Review of Evidence: Ayurvedic Practices for PT

Andrea Lopasso, DPT, Dr. Beth Phillips, PT, DPA, Woody Somvichai, DPT,

Shayan Safar, DPT, Bret Maddux, DPT, Nash Weinberg, DPT

Department of Physical Therapy

Introduction

Physical therapist (PT) spend more time with patients than most health care providers

allowing the time to educate patients about Complementary Integrative Therapies (CIT)

and provide nutritional guidance towards healthy, often more cost-effective, treatment

and prevention options with longer lasting results. As PTs in CA, we are legally allowed

to give nutritional advice and APTA supports the use of evidence based CIT practices.

Therefore this study delved into understanding the complexity of Ayurvedic Medicine

and herbal physiological effects with applications to physical therapy.

Ayurveda • Practiced > 10,000 years

• Meaning: Life knowledge - healthy way of being

• Primary aim: prevent disease

• Holistic: focus on physical, emotional & spiritual health

• Objective: • Guidance toward individual’s control of own health • Align lifestyle/nutritional habits to seasons/cycles of nature

• Emphasis: proper digestion, assimilation & elimination

• proper diet in accordance with • individual’s Dosha: physical/mental elements of Fire/”pita” – Wind/”vata” – Earth & Water/”Kapha” • and time of day & year

• Component of “YOGA” • Traditionally includes Ayurveda, meditation, asanas • In Western world reduced to physical exercise

Turmeric

Purpose

“The American Physical Therapy Association

supports the continued use of evidence-based

complementary and Integrative interventions in

physical therapy practice.” Therefore, the relevance

of this investigation of evidence is to bring

Awareness and knowledge of other forms of

therapies from which our patients can benefit.

PTs are well positioned to bridge the

east-west science gap.

Patients/health care consumers are seeking

alternatives that are:

• Cost efficient

• Safer for pain control to ↓ opioid epidemic

• Reduce excessive use of medications as people

become more aware of the negative side-effects

Ashwagandha

Diabetes and Ayurveda

Conclusion

Due to the holistic nature of Ayurveda, the empirical reductionist research model that tends to

isolate variables often cannot capture the magnitude of beneficial results found in the relationships

of the many Ayurvedic variables and their synergistic effects. However, research shows strong

evidence for herbal supplementation and its health benefits, many of which are directly applicable

to PT, and all of which could be beneficial to our patient’s overall health and wellbeing.

DPT curricula could be enriched by providing information on a variety of complimentary integrative

therapies including Ayurveda as part of wellness and prevention and for additional referral options

to benefit patients.

Scope of Practice: California Practice Act allows giving nutritional advice as long as Chapter 5

Article 3 is posted at the clinic. https://www.ptbc.ca.gov/forms/law_reference_guide.pdf

Strongest evidence:

• Modulates Anti-inflammatory Cytokines

• Decreases muscle pain post-exercise

• Improves muscle performance

• 1g as effective as pain medicine for arthritis

decreasing PVAS

Oregano

Strongest evidence:

• Antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial

dosage 2.0-2.5 µg/ml concentration

• Anti-inflammatory

decreases inflammatory cytokines

increases anti-inflammatory cytokines

dosage 35-70 µg/ml concentration

• Anti-nociception

extremely high doses needed

up to 100 mg/Kg body weight

Strongest evidence:

• Powerful adaptogen (↓ stress levels)

• Increases muscle strength and size

• Speeds up muscle recovery

• Prevents proliferative growth of tumors

• Promotes memory and mental capacity

• Protects from neurodegenerative disease

• Reduces biomarkers of clinical anxiety in the brain

• Immunomodulation in HIV patients

• Improved vitality (increased testosterone levels in

middle aged and young male adults)

Ayurvedic protocols

• Gentle yoga stretches followed by

15-20 minutes of meditation

• Proper sleep

• Walk 7.5 km daily

• Limit/eliminate animal products,

refined sugar and white flours

• Increase fiber intake and specific spices

• Reduce stress, anxiety and anger

Results

• Reduced Hb A1c

• Decrease or reversal glucose intolerance

• Reduced fasting glucose

• Reduces cholesterol and LDL

• Decreased weight

• Improved peripheral insulin activity

• Increased peripheral blood flow

• Improvement in self-reported well-being

and specific health

https://unsplash.com/photos/V0xp-dTS3z0

Everydayhealth.com

References – Available upon request: andrea.lopasso.77@my.csun.edu

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