Loading...Americans have grown accustomed to hearing about acupuncture and herbs such as ginkgo from traditional Chinese medicine. But most have never heard of another ancient healing tradition, Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic medicine comes from India, where its history stretches back thousands of years. The idea of achieving a harmonious balance of doshas with yoga, diet and herbs such as boswellia and turmeric is unfamiliar in this country, but some practitioners suggest we could benefit from a closer acquaintance.
Guests:
David Mathis, MD, FAAFP, ABHM, D.Ay. (Board-Certified Family Medicine; Board-Certified Holistic Medicine; Diplomate Ayurvedic Medicine), co-created Integrative Medicine of Northern Virginia, the first full-service medical practice in the U.S. truly integrating western medicine and Ayurveda.
Debbie Mathis, MA, D.Ay. (Diplomate Ayurvedic Medicine), is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Certified Meditation Instructor who studied Ayurveda in the U.S. and India. She designed and directed SPAyurveda and its panchakarma program at Integrative Medicine of Northern Virginia, and continues to develop and administer educational programs for Ayurveda-MD. The photo is of David and Debbie Mathis.
Jennifer Rioux, PhD, is a medical anthropologist, Ayurvedic clinician, educator and researcher. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina and a Visiting Scholar through the South Asia Consortium. Dr. Rioux is Director of Integral Ayurveda in Chapel Hill. From 2004-2008 she served on the Board of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and as Chair of the professional standards committee. She is studying the professionalization of Ayurvedic medicine in the West and its relationships to the Integrative Medicine movement.
Becky
Web
SO sorry this program is no longer available, Joe and Terry… would it be possible to offer a collection of programs these on topics (such as this), especially in light of today’s broadcast of Show 1132: “Are Infections to Blame for Alzheimer Disease?” following up the discussion RE: treatment? Offered collectively either here, as download, on CD. Thanks for awesomeness! I’m a looong time listener :D
Headway
Los angeles
Excellent show,I love it.
Jane
I loved the show and have been reading about. The day I finished my first book about it I had an appointment with an allergist because twice I have been hospitalized for severe allergic reactions. Well, I tested negative for everything and the allergist gave me information on how to change my diet . . . just in case. The diet is EXACTLY what the Ayruveda book said about me – 5000 years can’t be wrong! Thanks for a great show.
Jim
I usually enjoy the show and find the information presented informative and timely, but this show on Ayurvedic medicine was a genuine disappointment. Why were there no questions asked as to whether this “System of medicine” actually works? If it is a “Science” as described by the guest, where is the evidence for the idea of the three “doshas” or how there presence is determined?
And why concentrate on how old the practice is or whether it is “Easters” or “Western”- how is that relevant to disease prevention and health promotion?
Terry and Joe were like to children listening to the story of Santa Claus. I hope that in the future Terry and Joe will be willing to ask their guests the tough question, regardless of which “tradition” of medicine they represent, so that the audience can get meaningful information to make rational health decision.
Debbie Mathis
We should eat the largest meal of the day when our digestion is up to the task. Our digestive power is at its best from 10 am to 2 pm, so “dinner” (which is what we used to call the mid-day meal) is best eaten then. Having a big breakfast is a fairly recent idea in the west (100 years or so), but it’s not what our bodies are best suited to, because our digestive fire is low in the morning.
Debbie Mathis
The other herb we mentioned was Gymnema sylvestre, also called Gumar or Shardunika. It is used to increase insulin production in the pancreas, help regulate blood glucose levels and enhance glucose tolerance.Gymnema has been shown to regulate cravings for sweet foods and reduce excessive appetite. If you are on diabetic medication, please inform your physician that you are using Gymnema and monitor your blood sugar.
Debbie Mathis
Hi Terry:
Our website is http://www.ayurveda-md.com. Thanks for your interest.
Debbie Mathis
LS
I became familiar with Ayurveda when I lived in Washington state. I use Ayurveda Rasayana’s for my health. I really love your show. I used a burn remedy I heard about on your show. Soy sauce. I scalded my inner arm from the heel of my hand to the crook of my elbow with scalding water from the micro wave, I immediately poured soy sauce on the area and continued for 15 minutes. In that short a time, the heat and the pain were gone. My doctor and her nurse could not believe I wasn’t hurting an hour later when I saw them.
I have no scaring, just lovely new white, very white skin. It did take a few months to heal. Thank you for sharing the home remedies. This one works a miracle for me. I only used the micro wave to heat water, I now use my good old tea kettle.
I listen to your show at 6am on Saturday mornings and you air again on Sunday afternoons.
Glenn
Joe and Terry,
Thanks so much for your show. The supplement mentioned on your show is spelled Triphala. I have spent the week researching it. Gonna place an order in just a few minutes.
Keep up the good work.
Anna K
Since Ayurveda suggests getting up before 6 am and retiring before 10 pm, how is this affected by a change to daylight savings time or the reverse? Does your body compensate somehow, or is there something a person could do to help the body adjust? I have a really hard time with the time change in the fall, and I spend most of the winter feeling drowsy. (Maybe I should have been a bear!)
marvin
What do you recommend for back pain and leg pain and foot pain??
dwd
I only half listened to the show. Every time your guests said something, it kind of reaffirmed the reason I kind of only half listened. I concede that placebos can work on some ailments about 30% of the time. I consider this stuff probably as good as a placebo. But if it works (or appears to work) for some folks and gives them peace of mind, then what the heck.
If these kind of touchy-feeley spokes people had their methods subjected to more evidence based studies and compared to traditional medical practices I would feel more assured.
Yoga and meditation can be helpful and I do participate in both of those.
JL
Enjoyed hearing about ayurvedic medicine; wish we could have had the opportunity to call with questions.
Charles
I found the information on the show quite skeptical. What are the statistics that tongue shape is associated with a specific medical condition? I considered the data anecdotal. I prefer a physician who is familiar with studies such as Wald and Law who carried out studies on Monotherapy vs Combination Therapy in reducing blood pressure analysis on 11,000 patients from 42 trials.
Charles
Rob
I agree. I regularly listen to The People’s Pharmacy, but this episode sounded like total snake oil to me. Define exactly what you mean by “balance”. That’s metaphysical mumbo jumbo. I accept that certain herbs and practices (meditation, massage, etc) have health benefits, but back up your assertions with evidence and define your terms. I lost some respect for the show this weekend.
Ann Hicks
Joe and Terry,
I enjoyed the Ayurveda information but when I stuck out my tongue I wasn’t sure how far to do it. At first, it looked narrow, then I sruck it our more and it looked triangular, then I REALLY stuck it out and it was wide and flat. Now what?
I can’t tell what type of dosha I am???
But I know one thing for sure, like Joe, I LOVE hot peppers and eat them daily.
Thanks for your consistently wonderful shows guys!
Ann
wickman23
I am an Ayurvedic practitioner in Eau Claire, WI and found this program to be wonderful! Debbie and Dave Mathis did a fantastic job. I am so pleased to see that many Americans are opening their hearts and minds to Ayurveda. I have seen several of my clients make an about face with their health by integrating principles of Ayurveda and Yoga into their lives. I will use this program to introduce people to Ayurveda. It will save me the time of re-explaining the basic principles over and over again! Thank you very much.
SB
I would also like to know the other herb mentioned that was good for sugar problems. Seems like its meaning was no “not sweetness’??
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: THE NAME WAS “GUMAR.” THE BOTANICAL NAME IS GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE. IT IS AN HERB THAT CAN HELP LOWER BLOOD SUGAR.
Haydar T.
Dear All,
I always thought your breakfast should be your main meal that you eat big, not your lunch and definitely not your dinner. But on the show it’s mentioned that it should not be breakfast but your lunch should be the big one. I cannot quite remember the reason behind that. Could anybody explain it to me once again why? It was something to do with your metabolism, that much I remember.
Thank you very much in advance, I appreciate it.
Kind Regards,
Haydar T.
Lewis G
You embarrassed yourselves by airing this show on ayurvedic “medicine.” Why was there no call for the “gold standard” of randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind tests of the outlandish claims made by the ayrurvedic practitioner? Why didn’t Joe or Terry apply any of the standards of evidence based medicine to all of this anecdotal drivel? What is the evidence than an ayurvedic practitioner can diagnose based on the appearance of one’s tongue or the feel of one’s pulse beat?
Joe and Terry sat there and allowed all sorts of unscientific nonsense to be broadcast without raising the slightest doubt as to whether any of these claims were reliable. For shame!
lucy
I was interested but quite skeptical about this. I’m not surprised that some of the herbs seem to have health benefits, but the philosophy of the different human types and the idea that tongue shape can indicate what type you are sounds very strange and unscientific. To learn a little more I looked Ayurvedic Medicine up on Quackwatch.com and Wikepedia. I hope the listeners do some good research before putting a lot of faith in this form of medicine.
B. Bowlin
I was listening to your program this morning, and was still half asleep. It mentioned that turmeric and something else was good for sugar problems.
My triglycerides are 350. The doctors at Baylor have put me on Trilipix. It is expensive.
I have turmeric in my spice rack.
What was the “other thing”? It had a name I never heard of.
I appreciate it so much. Thanks.
Mike R
Ayurvedic, 5,000 yrs.
“Western”, 150 yrs.
hmmmm….
mr
With uncommon words, such as in today’s discussion, would appreciate a spelling of the most important words, either in the recap or initial introduction. This helps those of us trying to do further research but using the phonetic spelling (or what we THINK is a phonetic spelling).
Peggy, Superior, WI.
I set my alarm clock so I wouldn’t miss the early a.m. show. It was well worth it. I will be sure to do some research on Ayurvedic Medicine.
Love your show!
Peggy
patti r
THANK YOU for a great show.
I have always felt “out of balance” with my life. Listening to your show today touched me deeply and it maybe an answer to my search. I found myself wanted more information about Ayurvedic medicine and how I can apply the practice to my life today.
nubia
Great show! Great information. As always you have excellent programs and guests in your show.
Terri
Excellent. At the end of the show, Debbie Mathis mentioned their website but I missed it. Would you please post that for me? thanks!
Regina B.
Good Saturday Morning,
I just finished listening to the show and am on my way to researching my dosha. Another excellent show, thanks for putting out such timely info.
Take care and happy holidays, and Joe, balance those peppers.
Cheers,
Regina B.
11/14/2009