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A previous paper hypothesized that the tridosha of Ayurveda--vata, pitta, and kapha--constitute regulatory systems respectively controlling input/output, turnover, and storage; functions systems analysis identifies as fundamental to all open systems. This would make them universal properties of all living organisms, as Ayurveda itself maintains. This paper proposes independent scientific evidence for the proposed identification of the doshas and for the systems analysis on which it is based. In particular, it points to coenzyme A, a key component of fatty acid metabolism. Its universal presence in all cells implies that it is an evolutionary invariant ant that the biochemical pathway on which it lies must be exceptionally significant. The systems analysis shows that the pathway connects the cellular functions of energy turnover and energy storage, fundamental to the overall strategy of cell regulation. This, combined with the requirement for the pathway's close regulation, makes it effectively impossible to replace coenzyme A by a combination of simultaneous mutations or sequence of mutations and it should indeed remain invariant during evolution. The universality of coenzyme A is therefore consistent with its identified role, and supports the systems analysis identifying the doshas. Their systems functions survive developmental transformations of evolution with recognizable continuity. By virtue of that, vata, pitta, and kapha can be identified with them in all species.

BackgroundCoal mine dust exposure causes chronic airflow limitation in coal miners resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, and eventually chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Yoga can alleviate dyspnea in COPD by improving ventilatory mechanics, reducing central neural drive, and partially restoring neuromechanical coupling of the respiratory system.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) in the management of dyspnea and fatigue in coal miners with COPD.Materials and methodsRandomized, waitlist controlled, single-blind clinical trial. Eighty-one coal miners (36–60 years) with stable Stages II and III COPD were recruited. The yoga group received an IAYT module for COPD that included asanas, loosening exercises, breathing practices, pranayama, cyclic meditation, yogic counseling and lectures 90 min/day, 6 days/week for 12 weeks. Measurements of dyspnea and fatigue on the Borg scale, exercise capacity by the 6 min walk test, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2%), and pulse rate (PR) using pulse oximetry were made before and after the intervention.ResultsStatistically significant within group reductions in dyspnea (P < 0.001), fatigue (P < 0.001) scores, PR (P < 0.001), and significant improvements in SpO2% (P < 0.001) and 6 min walk distance (P < 0.001) were observed in the yoga group; all except the last were significant compared to controls (P < 0.001).ConclusionsFindings indicate that IAYT benefits coal miners with COPD, reducing dyspnea; fatigue and PR, and improving functional performance and peripheral capillary SpO2%. Yoga can now be included as an adjunct to conventional therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation programs for COPD patients.

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The three doshas of Ayurveda and their five respective subdoshas are related to the modern scientific framework of systems theory, phase transitions, and irreversible thermodynamics. These empirically well-established concepts of Ayurveda then appear to be far more general biologic concepts than the neuroendocrinology of their functioning might imply. They express universal concepts applicable across living organisms-control structures governing living systems. The hypothesis that the 15 subdoshas can themselves be considered as 5 triplets implies that on the level of the whole organism, these secondary structures of control appeared at specific stages in the evolution of life, yielding new insights into their development and evolution. The description of varying states of health and disease given in Ayurvedic etiology is related to the format of phase transitions in irreversible thermodynamics.

Critical phenomena offer an attractive new theoretical resource for biophysics. Physical instabilities result in fluctuations, the quantum properties of which can be applied to regulatory control mechanisms in living organisms with promising results. Many aspects of energy medicine can be scientifically modeled, in agreement with previous theoretical ideas and speculation, such as the existence of macroscopic quantum coherence in living systems. Light is shed on areas of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) such as Ayurveda, naturopathy, and the nature and action of potentized medicines in homeopathy and other aspects of vibrational medicine.

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