like waiting rooms or buses.
A specific, comfortable posture. Depending on the type being practiced, meditation can be done while sitting, lying down, standing, walking, or in other positions.
A focus of attention. Focusing one's attention is usually a part of meditation. For example, the meditator may focus on a mantra (a specially chosen word or set of words), an object, or the breath.
An open attitude. Having an open attitude during meditation means letting distractions come and go naturally without stopping to think about them. When distracting or wandering thoughts occur, they are not suppressed; instead, the meditator gently brings attention back to the focus. In some types of meditation, the meditator learns to observe the rising and falling of thoughts and emotions as they spontaneously occur.
Meditation is practiced both on its own and as a component of some other therapies, such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong. This Backgrounder focuses on meditation practiced on its own.
Top
Meditation for Health Purposes
Meditation used as CAM is a type of mind-body medicine (one of the four domains, or areas of knowledge, in CAM). Generally, mind-body medicine focuses on:
The interactions among the brain, the rest of the body, the mind, and behavior
The ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors can directly affect health
People use meditation for various health problems, such as:
Anxiety
Pain
Depression
Mood and self-esteem problems
Stress
Insomnia
Physical or emotional symptoms that may be associated with chronic illnesses and their treatment, such as:
Cardiovascular (heart) disease
HIV/AIDS
Cancer
Meditation is also used for overall wellness.
A large national survey on Americans' use of CAM, released in 2004, found that nearly 8 percent of the participants had used meditation specifically for health reasons during the year before the survey.
Examples of Meditation
Mindfulness meditation and the Transcendental Meditation technique (also known as TM) are two common approaches to meditation. They are also two types of meditation being studied in NCCAM-sponsored research projects.
Mindfulness meditation originated in Buddhism. It is based on the concept of being mindful, or having an increased awareness and total acceptance of the present. While meditating, the meditator is taught to bring all her attention to the sensation of the flow of the breath in and out of the body. The intent might be described as focusing attention on what is being experienced, without reacting to or judging that experience. This is seen as helping the meditator learn to experience thoughts and emotions in normal daily life with greater balance and acceptance.
TM originated in the Vedic tradition in India. It is a type of meditation that uses a mantra (a word, sound, or phrase repeated silently) to prevent distracting thoughts from entering the mind. The intent of TM might be described as allowing the mind to settle into a quieter state and the body into a state of deep rest. This is seen as ultimately leading to a state of relaxed alertness.
Top
Looking at How Meditation May Work
Practicing meditation has been shown to induce some changes in the body, such as changes in the body's "fight or flight" response. The system responsible for this response is the autonomic nervous system (sometimes called the involuntary nervous system). It regulates many organs and muscles, including functions such as the heartbeat, sweating, breathing, and digestion, and does so automatically.
The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts:
The sympathetic nervous system helps mobilize the body for action. When a person is under stress, it produces the fight-or-flight response: the heart rate and breathing rate go up, for example, the blood vessels narrow (restricting the flow of blood), and muscles tighten.
The parasympathetic nervous system creates what some call the "rest and digest" response. This system's responses oppose those of the sympathetic nervous system. For example, it causes the heart rate and breathing rate to slow down, the blood vessels to dilate (improving blood flow), and activity to increase in many parts of the digestive tract.
While scientists are studying whether meditation may afford meaningful health benefits, they are also looking at how it may do so. One way some types of meditation might work is by reducing activity in the sympathetic nervous system and increasing activity in the parasympathetic nervous system.
Scientific research is using sophisticated tools to learn more about what goes on in the brain and the rest of the body during meditation, and diseases or conditions for which meditation might be useful. There is still much to learn in these areas. One avenue of research is looking at whether meditation is associated with significant changes in brain function. A number of researchers believe that these changes account for many of meditation's effects.
Side Effects and Risks
Meditation is generally safe. There have been a small number of reports that intensive meditation could cause or worsen symptoms in people who have certain psychiatric problems, but this question has not been fully researched. Individuals who are aware of an underlying psychiatric disorder and want to start meditation should speak with a mental health professional before doing so.
Any person who is interested in using meditation as CAM should consider the following:
Meditation should never delay the time it takes you to see your health care provider about having a medical problem diagnosed or treated, and it should not be used as the only treatment without first consulting your provider.
It is important to discuss any CAM therapies you are considering or using (including meditation) with your provider for a complete treatment plan and your safety.
If you are interested in learning meditation, ask about the training and experience of the instructor (see also NCCAM's publication "Selecting a CAM Practitioner").
Find out whether there have been any research studies published on meditation for the health condition you are interested in (see the resources in "For More Information" below).
NCCAM-Supported Research
Some recent studies supported by NCCAM have been investigating:
The potential effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique to prevent and treat heart disease
Mindfulness-based stress reduction to relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and, in a different study, chronic lower back pain
What happens to the brain's activity and structures during Buddhist insight meditation (which includes mindfulness) in a study that uses a brain scan called fMRI
The long-term impact of meditation on basic emotional and cognitive functions and on mechanisms in the brain that are involved in these functions
NCCAM:turmeric
Introduction
This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb turmeric--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Turmeric, a shrub related to ginger, is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Africa. Known for its warm, bitter taste and golden color, turmeric is commonly used in fabric dyes and foods such as curry powders, mustards, and cheeses. It should not be confused with Javanese turmeric.
Common Names--turmeric, turmeric root, Indian saffron
Latin Names--Curcuma longa
What It Is Used For
In traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been used to aid digestion and liver function, relieve arthritis pain, and regulate menstruation.
Turmeric has also been applied directly to the skin for eczema and wound healing.
Today, turmeric is used for conditions such as heartburn, stomach ulcers, and gallstones. It is also used to reduce inflammation, as well as to prevent and treat cancer.
How It Is Used
Turmeric's finger-like underground stems (rhizomes) are dried and taken by mouth as a powder or in capsules, teas, or liquid extracts. Turmeric can also be made into a paste and used on the skin.
What the Science Says
There is little reliable evidence to support the use of turmeric for any health condition because few clinical trials have been conducted.
Preliminary findings from animal and laboratory studies suggest that a chemical found in turmeric--called curcumin--may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, but these findings have not been confirmed in people.
NCCAM-funded investigators are studying the active chemicals in turmeric and their effects--particularly anti-inflammatory effects--in people to better understand how turmeric might be used for health purposes.
Side Effects and Cautions
Turmeric is considered safe for most adults.
High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause indigestion.
In animals, high doses of turmeric have caused liver problems. No cases of liver problems have been reported in people.
People with gallbladder disease should avoid using turmeric as a dietary supplement, as it may worsen the condition.
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb turmeric--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Turmeric, a shrub related to ginger, is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Africa. Known for its warm, bitter taste and golden color, turmeric is commonly used in fabric dyes and foods such as curry powders, mustards, and cheeses. It should not be confused with Javanese turmeric.
Common Names--turmeric, turmeric root, Indian saffron
Latin Names--Curcuma longa
What It Is Used For
In traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been used to aid digestion and liver function, relieve arthritis pain, and regulate menstruation.
Turmeric has also been applied directly to the skin for eczema and wound healing.
Today, turmeric is used for conditions such as heartburn, stomach ulcers, and gallstones. It is also used to reduce inflammation, as well as to prevent and treat cancer.
How It Is Used
Turmeric's finger-like underground stems (rhizomes) are dried and taken by mouth as a powder or in capsules, teas, or liquid extracts. Turmeric can also be made into a paste and used on the skin.
What the Science Says
There is little reliable evidence to support the use of turmeric for any health condition because few clinical trials have been conducted.
Preliminary findings from animal and laboratory studies suggest that a chemical found in turmeric--called curcumin--may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, but these findings have not been confirmed in people.
NCCAM-funded investigators are studying the active chemicals in turmeric and their effects--particularly anti-inflammatory effects--in people to better understand how turmeric might be used for health purposes.
Side Effects and Cautions
Turmeric is considered safe for most adults.
High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause indigestion.
In animals, high doses of turmeric have caused liver problems. No cases of liver problems have been reported in people.
People with gallbladder disease should avoid using turmeric as a dietary supplement, as it may worsen the condition.
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
NCCAM उवाच:Herbal Supplements-- Consider Safety, Too
Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement that contains herbs, either singly or in mixtures. An herb (also called a botanical) is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties. Many herbs have a long history of use and of claimed health benefits. However, some herbs have caused health problems for users.It's important to know that just because an herbal supplement is labeled "natural" does not mean it is safe or without any harmful effects. For example, the herbs kava and comfrey have been linked to serious liver damage. Herbal supplements can act in the same way as drugs. Therefore, they can cause medical problems if not used correctly or if taken in large amounts. In some cases, people have experienced negative effects even though they followed the instructions on a supplement label.
The active ingredient(s) in many herbs and herbal supplements are not known. There may be dozens, even hundreds, of such compounds in an herbal supplement. Scientists are currently working to identify these ingredients and analyze products, using sophisticated technology. Identifying the active ingredients in herbs and understanding how herbs affect the body are important research areas for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Published analyses of herbal supplements have found differences between what's listed on the label and what's in the bottle. This means that you may be taking less--or more--of the supplement than what the label indicates. Also, the word "standardized" on a product label is no guarantee of higher product quality, since in the United States there is no legal definition of "standardized" (or "certified" or "verified") for supplements.
Some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms, or other substances.
There has been an increase in the number of Web sites that sell and promote herbal supplements on the Internet. The Federal Government has taken legal action against a number of company sites because they have been shown to contain incorrect statements and to be deceptive to consumers. It is important to know how to evaluate the claims that are made for supplements
The active ingredient(s) in many herbs and herbal supplements are not known. There may be dozens, even hundreds, of such compounds in an herbal supplement. Scientists are currently working to identify these ingredients and analyze products, using sophisticated technology. Identifying the active ingredients in herbs and understanding how herbs affect the body are important research areas for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Published analyses of herbal supplements have found differences between what's listed on the label and what's in the bottle. This means that you may be taking less--or more--of the supplement than what the label indicates. Also, the word "standardized" on a product label is no guarantee of higher product quality, since in the United States there is no legal definition of "standardized" (or "certified" or "verified") for supplements.
Some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms, or other substances.
There has been an increase in the number of Web sites that sell and promote herbal supplements on the Internet. The Federal Government has taken legal action against a number of company sites because they have been shown to contain incorrect statements and to be deceptive to consumers. It is important to know how to evaluate the claims that are made for supplements
नॅशनल सेंटर फ़ॉर कॉम्प्लीमेंट्री ऍन्ड अल्टर्नेटीव मेडिसीन.National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
अथवा NCCAM (संक्षिप्त), ही एजन्सी अमेरिकअन सरकारच्या २७ आरोग्य विषयी संस्थांपैकी एक आहे (National Institutes of Health (NIH) या छ्त्रसंस्थे खालील).पर्यायी व पुरक औषध पद्धती या संबंधी मुख्य संशोधन NCCAM तर्फे केले जाते. NCCAM च्या मिशनची प्रमुख उद्दिष्टे अशी आहेत:
पर्यायी व पुरक औषध पद्धती या संबंधी काटेकोर शास्त्रीय चौकटीत संशोधन (Explore complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science.)
पर्यायी व पुरक औषध पद्धती संशोधकांचे प्रशिक्षण.(Train complementary and alternative medicine researchers. )
व्यावसायीक तसेच जनसामान्यांसाठी अधिकृत माहिती स्त्रोत (Disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals)
या संस्थेने प्रसिद्ध केलेले काही अहवाल मराठी व English मधून उपलब्ध करण्याचा आमचा विचार आहे.जेणेकरून नवीन रिसर्च च्या माध्य्मातून निर्माण झालेली या संबंधी काटेकोर ,अधिकृत ,शास्त्रीय माहिती सर्वासाठी सोप्या स्वरूपात उप्लबद्ध होईल.
NCCAM चे रीपोर्टस हे प्रताधिकार मुक्त आहेत.आणि खर्र्या अर्थाने म्हटले तर भारतीय वैदिक ञान हे ही
सर्वांसाठी आणि मुक्तच आहे.
पर्यायी व पुरक औषध पद्धती या संबंधी काटेकोर शास्त्रीय चौकटीत संशोधन (Explore complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science.)
पर्यायी व पुरक औषध पद्धती संशोधकांचे प्रशिक्षण.(Train complementary and alternative medicine researchers. )
व्यावसायीक तसेच जनसामान्यांसाठी अधिकृत माहिती स्त्रोत (Disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals)
या संस्थेने प्रसिद्ध केलेले काही अहवाल मराठी व English मधून उपलब्ध करण्याचा आमचा विचार आहे.जेणेकरून नवीन रिसर्च च्या माध्य्मातून निर्माण झालेली या संबंधी काटेकोर ,अधिकृत ,शास्त्रीय माहिती सर्वासाठी सोप्या स्वरूपात उप्लबद्ध होईल.
NCCAM चे रीपोर्टस हे प्रताधिकार मुक्त आहेत.आणि खर्र्या अर्थाने म्हटले तर भारतीय वैदिक ञान हे ही
सर्वांसाठी आणि मुक्तच आहे.
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