PREVENTIVE ASPECT OF AYURVEDA
Ayurveda is a science of living, and as such, it is not only concerned about the treatment and cure diseases alone, but also aims at relieving one from all categories of sufferings from mental, intellectual and spiritual. Ayurveda, then is not just a system of medicine but also deals with all aspects of life issues.
Ayurveda Has Two Main Objectives:
- To maintain and promote health of the healthy person
- To cure disease of the diseased person from the root cause of the disease
In our modern day era, due to varying factors of faulty dietary habits, work pressure, competitive lifestyles, longevity, always being in hurry, pollution of air, water and earth and the noise levels in the city, all of these contribute to disease. A number of people are suffering from lifestyle related disorders and also other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, indigestion, dyspepsia, hyperacidity, etc. Such disorders can lead to death.
Three Supporting Pillars of Life and Health According to Ayurveda
Our life expectancy and health depends on three pillars. Charaka Samhita, the ancient authoritative text of Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of them.
These are:
- Ahara (Diet)
- Nidra (Sleep)
- Brahmacharya (Regulated sex)
Proper care of these 3 pillars is essential to support life and health. Charaka has equated the human body to a building, and in order to be stable, the role of the pillar is undisputed. Similarly the three pillars (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and the three above supporting pillars are of great importance. When these are taken care of properly, the person is well endowed with strength; complexion and development throughout his/her full life span.
Ayurveda teachings suggest a lifestyle which may help you achieve your goals and also prevent you from various lifestyle related disorders and disease. Ayurveda, thus, is a science to prevent disease and maintain ongoing health.
The following are the main rules of Ayurveda that one should follow in order to achieve positive health and longer and happy life.
- Ahara Niymas (Dietary principles)
- Nidra (Sleep)
- Brahmacharya (Regulated sexual activities)
- Dincharya (Daily regimen)
- Ritucharya (Seasonal regimen)
- Vyayama (Exercises)
- Sadavritta (Good conduct / social behaviour)
Ayurveda Dietary principles
- Consume warm and well cooked food
- Take unctuous food
- Food-intake in proper quantities
- Eat only when the previous food is digested
- Take food that does not have contradictory properties to your body constitution
- Take food in a good atmosphere/place
- Take food in relaxed condition, be seated
- Don’t eat too slow or too fast
- Avoid talking or laughing during eating
- Take food in prescribed manner (according to your body constitution)
- Avoid eating too much hot food
Rules of Nidra (Sleep)
- Go to sleep before 11pm
- Get up before at least 6am
- Kapha person before 5am
- Sleep about 6-7 hours, maximum 8 hours
- Avoid day sleep except summer season
- Nap is permissible for pitta and Vata constitution
Rules of regulated sexual activities
- Sexual activities aggravates Vata
- Vata individuals should have less sex
- Pitta individuals should have moderate sex
- Kapha individuals should have more sex
- Unsatisfying sex and sex with different partners destroys ojas
Rules for daily and seasonal regimen in Ayurveda
- Follow the principle of Dharma (Good conduct)
- Daily meditation is recommended
- Physical exercise (Vata light, Pitta moderate and Kapha stronger)
- Avoid too much alcohol (aggravates pitta and is harmful for small interstines)
- Avoid smoking (aggravates Vata)
- Marijuana aggravates Vata and Kapha and damages the brain
- Coffee aggravates Vata and Pitta
- Black tea aggravates mainly Pitta
- Take daily bath/shower
- Massage soles of the feet with oil
- Put oil on the hair
- Put ghee in the nose
It is suggested that by following these principles regarding all aspect of life according to Ayurveda principles, may help you to remain healthy, become healthier and live a longer life.