Walton K G, Pugh N D
Department of Chemistry, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA 52557-1005.
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1995 Jan;39(1):3-36.
Recent research on causes of disease and aging has increasingly supported the importance of stress. One theory of the relationship between stress and disease is based on the concept of homeostasis, a term coined by Cannon over 50 years ago to signify those states and mechanisms responsible for the "staying power of the body". Bernard, Cannon, Selye and other leading researchers held that full, normal function of the self-regulating or homeostatic power of the body maintains the balanced, integrated condition we recognize as health. Failures in this capacity, such as those produced by frequent stressful experiences, can result in disease or death. Theories of health and disease surprisingly similar to this have existed since ancient times, and in widely different cultures. This review discusses both the fundamental elements of these theories and the current neuroendocrine research supporting their validity and immediate relevance. The connections between ancient and modern knowledge described herein were made possible largely by the work of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a scholar and teacher of the ancient vedic tradition of India. A key part of Ayurveda that has been obscure to modern science is the substance "ojas", which the classical texts say maintains balance of the physiology. In this article, specific steroids or steroid classes are proposed as likely candidates for both the "ordinary" and the "superior" types of ojas described in Ayurveda. Current evidence for the functions of these steroids, as well as their role in stress, disease and the maintenance of health, is reviewed. The knowledge of Ayurveda, as recently brought to light by Maharishi, includes methods for recovering and maintaining optimal function of steroidal systems. Such effects may help mediate the improvements in health and increased longevity attributed to Ayurveda and other ancient methods.
最近关于疾病和衰老原因的研究越来越支持压力的重要性。一种关于压力与疾病关系的理论基于稳态的概念，这一术语是50多年前由坎农创造的，用以表示那些负责“身体持久力”的状态和机制。伯纳德、坎农、塞利和其他主要研究人员认为，身体自我调节或稳态能力的充分、正常运作维持着我们所认为的健康的平衡、整合状态。这种能力的失效，比如频繁的压力经历所产生的失效，可能导致疾病或死亡。自古代以来，在广泛不同的文化中就存在着与这种理论惊人相似的健康与疾病理论。这篇综述讨论了这些理论的基本要素以及当前支持其有效性和直接相关性的神经内分泌研究。本文所描述的古代与现代知识之间的联系很大程度上得益于印度古代吠陀传统的学者兼教师玛哈希·玛赫西·优济的工作。阿育吠陀医学中一个现代科学一直模糊不清的关键部分是物质“ojas”，古典文献称其维持生理平衡。在本文中，特定的类固醇或类固醇类别被提议作为阿育吠陀医学中描述的“普通”和“高级”类型ojas的可能候选物。本文回顾了这些类固醇功能的当前证据，以及它们在压力、疾病和健康维持中的作用。玛哈希最近揭示的阿育吠陀医学知识包括恢复和维持甾体系统最佳功能的方法。这样的效果可能有助于调节因阿育吠陀医学和其他古代方法而带来的健康改善和寿命延长。
