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Chockalingam A, Bettencourt BA, Anand K, Dorairajan S, Anbuganapathi G, Srinivas S, Chockalingam V. Siddha Self-Inquiry for Flow, Bliss, and Uvagai: Mindfulness for Intuitive Lifestyle in Complex Cardiac Disease. Am J Lifestyle Med 2024; 18:75-81. [PMID: 39184273 PMCID: PMC11339765 DOI: 10.1177/15598276221117091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mental health disorders contribute to significant healthcare expenses. Lifestyle approaches that empower and enable patients to participate in their recovery are needed with the increasing complexity of cardiac patients. Traditional Tamil medical practice of Siddha self-inquiry meditation targets holistic health through intuitive lifestyle transformation. We describe 4 complex cardiac patients who explored Siddha based Hunger Gratitude Experience (HUGE) mindful eating and reported elevated levels of optimism and deeper experience of life as outlined by the 5000-year-old secular Siddha medical tradition. We cannot exclude the role of suggestion and placebo effect in descriptive series. However, the simultaneous improvement in physical health and emotional wellbeing along with demonstrated resilience against unforeseen adversities suggests this is Uvagai, the true essence of Siddha higher consciousness. Uvagai is extreme happiness and may be accessible universally with little formal training and targets positive psychology to improve wellbeing. While flow and bliss states are transient transcendental experiences, Uvagai may be more profound and therapeutic in CVD despite age and comorbidities. Seeking Uvagai can potentially overcome health disparities, including rural, minority, and underprivileged populations for better health. HUGE allows CVD patients to safely engage in Uvagai, experience higher consciousness and intuitively sustain lifestyle transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Chockalingam
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (AC); Harry S Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, MO, USA (AC, SD); Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA (BAB); Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (KA); Siddha Physician, Anbu Hospital, Chennai, India (CA); Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Department of Marketing, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Cardiology, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India (VC)
| | - B. Ann Bettencourt
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (AC); Harry S Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, MO, USA (AC, SD); Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA (BAB); Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (KA); Siddha Physician, Anbu Hospital, Chennai, India (CA); Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Department of Marketing, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Cardiology, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India (VC)
| | - Kavin Anand
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (AC); Harry S Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, MO, USA (AC, SD); Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA (BAB); Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (KA); Siddha Physician, Anbu Hospital, Chennai, India (CA); Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Department of Marketing, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Cardiology, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India (VC)
| | - Smrita Dorairajan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (AC); Harry S Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, MO, USA (AC, SD); Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA (BAB); Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (KA); Siddha Physician, Anbu Hospital, Chennai, India (CA); Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Department of Marketing, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Cardiology, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India (VC)
| | - Govindaraju Anbuganapathi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (AC); Harry S Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, MO, USA (AC, SD); Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA (BAB); Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (KA); Siddha Physician, Anbu Hospital, Chennai, India (CA); Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Department of Marketing, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Cardiology, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India (VC)
| | - Sharan Srinivas
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (AC); Harry S Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, MO, USA (AC, SD); Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA (BAB); Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (KA); Siddha Physician, Anbu Hospital, Chennai, India (CA); Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Department of Marketing, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Cardiology, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India (VC)
| | - Venkatachalam Chockalingam
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (AC); Harry S Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, MO, USA (AC, SD); Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA (BAB); Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (KA); Siddha Physician, Anbu Hospital, Chennai, India (CA); Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Department of Marketing, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA (SS); Cardiology, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India (VC)
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Higuita-Gutiérrez LF, Estrada-Mesa DA, Cardona-Arias JA. Social representations of cancer in patients from Medellín, Colombia: a qualitative study. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2023; 8:1257776. [PMID: 38108048 PMCID: PMC10722234 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2023.1257776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Cancer has different explanatory theories that address its etiology and treatment. It is usually associated with pain and suffering. Recently, new technologies, knowledge, and therapies have been developed, which may have transformed the classic social representations of the disease. This study aimed to understand the social representations (SRs) of cancer in patients from Medellín, Colombia. Methods This study used a grounded theory in 16 patients with cancer. The information was collected between June 2020 and May 2021. Information was analyzed following the open, axial, and selective coding stages. Results SRs of cancer at the time of diagnosis evoke negative connotations. However, cancer is redefined as a positive event as the clinical course of the disease progresses, and patients interact with health professionals and respond to treatment. The resignification of the disease depends on the etiological models of the patients, which include genetic, socio-anthropological, psychosocial, and psychogenic factors. In line with the SRs of etiology, patients seek out treatments complementary to the biomedical ones that can be socio-anthropological and psychogenic. Conclusion In this group negative representations about cancer persist, this way of understanding the disease is determined by the convergence of cultural meanings and personal experiences. The causal representation is connected to the actions and willingness of the patients to face their diagnosis. In this sense, two categories stand out: the first expresses that cancer is the consequence of a body subjected to excessive productivity; the second subsumes a psychogenic predisposition caused by the context where the ideology of happiness appears to be a social norm. This double saturation in which an individual is immersed results in new burdens that are not visible to caregivers and healthcare workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez
- School of Medicine, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia
- School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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