European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AYURGENOMICS – THE NEXT GENERATION INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS PERSONALIZED MEDICINE

Suma K. J.* and Manjunath Kanthi

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda the science of Life, aims at promoting the Health and treating the Diseased. It contains some fundamental principles like Prakruti, Tridosha, Panchamahabhuta, Panchakarma and others. Though these principles are widely used in the clinical practice by an Ayurvedic Physician for treatment, they are not completely explored. The mode of action of Panchakarma (the five bio Purification therapies) are very less understood though they are extensively used in treating almost all diseases. Understanding the Basic principles of Ayurveda through some modern parameters is the need of the hour. Prakruti is the discreet phenotype and they are determined on the basis of physical, psychological, physiological and Behavioural traits, and independent of social, ethnic and geographical variables. Since Prakrutis underlie an individual’s predisposition to disease as well as response to treatment, it is imperative in Ayurvedic practice to identify the Prakruti of a patient before treatment. According to Genomics, individual’s basic constitution is decided by its genetic makeup which indirectly reflects the levels of various biochemical parameters influencing the health and disease. Genomics has ushered in an era of predictive, preventive and personalized medicine wherein it is hoped that not too far in the future there would be a paradigm shift in the practice of medicine from a generalized symptomatic approach to an individualized approach based on his or her genetic makeup.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Genes, Panchakarma, Prakruti, Gut microbiome.