Interview with Dr. Dixit

For my Global Health Research Documentary, I interviewed Doctor Anil Kumar Dixit, a well-known Ayurvedic practitioner and teacher in India and worldwide. Dr. Dixit obtained his Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery degree from Bangalore University in 1987 and a Doctor of Medicine from Mysore University in 1991. He has been practicing Ayurveda for the past 32 years. Dr. Dixit has presented scientific papers at various national and international conferences as well as conducted workshops for both Indian and foreign audiences. As Vice President of the Sanjeevani Prathishthana Trust and Secretary, Dixit Aarogya Yoga Anusandhaana (DAYA) Charitable Trust, he is actively and passionately involved in the conservation and promotion of medicinal plants, especially those indigenous to India. Being the treasurer and trustee of MAITRI CHARITABLE TRUST, which runs a school for mentally challenged children, Dr. Dixit has dedicated himself to social health activities. Additionally, to make Ayurveda and its healing wisdom accessible to all, he regularly conducts free Medical Camps for economically poorer sections of society. With a passion for Indian music, Dr. Dixit conducts a unique program of mind-body balancing music and healing- AANANDA AAROGYA, on every full moon day, which has been attracting like-minded.

As I mentioned earlier in my pre-departure research critique, I strive to discover the healing power of Ayurveda and its positive effects on mental health problems. Dr. Dixit was the perfect candidate for my documentary because of his rich background, meaningful experience, and insightful knowledge. In my interview, Dr. Dixit was able to explain the meaning and purpose of Ayurveda, its main principles and benefits, specific treatments for patients suffering from mental health matters, scientific evidence that Ayurveda works, and lastly how accessible and affordable Ayurveda is compared to Western medicine. Ayurveda is the science and art of health and healing which deals with maintaining health in an individual as well as helping patients when experiencing sickness. The principles of Ayurveda are based on nature and as Dr. Dixit says “Go natural and you will remain healthy” because artificial and chemical supplements cause harm. He believes that everything that is presented in the universe is also presented within yourself. For instance, if there is an imbalance somewhere in the universe, they may be an imbalance somewhere in you. Therefore, every individual needs to find and understand their balance. Ayurveda is based on the five gross elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth.

As there could be a bodily disease, there can also be a mind disease. To answer the question of how people suffering from mental health would benefit from Ayurveda, Dr. Dixit began by saying that the mind is not a matter. Thus, healing the mind with something of matter such as a pill would not aid the patient. To help a patient struggling with mental health problems, it is essential to get to the bottom of why the mind is getting affected. When the mind becomes conditioned to experience the same unpleasant feeling, it becomes necessary to shift the mind back to its usual condition. The mind generally gets affected through our sense faculties, and, thus, to soothe the mind, it is needed to bring up pleasurable feelings through the sense, the mind got affected in the first place. Bringing the person to its original form, training of the mind, and herbs are recommended by Ayurvedic doctors. The mind can be trained by meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga. Some known herbs and oils prescribed for mental health problems are ghee, Brahmi, or coconut oil. Brahmi is used to help with Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, sleep disorders, or ADHD. These herbs and oils are easily accessible in India as well as in the United States, and, hence

People from Western Countries may be hesitant about the effectiveness of traditional medicine such as Ayuervda because it is believed that Ayurveda is pseudoscientific and that there is not much research done to prove how it works. However, Dr. Dixit stated that there is a lot of research done in India and even in outside countries that prove how Ayurvedic treatments benefit patients. For instance, there is a lot of research on ghee's effectiveness and its benefits for Parkinson's disease as well as coconut oil and how it can be used to prevent dementia. I, myself, had the chance to peek into the world of Ayurveda when visiting the Ayurveda Hospital and the Ayurveda University. Upon seeing the laboratories and the work that is getting done within the walls of the University, I was left speechless. Every herb that is being used in Ayurveda is being properly researched for its effects and benefits. As one of the medical students has explained at the University, the difference between Eastern and Western medicine is that in Eastern medicine, they use the substance as a whole rather than extracting only the active ingredient which is done in Western medicine. The advantage of this practice is that the substance is given in its natural form and includes all the counterparts which help to balance the active ingredient. In comparison, when the active ingredient is given by itself it may cause side effects, the ones we can see on the medicine packaging.