Ayurvedic Perspective of Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance – A Scientific Elucidation
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Abstract
Ayurveda, a time-honored Indian medical system that has been recorded and practiced since 1500 B.C., follows a methodical approach that shares significant similarities with modern personalized genomic medicine approaches in understanding and treating health and disease. The trisutra consists of three interconnected components: causes, features, and treatment methods. These aspects are unified by a single organizing principle known as 'tridosha'. Tridosha encompasses three distinct physiological entities: vata (related to movement), pitta (related to metabolism), and kapha (related to potential). These entities are present throughout the body's systems, interact with each other, respond to the external environment, and ensure the body's internal balance. Every person is born with a unique combination of tridosha, which is determined by both genetics and the environment during fetal development. Collectively, they refer to an individual's fundamental nature, which is commonly referred to as 'prakriti'. In Ayurveda, Janma Prakriti, also known as birth Prakriti, is considered to be constant and forms the basis for the psychophysiological elements, or Deha Prakriti (body Prakriti), which can vary and is considered to be dynamic. The genotype can be likened to the Ayurvedic notion of birth Prakriti, whereas the phenotypic aligns with the Ayurvedic concept of Deha Prakriti. In Ayurveda, Vikriti is used to describe the disruption in the Deha Prakriti, which is equivalent to illnesses and medical conditions in contemporary medicine. Epigenetics is the alteration of DNA that occurs outside of the genes, leading to the activation or deactivation of specific genes. This modification affects the expression of genes without modifying the genome itself. This gene expression demonstrates transgenerational effects. The main factors that contribute to epigenetic changes are lifestyle and behavior, nutrition and digestion, stress, and environmental variables. Ayurveda categorizes these factors, which subsequently impact the Deha (body) Prakriti (psychophysiological constitution) that aligns with the physical characteristics, and indirectly the Janma (birth) Prakriti, which comprises the genetic makeup. This confirms that epigenetics plays a crucial role in Ayurveda’