Aswathy V J

The Department of Panchakarma at VPSV Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, conducted "Vasti Sameeksha," a comprehensive two-day workshop on December 7-8, 2024, focusing on the advanced Ayurvedic practice of Niruha. This workshop brought together 73 participants, including postgraduate scholars and faculty from leading Kerala Ayurveda colleges, to deepen the understanding and update practices of Niruha through classical and contemporary perspectives. The workshop was structured around 106 pre-collected questions on various aspects of Niruha such as indications, dosage, and procedures, which were extensively discussed to reconcile traditional texts with modern application needs. Moderated by experts Dr. Kirathamoorthy P.P. and Dr. G. Vinodkumar, the sessions facilitated a collaborative forum for standardizing operational procedures and exploring innovative formulations, notably the integration of Saindhava in Ksheera Vasti. The discussions also highlighted the challenges in clinical assessments and post-procedural care, stressing the need for ongoing research and adaptation of practices. This collaborative effort marked a significant step in standardizing Niruha treatments and documented the refined understandings for future educational and clinical use.

The article explores the intersection of Ayurveda and epigenetics, presenting a novel framework for preventive and precision healthcare. Ayurveda, with its holistic principles of Prakriti (individual constitution), Pathya-Apathya (wholesome/ unwholesome), and Swasthavritta (healthy living), provides a rich philosophical and practical base for influencing gene expression. Epigenetics, which studies heritable changes in gene function without DNA sequence alterations, offers mechanistic insights into how environmental factors, lifestyle, diet, and emotional states affect gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. The article elucidates the epigenetic basis of health and disease, highlighting the role of these modifications in conditions like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. It draws parallels between Ayurvedic concepts such as Beeja (genetic material), Vikriti (deviation from normalcy), and Garbhini Paricharya (antenatal care), and modern understandings of gene regulation. It emphasizes how Ayurvedic practices—like Dinacharya, Ritucharya, and Garbhopaghatakarabhava—can favorably influence epigenetic outcomes. The emerging field of Ayurgenomics is presented as a bridge between traditional Ayurvedic wisdom and modern genomics, supporting personalized medicine. The article concludes by suggesting that integrating Ayurveda with epigenetic science holds immense potential for advancing individualized health strategies and fostering long-term well-being.