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==Principles== ==Principles==
According to co-authors/researchers, Robert Schneider, M.D. and Jeremy Z. Fields, Ph.D., MVAH is the Maharishi's attempt to revive the ancient Vedic system of health care.<ref name="Schneider page 5">Schneider, R and Fields, J: ''Total Heart Health'', page 5. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006</ref> The authors explain that Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health uses forty approaches, each one based on one of the forty branches of ]. According to MVAH, each of these forty branches of Vedic literature has a direct correlation to various aspects of the human physiology.<ref>''Human Physiology; Expression of Veda and Vedic Literature'', Tony Nader MD, PhD, 2000, Maharishi Vedic University</ref> These forty approaches are further reduced to three areas of practical application: mind, body, and environment.<ref>Schneider, R and Fields, J: ''Total Heart Health'', page 64. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006</ref> According to Robert Schneider, M.D. and Jeremy Z. Fields, Ph.D., co-authors/researchers at the ], MVAH is the Maharishi's attempt to revive the ancient Vedic system of health care.<ref name="Schneider page 5">Schneider, R and Fields, J: ''Total Heart Health'', page 5. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006</ref> The authors explain that Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health uses forty approaches, each one based on one of the forty branches of ]. According to MVAH, each of these forty branches of Vedic literature has a direct correlation to various aspects of the human physiology.<ref>''Human Physiology; Expression of Veda and Vedic Literature'', Tony Nader MD, PhD, 2000, Maharishi Vedic University</ref> These forty approaches are further reduced to three areas of practical application: mind, body, and environment.<ref>Schneider, R and Fields, J: ''Total Heart Health'', page 64. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006</ref>

===The Mind=== ===The Mind===
The Transcendental Meditation technique is the main modality for improving mental health in MVAH. Studies have suggested a positive correlation between the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique and various health-related behaviors and physiological parameters<ref></ref> including decreased cigarette smoking,<ref name="ReferenceA">''Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11'': 13–87, 1994</ref> decreased alcohol use,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> decreased anxiety,<ref>''Journal of Clinical Psychology 45'': 957–974, 1989</ref> decreased insomnia,<ref>''Journal of Counseling and Development 64'': 212–215, 1985</ref> reduction of high ],<ref>''Journal of Human Stress 5'': 24-27, 1979</ref> improvement in lung function for patients with asthma,<ref>Wilson, AF., Honsberger, R., Chiu, JT., Novey, HS. "Transcendental meditation and asthma reduction of high blood pressure</ref> and an effect the researchers termed ].<ref>''International Journal of Neuroscience 16'': 53–58, 1982</ref> Reduced illness and medical expenditures<ref name="ReferenceB">''The American Journal of Managed Care 3'': 135–144, 1997</ref> and decreased outpatient visits have also been observed in TM practitioners.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> It may also have an effect on a variety of disorders, including ], pain, diabetes, and congestive heart failure.<ref></ref><ref> </ref><ref></ref> The ], the ], and the ] have funded research on the ] program.<ref></ref> Further research is on-going and researchers have been particularly interested in its potential usefulness in treating heart disease and hypertension, especially among African-Americans, and in promoting longevity.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Schneider RH, Alexander CN, Salerno JW, Robinson DK, Fields JZ, Nidich SI |title=Disease prevention and health promotion in the aging with a traditional system of natural medicine: Maharishi Vedic Medicine |journal=J Aging Health |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=57–78 |year=2002 |month=February |pmid=11892761 |pmc=2211377 |doi= |url=http://jah.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/14/1/57}}</ref> The Transcendental Meditation technique is the main modality for improving mental health in MVAH. Studies have suggested a positive correlation between the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique and various health-related behaviors and physiological parameters<ref></ref> including decreased cigarette smoking,<ref name="ReferenceA">''Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11'': 13–87, 1994</ref> decreased alcohol use,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> decreased anxiety,<ref>''Journal of Clinical Psychology 45'': 957–974, 1989</ref> decreased insomnia,<ref>''Journal of Counseling and Development 64'': 212–215, 1985</ref> reduction of high ],<ref>''Journal of Human Stress 5'': 24-27, 1979</ref> improvement in lung function for patients with asthma,<ref>Wilson, AF., Honsberger, R., Chiu, JT., Novey, HS. "Transcendental meditation and asthma reduction of high blood pressure</ref> and an effect the researchers termed ].<ref>''International Journal of Neuroscience 16'': 53–58, 1982</ref> Reduced illness and medical expenditures<ref name="ReferenceB">''The American Journal of Managed Care 3'': 135–144, 1997</ref> and decreased outpatient visits have also been observed in TM practitioners.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> It may also have an effect on a variety of disorders, including ], pain, diabetes, and congestive heart failure.<ref></ref><ref> </ref><ref></ref> The ], the ], and the ] have funded research on the ] program.<ref></ref> Further research is on-going and researchers have been particularly interested in its potential usefulness in treating heart disease and hypertension, especially among African-Americans, and in promoting longevity.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Schneider RH, Alexander CN, Salerno JW, Robinson DK, Fields JZ, Nidich SI |title=Disease prevention and health promotion in the aging with a traditional system of natural medicine: Maharishi Vedic Medicine |journal=J Aging Health |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=57–78 |year=2002 |month=February |pmid=11892761 |pmc=2211377 |doi= |url=http://jah.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/14/1/57}}</ref>

Revision as of 20:18, 16 November 2009

Main article: Transcendental Meditation

Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health (MVAH) (also known as Maharishi Ayurveda and Maharishi Vedic Medicine) was founded internationally in the mid 1980s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health is considered an alternative medicine and aims at being a complementary system to modern western medicine. MVAH aims to restore balance in the physiology, eliminate toxins and impurities, and awaken the body's natural healing mechanisms.

Principles

According to Robert Schneider, M.D. and Jeremy Z. Fields, Ph.D., co-authors/researchers at the Maharishi University of Management, MVAH is the Maharishi's attempt to revive the ancient Vedic system of health care. The authors explain that Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health uses forty approaches, each one based on one of the forty branches of Vedic literature. According to MVAH, each of these forty branches of Vedic literature has a direct correlation to various aspects of the human physiology. These forty approaches are further reduced to three areas of practical application: mind, body, and environment.

The Mind

The Transcendental Meditation technique is the main modality for improving mental health in MVAH. Studies have suggested a positive correlation between the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique and various health-related behaviors and physiological parameters including decreased cigarette smoking, decreased alcohol use, decreased anxiety, decreased insomnia, reduction of high cholesterol, improvement in lung function for patients with asthma, and an effect the researchers termed "younger biological age". Reduced illness and medical expenditures and decreased outpatient visits have also been observed in TM practitioners. It may also have an effect on a variety of disorders, including ADHD, pain, diabetes, and congestive heart failure. The National Institutes of Health, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the National Center for Research Resources have funded research on the Transcendental Meditation program. Further research is on-going and researchers have been particularly interested in its potential usefulness in treating heart disease and hypertension, especially among African-Americans, and in promoting longevity.

The Body

The "Body Approach" involves reconnecting physiological functioning with the body's inner intelligence by reducing and eliminating impurities and imbalances, which are thought to be the cause of disease. The MVAH practitioner uses pulse diagnosis (also known in Sanskrit as "nadi vigyan") to determine the levels of imbalance and impurities in the patient and offer recommendations related to herbal preparations, diet, daily and seasonal routines, exercise, and physiological purification. Procedures that strengthen digestion and proper nutrient absorption are also given importance. Practitioners of MVAH believe that the pulse can be used to help detect imbalances before a disease has manifested. It is thought that herbal remedies, dietary adjustments and changes in routine initiated at this stage can prevent imbalances from developing into disease.

Another aspect of the body approach of MVAH is a series of purification therapies known as Maharishi Panchakarma. One of these purification therapies is "abhyanga", the Sanskrit word for a highly regimented oil massage. Preliminary research suggests that these Maharishi Panchakarma therapies, when used in concert with one another, may be effective in reducing cholesterol, reducing fat soluble toxins and creating an improved sense of well being.

MVAH also utilizes three kinds of sound therapy:

  • Recordings of the Vedic Literature recited in Sanskrit are played after the MVAH expert selects a specific branch of the Vedic Literature that corresponds to the appropriate area of the body.
  • Maharishi Vedic Vibration Technology (MVVT) is administered when an MVVT Vedic expert whispers within themselves some specific traditional Vedic sounds that have been chosen to address the health concerns of that individual, and then administers the sound vibrations by blowing on the affected area of the body.
  • Recordings of classical Indian music called Maharishi Gandharva Veda that are purported to integrate and harmonize the cycles and rhythms of the body.

The Environment

MVAH also considers the patient's environment. Maharishi Sthapatya Veda, a system of Vedic architecture, is the main modality for improving the immediate environment. For promoting collective health, MVAH recommends group practice of Transcendental Meditation and the TM-Sidhi program.

Maharishi Vedic Astrology (also known as Maharishi Jyotish) is said to address planetary influences on individual health. The Maharishi explained that Maharishi Jyotish is an aspect of Maharishi Ayurveda that is premised on the ability to precisely calculate mathematically the unfolding pattern of life, and to locate the trends and tendencies of an individual life within that pattern, making it possible to determine in advance whether a difficult period was coming, and to take action in the present to amend a future difficulty. This was possible, he claimed through the performance by Vedic Pandits in India of "Yagyas", ceremonies designed to restore the balance between the individual and the environment. According Maharishi Jyotish, the solar system has an influence on the human brain, cells and DNA, and Maharishi Yagya performances are Vedic engineering to avert and dissolve negativity, and through which perfection of life and all things are possible.

Training

Courses to train physicians, nurses and health professionals in the principles and practices of Maharishi Ayurveda are held in various locations in the USA. These courses include Continuing Medical Education credit in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council.

Reception

In October 1991, the Professional Conduct Committee of the British General Medical Council found Dr. Roger Chalmers, Dean of Medicine of the unrecognized Maharishi University of Natural Law, Mentmore and Dr. Leslie Davis, Dean of Physiology at that institution, guilty of "Serious Professional Misconduct" in connection with their use of Maharishi Ayur-Veda for the treatment of AIDS and HIV, and ordered them erased from the Register. The Committee found, among other things, that there were no proper and approved clinical trials for the treatments, there was inadequate scientific evidence to support the treatments, that they were prescribing and that they had made false and misleading statements on the value of MAV in the treatment of HIV and AIDs and about the TM-affiliated "World Medical Association for Perfect Health". Independent tests of the pills prescribed by Chambers and Davis showed that they had, at best, a negligible effect on the HIV virus, but were 100,000 times more toxic than AZT. Separate warnings were issued on side-effects of both Transcendental Medication and the Maharishi Ayurvedic diet, and by the British Dietetic Association on the potential dangers of the Maharishi Ayurvedic diet to AIDS patients.

In 1991, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article on the benefits of Maharishi Ayur-Veda titled Letter from New Delhi: Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Modern Insights into Ancient Medicine, authored by Hari Sharma, M.D., of the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Brihaspati Dev Triguna, of the All India Ayur-Veda Congress, and Deepak Chopra, M.D., of the American Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.

A subsequent article in JAMA alleged that the authors of the first article had not disclosed their financial ties with organizations that sell the products and services about which they wrote. The article also investigated the marketing practices surrounding Ayur-Veda products and services. It was alleged that the media had been intentionally deceived for financial gain. It also challenged the Sharma et al. claim that Maharishi Ayur-Veda was more cost effective than standard medical care. Additionally, the article reported that in the late 1980s, herbal researcher Tony Nader, at the time a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had been criticized for misrepresenting his research promoting Maharishi Ayurveda Products International (MAPI) herbal products as being sponsored by MIT and Harvard. The article reported that Nader and David Orme-Johnson were criticized by the organizers of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany, which was held at the University of Illinois in Chicago in June 1987. According to the organizers, Nader and Orme-Johnson submitted research abstracts for the conference, but the presentation that they made had little to do with the abstracts, but instead was a promotion for the herbal remedies of MAPI and for Transcendental Meditation. The JAMA article quotes a former TM teacher and chair of the TM center in Washington, D.C., as saying that he had been told to deceive the media.

A letter to the editor by Chopra and Sharma was published in JAMA in October, 1991. Chopra and Sharma wrote that many of the criticisms they had received in letters to the editor were inflammatory and had depended heavily on emotional and unfounded charges, without sound scientific backing and few references. They went on to say that the criticisms were directed largely at the TM organization, rather than to the approaches of Maharishi Ayur-Veda. Andrew Skolnick, in letter to the editor of JAMA, says Chopra and Sharma did not deny and made no apology that they had concealed from JAMA their financial ties to organizations selling and marketing the products and services about which they had written.

According to a 2008 study published in JAMA, one-fifth of the US-manufactured and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines purchased via the Internet contained detectable lead, mercury, or arsenic. More than 230 products were included in the study and two of those products were obtained from Maharishi Ayurveda Products International Inc. USA (MAPI). Ted Wallace, president of MAPI, stated that the company tests its products before and after shipment from India to the US, and that its products are examined for purity, heavy metals, residual pesticides, and biological contaminants.

In 2008, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court against Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation ("MVED"), Maharishi Ayurveda Foundation and Maharishi Ayurveda Products Ltd. ("MAP Ltd"). The Plaintiff claims that she contracted lead poisoning from Garbhapal Ras, a herbal product that, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, contained nearly 3% lead. The product was manufactured by MAP Ltd. in India, and prescribed for her by a physician at the Maharishi Ayurveda Arogyadham clinic in Delhi, India. A spokesperson for MVED said that MVED is not involved in the manufacturing, prescribing, or sale of products from the Indian clinic where the product was prescribed and sold. The spokesperson said that products sold in the U.S. are subject to inspection, testing, and quality control.

Maharishi Ayurveda is recognized by the All India Ayurvedic Congress.

See also

References

  1. Contemporary Ayurveda, Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayur-Veda, H. Sharma MD and Christopher Clark MD, 1998, Title Chapter 13
  2. Schneider, R and Fields, J: Total Heart Health: How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease with the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006
  3. The Physiology of Consciousness, Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.pp 64-66, Institue of Science and Public Policy 1986
  4. Contemporary Ayurveda, Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayur-Veda, H. Sharma MD and Christopher Clark MD, Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  5. Conquering Chronic Disease through Maharishi Vedic Medicine, Kamuda Reddy MD and Linda Egenes, Samhita/Lantern Books 2002
  6. Medical Guides to Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, Contemporary Ayurveda, Preface, Marc Marcozzi, M.D. PhD, Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  7. ^ http://articles.pointshop.com/alternative/16026.php
  8. ^ Schneider, R and Fields, J: Total Heart Health, page 5. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006
  9. Human Physiology; Expression of Veda and Vedic Literature, Tony Nader MD, PhD, 2000, Maharishi Vedic University
  10. Schneider, R and Fields, J: Total Heart Health, page 64. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006
  11. AMA Article
  12. ^ Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13–87, 1994
  13. Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 957–974, 1989
  14. Journal of Counseling and Development 64: 212–215, 1985
  15. Journal of Human Stress 5: 24-27, 1979
  16. Wilson, AF., Honsberger, R., Chiu, JT., Novey, HS. "Transcendental meditation and asthma reduction of high blood pressure
  17. International Journal of Neuroscience 16: 53–58, 1982
  18. ^ The American Journal of Managed Care 3: 135–144, 1997
  19. ABC Nres Article
  20. CBS News Article
  21. PennMedical Article
  22. AMA Article
  23. Schneider RH, Alexander CN, Salerno JW, Robinson DK, Fields JZ, Nidich SI (2002). "Disease prevention and health promotion in the aging with a traditional system of natural medicine: Maharishi Vedic Medicine". J Aging Health. 14 (1): 57–78. PMC 2211377. PMID 11892761. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. The Physiology of Consciounsness, Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.pp 76-79, Institue of Science and Public Policy 1986
  25. ^ Contemporary Ayurveda; Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayurveda, H. Sharma MD, C. Clark MD, pp. 54-56 Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  26. http://74.125.95.132/u/maharishi?q=cache:XAVAKZUJspoJ:www.mum.edu/pdf/msvs/v02/glaser.pdf+research+ayurveda&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us&ie=UTF-8
  27. The Physiology of Consciounsness, Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.pp 76-89, Institue of Science and Public Policy 1986
  28. The Physiology of Consciousness, Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.pp 105-107, Institue of Science and Public Policy 1986
  29. Medical Guides to Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, Contemporary Ayurveda, Christopher Clark MD, Hare Sharma MD, p. 109 Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  30. http://74.125.95.104/u/maharishi?q=cache:XAVAKZUJspoJ:www.mum.edu/pdf/msvs/v02/glaser.pdf+panchakarma+research&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us&ie=UTF-8
  31. Waldschutz R 1988 Influence of Maharishi Ayur-Veda purification treatment on physiological and psychological health Erfahrungsheilkunde - Acta medica empirca 2:720-729
  32. Lipohil-mediated reduction of toxicants in humans: an evluation of ayurvedic detoxification procedure, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2002;8:40-51 John Fagen, Robert Herron Ph.D.
  33. Schneider R H, Cavanaugh K L, Kasture H S, et al. 1990 Health promotion with a traditional system of natural health care: Maharishi Ayur-Veda, Journal of Social Behavior and Personality 5(3):1-27
  34. Sharma H M, Nidich S, Sands D, Smith D E 1993 Improvements in cardiovascular risk factors through Panchakarma purification procedures, Journal of Research and Education in Indian Medicine 12(4):2-13
  35. The Maharishi Ayurveda Treatment of Ten Chronic Diseases — A Pilot Study,Netherlands Magazine of Integrated Science, Vol. 5, No. 35, pp. 586-594, 1989, G.W.H.M. Janssen, MD
  36. Contemporary Ayurveda; Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayurveda, H. Sharma MD, C. Clark MD, p. 142 Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  37. ^ The Physiology of Consciousness, Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.pp 99-102, Institue of Science and Public Policy 1986
  38. Schneider, R and Fields, J: Total Heart Health: How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease with the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006 pp. 214-216
  39. Contemporary Ayurveda; Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayurveda, H. Sharma MD, C. Clark MD, p. 143
  40. Schneider, R and Fields, J: Total Heart Health: How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease with the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006 p. 212
  41. Contemporary Ayurveda; Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayurveda, H. Sharma MD, C. Clark MD, pp. 145-146 Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  42. Contemporary Ayurveda; Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayurveda, H. Sharma MD, C. Clark MD, pp. 147-149 Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  43. Orme-Johnson D, Alexander C N, Davies J L, Chandler H M, Larimore W E 1988 International peace project in the Middle East: the effects of the Maharishi Technology of the Unified Field. Journal of Conflict Resolution 32:776-812
  44. The Physiology of Consciousness, Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.pp 107-109, Institue of Science and Public Policy 1986
  45. ^ Contemporary Ayurveda; Medicine and Research in Maharishi Ayurveda, H. Sharma MD, C. Clark MD, pp. 144-145 Churchill Livingstone 1998.
  46. O'Connell, David F. & Alexander, Charles N.Self-Recovery: Treating Addictions Using Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Ayur-Veda Routledge, 1995 ISBN 1560244542, 9781560244547 p.419
  47. Bonshek, Anna , Bonshek, Corrina and Fergusson, Lee C.,The Big Fish: Consciousness as Structure, Body and Space Rodopi, 2007 ISBN 9042021721, 9789042021723 p.155
  48. MAAA web site
  49. "Cult doctors investigated over herbal anti-AIDS pills", The Independent (August 19, 1990)
  50. "Ayurvedic docs promote unproven AIDS pills", NCAHF Newsletter (January 1, 1991)
  51. Press Release : The General Medical Council, London, England (October 25, 1991).
  52. ^ Skolnick AA (1991). "Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Guru's marketing scheme promises the world eternal 'perfect health'". JAMA. 266 (13): 1741–2, 1744–5, 1749–50. PMID 1817475. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  53. Emery, Gene "Troubled times for the Maharishi Medical branch accused of deception, misinformation", Providence Journal (November 24, 1991) p D-4
  54. Sharma HM, Triguna BD, Chopra D (1991). "Maharishi Ayur-Veda: modern insights into ancient medicine". JAMA. 265 (20): 2633–4, 2637. PMID 1817464.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  55. A 1992 lawsuit brought against the article's author and the editor of JAMA was dismissed in 1993.Perry, Tony, "Alternative care edges into medical mainstream", Los Angeles Times (September 19, 1994)"Deepak's days in court", New York Times Sec 6 p 12 (August 18, 1996) A Newsweek article published four years later stating that there had been a monetary settlement of the case was later withdrawn as untrue."Correction", Newsweek (November 17, 1997)</
  56. JAMA Volume 266, No13, October 2, 1991
  57. JAMA. 1992;267(10):1339-1340 (March 11, 1992)
  58. JAMA. 2008;300(8):915-923
  59. ^ Ellin, Abby, "Skin Deep; Ancient, but how safe?", New York Times (September 18, 2008)
  60. The products "Vital Lady" and "Worry Free", manufactured by Maharishi Ayurveda, were found to contain lead.
  61. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/300/8/915
  62. ^ Szabo, Liz, "Study finds toxins in some herbal medicines", USA Today (August 26, 2008)
  63. ^ "Iowa: Woman claims poisoning by herbal product", Associated Press (March 11, 2008)

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