Integrating Ayurveda and Modern Medicine - Part 4
The Present State and Future of Integrative Medicine
*This post is part 4 of a 4-part series: You can review Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3!
Integrative medicine remains a big tent discipline as of the time of writing (2024). Everything from lifestyle medicine to Traditional Chinese Medicine to naturopathy to energy work to functional medicine and to Ayurveda falls under this category. There are many ways in which practitioners bring their integrative visions to life. At The Buddha's Medicine, ours, of course is rooted in weaving together Ayurveda and modern medical practice.
The integration of Ayurveda with modern medicine requires a solid foundation in evidence-based practice, and a skillset in reading and critiquing medical and Western scientific literature. Modern research methods and clinical trials play a key role in supporting the use of a variety of integrative therapies in practice, and this is highly valuable in the current healthcare landscape.
Of course, there are also very real limitations to the clinical trial model. Clinical trials, by and large, help to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the interventions studied on a population-wide level. This means that by reading and understanding the results published in a given trial, we can draw some statistical conclusions. For example, in studying the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements to reduce the risk of death from an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, we can say with some confidence how likely a generic person with atrial fibrillation is to benefit from taking an omega-3 supplement. However, that study - and this is true of all studies - is unable to predict the response of any single individual showing up for care as a patient.
This is one of the ways that our brand of integrative medicine shines - at The Buddha's Medicine, we are always willing and able to take quality research studies into consideration (and, in fact, my additional studies in public health, leading to a master's degree, or MPH, help me do just that). However, we are never tied to the results of clinical trials and other studies alone. The goal is always to see, hear, and assess the patient sitting in front of us as a unique individual first and foremost. Everything else follows from that.
One of our many interests as contributors to the field of integrative medicine is to lead by example in this way. In our view, though this approach should be the norm, it is very much not the norm at the time of writing.
The Future of Integrative Medicine
Innovative Practices
Among the many virtues of the broader integrative medicine field is the promise of innovative practices that blend the best of multiple worlds. One area of exciting development is the use of personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to an individual's genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Advances in technology, such as digital health tools and telemedicine, are also revolutionizing how we deliver integrative care, making it more accessible and personalized. All of this and more has great potential for integration with the system of Ayurveda, whose principles emphasize the need for hyper-individualized assessment and care.
Research, Education, and Collaboration
Ongoing research and collaboration between Ayurvedic and Western medical practitioners is an area for great potential development. In fact, this has become more the norm than the exception in India, and we believe similar collaboration would serve the medical and patient communities in the West as well. By working together, we can develop ever more comprehensive strategies for care, and at the same time, continue to validate traditional practices (as much modern research does), and develop treatment models that address the complex nature of modern care needs. Collaboration also may offer a collective way forward in improving medical education, which is presently lacking in important areas including nutrition, mind/body wellness, trauma-informed care, the impact of community on health, the relationship between health and nature exposure, and much more.
Our Vision for Healthcare
Our vision for the future of healthcare is one where integrative medicine is the standard for medical practice, and where holistic and comprehensive care is available and accessible to all. In this ideal future, healthcare is understood not just as a means for treating disease, but about promoting whole-person healing and positive well-being, and preventing illness before it starts. Patients will have access to a wider range of effective therapies that address their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The relationship between providers and patients will be less transactional, and more personal and therapeutic. We believe that integrative medicine will lead the way forward in developing a more patient-centered, compassionate, and effective healthcare system that benefits everyone who touches it.
There is great potential in the integration of Ayurveda with modern medicine. By combining the strengths of both systems, genuine comprehensive care is possible - care that addresses the root causes of disease and promotes long-term health and wellness. Our belief is that the future of healthcare lies in embracing this holistic, patient-centered approach, where prevention, early intervention, and personalized treatment are the norm. We encourage you to explore the possibilities of integrative medicine with us, and consider becoming a new patient, taking the first step towards a healthier, more balanced life. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, healthier future for ourselves and for each other.
As always, if you are curious about your constitution & health (or health of a loved one), you can book a cost-free, 15min Consultation, and we’ll discuss!
Professional disclaimer: please do not initiate any herbal or other medicinal interventions without the guidance of a knowledgeable provider.
Dr. Matt Van Auken, MD, MPH
Dr. Matt is an Ayurveda-trained, triple board-certified physician.
