Personalised Medicine: Bridging Modern Trends and Ancient Ayurvedic Wisdom

Personalized Medicine has recently evolved at an incredible pace. The practice of Precision Medicine came into the picture in 2001 following the completion of the Human Genome Project. Long before 2001 and the study of genetics, Indians have been practising Ayurveda for more than 5,000 years now. The earliest references have been found in Rigveda, which dates back to approximately 1500-1200 BCE. 

Much like precision medicine, which tailors treatment to an individual, Ayurveda customizes medicine based on an individual’s Prakriti. In this article, we put effort into highlighting how personalized medicine is connecting contemporary advancements with traditional wisdom.

Introduction: The Rise of Personalized Medicine

Personalised medicine is replacing the conventional style of treatment, which is the use of the same drugs or the same treatment for everybody from the traditional "one-size-fits-all" approach. Personalised medicine means targeted medical treatment based on the patient’s genetic makeup, lifestyle, and other factors, with the goal of attaining better results.

This approach is proving strong by benefiting from signs of progress made in the field of genomics, data analysis and artificial intelligence; it allows doctors to predict diseases, enhance the results and reduce harmful consequences. However, the idea of practising what is today known as personalised medicine has been practised since ancient times in terms of Ayurveda. Ancient India also followed the system of Ayurveda, which allowed medication to be taken according to an individual’s Prakriti or natural tendencies. 

As the world has adopted this modern concept, let us understand how Ayurveda, which has been a part of Indian culture for centuries, can complement or expand the idea of personalised medicine.

The Current Scenario of Personalized Medicine

Personalised medicine is the foundation of pharmacogenomics and molecular medicine and is increasingly attracting global interest. Such advantages have opened some opportunities that previously could have been considered impossible. The advancements are accompanied by challenges, which include high costs, ethical dilemmas, and issues with data privacy. Key developments include:  

Genomic Sequencing: Technological progression of CRISPR. It is a gene editing technology that allows scientists to modify the DNA of living organisms. Along with next-generation sequencing, it gives a definite understanding of the genetic exposures to diseases.

Pharmacogenomics: Taken literally, it means that in the case of taking a particular tablet, it is possible to match it to the individual’s genetics to avoid unwanted consequences like ADR or a delayed medication response and make the outcome as effective as possible.

Cancer Treatments: Targeted immunotherapies that are personalised depending on the tumour markers are preventing or reducing lethality in conditions such as melanoma and breast cancer.

Wearable Technologies: Wearable devices such as smartwatches capture health information promptly and precisely to offer proactive health care.

AI and Big Data: The use of AI-produced pattern recognition in extensive data sets allows clinicians to design particular treatments.

Ayurveda: The Ancient Pioneer of Personalization

As India’s oldest system of traditional medicine, Ayurveda has always acknowledged the variation and uniqueness of people. Panchakarma therapy is an exceptional corrective mechanism. The most basic principles of Ayurveda consist of the determination of Prakriti, a type of inherited disposition based on the three fundamental principles of doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.  These doshas influence everything from metabolism to mental health; their balance or imbalance determines one’s health.

Ayurvedic Practices Implemented In  Personalized Medicine:

1. Prakriti Analysis is a research based on a detailed assessment of physical, mental, and emotional attributes. Ayurveda organises treatments, diets, and lifestyle modifications that are unique to each individual.
2. Herbal Formulations is an anchor of Ayurvedic medicines. The treatments for doshic issues can be prescribed for an individual by using specific herbs or formulations. While most synthetic drugs work based on dosages. 
3. Seasonal Adjustments in Ayurveda consider environmental factors like seasons, offering personalised health guidelines to maintain balance throughout the year.
4. Detoxification and Rejuvenation, known as Panchakarma therapies in traditional medicine, are customised to cleanse and restore the doshic imbalance in the human body, focusing on individual needs.

Modern Personalized Medicine and Ayurveda: Points of Intersection

Both modern personalised medicine and Ayurveda recognise that healthcare is not just about treating symptoms but also addressing the root cause and individual uniqueness.

1. Individual-Centric Care: Modern personalised medicine uses genetic testing, while Ayurveda uses Prakriti analysis to categorise patients correctly. These two systems strive to implement the process of designing the interventions that will be delivered to a target group.

2. Preventive Healthcare: Ayurveda focuses on Dinacharya, which are daily practices, and Ritucharya, which are practices to follow depending on the season, much like the wearing of smartwatches and the use of predictive modelling in modern-day treatment.

3. Holistic Approach: Personalized medicine targets only one aspect, such as molecular chemistry and genetics. On the other hand, Ayurveda combines physical, mental, and even spiritual approaches to health.

4. Natural Therapies and Biologics: The use of Biologics and plant-based medicine in the modern day may be compared to the usage of herbs and formulations in Ayurveda. 

Ayurgenomics: Bridging Tradition & Science

What is Ayurgenomics?

 A blend of Ayurveda and genomics, Ayurgenomics seeks to merge ancient wisdom with modern science to understand individual health variations better.

The key task is connecting DNA variations with ‘Prakriti’ (an individual’s innate constitution described in Ayurveda). The goal is to combine Ayurgenomics and pharmacogenetics, which could pave the way for precise, personalised drug therapies rooted in tradition and cutting-edge science.

Prakriti and Metabolism: 

People with Pitta Prakriti are often fast metabolisers. Those with Kapha Prakriti tend to metabolise drugs more slowly. Such variations may relate to differences in drug-metabolizing enzyme (DME) polymorphisms.

Genetics Meets Tradition:

Research has found links between CYP2C19 enzyme genotypes, the key for metabolising certain drugs and Prakriti types, showing overlaps with pharmacogenetics.

Achieving Personalized Medicine:

The science of SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), which impacts drug response, parallels Ayurveda’s Prakriti-based approach to health.

Both SNP-based and Prakriti-based medicine emphasises individualised treatments rooted in unique biological and genetic profiles.

Conclusion- Ayurveda Inspires Personalized Medicine

As personalised medicine evolves, incorporating Ayurvedic principles could bring new dimensions to this field. As Ayurveda inspires personalised medicine, lifestyle also plays a vital role; complete natural health can only be achieved through food, exercise and everyday movements, according to Ayurveda. Perhaps modern treatments could benefit from the addition of those effective lifestyle changes. Ethical medications in Ayurveda emphasise harmony with nature and minimal side effects, offering valuable insights into sustainable drug development. 

In addition to physical factors, Ayurveda also focuses on elements like mental, emotional, environmental, and biological data. This promotes holistic diagnostics. Modern medicine could benefit from Ayurveda’s comprehensive diagnostic approach. It may be possible to extend the use of Ayurvedic principles to offer cheap, preventive care approaches, thus popularising customised healthcare in a low-resource environment and boosting cost-effectiveness.