Dharma Singh Khalsa
Encyclopedia
Early years
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. was born January 20, 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. He is a graduate of Creighton University School of MedicineCreighton University School of Medicine
The Creighton University School of Medicine is the medical school at Creighton University and grants the Doctor of Medicine degree. The school of medicine is one of four Jesuit Catholic medical schools in the United States. The principal campus is located in Omaha, Nebraska, but the school will...
in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Khalsa received his training in Anesthesiology at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
, where he was Chief Resident. He is also a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Program and has studied mind/body medicine at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
's Mind/Body Medical Institute.
In 1979, he started practicing Kundalini Yoga with Yogi Bhajan, and in 1981 embraced the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
lifestyle replete with full beard and turban.
Dharma Singh Khalsa grew up with asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. An uncle, an esteemed cardiologist, prescribed a series of breathing exercises for him which helped immensely. Even so, his lungs remained weak, and he was prone to bronchitis and even bronchial spasm in his early adulthood. When, however, he began to practice Kundalin Yoga with a strong focus on breathing exercises, his vulnerability to lung problems ended.
Work with holistic pain care
In 1987, Dr. Khalsa established the first holistic pain program in the Southwestern United States at Lovelace Medical Centre in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1990, he was recruited to become the founding director of the Acupuncture, Stress Medicine, and Chronic Pain Program at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine's teaching hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. In this position, he became the first director of acupuncture in an American medical school.Work on Alzheimer's disease
Since 1993, Dr. Khalsa has been the President and Medical Director of the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, the original voice in the integrative medical approach to the prevention and treatment of memory loss.In 2003, Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. testified before Congress about his pioneering work in the area of lifestyle influence on Alzheimer's disease, and called on Congress to fund a national education and outreach campaign designed to inform the public of the benefits of an integrative medical approach to Alzheimer's. After his testimony, Dr. Khalsa received the support of U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D.
Research
That same year, Dr. Khalsa spearheaded a research study of SPECT Scans Before and After Kirtan Kriya on healthy subjects, in conjunction with the Amen ClinicAmen Clinic
Amen Clinics, Inc is a group of 4 neuropsychiatric clinics founded by Daniel G. Amen which use single photon emission computed tomography in an attempt to diagnose and treat mental disorders.-Amen Clinics and SPECT:...
(ICI, Irvine, California).
In 2006, he became Associate Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine , formerly the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was founded in 1765, making it the oldest American medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, it is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is widely...
. There, he took part in a groundbreaking study of Global Cerebral Blood flow in fMRI Scans of Advanced Meditators.
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. also took part in a breakthrough study on Kirtan Kriya and SPECT Scans in Subjects with Memory Loss. This study, which was completed in 2008, showed that memory loss was reversed and well-being enhanced by the Kirtan Kriya meditation practice.
Dr. Khalsa recently took part in a similar study at the University of Pennsylvania, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease is a peer-reviewed medical journal published by IOS Press covering the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, genetics, treatment, and psychology of Alzheimer's disease. The journal publishes research reports, reviews, short communications, hypotheses, book...
(Volume 20:2. April 2010).
Dr. Khalsa is currently engaged in a study at UCLA, in conjunction with the Department of Psychiatry, aimed at reducing stress response and improving cognitive functioning in older family dementia caregivers.
Publications
Dr. Khalsa has written widely on a wide range of health and healing issues. His book Brain Longevity (Warner Books, 1997) is the original work of its kind to be written for the general public, and has been translated into twelve languages. Dr. Khalsa has also authored six other books for the general public, as well as several medical textbook chapters, including one for Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
and one for the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
.
Family life
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. currently lives in Tucson, ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
with his Italian wife, Kirti. He has a son, Sat Kartar, a holistic chef, married to Chilean KamalCharan Kaur, who made Dr. Khalsa a grand-dad January 22, 2010. The grandson is Simranpreet Singh Khalsa. Dr. Khalsa's daughter Hari is an accomplished massage therapist, trained in Thailand. They all live in Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Web-sites
- Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa's site
- The site of the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation
- The Brain Longevity site
Books
- Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Program that Improves Your Mind and Memory (Warner Books, 1999)
- The Pain Cure: The Proven Medical Program That Helps End Your Chronic Pain (Warner Books, 2000)
- Meditation as Medicine: Activate the Power of Your Natural Healing Force (Simon & Schuster, 2001)
- Food as Medicine: How to Use Diet, Vitamins, Juices, and Herbs for a Healthier, Happier, and Longer Life (Atrium Books, 2003)
- The Better Memory Kit: 7 Days to a Better Memory (Hay House, 2004)
- The New Golden Rules: An Essential Guide to Spiritual Bliss (Hay House, 2005)
- The End of Karma: 40 Days to Perfect Peace, Tranquility and Joy (Hay House, 2005)
- From Darkness to Light: Healing Early Life Stress (self-published)
- Sleepy Time Nice (self-published)
- The Memory Magnet: Dead Brain Cells Don't Die (self-published)
Recordings
- Wake Up To Wellness CD/DVD
- Boost Your Brain Power CD/DVD
- Here Comes The Sun DVD
- Sleepy Time Nice DVD
- Love is Within You (pop music) CD