By

Nicole M. Rossi

Submitted to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program

College of Lifelong Learning

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

July, 2002 

 Approved by:

Senior Essay Advisor: Moti Nissani, Ph.D. July 24, 2002

Senior Essay Examiner: Lisa Barno, M.D July 27, 2002 

Senior Essay Examiner: Andre Furtado, Ph.D. July 24, 2002

What would happen if you woke up one day and found out that some of your most cherished beliefs were wrong? If you found out that the things that, until now, gave comfort and meaning to your life, lacked integrity? If what you felt to be safe now proved to be dangerous? If the people you counted on for help had no answers?

On July 15, 1995, my life took this desolate turn. I woke up with no feelings in my legs and with a heavy sensation about my waist, as though I were wearing a corset. While my family celebrated my niece’s christening, I took myself to the hospital—only to be informed that they had no answers for me. In the following weeks, my condition kept getting worse. My hands and feet felt like ice and pricked continuously with a pins-and-needles sensation; my bladder hardly worked; and when I moved my neck, an electric-like shock tore down my spine into the heels of both feet. I could hardly stand to be touched by anyone--the brutality of my condition was never so clear as when it physically hurt to hold my daughter, who was just five-years-old. These symptoms, however, could not be seen or felt by anyone else and I could sense doubt, be it real or imagined, among my family members, friends and the medical community.

All preliminary tests were negative except for the nerve conduction studies, which showed only a slightly delayed response in my right tibial nerve. These studies were the only clinical evidence of my deteriorating condition. After a battery of additional tests, by process of elimination, I was at long last, after more than two months, given the diagnosis of Transverse Myelitis with unsatisfactory, even harmful, treatment options and an uncertain prognosis.

As my condition worsened, I learned that the doctors, my faithful doctors for 27 years, could not help me. This was particularly poignant because, I, myself, had naïve ambitions of one day being the type of doctor who could and would help anyone who knocked on my door. The laborious process of diagnosis and the endless arrays of diagnostic tests further discouraged me and deepened my despair.

A profound sense of loss overwhelmed me as though someone close to me had died or was dying. And, although I had seen myself as a logical and practical person and rationally knew I was in no eminent danger, I still somehow felt certain that I was mourning for myself because it was me who was dying. Fear, and even terror, followed my sense of loss as new symptoms appeared or the old ones worsened. It was the beginning of an emotional cycle that continues to this day.

I felt sick with hopelessness. Many people with chronic or terminal illnesses often feel that their world has been turned upside down. They often have to make drastic lifestyle changes in addition to undergoing extensive, long term, and often-uncomfortable treatment. They have to restructure their entire lives, as well as that of their family, and for them the security of the past is lost to the uncertainty of the future. It is also not uncommon for people to question their faith and ask, "Why is this happening to me?" That was my situation too. In addition to questioning a higher power, I also asked myself why modern medicine didn’t have any answers for me and if there was anything else out there that could help.

My daughter’s paternal grandmother, a holistically inclined massage therapist, harangued me for years with stories of Bach Flower Remedies, goldenseal salve, and vegetarianianism. I listened unenthusiastically then, but I now I felt I must listen. I read and learned a great deal. Homeopathy and naturopathy were of interest to me, although I did not lean toward any particular philosophy. Following a major bout of TM in August of 1999 and another in March of 2001, I began exploring the medicine of the Far East. Finally, I found Ayurveda.

The Ayurvedic approach, in turn, hinges on the correct etiology of my condition. It had been almost six years since the onset of my disorder and its causes still remain unknown. My worry was compounded by the possibility that whatever was out there that caused my TM could affect my friends and loved ones. I began contemplating the possibilities and came across a theory regarding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and environmental factors (what I have come to call "human pollution." Because MS and TM are often seen as interrelated, I hypothesized about the toxicity of my own system and its manifestation as TM. I had been plagued by thyroid disease, headaches, idiopathic stomach disorders, intermittent acne and chronic bronchitis. Could these have been warning signs of the impending illness? Could my current condition be due to toxic human pollution? My next question became: How can such contamination be reversed? Believe it or not, the answer was not so complicated—the opposite of "contaminated" is "pure." My solution, my answer, was to detoxify my body and return to a lifestyle that emphasized purity.

Because one of Ayurveda’s prime health philosophies relates to detoxification of the body, and because there were few other programs, particularly of western origin, that specifically addressed this possibility, I saw Ayurveda as the opportunity to get past my illness (or at least live comfortably with it) and get on with my life. Although I took Ayurvedic therapy one step at a time (it has at least five separate parts besides detoxification), after only three weeks, about 90% of my symptoms had disappeared completely. The only remains of my illness were dysaesthesia (any unpleasant abnormal sensation, usually neurologically linked) in my thumb and index finger of my left hand (presumably the result of permanent damage to the neurons). I was hooked on Ayurveda simply because it appeared to be the answer which eluded medical science and me for six years.

My newfound knowledge also shaped my understanding of how people and the earth are intimately connected and how a healthy life is a matter of balance between them. I have continued my studies because, apart form the health benefits, I feel that Ayurveda helps control my life and my emotions and helps me gain understanding of the lives and emotions of other people.

Human beings are the most adaptable creatures on this earth. We can survive the most inhospitable conditions—whether freezing cold, burning hot, interacting with our in-laws, or coping with a devastating illness. Survival in modern times, as I am learning, begins with the desire to survive it and the belief that there is security, peace and happiness within you. Survival continues with awareness of the world around you. Where and when life ends depends on the quality of the journey. This paper is the written manifestation of what I have learned about my disease, Ayurveda, and myself.

I want to thank Dr. Lisa Barno for not only being my examiner, but also a good friend. I’d also like to thank Andre Furtado for being my examiner. Mary Jo deserves credit for opening my eyes to the world of alternative therapies. Thanks to the doctors who listened to me, to Ayurvedic practitioners who gave me something new to listen to, and to my family for putting up with my educational endeavors for what seems like a century. A special thanks also has to go to James for physically putting me into the computer chair at those times when I needed to write. My daughter, as always, has my heart because she has lived with me, suffered with me going through a change of lifestyle, and has remained my best friend throughout. Thank you Alex with all my heart.

Appendix A List of Illnesses by Dosha

Appendix B List of Ayurvedic Herbs and Their Uses

Appendix C Dosha Test

Appendix D Various Yoga Positions

For the environmentally aware, there is no need to describe the environmental problems we face today. Literally thousands of books, articles and films have been produced showing that the biosphere has been dramatically disturbed and chemically changed by human activities (Ecology 30). But your average individual may not know that in 1989 alone, more than 1,000,000,000 pounds of chemicals were released into the ground, contaminating our farmlands and drinking waters. Over 188,000,000 pounds of chemicals were also discharged into surface waters such as lakes and rivers. More than 2,400,000,000 pounds of chemicals were pumped into the air we breathe. A grand total of 5,705,670,380 pounds of chemical pollutants were released into the environment which we eat, breathe, and live in—all in just one year (Edelson). And by now, the situation is even worse!

Environmental health risks are often linked to job-related illness or injury, where the effects of high concentrations of toxic chemicals can be more easily associated with particular symptoms (Tiscali 2001). However, there is no doubt that environmental factors can, and have, affected the health of individuals not specifically involved in the industries that produce such pollutants. For instance, asthma, respiratory diseases and cancer rates have grown to near-epidemic proportions (EPA-OCHP 2002; Fisher 1998). Any time you hear that someone has an environmental illness, you think of cancer, asbestosis, chemical contamination, and diseases like chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (caused by the long-term inhaling of various dust particles such as gypsum). But in recent years, there have been significant and steep increases in the number of cases of MS, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic fatigue syndrome (Edelson), fibromyalgia (Goldberg) and adult onset diabetes (ENS 2000). And, not so shockingly, these chronic and often terminal illnesses show up in working and non-working individuals from birth to age 90 or more (Edelson, Goldberg, ENS 2002).

It is, therefore, reasonable to suggest that other illnesses can be linked to environmental factors as well. The environment may also be the cause of illnesses otherwise referred to as idiopathic or "without cause."

It is not difficult for scientists and environmentally active people to discern environmental factors that may affect health. But unless the average person has done personal research or is an avid reader on health concerns, it is difficult for them to pinpoint the factors that may be influencing their health.

Environmental Definitions. Environment is usually defined in an ecological perspective (i.e., how the ecosystem processes interact and affect us on local, regional and world levels). But an equally important perspective is that of the immediate environment—whether people work in factories, in suburban offices, or on farms, or whether they live in 50-year-old houses in the city, or 2-year-old condominiums in a newly developed subdivision that had been a toxic dumping ground ten years prior.

The New England Journal of Medicine defines environmental influences to include all non-genetic factors (Hoover 2000). Further, Encarta Encyclopedia defines environment as the sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development, and survival of an organism. When we are the organism, everything from the air we breathe, the food we eat, the places we work and live, the clothes we wear, the people we know, the social and political cultures to which we belong, to the school we attend, among many other factors, are elements of our environment. It follows then that any one of these factors may contribute to the state of our health and would be considered an "environmental health factor." Hence, illnesses caused by such things may be considered "environmental illnesses".

Extent of Environmental Contamination—Indoors and Outdoors. This definition is more convincing when it is shown that environmental contamination is all around us—in the air we breathe, the products we use every day, the places we visit—including our own homes. In fact, there is evidence linking indoor pollution to contaminated drinking water, synthetic drugs, antibiotics in medicine and agriculture, genetic manipulation and radiation treatment of foodstuffs, refined sugar, foods high in additives and preservatives, saccharine, aspartame, detergents, emissions from the plastic of computer video monitors, lead paint and pipes, pesticides, formaldehyde, mercury, arsenic, radiation from cellular phones, electromagnetic fields from high power lines (Blaasaas), and air pollutants (e.g., Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Lead, PM-10, and Sulfur dioxide [EPA 2001]). There is hardly a place on the globe that you can go to where these things do not exist—where they cannot have an effect on your life or health.

The problem lies in the fact that Americans are so dependent on many of these things, that to even question their worth would be inconceivable. Where would we be without laundry detergent or Diet Coke? How about canned soup or California strawberries? Yes, even strawberries, as well as other "fresh" fruits and vegetables, may actually pose a health risk. Low level radiation is used to preserve the life and "sterilize" produce shipped out of its state of origin. Radiation reduces food value and may in fact alter its genetic structure (IFT 2000). For that matter, such produce may also possess a resistant strain of bacteria. And this is just the beginning; the soil where these good strawberries are grown is contaminated with synthetic fertilizers and the strawberries themselves are coated with toxic pesticides. The retailer selling them may add additives and plastic or wax coatings as well.

These modern practices, applied to the hundreds of thousands of other things on which we are dependent, are a result of popular American culture. We all do things because "it’s the thing to do," which is often what is most convenient in the rushed American lifestyle. Even health fads, such as diets and medical protocols, are a result of propaganda. The widespread use of antibiotics is the well-known cause of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the not-so-popular fact that this practice is destroying our immune system’s ability to work against these bacteria. Similarly, on the side of alternative medicine, overuse of antioxidants (used to clean up and reduce free radicals) actually can cause more free radicals and may be counterproductive. These are just two examples of how environmental illness can arise from popular culture, showing that everything we do as Americans can also have an effect on our health.

Almost everyone is aware of the problem of industrial environmental pollution. In the US, chemical dumping which pollutes the air, water and ground, although regulated by the EPA, is still permitted and produces an unacceptable level of pollution. Factory exhaust is difficult and expensive to filter. In a world where globalization is the trend, trade organizations control the actions of even superpowers like the US and the "deal with it later" attitude is easier than dealing with trade sanctions. Almost invariably, in a conflict between human health needs and industry, industry wins.

Dioxin. Food contamination is less known, but just as prevalent. A related problem has to do with animals, particularly those used for meat. Dioxins—toxic substances formed by burning of hazardous wastes and the breakdown of heated chlorine products—find their way into the muscle and fat tissue of large food animals, which are in turn used for human consumption. Dioxin has been found to be one of the most toxic and carcinogenic chemicals ever tested, and has been found to cause cancer, endocrine and immune system damage, birth defects and learning disabilities. Dioxins can also alter glucose tolerance and liver enzyme levels, even with minimal exposure (Chrysalis 3). High dioxin levels are also found in fish and dairy products, including mother’s milk, so a nursing baby gets a big dose of what the EPA considers one of the 10 most toxic chemicals in the environment today (EPA 2000). With dioxins are often found furans, of which some are equally toxic. The levels of these substances in animal tissues generally remain constant or increase with time.

The problem is so common that conscientious dairy farmers believe that as long as dioxin continues to be released into the environment, people should be advised to reduce or eliminate the consumption of meat and dairy products from their diets no matter what the source (Chrysalis 1). This is because people are under the impression that family farm grown and organic products DO NOT contain such poisons, but dioxins, as well as other poisons like herbicides and pesticides, are airborne and they often contaminate organic crops and livestock.

Genetic Engineering (GE). Genetic pollution results when wind, rain, birds, bees, and insect pollinators carry genetically altered pollen into adjoining fields, polluting the DNA of crops of organic and non-genetically engineered farms. There is little control for this type of contamination and genetically engineered foods, in general, have a history of causing numerous problems and concerns—human, environmental and economic (Cummins 3).

Monsanto and Aventis are the biggest genetic engineering or ‘life science’ corporations (a multi-billion dollar industry). Opponents of GE claim that these companies intend to use GE to monopolize global markets for seeds, foods, fibers and medical products (in some areas they already do this). Although these companies claim that their products will make agriculture sustainable, eliminate world hunger, cure disease and vastly improve public health, both experiments and historical usage actually contradict such self-serving claims. Examples of the risks include a synthetic tryptophan supplement that killed 37 Americans and affected more than 5000 others with a potentially fatal blood disorder, eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS). A splicing crossed potatoes with the snowdrop plant and a viral promoter, Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (camv), and turned out to be poisonous to mammals, damaging vital organs in rats and giving them the camv virus (Cummins 2).

You have food allergies you should be concerned because you never know what you may be eating. Highly allergic foods, such as nuts, have been spliced into commonly used foods. Genes of illegal crops (such as certain South and Central American varieties of corn not permitted in the US) have even been used for plants intended for use in this country. In addition, nutritional and health values, such as heart disease fighting and cancer reducing compounds, are sometimes sacrificed in the act of genetic manipulation. Antibiotic genes are spliced into almost every genetically engineered food, which contributes to the growing concern for antibiotic resistance. The environment suffers from the loss of beneficial insects, such as the monarch butterfly and ladybugs to which the GE corn is poisonous. Soil fertility is compromised when soil microorganisms are destroyed, and in contrast to the life science corporations’ initial statements, superweeds and superpests, resistant to the spliced herbicides and pesticides, also have developed (Cummins 2-3).

Perhaps the biggest concern is the unpredictable aspect of genetically engineered foods. No one knows the long-term effects of consuming such "frankenfoods" and they are all around us. Lab tests indicate that 60-75% of all non-organic supermarket foods test positive for the presence of genetically engineered food.

Steroids in Consumable Animals. In addition to genetic manipulation, companies develop steroids to "improve" animal products. Monsanto’s Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), used to increase milk production in cows, causes concern because the steroidal-type drug is stored in fat tissues and passed on through milk in the form of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-I), which when consumed by humans is stored in their tissues. Studies have shown that humans with high levels of IGF-I were more likely to get cancer, particularly of the breast, prostate and colon. In addition, rats developed thyroid cysts as well as various cancers. These statistics are so renowned that the United Nations food standards body has refused to certify rBGH as safe.

Steroids, along with antibiotics, have also been used in animals to increase their muscle mass and produce larger animals for greater profit without concern for human safety. This is discussed further below.

Each winter, millions of people suffer from the flu, a highly contagious infection. Flu—the short name for influenza–is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It is usually a mild disease in healthy children, young adults, and middle-aged people, but the flu can be life-threatening to older adults and to people of any age who have chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart, lung, or kidney diseases. The National Institute on Aging states that some people experience soreness, redness or swelling on the arm where the shot was given and some have moderate side effects such as headache or low grade fever for about a day after the vaccination (NIA 2000). But there are some risks of getting vaccines such as the flu shot, PVC7 or DPT that are not always mentioned by such vaccine advocates. These risks include the development of immunoreactions like Transverse Myelitis (which will be discussed in detail in Chapter 3), and the risk to people having a severe allergy to culture media.

The development of vaccinations, particularly those against childhood illnesses, are arguably one of the most significant medical achievements of the 20^th century (Lesperance 1). There are, however, no less than 11 routine vaccinations that are given at various intervals to a majority of American children from birth through high school. Some of these vaccines have been found to contain unsafe amounts of mercury, contained in the preservative thimerosal, and which recently led to "thimerosal-free" vaccines in 2002. Rushed to the market too soon, some vaccines have caused terrible side effects, such as life-threatening bowel obstructions caused by a 2001 rotavirus vaccine (Mitchell 2). Research has also presented evidence that the rise in autism (556% in five years) was related to immune system impairment. And autism is just part of a spectrum of other such illnesses that are on the rise, including allergies, asthma, ADHD, learning disabilities and seizure disorders. Research indicates that the cause of the immune system turning against itself is its bombardment by multiple vaccines that overwhelmed the immature immune system of infants and toddlers. (Mitchell 2-3) This is, of course, only the beginning of problems these children must face, because other autoimmune illnesses with adult onset, like MS and SLE, still lurk in their future.

The overuse of antibiotics presents yet another problem for the immune system. The sheer number of pounds of antibiotics used in the United States alone in both humans and consumable animals is evidence of the concentration and overuse of these drugs. Seven out of ten Americans receive antibiotics when they seek treatment for illnesses such as cold or flu. It is interesting to note that health insurance politics play a major role in this because tests to confirm a bacterial infection, a culture test, often cost more than the antibiotic itself so doctors often prescribe them without a confirmation of such infections. Another problem with antibiotics is that once patients begin to feel better, they often stop taking their medication. When antibiotics have been taken for less then 10 days, the most susceptible bacteria have been killed off and the strong are left to flourish. These remaining bacteria are now resistant and in a 24-hour period one resistant bacterium can produce millions resistant offspring. Over time, this process has left us with bacteria resistant to most prescribed antibiotics (Beam). During 1992, 13,300 hospital patients died from a bacterial infection that resisted the antibiotics doctors fired at them. Some 20% of the nation's Gonorrhea is now resistant to one or more antibiotics. Twenty percent of TB patients now resist the drug Isoniazid, which is commonly used to treat the disease. In parts of the world where antibiotics are not available, people are forced to let their immune system fight off the bacterial infections so the immune systems of these people become resistant and not the bacteria. Interestingly enough, the incidence of environmental illness among such people is lower (Beam).

As mentioned earlier, consumable animals have also contributed to this kind of resistance back in the first world. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that 26.6 million pounds of antibiotics are used on animals each year, but only 2 million pounds are used to treat sick animals. It may sound peculiar to use antibiotics therapeutically on animals, but it all goes back to the immunization theory. On factory farms, antibiotics have long been a justifiable means of preventing infection in chickens, as well as enhancing growth. Opponents of such use say that it contributes to the growing public health problem of resistance to disease causing bacteria in humans, but proponents, such as Perdue’s vice president of technical services Dr. Hank Engster, claim that they are "not using medically important antibiotics nontherapeutically that would be used in human medicine like penicillin, tetracycline and sulfonamides" and that they are in no way "contributing to antibiotic resistance in humans". (Burros) This, however, is a common misconception; the continual use of any antibiotics on bacteria makes them more resistant. Salmonella is perhaps the best example of this; over the past 5 years recent strains of salmonella have proved to be resistant to no less than 5 different antibiotics (Glynn, 1333). There is further concern because some strains are resistant to antibiotics of "last resort," the so-called fluoroquinolones, for which scientists believe there will be no substitute for at least a decade (Grady, A15). What’s more is that farmers searching in desperation for effective antibiotics are using Baytril, which is very similar to Cipro, the treatment for anthrax, an infection in which mortality is an issue. (Burros)

Similar drugs and antibiotics can be found in almost any edible livestock and there is no way for the consumer to know whether the animal has been treated with them, unless it happens to be labeled.

In this chapter, we can see how our environment is slowly deteriorating and that it will take at least as long to clean it up as it took to make it that way. That is, once we all realize to what extent the earth has been affected by our human existence and to what extent our materialistic desires and endless reproductive spiral have boomeranged. Perhaps the rising global concern with health can be paralleled by a similar growing concern with the deterioration of the natural environment. However, that concern is not yet big enough because not enough people have suffered and died to cause those responsible and those in power to launch a significant campaign to correct the misactions of the past.

There is more than enough evidence to suggest that serious illness and disease arise from environmental factors. New diseases and higher incidences of existing diseases are being linked to ubiquitous pollutants and to the overall decline in environmental quality.

We are seeing serious diseases occurring in younger and younger people. For instance, take the rise in the number of children diagnosed with psychiatric problems, including ADHD and bipolarism. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the number of 2-to-4 year old children on Ritalin, antidepressants and other psychoactive drugs has increased dramatically from 1991 through 1995. As startling as that is, it merely illustrates the overall rise in use of powerful psychiatric drugs in children of all ages. (Shute 2000). This is a newer problem that some experts are relating to the environment, especially allergic reactions to food products.

But these startling statistics do not stand alone. Depletion of the ozone layer has been linked to cataracts. Life threatening lung disease, such as asthma, can be found in newborn children. Diseases such as MS and Lupus are striking down people in the prime of their life. Cancers attack the most innocent, those with no say and no ability to prevent or control what is a primary cause of their illness. These statistics are not only pointing to environmental contamination, but also show how our bodies, specifically our immune system, are losing the capacity to deal with such toxins.

Although it may sound drastic, and it may be far in the future, if we do not acknowledge the fact that our environment is deteriorating and do something about it, the future of humankind will likely be one of suffering. Knowing that someone we love could be the next victim, it is important for us who have some power to control our environment, to realize the extent, severity, and difficulty in treating environmentally caused diseases and to focus on lifestyle change on a global basis as our best defense.

The following sections elucidate some of the most prominent threats to our health and suggest some lifestyle changes, difficult as they may be, which may prevent or lessen the effects of these common environmental illnesses. Further prevention could be achieved with many of the commonsense theories of reducing and reversing damage caused by our declining environment.

Each year more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases (AAAAI 2001). Allergies are also on the rise, and with the increase in genetically altered food, mutated allergens have also come about. For example, peanut or tree nut allergies affect approximately 3 million Americans to cause the most severe food-induced allergic reactions, but genetic engineers do not take this into consideration and splice genes from these nuts into other food products. Experts estimate that food allergy occurs in 8 percent of children 6 years of age or under, and in 1 to 2 percent of adults (Sampson 1162). Approximately 100 Americans, usually children, die each year from food-induced anaphylaxis. (AAAAI 174 [1998]).

Interestingly, food allergies generally arise out of an immune system reaction as well. In the field of immunotoxicology, which studies the adverse effects of occupational, inadvertent, or therapeutic exposure to environmental chemicals and biological materials, including drugs and antibiotics, researchers debate if such toxic agents damage the immune system and, if so, to what extent. Some researchers contend that certain chemicals can affect immunity, significantly increasing an individual's susceptibility to disease, and in some cases causing hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmunity, or immunosuppression. Others scientists dispute this view, arguing that the evidence for immunotoxicity in humans is greatly overstated (Glover-Kerkvliet).

But unknown allergens are not just in food; they are, in fact, everywhere. Another example is latex—a synthetic, highly toxic, rubber-like compound found particularly in the healthcare and textile industries. Estimates of allergy to latex products in the general population vary widely, ranging from less than 1 percent to 6 percent. Moreover, individuals with existing allergies are at an increased risk of developing latex allergy (Poley 1054). Approximately 220 cases of anaphylaxis and 3 deaths per year are due to latex allergy (Neugut 16).

Less severe, but just as prevalent, atopic dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases, particularly in infants and children. The incidence also appears to be increasing (Boguniewicz 1123). Adverse drug reactions account for 5 to 10 percent of all allergic reactions, with skin reaction being the most common form (AAAAI 2001).

Other drug reactions are also common. To use an earlier example, viruses for flu vaccines are grown in eggs and serious reactions may occur in people who are allergic to eggs—to potentially prevent a viral infection they could live with, they may die from an allergic reaction. Penicillin is also a common cause of drug allergy. Anaphylactic reactions to penicillin cause 400 deaths annually among Americans, making penicillin allergy a more common cause of death than food allergy (Neugut 17).

Lastly, we hear more and more people complaining about sinuses and hayfever. Not surprisingly, chronic sinusitis is the most commonly reported chronic disease, affecting 12.6 percent of people (approximately 38 million) in the United States in 1996 (CDC 1996). The explanation could be the increasing number of allergens and mutation of allergens in the environment, which the immune system does not recognize, and subsequently overreacts to, causing reactions from mild to severe depending on an individual’s predisposition to allergic reactions.

The most common treatment for allergic reactions are shots. Allergy shots, which contain a small amount of a specific allergen, relieve symptoms by helping the body fight the allergen, acting similar to a vaccination. The body makes antibodies to the allergen and these antibodies block its effects the next time you have contact with it. After a long series of shots, there may then be relief from allergy symptoms. However, if you have reactions to many allergens, this may require you may need many shots over many years, so this may not be a pleasant or reasonable solution to your problem. There is also a problem with such shots if your reaction to the allergen is severe, such as an anaphylactic reaction, or when the allergen is unknown; then a shot will not help. In the case of anaphylactic reactions, single or sometimes multiple injections of epinephrine may reduce the chance of death, but they must be administered promptly.

Another common approach is avoidance of highly allergic conditions and foods. For some people, avoidance of a single food appears to cure a majority of allergy symptoms. Wheat and gluten are considered two of the most highly allergic foods. As a matter of fact, immune responses to gluten, the protein found in cereal grains, are a common cause of or contributing factor to disease. When the gluten allergy affects the gastrointestinal tract, it is called celiac disease. And although the gastrointestinal tract is the primary target organ, systemic disease is an important consequence of cereal grain ingestion in many people. Diabetes, thyroid disease, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, sacroileitis, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, lung disease, myositis, eye inflammation, and schizophrenia, all of which are on the rise, are also linked to gluten allergy. Because in wheat and other grains much genetic manipulation has occurred, the theory of allergy due to unknown or mutated allergens makes a great deal of sense and gives a clue as to why these diseases may be on the rise.

An allergic reaction may also result in an asthmatic attack. Asthma can be a very serious condition in which an acute attack can lead to death in a matter of minutes. Asthma is a chronic lung condition that has two main components: (1) constriction—the tightening of the muscles surrounding the airways, and (2) inflammation—the swelling and irritation of the airways. Narrowing of the airways caused by an asthma attack may result in symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. There is also increasing evidence that, if left untreated, asthma may cause long-term loss of lung function.

Each year, nearly 500,000 Americans are hospitalized and more than 5,000 die from asthma and according to the National Institute on Asthma and Infectious Disease asthma is on the rise (NIAID 2001). One theory behind this rise in asthma is that people today are spending more time indoors where they are exposed to more indoor allergens, such as dust mite allergen. Another reason may be that people today live in cleaner, more sanitary conditions than they did before the industrial revolution, relatively free of disease-causing viruses and bacteria, which affects our immune system, so perhaps our immune systems has lost some of its ability to fight off infections and likewise some of its ability to fight off allergens, as well. Other theories as to factors that may be leading to the increase in asthma include increased levels of air pollutants, a decline in the amount of exercise people get, or rising obesity.

Although asthma afflicts 17 million Americans, including 5 million children (NIAID 2001), American research on asthma and its potential environmental link is fragmented and inadequate for collecting the kind of nationwide data that are needed to truly understand how often, in what locations and why this disease occurs. Without information like this, it is difficult to grasp the magnitude of the problem we face and how to prevent it. Although more research must be done, at this time it is appropriate to take measures to recognize allergens and eliminate them in order to decrease the seriousness and mortality of environmentally triggered asthma.

An Australian report, although it did not elaborate on the evidence that environmental factors were the main causes of asthma in children and adults, did state that certain environmental factors, including allergens, viral infections and some forms of air pollution, had a substantive impact on exacerbation and severity of symptoms in people with asthma. The researchers also compiled evidence and made recommendations regarding effective interventions to prevent or reduce exposure to environmental allergens that are associated with the development of asthma and exacerbation in people with asthma.

The study emphasized that primary prevention was the most important factor halting the onset of the disease and avoiding adverse outcomes in those who have the disease. Primary prevention included: (1) elimination of the house dust mite (HDM) and the conditions which make it proliferate, including dampness, mold and dust (which are also allergens); (2) eliminating indoor pollutants, such as smoke, as neither air filters nor ionizers appear to be effective at substantially reducing such indoor pollutants; and (3) a low salt, low fat diet, abundant with fruits and vegetables (organic preferred) rich in antioxidants is recommended which is generally recommended to boost the immune system. Secondly, like other allergic reactions, allergy shots are also recommended for prevention of future asthma attacks.

The study also emphasized some other important facts. Occupational exposures are important in the etiology of adult-onset asthma and primary prevention requires recognition of occupational allergens and stringent application of industrial safety measures. Exercise-induced asthma, common in both adults and children, may be related to prior exposures and attacks caused by reduced lung capacity in a situation where greater capacity is required.

We can see that there are indications that asthma, like allergic reactions, is the result of a misguided immune system. The logical, and often recommended, treatment for such conditions is removal of allergens from the sufferer’s immediate environment, a good immune system boosting diet, and allergy shots. Since two of the focal points of treatment relate to the immune system, it is difficult for even doctors to deny that the immune system is the primary cause of allergic reactions.

Cancer develops when cells in some part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of this unregulated growth of abnormal cells. Where normal cells have a limited life span, cancer cells continue to grow and divide. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells. These abnormal cells spread and replace normal tissue and sometimes metastasize to other tissues in the body. Cancer cells probably develop because of damage to DNA, which directs the activities of each cell. Most of the time when DNA is damaged the body is able to repair or replace it. In cancer cells, however, the damaged DNA is not repaired.

Generally there are three theories for the etiology of cancer: people can either inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers; or many times a person’s DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking or toxic exposure (ACS 2002). There is also a third view, which may be used in conjunction with the other theories, that some people have DNA that is predisposed to damage from the environment.

In the past 15 years, the explosion of molecular genetics has overshadowed environmental explanations for cancer. This is why there is current confusion about environmental and genetic risk factors for cancer. However, a Scandinavian study showed that in general, environmental factors were the dominant determinants of the site-specific risk of cancer. For cancer at four of the five common anatomical sites (lung, prostate/breast, colon, pancreas, lymphnodes), estimates of the proportion of risk due to environmental effects rather than genetic were all 65 percent or greater.

Outside of cigarette smoke, contaminated air and water, and occupational exposure, contaminated foods are probably a common source of such toxic exposure. For example, Aflatoxin is produced by several different molds that grow on food and grains when less than ideal storage occurs. Unfortunately, unsafe food storage and preparation is a problem even in modern times and in technologically advanced countries such as the US. Aflatoxin has been shown to cause 97% incidence of hepatic cancer in Rainbow Trout, even when given in small amounts. (HEAL 2002). Aflatoxin should therefore be treated as a threat to humans, as well as lower animals.

In addition, many pesticides and herbicides have long been known as carcinogenic and yet many people eat fruits and vegetables without washing them first. Wax coatings used to preserve fruit while in transit may actually trap pesticide and herbicide residues on the skins. As mentioned earlier, meat and poultry contain antibiotics, steroids and dioxins, which have either known carcinogenic or untested properties. For further cancer prevention related to diet, more consideration should be given to food treatment and preparation.

Over half a million Americans are expected to die from cancer in 2002, that is more than 1,500 per day, and over 1.3 million new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2002 (ACS 2002). Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes (ACS 2001). Most people cannot go through life without cancer affecting them or someone they are close to. But there are ways to lower the incidence of cancer. The Cancer Prevention Coalition, Inc. (CPC), an organization with a mission to fight for a safer environment at home, at work and in the community, is made up of leading independent experts in cancer prevention and public health, together with citizen activists and representatives of organized labor, public interest groups, and environmental and women's health groups. The CPC strives to reduce escalating cancer rates through a comprehensive strategy of outreach, public education, advocacy and public policy initiatives to establish prevention as the nation's foremost cancer policy (CPC 2002). Their belief is that most cases of cancer, even genetically transmitted cancers, are caused by toxic exposures, many of which are preventable.

A healthy lifestyle is the number one way to prevent such disease. Well-washed and properly prepared foods, rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat, as well as regular exercise, are advocated by most health care professionals. But awareness of all environmental dangers and avoidance of these contaminants are the best ways to prevent exposure diseases such as cancer.

Autoimmune diseases, such as MS and lupus, are also on the rise in the U.S. MS is characterized by weakness, paralysis, tingling or numbness of the limbs, loss of vision from one or both eyes, double vision (both optic neuropathy), imbalance, incoordination, slurred speech, impaired bladder and bowel control, chronic pain, and profound fatigue. Although many other neurologic illnesses have similar symptoms, the tendency of the symptoms to spontaneously disappear (remit) and recur in multiple locations is characteristic of MS. Exercise or increases in body temperature may exacerbate symptoms. This phenomenon, relatively specific for MS, is attributed to interruption of signals at points where nerve fibers are denuded of their myelin-insulation (Riskind 1).

MS is a common neurologic illness, affecting approximately 300,000 Americans. It strikes otherwise healthy young men and women and is the second most common neurologic cause of disability of young adults (after head trauma) in the United States. In 2/3 of patients diagnosis is made between ages 20 and 40 and MS is rarely seen in young children or the elderly (Riskind 1). MS is a disease of civilized man, making its first appearance about 75 years ago, and like many other diseases of our modern age, it is a disease of an overactive and misdirected immune system, wherein the immune system mistakenly recognizes normal brain and spinal cord tissues as "foreign" and attacks them, resulting in inflammation and damage. The specific reasons for this are unclear, but a prominent theory traces the condition to heavy metals like mercury, lead and aluminum as the agents that might replace normal molecules in the myelin sheaths. The immune system now sees this tissue as foreign, because of the replacement of heavy metals, and produces antibodies that attack the myelin, leading to further damage. So, when heavy metals are in body tissues, there is free radical destructive activity going on constantly. Rapid aging and degeneration are the results.

Although there is a variety of indications for MS, when lesions form (clinical deficits such as optic neuritis, myelitis, brainstem (sensory) affection, and others) due to such myelin destruction, generally in multiple locations at different times in the course of the illness, and provided that other causes are excluded, it may then be considered MS. (See images below.)

The central nervous system (CNS) operates through something like the electrical impulses that control what a computer does. Since MS is a disorder affecting nerve cells, it only makes sense that there may be a connection between MS and heavy metal toxicity causing free radical damage in the CNS. Add this to an already compromised immune system due to other environmental factors and the difficulties in treating this disease become understandable.

Although there are many theories for the etiology of this disease, including the environment, autoimmune deficiency, and heredity, and one would suspect various treatment options, effective treatments are in fact limited. Corticosteroids, Cytoxan and other immunosuppressive drugs all have been used. Beta interferon is presently being used in more acute cases. However, to develop effective treatment, or possibly a cure for MS, scientists believe that large studies are still needed to be evaluated over long periods because of the tendency for the disease to have natural remissions.

Evidence indicates that many people have achieved either a permanent remission or a significant slowdown in disease progress through dietary changes and elimination of hypersensitive foods. The most common foods that result in immune reactions and eventual MS are dairy, cereal grains, eggs, yeast and legumes—all foods which have been introduced into the human diet relatively recently and are genetically difficult to tolerate for some individuals. Most of these foods are also, as previously indicated, the most affected by environmental toxins, over-use of antibiotics and genetic engineering.

The focus of the most recent studies are on the "genetic" connection to MS. Although, Multiple Sclerosis is not an inherited disease, it does occur more often in families with a history of it. Research is needed to see if families may share common genes that make the members more likely to get the disease. If there is a connection, the knowledge gained from genetic research will be essential if researchers are to design therapies aimed at controlling the genes that could make people more susceptible to MS. (Sandovnick)

MS running in families could be attributed to environmental conditions as well. Evidence has been found to show that heart disease, gall bladder disease and high blood pressure also run in families and can be linked to diet. It makes sense that families with the same genes and the same diets, living in the same environments are susceptible to the same illnesses. When this is taken into consideration in such situations, there are indications for some of these "idiopathic" illnesses and diseases.

Like MS, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, usually life-long, potentially fatal autoimmune disease characterized by unpredictable exacerbations and remissions. Like in MS, in SLE the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against those tissues.

SLE affects many tissues in the body, including the joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood, and skin. Patients report such symptoms as achy joints (arthralgia), frequent fevers, arthritis, prolonged or extreme fatigue, skin rashes including butterfly-shaped rash across the cheek and nose, anemia, kidney problems, pleurisy, photosensitivity, hair loss, blood clotting problems, Raynaud’s syndrome (fingers turning white or blue in the cold), seizures and mouth and nose ulcers. (LFA 2001)

SLE is characterized by immune "dysregulation" resulting in the over-production of antinuclear antibodies (ANA)--antibodies that work against the body. The production of ANA leads to the formation of circulating immune complexes—macromolecules that are deposited in target tissues causing the various initial symptoms of the disease. The body may then recognize this tissue as foreign. Subsequently, a complement system is activated to attack the "foreign tissue," thereby accelerating the disease by destroying connective tissues. Immune complexes can be deposited in glomeruli (parts of the kidneys), skin, lungs, synovium, mesothelium, among other places. Many SLE patients develop renal complications. The most prominent symptom of the disease is recurrent, widespread vascular lesions.

Treatment is based upon the specific needs and symptoms of each person. Because of the significant variance in characteristics and course of lupus among individuals, a thorough medical evaluation and ongoing medical supervision are essential to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. Depending on the organs involved, and the severity of the condition, patients with lupus may be prescribed a variety of medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for inflammation and pain, acetaminophen for pain, corticosteroids for inflammation and organ involvement, anti-malarials (drugs prescribed for malaria) for immunoregulation and blood disorders, and immunomodulating drugs are the most commonly prescribed. (LFA 2001)

Women and minorities are disproportionately affected and SLE is most common in women of child-bearing age, although it has been reported in both extremes of life (i.e., diagnosed in infants and in the tenth decade of life). Its prevalence in the Unites States had been estimated as approximately 500,000 but a recent telephone survey commissioned by the Lupus Foundation of America suggests that it may affect as many as 2,000,000 (LFA 1998). A recent study identified a prevalence of 500 per 100,000 (1:200) in women residing near Birmingham, Alabama. This concentrated incidence again suggests environmental causation.

A correlation between SLE and environmental factors can be found in a recent Russian study which should direct impairment of organs and tissues of SLE patients via a damaged immune system as a result of exposure to chemical pollutants (Ter Arkh 2000). In addition there is proof that lupus may be drug-induced. Lupus occurs after the use of certain prescribed drugs, such as certain hypertension and arrhythmia drugs, the symptoms of which are similar to systemic lupus (LFA 2001). Although a small percentage of individuals using these drugs develop drug-induced lupus, the symptoms usually fade when the medications are discontinued, which indicates that such conditions may be reversed if toxins are removed from the patient’s system.

MS and Lupus are autoimmune diseases—diseases caused again by a misdirected immune system. This is an unquestionable fact. When added to allergies, asthma, celiac disease, thyroid disease, diabetes and cancer, a pattern should be obvious that we do have a problem in regard to the breakdown of our immune system and linked to the environment. It is easy to shrug this suggestion off, even after this argument, until tragedy someone you love. Imagine an idiopathic asthma attack in which your young child turns blue, struggling for air and you have mere seconds to save her life. Or imagine that your 20-year-old sister is diagnosed with lupus and given an abbreviated life span. Or your husband goes into anaphylactic shock from eating popcorn which has been genetically spliced with a Brazil nut and he again has only seconds to get an epinephrine injection. Or your 4-year old nephew is diagnosed with leukemia, or a brain tumor or juvenile diabetes and all you can do is ask why?

For each new allergen that enters our body, the immune systems must identify the allergen and make an antibody to fight it. However, for some people, mutated allergens may present a problem for the body and that is why their immune systems become misdirected and causes disease or severe reaction. Avoidance of such allergens, as well as returning to the natural, pure or organic, seems to be the most logical way to avoid and perhaps reverse the damage caused by this attack. What does not seem appropriate is using other synthetic chemicals and drugs to temporarily relieve symptoms temporarily. It appears that the immune system has been debilitated enough and it is time to discard solutions that only further misdirect it. Human beings should be part of the natural environment, but technology has altered that environment so that natural connections are not only broken (such as our ability to consume uncontaminated food), but reconnection can never reoccur or is a long way away. Is it now obvious that humans have disturbed their own ecosystem so that their health is suffering?

Another related disease, Transverse Myelitis (TM), one of 6000 rarest disorders listed by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and one of the few not genetically caused, is a relatively new disorder, with the first cases having been reported in the early fifties. But it has been on the rise since the late 1960s, affecting people of not only every race, gender and age, but of many health backgrounds.

This disorder is strange in itself because there are many ways by which someone may acquire it. MS and SLE have been elaborated on in this paper precisely because both occasionally manifest the disorder TM. But strangely, such a distinct disorder can also be manifested by people who suffer from AIDS, syphilis or cancer, or those who have had the flu shot or other immunizations, chicken pox, rare diseases such as Devic’s Disease. Some TM patients have no underlying disease or cause at all.

Doctors and researchers often relate TM to immune system dysfunction. But this causation covers a broad range of illnesses with even more underlying causes. I myself have an atypical type of TM with no known underlying cause, nor any indication of immune system dysfunction. Further, no immune system dysfunction drug, including interferon and steroids, has been effective in treating me. It was ultimately my immune system, in combination with systematic detoxification (which will be discussed in a later chapter) that resolved the initial bout and four later recurrences.

TM is a terrible, sometimes devastating disorder, the cause of which eludes doctors to this day. Treatment involves alleviation of symptoms, but to date, there is no cure. It is my theory, however, that TM stems from system toxicity, perhaps more so in predisposed individuals, but is still caused by environmental factors.

Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder characterized by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. The term myelitis means an inflammation of the myelin sheath, the fatty insulating substance that covers nerve cell fibers. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerve cells each surrounded by myelin. Myelitis in this respect refers to inflammation of the myelin of the spinal cord; transverse simply describes the position of the inflammation, that is, across the width of the spinal cord (Tabor 1999). Bouts of inflammation can damage or destroy myelin. This scars the nerve tissue thereby interrupting communication between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body.

Symptoms of transverse myelitis includes a loss of spinal cord function that may evolve over several hours (acute) to several weeks (subacute). Initial symptoms usually include localized lower back pain, sudden paraesthesias (abnormal sensations such as burning, tickling, pricking, or tingling) in the legs, sensory loss, and paraparesis (partial paralysis of the legs). Paraparesis often progresses to paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower part of the trunk). This may also occur on one side of the body below the affected area of the spinal cord and is called hemiparesis. Many patients also report experiencing muscle spasms, a general feeling of discomfort, headache, fever, and loss of appetite. Depending on which segment of the spinal cord is involved, some patients may experience respiratory problems as well.

From this wide array of symptoms, four classic features of transverse myelitis emerge that are essentially the symptoms used for diagnosis (particularly for idiopathic cases): (1) weakness of the legs and arms, (2) pain, (3) sensory alteration (dysaethesia), and (4) bowel and bladder dysfunction.

Most patients experience weakness of varying degrees in their legs; some also experience it in their arms. Initially, people with TM may notice that they are stumbling or dragging one foot or that their legs seem heavier than normal. Hand and arm coordination and strength may also be compromised. Over several weeks, the disease often leads to full paralysis of the legs, requiring the use of a wheelchair.

Pain is the primary presenting symptom of transverse myelitis in approximately one-third to one-half of all patients. The pain may be localized in the lower back or may consist of sharp, shooting sensations that radiate down the legs or arms or around the torso. Pain may also be associated with sensory disturbances.

Patients who experience sensory disturbances often use terms such as numbness, tingling, coldness, or burning to describe their symptoms. Up to 80 percent of those with transverse myelitis report areas of heightened sensitivity to the touch of things such as clothing or another person (a condition called allodynia). Many also experience heightened sensitivity to changes in temperature or to extreme heat or cold (NINDS 2000).

Bladder and bowel problems may involve increased frequency of the urge to urinate or have bowel movements, incontinence, difficulty voiding, sensation of incomplete evacuation, and constipation. Over the course of the disease, the majority of people with transverse myelitis will experience one or several of these symptoms.

People living with permanent disability may feel a range of emotions, from fear and sadness to frustration and anger. Many individuals report a profound sense of loss (even those who have not yet had a definite diagnosis), as if someone close has passed away. Such feelings are natural, but they can also jeopardize health and potential for functional recovery. Those with permanent disabilities frequently experience clinical depression (MacQueen 2001). Fortunately, depression is partially treatable, due to the development of a wide range of psychotherapeutic medications.

Although some patients recover from bouts of the disease with minor or no residual problems, a majority suffer permanent impairments that affect their ability to perform ordinary tasks of daily living. Most patients will suffer only one episode of transverse myelitis, but a small percentage may have a recurrence, similar to relapsing-recurring MS.

The segment of the spinal cord at which the damage occurs determines which parts of the body are affected. Nerves in the cervical (neck) and the upper thoracic (upper back) regions control signals to the neck, arms, hands, and muscles of breathing (the diaphragm). Nerves in the mid and lower thoracic region relay signals to the torso and some parts of the arms. Nerves at the lumbar (mid-back) level control signals to the hips and legs. Finally, sacral nerves, located within the lowest segment of the spinal cord, relay signals to the groin, toes, and some parts of the legs.

Damage at one segment will affect function at that segment and some segments below it. This occurs because impulses sent from the brain to various parts of the body and vice versa are interrupted by the inflammation, lesions and subsequent scarring. For example, if there is inflammation at the neck, sensory nerves in the hand may not register the heat of a hot pan quickly enough to relay the message to the brain which would in turn cause the hand to move away or off the pan before the tissue is injured. Likewise, if this lack of sensation were at the thigh or the abdomen, the inflammation would be between the sensory area and the brain and cause the same delay in response (or, in some severe cases, no response at all). In most cases of transverse myelitis, demyelination usually occurs at the thoracic level, causing problems with leg movement and bowel and bladder control, which require signals from the lower segments of the spinal cord.

Recovery from transverse myelitis usually begins within 2 to 12 weeks of the onset of symptoms and may continue for up to 2 years. However, if there is no improvement within the first 3 to 6 months, significant recovery is unlikely. About one-third of people affected with transverse myelitis experience good or full recovery from their symptoms, regaining the ability to walk normally and experiencing minimal urinary or bowel effects and parasthesias. Another one-third of patients show fair recovery and is left with significant deficits such as spastic gait, sensory dysfunction, and prominent urinary urgency or incontinence (John Hopkins 2001). The remaining one-third show no recovery at all, remaining wheelchair-bound or bedridden with marked dependence on others for basic functions of daily living. Although making predictions about individual cases is difficult, research has shown that a rapid onset of symptoms generally results in poorer recovery.

The majority of people with this disorder experience only one episode, although in rare cases recurrent or relapsing transverse myelitis does occur. Some patients recover completely, then experience a relapse. Others begin to recover, then suffer worsening of symptoms before recovery continues. In all cases of relapse, physicians will likely investigate possible underlying causes such as MS or SLE since most people who experience relapse, but not all, have an underlying disorder.

TM occurs in adults and children, in both genders, and in all races. It does not appear to have a familial link. New cases appear to occur primarily between the ages of 10 and 19 years and 30 and 39 years. Although only a few studies have examined incidence, it is estimated that about 1,400 new cases of transverse myelitis are diagnosed each year in the United States, and approximately 33,000 Americans have some type of disability resulting from the disorder (NINDS 2000).

Researchers are uncertain of the exact causes of transverse myelitis. The inflammation that causes such extensive damage to myelin and nerve fibers of the spinal cord may result from viral infections, abnormal immune reactions, or insufficient blood flow through the blood vessels located in the spinal cord. Transverse myelitis also may occur as a complication of syphilis, measles, Lyme disease, and some vaccinations, including such common childhood vaccinations as chickenpox and rabies. Transverse Myelitis may also result from a spinal injury or, as in a recent case, subsequent to an epidural or spinal anesthetic given during childbirth. A majority of the cases however, remain idiopathic.

Some verified cases of transverse myelitis result from spinal arteriovenous malformations (abnormalities that alter normal patterns of blood flow) or vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis that cause ischemia, a reduction in normal levels of oxygen in spinal cord tissues. Ischemia can result from bleeding (hemorrhage) within the spinal cord, blood vessel blockage or narrowing, or other less common factors. Blood vessels bring oxygen and nutrients to spinal cord tissues and remove metabolic waste products. When these vessels become narrowed or blocked, they cannot deliver sufficient amounts of oxygen-laden blood to spinal cord tissues. When a specific region of the spinal cord becomes starved of oxygen, or ischemic, nerve cells and fibers may begin to deteriorate relatively quickly. This damage may cause widespread inflammation, sometimes leading to transverse myelitis. Most people who develop the condition as a result of vascular disease are past the age of 50, have cardiac disease, or have recently undergone a chest or abdominal operation.

Transverse myelitis often develops following viral and bacterial infections. The viruses suspected of causing transverse myelitis include varicella zoster (the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles), herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr, influenza, echovirus, human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis A, and rubella. Bacterial skin infections, middle-ear infections (otitis media) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (bacterial pneumonia) have also been associated with the condition. (Johns Hopkins 2001). However, a specific viral or bacterial infection is difficult to pinpoint and therefore such etiology in most cases remains unverified.

In post-infectious cases—that is those in which the actual bacteria or virus have been killed off by antibiotics, antiviral agents and the immune system, immune system mechanisms—rather than active viral or bacterial infections, appear to play an important role in causing damage to spinal nerves. Although researchers have not yet identified the precise mechanisms of spinal cord injury in these cases, stimulation of the immune system in response to infection indicates that an autoimmune reaction may be responsible. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system, which normally protects the body from foreign organisms, mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissue, causing inflammation and, in some cases, damage to myelin within the spinal cord.

Because some affected individuals also have autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and sarcoidosis, some scientists suggest that transverse myelitis may also be an autoimmune disorder. In addition, some cancers may trigger an abnormal immune response that may lead to transverse myelitis.

An acute, rapidly progressing form of transverse myelitis sometimes signals the first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS), however, studies indicate that most people who develop transverse myelitis do not go on to develop MS. Patients with transverse myelitis should nonetheless be screened for MS because they require different treatments (Weinshecker 39-40).

Western physicians diagnose transverse myelitis by recording symptoms, taking a medical history and performing a thorough neurological examination. Because there are so many possible causes, pathology of TM is not the same in all patients. In some, the neurons seem to be normal in appearance and number, while the supporting cells that myelinate these nerves are damaged. In others, there is widespread damage and necrosis (death) of all the cells within the area of injury. And, because it is often difficult to distinguish between a patient with an idiopathic form of transverse myelitis and one who has a known underlying condition, physicians must first eliminate potentially treatable causes of the condition. If a spinal cord injury is suspected, physicians seek first to rule out lesions (damaged or abnormally functioning areas) that could cause spinal cord compression. Such potential lesions include tumors, herniated or slipped discs, stenosis (narrowing of the canal that holds the spinal cord), and abscesses. To rule out such lesions and check for inflammation of the spinal cord, patients often undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a procedure that provides a picture of the brain and spinal cord. Physicians also may perform myelography, which involves injecting a dye into the sac that surrounds the spinal cord. The patient is then tilted up and down to let the dye flow around and outline the spinal cord while X-rays are taken to visualize any abnormalities such as slipped disks or stenosis.

Blood tests may be performed to rule out various disorders such as SLE, HIV infection, syphilis and vitamin B12 deficiency. In some patients with transverse myelitis, the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the spinal cord and brain contains more protein than usual and an increased number of leukocytes (white blood cells), indicating possible infection. A spinal tap may be performed to obtain fluid to study these factors.

If none of these tests suggests a specific cause, the patient is presumed to have idiopathic transverse myelitis. For such a patient, there are always questions. Why do I have TM? Why aren’t there more treatment options? And, will there ever be any answers for me? For this patient, there may be no hope unless physicians start looking to the natural world for answers.

From this chapter, we can see the devastating toll TM can have on lives of individuals. Because TM is often a side effect of diseases like Lupus and MS, it stands to reason that if they are often triggered by environmental factors, so is TM. Further, because TM regularly occurs in adults and children, in both genders, and in all races, it is different from MS and SLE, which is a good indication that there is some gross factor that is causing it. At this point, we are well aware that the immune system has been compromised through environmental contamination, and this leaves the general population at a great risk for advantageous infections and diseases. Because TM has been steadily on the rise, this would make it even more probable that environmental factors play a part in the increase in frequency of this disorder. However, very little research has been done in this area with regard to TM. Prevention and a cure, therefore, may elude scientists until they view the environment as a serious propagator of transverse myelitis.

Physicians in the Hippocratic-Galenic tradition were pledged to restore the balance or "health" of their patients’ constitutions but forbidden to use their skills to deal with death. Doctors had to accept nature’s power to dissolve the healing contract between patients and physicians, and allow them to die at nature’s command. But as technology grew, so did the curiosity and invention of physicians. Over one hundred years ago, Louis Pasteur stated, "Whenever I meditate on a disease, I never think of finding a remedy for it, but rather a means of preventing it." (Pasteur 1898). Doctors today are taught to consider themselves responsible for life from the moment of conception to the time of organ harvest. When a disease or condition escapes them, they not only feel responsible, but they are also determined to find a solution to the problem—a treatment, and if possible, a cure.

However, in the case of TM, there has been little progress toward a cure. And despite the fact that many years have elapsed since the initial cases, treating symptoms still involves a great deal of trial and error. In cases such as mine, as I am certain there are others, treatment has invariably been wrong. But before we look at the errors physicians may be making in the treatment of TM, we have to know what they are doing to treat it, to what extent such treatments are effective, and whether there are any side effects.

Western physicians often try the old and reliable before they try something new. Then again, propaganda campaigns launched by pharmaceutical companies often urge doctors to try new, improved and often under-tested drugs that may have undesired side effects. Synthetic drugs, versus being drawn from nature, can also have devastating effects—as evidenced by the used of thalidomide in the 1950’s and 60’s. Although drug testing has come a long way since then, the long-term effects of certain drugs, particularly of new drugs, are far from being known.

In addition to new drugs, we shall see that new techniques are being used and to some degree have been successful in treating the symptoms of TM. However, because such treatments are for symptoms, and are not a cure, and because the treatments may be somewhat debilitating themselves, the use and relative effectiveness of such treatments must sometimes be balanced with the patient’s desires for quality of life.

As with many disorders of the spinal cord, no effective cure currently exists for people with transverse myelitis. Treatments are designed to manage and alleviate symptoms and largely depend upon the severity of neurological involvement. Bed rest is recommended during the initial days and weeks of onset of the disorder. Therapy generally begins by treating the underlying problem, if known. Antiviral agents, antibiotics or immunosuppression drugs may be administered depending on the underlying disease or condition. To decrease inflammation, during the first few weeks of illness physicians may prescribe corticosteroid therapy regardless of the underlying condition. Although no clinical trials have investigated whether corticosteroids alter the course of transverse myelitis, these drugs often are prescribed to reduce immune system activity because of the suspected autoimmune mechanisms involved in the disorder. Corticosteroid medications that might be prescribed may include methylprednisone or dexamethasone.

Sexual dysfunction, particularly for males, is a common symptom of TM, and is often treated with sildenafil, a medication for erectile dysfunction. In sildenafil, nitric oxide activates the enzyme guanylate cyclase, which causes increased levels of guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and subsequently smooth muscle relaxation in the corpus cavernosum and allowing inflow of blood. (PDR 2002)

Many TM patients are screened for osteoporosis, even if they are young, because the reduction or loss of weight-bearing, particularly on the lower extremities, may result in accelerated bone density decrease. A DEXA scan followed by treatment with calcium and Vitamin D and consideration of bisphosphonate treatment, diminishes the likelihood of fracture and further deterioration of bone density.

For bladder dysfunction, uro-dynamic testing is often performed and followed with continence improving medications such as tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil). Some patients also report significant improvement in terms of muscle strength and bladder function with the use of Fampridine (4-AP). This drug is a potassium-channel blocker that inhibits the repolarizing current in neurons; however, Fampridine can have serious side effects in some people (Kerr).

Pain or dysesthesias are the most debilitating long-term problems in approximately 40 % of TM patients (Kerr). Scientists have yet to fully grasp the intricate interplay of nerves and interconnections in the brain that produce the experience called pain. Neuropathic pain, inflicted by nerve damage, can be ferocious and extremely hard to control. Prolonged pain can cause changes in the CNS, shutting down circuits that might otherwise moderate pain and activate others that can prolong it (MacLean’s 54). Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to control the pain experienced with TM without using strong pain medications that affect movement, emotions, personalities, and sleep cycles. Therefore, efforts need to be made on the part of the treating physician to make the patient aware of side effects and know the patient’s preferences before prescribing pain medications. Neuropathic pain in TM can be very difficult for patients to deal with on a personal level as well. They may have to choose between being a "zombie" or living with the pain. Currently, symptoms are often managed by treatment with gabapentin or carbamazepine (anticonvulsants with an unknown mechanism [PDR 2002]), nortriptyline (tricyclic antidepressant used to treat neurologic pain [PDR 2002]), or tramadol (analgesic with an unknown mechanism [PDR 2002]). Narcotics (opiates) are usually no more effective than these other medicines and can cause constipation and urinary retention and are not often used. Intrathecal opiates are occasionally given in an implantable pump offering significant relief with fewer of these side effects. Constipation is often a problem when using pain medications and laxatives are often prescribed. For dysesthesias, TENS units may be applied to a local area with significant relief of discomfort (Kerr).

Virtually all patients with TM experience spasticity, which affects and often limits the extent of recovery. Stiffness, tightness or painful spasms, often in the buttocks and legs, limit ambulation. A number of drug therapies may be employed to limit and improve spasticity. Baclofen (skeletal muscle relaxant inhibiting release of amino acids at synapses [PDR 2002]) is often the first line therapy and is effective in approximately 60% of individuals (Kerr). Unfortunately, fatigue and muscle weakness are common potential side effects. Tizanidine is a medication that presynaptically inhibits motor neurons in the spinal cord, and more specific for interneurons than is Baclofen and is less likely to cause muscle weakness, although fatigue is still a common side effect. Diazepam (anticonvulsant, skeletal muscle relaxant by way of presynaptic inhibition [PDR 2002]) is used in patients when neither Tizanidine nor Baclofen moderates spasticity. For severe spasticity, not effectively treatable with oral medicines, intrathecal Baclofen is a potentially effective alternative that can also be delivered through a subcutaneous lumbar pump.  Side effects are somewhat less with intrathecal Baclofen, although there is risk of infection at the pump site (Kerr).

Some treating physicians suggest diet modification therapy as well. Some advocate a diet low in saturated fats; others suggest increasing the patient's intake of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fat, via supplements of sunflower seed, safflower, or evening primrose oils (DiBaise 29). Other proposed dietary "remedies" include megavitamin therapy, including increased intake of vitamins B12 or C; various liquid diets; and sucrose-, tobacco-, or gluten-free diets. To date, there have been no clinical studies to confirm benefits from dietary changes; in the absence of any evidence that diet therapy is effective, patients are generally advised to eat a balanced, wholesome diet.

Following initial therapy, the most critical part of the treatment for this disorder consists of keeping the patient’s body functioning while hoping for either complete or partial spontaneous recovery of the nervous system. This may sometimes require placing the patient on a respirator. Patients with acute symptoms, such as paralysis, are most often treated in a hospital or in a rehabilitation facility where a specialized medical team can prevent or treat problems that afflict paralyzed patients. Often, even before recovery begins, caregivers may be instructed to move patients’ limbs manually to help keep the muscles flexible and strong, and to reduce the likelihood of pressure sores developing in immobilized areas. Later, if patients begin to recover limb control, physical therapy begins to help improve muscle strength, coordination, and range of motion (Johns Hopkins—OT/PT 2001).

A variety of long-term rehabilitative therapies are available for people who have permanent disabilities resulting from transverse myelitis and medical social workers can be good sources for information about treatment programs and resources that are available in a patient’s community. Rehabilitative therapy teaches people strategies for carrying out activities in new ways in order to overcome, circumvent, or compensate for permanent disabilities. Rehabilitation cannot reverse the physical damage resulting from transverse myelitis or other forms of spinal cord injury, but it can help people, even those with severe paralysis, become as functionally independent as possible and thereby attain a higher quality of life.

Most rehabilitation programs attempt to address the emotional dimensions along with the physical problems resulting from permanent disability. Patients typically consult with a range of rehabilitation specialists, who may include physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, vocational therapists, and mental health care professionals.

Physiatrists (doctors) and physical therapists treat disabilities that result from motor and sensory impairments. Their aim is to help patients increase their strength and endurance, improve coordination, reduce spasticity and muscle wasting in paralyzed limbs, and regain greater control over bladder and bowel function through various exercises. Paralyzed patients are taught to use assistive devices such as wheelchairs, canes, or braces as effectively as possible. They also learn ways to avoid developing painful pressure sores on immobilized parts of the body, which may lead to increased pain or systemic infection. In addition, physiatrists and physical therapists are involved in pain management.

Commonly experienced permanent neurological deficits resulting from transverse myelitis include severe weakness, spasticity (painful muscle stiffness or contractions), or paralysis, incontinence, and chronic pain. Such deficits can substantially interfere with a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, and household tasks. Occupational therapy is commonly recommended and used to help TM patients cope with these permanent disabilities. Occupational therapists help patients learn new ways of performing meaningful, self-directed, goal-oriented, everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, preparing a meal, house cleaning, engaging in arts and crafts, or gardening. They teach people how to develop compensatory strategies, how to make changes in their homes to improve safety, how to change obstacles in their environment that interfere with normal activity, and how to use assistive devices (MacQueen 2001).

Vocational therapists acquaint people with their rights as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and help people develop and promote work skills. They also identify potential employers, assist in job searches, and act as mediators between employees and employers to secure reasonable workplace accommodations.

Oligodendrocyte Proliferation. In cases of Multiple Sclerosis-evoked Transverse Myelitis, some studies focus on strategies to reverse the damage to myelin and oligodendrocytes (the cells that make and maintain myelin in the central nervous system [CNS]), both of which are destroyed during MS attacks. Recent research has shown that oligodendrocytes may proliferate and form new myelin after an attack and this gives hope to MS and TM patients and treating physicians. The trick is achieving the correct environment in which the oligodendrocytes may proliferate. There is a great deal of interest in agents that may stimulate this reaction. To learn more about the process, investigators are looking at how drugs used in MS trials affect remyelination. Studies of animal models indicate that monoclonal antibodies and two immunosuppressant drugs, cyclophosphamide and azathioprine, may accelerate remyelination, while steroids may inhibit it. (Chari, Vu)

Plasma Exchange Therapy. Another study (Mayo Clinic 1999) investigated plasma exchange (PE). Plasma exchange for a variety of illnesses, including MS, Devic’s Disease and Guillian-Barr, has been studied since 1980. This process involves the removal of blood from the body through an intravenous catheter, mechanical separation of the blood cells from the fluid plasma with a centrifuge, removal of the plasma, and replacement with an artificial plasma. The replacement solution is mixed with a patient’s own cells and returned through the same intravenous catheter. The theory for this treatment is that a component of the liquid portion in the blood is responsible for sustaining disease activity and replacement of the plasma with the replacement solution may dilute the activity of these potentially destructive factors where a plasma transfusion is given. The treatment is used on patients with severe acute attacks of inflammatory demyelinating disease (including MS and TM) when intravenous steroid therapy has failed. This was a randomized, double-blind study--the study was done with a control group and a treatment group, but neither group was aware of which group they were in or certain other details of the study. Patients were divided into groups by disease type and disease had separate control and treatment groups. The first group of patients received a true plasma exchange using continuous-flow centrifugation with serum albumin and crystalloid replacement every 2 days for a total of 7 exchanges. The control group received a plasma exchange with no centrifugation every 2 days for a total of 7 exchanges. Patients crossed to the alternate therapy if there was less than a moderate improvement by day 14. The treatment decision was determined by a blinded neurologic evaluation where the assessing party did not know what group the patient belonged to at the time of the evaluation.

Concurrent corticosteroids, other immunosuppressants, and high-dose barbiturates were not permitted in any of the patients during the treatment period. Side effects included anemia, minor sensory disorders and a temporary drop in blood pressure. About one-half of the patients required a carotid line (this is an intravenous fluid line through the carotid artery) to increase blood pressure. Although the control group was lost because of the cross-over technique used in the study, the researchers felt that because there was moderate or marked functional improvement in 44.1% of all treated patients, patients improved rapidly and improvement was sustained (Keegan 145-6), PE is a success treatment option for inflammatory demyelinating diseases. But, plasma exchange still has not been widely accepted as a treatment for such and treatment currently has limited availability (Weinshenker 39 [2001]). Since September 1999, this treatment is almost exclusive to the Mayo Clinic at a cost of $1600 per exchange (a total treatment cost of $11,200) (Mayo Clinic 1999).

Similar therapies, such as high-dose intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) (Dalakas 721) and other therapeutic apheresis treatments (Khatri 236) have emerged as important therapies for various immunological neurologic diseases and may offer future hope for treatment of TM.

Nerve Conduction Research. There has also been some investigation on improving nerve conduction. Because the transmission of electrochemical messages is disrupted by the degeneration of the neurons, medications to improve the conduction of nerve impulses are being investigated. Demyelinated nerves show abnormalities of potassium activity so scientists are studying drugs that block the channels through which potassium moves, thereby restoring conduction of the nerve impulse. Such drugs have been particularly effective for those patients suffering form symptoms of TM secondary to MS (NMSF 1987).

In this chapter, a number of different treatments, most directed toward symptoms rather than an overall cure for TM, have been presented. There is a saying that nothing is 100%, and that is an understatement for the overall success for treatment of TM. I know that TM is a difficult disorder. There are so many variables, so many causes, so many different symptoms and reactions to available treatments. However, most of the underlying causes have the environment in common. Although diet therapy seems to be a step in the right direct, a general study of the available treatments fails to address this issue. Environmental causation does not appear to be on the agenda for future research on TM either. However, once consideration is given to the possibility of a gross factor causing not only TM, but the plethora of other autoimmune diseases that are on the rise, detoxification of the human environment and the human body may be the ticket to seeing a decline. Physicians and researchers may need to shift from the finding of palliatives for symptoms to finding a cure for the illness itself.

Great things can happen when old meets new, when the experienced meets the fresh-minded novice, when east meets west. Idealistically, this is what can happen when western and eastern medicine meet. Ayurveda, although much more than a medicine, does not underestimate the role the environment plays in one’s health, yet its practitioners do not fail to acknowledge the importance of technology either. Ayurveda, like modern medicine, also relies on a long history of practice and scientifically proven methods but uses this knowledge to eliminate toxic elements from the patient’s body. What’s more, when patients follow the lifestyle outlined for them by their practitioner, they often get well.

American physicians and many patients don’t want to hear this, however. They want new machines and wonder drugs. Patients in particular want to eat junk food and remain healthy. It may require those wonderful minds that demonstrate the creativity of plasma exchange and potassium channel blockers to do just as Ayurvedic practitioners do and look outside their own medical philosophies for successful treatment of such illnesses as TM. They may have to be the ones to battle those who want to defeat the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) campaign, which according to our government necessitates investigation. If success in "legitimate" medicine can back the success of a natural approach, such as that found in Ayurveda, then there is hope for those who continue suffer without a modern cure. Modern medicine has been battling without success many illnesses where some CAMs have seen miraculous recovery—whether the cynics care to acknowledge it or not. Isn’t it time for modern science to acknowledge this and look into the potential value of alternative medicine in treating conditions where western approaches have had little success?

This chapter outlines the philosophy of Ayurveda and the elements of daily maintenance to give a basic understanding of how it can lead to a healthier life—one freer of migraines, acne, cancer, allergies, asthma, and TM among other health concerns. It also will show how Ayurveda, with few modifications, can fit into any belief system and lifestyle without much "pain." I myself lapse and regress into an "American" lifestyle, which is harmful to my condition, but I can easily catch myself and return to a life guided by the Ayurvedic philosophy and then quickly return to better health. Therefore, it is my feeling that Ayurveda should be considered as a possible technique of treating not only TM, but also any other illness where environment is a primary factor.

Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional, all-embracing system of medicine practiced in India and Sri Lanka. It is the "oldest complete medical system in the world" with its recorded origins going back about 3,500--4,000 years (Warrier 6). It is a comprehensive system of healthcare in which many elements work together prescribing a healthy way of living, and focusing on prevention of illness as well as healing the sick. Some of the elements of Ayurveda include diet, yoga, herbal medication, detoxification and rejuvenation, meditation and prayer. But Ayurveda is a philosophy as much as it is a way of life, so, besides health, it aims to achieve virtue, wealth, enjoyment and salvation. Further, there is an essential spiritual aspect to Ayurveda. In short, Ayurveda is a holistic way of living.

Although the concept behind Ayurveda should ordinarily be explained with an in-depth discussion of Indian philosophy, only specific ideas that are relevant will be touched upon in this essay.

The Science of Life. The word "Ayurveda" means the "science of life" and "life" is further defined as the union of the body and the senses with the mind and soul. Without this union, life cannot exist. This idea is based on the belief that everything within the universe, including ourselves, is composed of five elements. These elements, called panchamahabuta and often referred to as the "building blocks" of life (Tirtha 13), compose everything in the universe and are space, air, fire, water, and earth. It is important, however, to realize that these elements are not the physical elements with which we are familiar (Warrier 17). For example, space includes the property of smooth, soft, subtle, porous, and non-slimy, the properties of sound, and no distinguishable taste. Further, it produces the actions of softness, lightness, and porosity. In contrast the element of earth is characterized by the properties heavy, firm, immobile, dull, compact, thick, strong, rough, and having a sweet taste. Its actions include increased firmness, straight, hardness, emollient, nutritive, and purgative. Each of the other elements, air, fire, and water, likewise, has its distinct properties and actions that logically can be related to the physical elements with which we are familiar. The properties relating to each of these elements are then applied to the different aspects of Ayurvedic living (i.e., diet, yoga, prayer, herbs, etc.).

The Doshas. The elements make up the tri-doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which define the balance within ourselves and the world around us, promoting health on all levels. Each dosha has its own qualities, actions and responses, and, as we shall see, treatments of the doshas are equally different. The doshas are also the three pure healthy states of being, called prakriti. Most individuals do not have a pure prakriti, they are rather a blending of two doshas-- Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, Vata-Kapha, or occasionally three doshas--Vata-Pitta-Kapha, making seven types in all (Frawley 22 [1997]). These can further be divided into mental/psychological or physiological doshas, which will be elaborated on later. Each of these doshas is composed of specific combinations of the five elements and reflects the qualities of those elements. For example, Vata is made up of the elements space and air. Air is characterized as being rough, light, dry, cold, soluble and largely astringent and slightly bitter in taste. Its actions are removing sliminess, producing lightness, dryness and emaciation. Similarly, treatments or food having Vata characteristics, along with the qualities of space as indicated above, also have dry, bitter or astringent taste, light, cold, subtle, unstable, rough, clear and transparent properties. Also in addition to actions of space, their actions include imparting motion to the body, conducting the impulses from respective sense organs, separating waste from digested food, and retaining and evacuating urine and semen. People with Vata constitutions are enthusiastic, have restless minds, weak memories, avoid confrontation, have active and sensitive natures and express themselves through sports and creative pursuits, and sometimes by overindulgence in pleasures. They are the most eager for sexual activity among the three prakritis (Warrier 49). They are often petite, quick individuals.

The doshas also each have five divisions or responsibilities with regard to the functioning of the body. Vata controls the nerve force and is also referred to as Vayu. It is mainly responsible for the physical and mental functions of the cerebral-spinal and sympathetic nerves throughout the body. (Tirtha 16). The five Vayus are Pran, residing in the head; Udan, residing in the chest; Vyan is found in the heart; Saman located near the digestive fire; and Apan, which can be found in the colon (Tirtha 16). Pitta relates to internal fire and is associated with the digestive and endocrine systems. The five Pittas are pachacka which exists in the small intestines; Ranjaka is located in the stomach liver and spleen; Sadhaka is found in the heart; Alochaka resides in the retina of the eyes; and Bhrajaka resides in the skin. (Tirtha 17). Kapha relates to stability and homeostasis. The five Kaphas are Avalambaka, which is found in the chest; Kledaka is found in the stomach, Bodhaka is found in the tongue, Tarpaka exists in the head nourishing the sense organs; and Shleshaka is located in the joints lubricating them. The three doshas (Vayu, Pitta, Kapha) exist throughout the entire body, in every cell, and yet are dominant in their original location (the colon, the small intestine and the stomach, respectively) (Tirtha 16).

If any of the doshas are out of balance, we experience discomfort, ill-health, and even disease, called vikriti. In this unhealthy state, doshas may be built up in excess or be lacking. For example, in a Pitta-Kapha dosha, the gain of excess weight is an increase in Kapha. This is a very common type of disorder because whatever dosha you are, you will have a tendency to become that dosha in excess, because that dosha is part of your being. In treating such disorders, logical balance is achieved by using treatments with opposite qualities or specifically reducing qualities. Disorders classified as a disturbance in the Vata balance may bring about conditions such as rheumatic and joint pain, arthritis, constipation, abnormal blood pressure, heart disease, and mental instability. For an imbalance of Vata, techniques could include (1) yoga, (2) diet, (3) herbs or (4) Pancha Karma (detoxification). The aim of the technique would usually be to reduced Vata, perhaps by increasing Kapha which has properties of earth and water, heaviness and moistness, and would counteract qualities of the lightness and dryness of the Vata disorder. Of course, this is a simplification of what would actually occur.

The Gunas. Parallel to the three doshas are the three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas (Tirtha 14). Just as the three doshas are essential elements of your being, the three Gunas are essential parts of your mind. Sattva represents purity and is the power of planning and organization; it represents equilibrium; it is the morning; it is fresh, clean and light. Raja is the manifestation of planning; it is motion and the heart of the day; it is the fire of wishes, desires and ambitions. Tama is the closing, when you begin thinking about retiring; it is the cleaning up period; it is resistance and heaviness. (Warrier 61-62). Because sattva is pure, it is not disturbed in anyway. Mental imbalances are caused by disturbances in tamas and rajas. Conscious movement to the correct balance among the three Gunas returns the mind to balance.

At this point, the complexity of the Indian philosophy of the evolution of matter can be seen. Life is seen as cyclic and involves 24 principal elements (prakriti, Maha or intellect, ahamkara or egoism , Manas or mind, five sensory organs, five motor organs, five rudimentary elements, five physical elements). This theory goes on to state that life is an evolutionary process that begins with the union of the physical part, prakriti, and the spiritual part, purusha. The remaining developed to give life to your body. Our life goes on continuously and when the physical part and the spiritual part cease to exist on the same plane and the other 23 elements no longer exists, our physical self ceases to exist.  The 24 elements are the virtual life force of every living being, and when the energy in those elements runs out, we can no longer live (Warrier 40-41).

Living a balanced life, however, can assure that the life force is not wasted on draining illness and unfulfilling life.  The Indian philosophy says that to live a fulfilled life is to achieve virtue, wealth, enjoyment and salvation. Sometimes this is expressed as the Three Desires and intelligent people are advised to pursue "health, wealth, and self-realization" and that life consists of charity, compassion, nonviolence, celibacy, devotion to Divinity and meditation or prayer (Tirtha).  Again, to achieve this state you must have a healthy body and mind. Unfortunately, it is as easy for a state of well being to exist as a state of disease, therefore, it is important to maintain the balance of the biological units, the tri-doshas. As the science of life, Ayurveda attempts to set out good and bad practices by outlining the causes of a happy and an unhappy life and what is wholesome and unwholesome, provides guidelines for living better, and helps to balance are often hectic lives.

Charaka was a physician who propagated his knowledge into one of the three ancient Ayurveda texts--Charaka Samhita. This is text governing physiology, anatomy, etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms and signs of disease, methodology of diagnosis, treatment and prescription for patients, prevention, and longevity (Warrier 184). According to Charaka, life may be defined as one of four types either (1) useful or creative, (2) harmful or destructive, (3) happy, or (4) unhappy or miserable. Life is happy when we were not afflicted with physical or mental pain and are endowed with strength, virility, knowledge, excellent sense organs (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and skin) and when we are prosperous and able to plan life as we wish. Well-being is the harmonious interaction of body and mind, and disease is caused by a deficient interaction between them (Warrier 39). The goals of a good life are Dharma (virtuous duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (enjoyment) and Moksha (salvation).

This leads us to the spiritual nature of Ayurveda and for a better understanding we must know something else about Vedic roots of Hindu philosophy, spirituality, and universal religion. According to the ancient Vedic scriptures of India, there is a goal to life. Because order and reason exist in life, we are not simply born to live and then to die without some meaning or purpose. Life is divine and its goal is to realize our inner divine nature.  According to Ayurveda, the more a person realizes of their divine nature, the healthier they will be. The Ayurvedic doctor must inspire and help awaken the patient to their own inner divine nature, and positive thinking and love is the best medicine. When patients are taught that they have this divinity within themselves, they feel a connection to life and God (however each patient defines God, e.g., for atheists, it would be the great mystical power, which is synonymous to God). Patients then can feel that they have a handle on life, are in control of their reality and then have the ability to develop their own inner nature. After this, secondary therapies of herbs, diet, meditation and other treatment may be used.

Even modern medical doctors are finding a link between healthy and degree of spiritual faith. Spirituality changes the definition of health, giving it added dimension. Two types of health can be seen—diagnosed health and true health. Often when a patient is diagnosed as healthy, they still may not feel healthy or full of life. This is due to psychosomatic conditions where troubled mind affects the health of the body. The deepest level of mental agitation is the longing for deeper spiritual connection.

Looking further into the spiritual philosophy, Ayurveda suggests true health is based on the healthy functioning of the four areas of life: physical/mental health, career or life purpose, spiritual relationships, and spirituality. As indicated before, first one needs to be physically and mentally able to work and play, and then he needs to work to support oneself to provide for a social life. Work, however, is defined as making a living doing something meaningful or purposeful. To do this type of work, someone needs to use innate or God-given talents and to work at something they love to do and it is this love that nurtures spirituality.

Purposeful career is an aspect of this definition of health. Especially in the United States, all too often we find people working at jobs that they dislike. Often people are forced into " practical " career by parents or societal beliefs because they lack the self-worth and confidence to resist and live their dreams. Working in meaningless and unfulfilling jobs can create mental and physical disorders. The most extreme example of illness caused by lack of purpose is cancer. Ayurveda considers cancer an emotionally-caused disease (Tirtha 57). By not having a purpose in life (i.e., suppressing life) people create life within their body—that life is cancer. When seriously ill people discuss what they would love to do (instead of what they are told to do) life returns to their eyes. As they begin to follow up on these ideas, some remarkable recoveries are seen.

The third realm of health is spiritual relationships. When persons are healthy and purposefully working, they can truly enjoy their social life. We have become acutely aware of the emotional and physical abuses exist in many people's relationships. Co-dependency and enabling describe relationship diseases. From the spiritual standpoint, if one is dependent on anything, co-dependency exists. People look for something lasting or permanent; only God is eternal and everlasting. Spiritual development directs one to focus inwardly to discover one’s eternal nature instead of the ever-changing realm of life. For relationships to be healthy, all people must continue to develop their individuality in their spiritual lives. Then they are able to share their spiritual fullness with their spouse and others. Too often individuals are attracted to one another because they see a quality that they think they do not have. In reality, each person has all the human qualities within themselves because inner eternal divinity, by definition, contains everything. Further, if one can see a quality in another, they must have it within themselves in order to recognize it. Thus, the third dimension of health involves healthy spiritual relationships.

Once people are sound in body and mind, work in a purposeful career, and enjoy fulfilling spiritual relationships, life develops into a state of grace. People then become eager to devote more time to spiritual development, the final dimension of health. Personal spiritual development is seen on many levels. The body becomes more relaxed and the mind more alert, and one becomes more personable and develops meaningful relationships. Yet, the most profound development takes place inwardly; divinity grows within. Gradually, one also begins to see the divinity in others and all of life. We must understand our own nature for our own happiness and well-being in life. Similarly, we must understand the nature of others, which may be different than our own for harmonious social interaction (Frawley 11 [1997]).

This is the multi-dimensional definition of health according to Ayurveda. Life is composed of many interdependent elements. If one aspect of life becomes imbalanced, all the other aspects are affected. Rather than merely treating a symptom, Ayurveda looks to the root cause or underlying reasons of illness. The body may be sick because of mental or career stress. Rather than instruct the patient to merely take a drug or an herb to heal the physical condition, the practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine looks to restore balance within the patient (e.g., calming the mind or finding a more purposeful job). The deepest level is spiritual development and it affects all other parts as those parts affect it. Thus, all four areas of life must be cultivated: mind/body, career, spiritual relationships, and inner spiritual development  (Tirtha 57).

Three Vital Essences. Vata, Pitta and Kapha have subtle counterparts in the level of vital energy, which in turn assists in meditative practices. These are Prana, Tejas and Ojas, which are called the "three vital essences." These essences are built up in two ways. First, on a gross level, they are derived from the nourishment we take into our bodies. On a subtler level, they are fed by our impressions. Prana, Tejas and Ojas are the master forms of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They control ordinary mind-body functions and keep us healthy and free of disease.

Prana represents the primal life force and the subtle property of air. It allows us to move and respond to challenges in life. It is the master force behind all mind-body functions and responsible for coordination of breath, senses and mind. It is the life force of reproductive fluids. Finally, Prana governs the development of higher states of consciousness necessary for proper and elevating meditation.

Tejas is inner radiance. It is the subtle energy of fire through which we digest thought and impressions. Fed though visual perceptions, it allows us to perceive and judge correctly. Tejas gives courage and daring to reproductive fluids. It also governs the development of higher perceptual capacities, permitting meaningful meditation and allowing us to see what is true.

Ojas is primal vigor. It is the subtle energy of water as vital reserve energy, the essence of digested food, impressions and thought, fed through sensory organs. It gives reproductive fluid endurance. On an inner level, it maintains a sense of calm and supports and nourishes higher states of consciousness. It helps prolong meditative states.

While increases in the biological humors promote disease, increases in the vital essences promote positive health (as long as they are developed in conjunction with one another). These three forces give us vitality, clarity and endurance and are necessary to feel healthy, fearless and confident (Frawley 25-27 [1997]).

Meditation and Healing. An essential part to achieving spiritual balance and developing inner spirituality is the use of meditation. When reading the ancient texts of Ayurveda, it is easy to see that it is truly a holistic science. In these writings, the body and the mind were seen as interdependent and an entire system of psychological healing was laid out (Tirtha 337). It is said that ill-health is a state of imbalance, or stress, within the various functions of the body and mind. Relaxation is the process that helps restore equilibrium so that the body can repair itself. Meditation is the art of consciously relaxing, accelerating the process. In other words, meditation settles the mind and relaxes the body, restoring the state of internal balance or " homeostasis, " which is the active state for self-repair and healing. (Harrison, 3).

An example of how meditation and psychological treatment in Ayurveda come together is in the development of self-worth. The Ayurvedic texts advise to 1) Test truth on the touchstone of your own heart; 2) Be aware that doubt can come even disguised as a friend, undermining your desires and efforts for health and self-realization; and 3) Realize that doubt is like a ghost trying to scare you from your sadhana (meditation) and spiritual life. To overcome doubts, a person learns what is true through a threefold process 1) what is read in the scriptures; 2) what is taught by the Guru or other teacher; and 3) personal experience. It is through the union of these three situations that experience is gained and true knowledge and the maturation of meditation are experienced. Through the experience of meditation and Ayurveda, doubt and low self-esteem become peaceful. Practice of meditation forces the mind to work, the work tires the mind causing thoughts to leave, the silent and healing mind is free to exist uninterrupted by negativity or restlessness (Tirtha 338).

The Gunas and Meditation. Ayurvedic psychology moves the mind through the Gunas from ignorance (Tamas) to vitality and self-expression (Rajas) to the apex of peace and enlightenment (Sattva). The three states of mental healing are (1) Breaking up Tamas/developing Rajas—moving from mental inertia to self motivated action; (2) Calming rajas/development Sattva—moving from self-motivation to selfless service; and (3) Perfecting Sattva—moving from selfless service to meditation.

From this example one can see that meditation is not an instant process. It takes time and practice. However, the time invested in meditation most definitely has its advantages. Studies have shown that meditation can reduce physical age, as compared to chronological age, by as much as 20 years (Chopra, 194). Other benefits of meditation are no mystery to even modern science. Many body processes depend on rhythms of tension and release. If we are chronically tight, the muscles work in a narrow, limited spectrum and often lose their rhythm altogether. In particular, our lymphatic system, digestion and breathing suffer. (Harrison, 9) In fulfilling spiritual development, meditation perpetuates health of mind and body, career and personal relationship. Spiritual development, the deepest root of all four areas of life, is the key to attaining those goals in life.

Several excellent examples of effective healing from meditation come from Quantum Healing, a book by the bi-philosophical (Allopathic/Ayruvedic) physician Deepak Chopra. Several cases of cancer have been miraculously cured through the use of Ayurvedic herbs, diet and transcendental meditation. Patients were asked to concentrate on their affected organ and visualize their body working to cure it. There is no way to be certain wha