Sandhya Raghavan
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Written By: Sandhya Raghavan | Updated : November 22, 2017 11:55 AM IST
One of the biggest enigmas of modern medical science is autoimmunity -- a condition where there is a mutiny within one's own body. It's an abnormal immune response of the organism against its own cells. It is stunning to note that this single aberration can cause around 80 diseases like lupus, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Kawasaki disease or ulcerative colitis; each distinct from the other depending on which cells of the body get attacked.
Having lived with one myself, I can say that those were some of the darkest days of my life. My doctors shrugged every time I asked them for an explanation. "You are just plain unlucky," was what my family physician told me. Unlucky indeed! And what's the point in blaming them when medical science is itself groping in the dark to find answers? Read how Ayurveda helped me beat ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura)
Finally, when I did get better, thanks to Ayurveda, I was determined to do some investigation of my own. And that brought me to Dr Manaan Gandhi, Ayurvedic physician at The Integral Ayurveda. No matter what sceptics say, I have always believed that there is a strong mind-body connection when it comes to autoimmunity. There is something beyond the physical body that makes some people more vulnerable to autoimmunity than others. And approaching the problem symptomatically wouldn't cut it. "It can only be dealt with holistically," agrees Dr Gandhi as he goes on to explain the metaphysical source of the problem.
Cellular intelligence according to Ayurveda
Dr Gandhi explains, " There is a kind of cellular intelligence that enables each of our cells to perform certain functions: for the cells own survival, for the tissues they form a part of, for the organ that the tissues make up and for the organism as a whole. It operates on various levels to accomplish these different functions."
He says that this deeper intelligence helps bind the individual's consciousness to his cells. This can be understood with the help of the Hindu doctrine of Sharira Traya or the three bodies, explained in the Vedanta. According to ancient wisdom, all living beings have three kinds of bodies: Shtul Sharira, Karan Sharira and Sukshma Sharira.
Dr Gandhi explains, "Think of the magnet. It's possible to see the magnet and touch it but not possible to see its magnetic effect that draws iron to itself. That's how the Shtul Sharira and the other two work."
The three bodies are bound together by an understanding of the self, called Ahamkara, which helps the individual identify with all the three bodies unified as one.
How autoimmunity begins
Dr Gandhi observes that those with conditions like autoimmunity or cancer often go through emotional strife stemming from their own personal values. Such people are idealistic and have an internal code of conduct that they value over everything else. "But having those values is one thing and adhering to them is another," he says. I knew Dr Gandhi's words had a lot of truth in them. As a person, I liked to believe that I had a strong moral compass. But more often than not, I found myself going against my own personal values. I would end up constantly berating myself and feeling guilty about things I had no control over.
Also, science backs what Ayurveda espoused centuries ago. One of the comorbidities of autoimmunity is anxiety and depression, often seen in people who are conflicted morally.1 It is difficult for such people to live in a cut-throat, competitive environment that places no importance on ethics. And sadly, they have to watch themselves sacrifice their ideals for selfish pursuits every day. For example, a person who has strong opinions against animal cruelty may sometimes have to consume animal products for health reasons. Or someone may have to backstab their friend for professional gain at work.
"When such situations arise, the person may find themselves at moral crossroads, where their thoughts and beliefs are not in alignment with their actions. That's where cracks develop between your Shtul Sharira and your Sukhsma Sharira. Your Ahamkara is breached, "he explains.
"The fracture in the Ahamkara also makes the individual berate himself and seek validation in others because they no longer trust their own judgements," says Dr Gandhi. In other words, they suffer from low self-esteem.
The problem escalates
This breach causes makes the cellular intelligence go awry. With the fracture in the Ahamkara, the ShtulSharira and the SukhsmaSharira that worked in unison, now functions separately."Once the ego is broken, the body and its cells won't cooperate, leading to a type of civil war in the body," says Dr Gandhi. Interestingly, that's how many medical professionals would describe autoimmunity, as civil war in that wages in the body among its own cells.
This also explains why autoimmune conditions always rear their heads when you are stressed. When you have an ongoing moral and emotional conflict inside your head, you will experience tremendous amounts of stress, which can trigger a relapse or a flare up of the autoimmune condition.
What should be done?
The road to recovery does not depend only on a good lifestyle and a proper diet. "If you really want to break free from autoimmunity, you should look inwards and do some self-introspection," says the doctor. For starters, try being easy on yourself. Understand that you are human and it's perfectly ok to be less than perfect at times. Trust your thoughts and actions and don't look for validation in other people's opinions.
"Meditate and truly try to understand how you think. It's OK to let go of your values if it is causing you so much mental stress," he opines. Understand that it is good to be idealistic, but straying from your values won't make you a lesser person. To correct your autoimmunity, you will have to correct your own worldview and be true to yourself. "Ensure what you say and what you think is in perfect alignment with what you do," he concludes.
Reference:
Balon, R. (2006). Mood, anxiety, and physical illness: body and mind, or mind and body?. Depression and anxiety, 23(6), 377-387.
