AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO SOME SELECTED NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

Dr. Ramesh mishra

Ayurveda is the science of life. The word ‘Ayurveda’ is formed of two words “AYU” means life and “Veda” means to know of to attain. Thus the term “Ayurveda itself depicts the meaning of the science which imparts knowledge of life”. Hence Ayurveda has deeply thought of human life, its surrounding universe and the basic constituents responsible for their formation. Ayurveda regards that human life os the epitome of the universe and it is carved out of the universal elements which closely knit both together. In short Ayurveda is composed of Five Basic elements, the Panchamaha bhoota, namely prithvi (earth). Apya (water), Teja (Fire), Vayu (air), and Akash (ether). As the human body is similarly constituted, there is a fundamental harmony between universe and man, a healthy balance between the microcosm and the macrocosm.

According to Ayurveda, health is the dynamic integration between environment, body, mind and spirit. It lays great emphasis on preservation and promotion of health thereby preventing the diseases . Elaborate description is available on personal hygiene which includes diet and regimen to be followed daily (Dinacharya) seasonal regimens (Retucharya) and sadvritta (Behavioral and ethical principles). Observance of certain rules regarding suppressible and non suppressible urges also paves way towards positive health.

Ayurveda advises strictly to follow the above principles related to daily regimen, seasonal regimen, behavioural and ethical principles and a person who follows these rules will never be a victim to diseases.

Now-a-days due to modernization, the changes in life style are observed and the day to day regimen as prescribed in Ayurveda could not be followed properly. So the human beings are suffering from various non communicable diseases. Ayurveda prescribed a rational treatment for various non communicable diseases, which includes diet (Aahar), Activities (Vihar) and Medicines (Ausdhi).

Some non communicable disease have been selected which are commonly prevalent in the society. Their management along with the diet and regimen to be followed (Pathya) and not to be fallowed (Apathya) as per the Ayurvedic Principles have been described below.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRTIS

WHAT IS AMAVATA?

Amavata is a joint disorder due to Ama- a toxin accumulated in the body. It is a disease characterized by a chronic, erosive, oedema affecting many joints with extra articular manifestation.

WHAT ARE IT’S SYMPTOMS?

It occurs predominantly in those who consumes regularly faulty & incompatible food items. Peak age of onset is around 40 years.
Usually insidious in onset, symptoms of fatigue, weight loss, myalgia, early morning stiffness and joint swelling usually symmetrical, involving joints of fingers, wrist, elbow and knee joint. Later on deformities take place in the affected joints.

Extra articular features – it may involves skin as Rheumatoid nodules, interstitial lung disease and Pericarditis, Neuropathy and Vasculitis due to circulating ama I.e. Toxins.

MANAGEMENT THROUGH AYURVEDA

Amapachana – correction of metabolism: By increasing the Agni or digestive fire either through therapeutic fasting, deepana & pachana – Appetizer & digestive drugs and also through Panchakrma or cleansing therapy.

DO’S (PATHYA)

Garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Neem leaves (Azadiracta indica), Karela (mamordia charantia), Old Rice, Vegetables, Food of bitter taste and light diet are advised.
Castor (Ricinus communis) oil taken internally at bed time is helpful in eliminating the toxins.
Mild laxative like Harad (Terminalia chebula), Triphla (mixture of three drugs – ( Terminalia chebula, T. belerica and Emblica officinalis) etc. are used to regulate the Bowl habit.
Drugs like Eranda (Ricinus communis) Guduchi ( Tinospora cordifolia), Punarnava ( Boerhavia diffusa), Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) etc. are used in this condition.
Dry massage, light exercise, fomentation with hot sand bag or electric pad are helpful in reducing the pain and swelling of the joints.

DON’TS (APATHYA)

Fomented food (particularly curd), too much Oily, spicy, sour, cold, heavy and incompatible food articles should be avoided.

HEART DISEASES

HOW DOES AYURVEDA DESCRIBES HEART DISEASES?

In Ayurveda great sage Sushruta has mentioned that the Doshas-three body humors Vata, Pitta and Kapha are vitiated by their etiological factors produces some abnormality and impairment in the function of the heart leads to heart diseases.

WHAT ARE IT’S CAUSES?

Unwholesome diet specially rich in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids.
Sandharana – Supressing the natural urges such as hunger, thirst etc.
Secondary cause – As a result of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal failure, obesity etc.
Smoking, alcohol and other drug addictions.
Psychological causes, excessive physical exertion – Art- Saahasa, irregular or absence of exercise, stress, anxiety, fear, depression etc.

WHAT ARE IT’S SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

Chest pain/angina pectoris – Hrid sula
Palpitation, dizziness, heart burn, breathlessness
Sudden death
Manytimes it is asymptomatic

DO’S (PATHYA)

Saatvic and tridoshahara Ahara – Light and vegetarian diet such as barley, mung (green gram), patola (Trichosanthes dioica), amla (Emblica officinalis), fruts etc. to be consumed daily.
Reduction of additional weight, maintaining the blood pressure, and keeping the blood sugar in control.
Single Ayurvedic herbs like Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Pushkaramula (Inula reacemosa), Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Garlic ( Allium sativum) and other compound herbomineral preparations with the advise of an Ayurvedic phusician are useful in this
Light exercise, walking, yoga, breathing exercises and meditation.

DON’TS (APATHYA)

Any kind of strenuous activity ( mainly after meals)
Oily, spicy, and heavy meals should be avoided.
Irregular hour of sleeping, mental worries, stress and other emotional disturbances should be completely avoided.
Avoid excess tea, coffee, alcohol, smoking etc.

DIABETES MELLITUS

WHAT IS MADHUMEHA?

Caraka, authority of medical speciality of Ayuveda (2000 BC) mentioned the clinical condition Madhu meha-Diabetes mellitus.

WHAT ARE IT’S FEATURES?

The common clinical features of Madhumeha are polyuria (excessive urination), polydypsia (excessive thirst) and polyphagia (excessive hunger) due to hyperglycemia ( excessive sugar in the blood).

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF MADHUMEHA?

Ayurveda attributed different Diet-Ahara practices- Vihara to the causation of diabetes mellitus as below:

Sedentary life style and excessive sleep.
Excessive intake of Sweet and sugar products.
Regular consumption of Aquatic animal’s meat, soup and meat of domestic animals.
Regular habit of consumption of excessive milk preparations.

MANAGEMNET THROUGH AYURVEDA

Ayurveda prescribes management according to the clinical classification of the patient. In obese and strong patients elimination of vitiated dosha – toxin i.e. Vaman Therapeutic emesis and Virechana – Therapeutic purgation etc. while in the case of emaciated and weak patients, Santarpana rejuvenation therapy should be administered.

DO’S (PATHYA)

Ayurveda prescribes specific diet for diabetic patients

Certain drugs like Shilajit (Black Bitumen), jaamuna (Syzygium cumini), Haldi (Curcuma longa), Amla (emblica officinalis), Giloya ( tinospora cordifolia), Methi (trigonella foenum), Karela (Mamordia chamntia), Neem ( Azadiracta indica), Chirayata (swertia chirata), Bael fruit ( aegle marmelos), Gurmar (gymnema sylvestre) etc. are useful in this condition.
Barely is used as principal ingredient of food for diabetic patients.
Karela ( mamordia charantia), karela juice of white pumpkin (cucurbita pepo) 20-30 ml. in empty stomach.
Methi ( trigonella foenum) seeds water soaked overnight is also useful in this disease.
2 gms. of jaamun ( syzygium cumini) seeds per day os an effective remedy for reducing blood sugar.
Exercise like walking, swimming, running or yogasanas are highly beneficial in this condition.
Time to time consultation with an Ayurvedic Physician is essential.

DON’T (APATHYA)

Sugar, sugar products, rice, potato, ghee, butter, fat, oil, fermented food items, alcohol, Urad ( Blackgram), Rajma ( Kidney Beans) and other heavy food items are to be avoided. Patient should completely stop the sedentary life style, should take regular exercise particularly walking, yoga and trans meditation.

LIPID DISORDERS

WHAT IS LIPID DISORDERS ( Medoraga)?

Lipid disorders are characterized by abnormal concentrations of lipids in body tissues or in extra cellular fluid.

wHAT ARE IT’S CAUSES?

Lack of exercises – Avyayama
Intake of high caloric food – Shlesmala Ahara
Sleep in day time – Diva Swapna
Improper action of endrocrine glands like thyroid gland, pituitary body, suprarenal etc.

WHAT ARE IT’S SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

Excessive accumulation of fat in the body.
Breathlessness – shwasa
Excessive perspiration
Fatigue
Decreased libido

MANAGEMNET THROUGH AYURVEDA

As it so a metabolic disorder, therefore main emphasis is to be given on digestive fire- Agni which is disturbed here, by way of accumulation of metabolites which are toxic in nature. Hence, to eliminate the accumulated toxins, Shamshodhana – Cleansing therapy like therapeutic purgation, emesis, enema etc. should be followed here.
Later on palliative measures should be given through diet/drug and activities.

DO’S (PATHYA)

Herbs like shunti (Zingiber officinale), pippali (piper longum), Marica (piper nigrum), Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Eranda (Picinus communis), Honey, Lemon and drugs having pungent and bitter taste should be used in this condition.
Diet control is equally important in this condition. Food articles which are light in nature, free from fat and starch to be used here.
Strenuous activities like brisk walking, swimming, running, aerobics etc. according to one’s health should be followed.

DON’TS (APATHYA)

Daytime sleeping, excessive intake of sweet, nilk products, fat, oil, ghee and sedentary life style.
Any dind of mental stress/strain should also be avoided.

BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

WHAT IS ASTHMA?

Repetitive, sudden episodic attacks of shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.

WHAT ARE IT’S CAUSES?

Tamak Svasa as per Ayurveda is caused either due to intrinsic factors i.e. Amarasa or undigested food acts as endogenous material or due to extrinsic factors such as dust, mites, pollen, chemicals, smoke or other poisonous material acts as exogenous substances and are known as trigerring factors leading to chronic allergic manifestation in the form of Bronchial Asthma.

WHAT ARE IT’S SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

Shortness of breath accompanied by wheezing.
Breathlessness after slight exertion.

DO’S (PATHYA)

Herbal tea made up of Ajwain (trachyspermum ammi), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Pepper (Piper nigrum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale) etc. is useful in this condition.
Curcuma longa or turmeric is highly beneficial in this condition.
Do Pranayama or breathing exercise regularly.
Certain herbs like Sirisa ( Albezia lebbeck), Tulsi ( Ocimum sanctum), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) etc. are useful
Bowel discipline should be maintained through diet, mild laxative like Triphala (mixture of three drugs – Terminalia chebula, T. belerica and Emblica officinalis), sanay ( Cassia angustifolia), Hard (Terminalia chebula) etc.

DON’TS (APATHYA)

One should avoid banana, cold milk, curd preparations, ice creams, cold drinks, refrigeration food items and always try to take warm water/drinks.
Avoid oily, spicy, ghee, butter and other kapha aggravating diet.
Avoid direct exposure to cold air.

HYPERTENSION

WHAT IS HYPERTENSION (VYANABALA VAISAMYA)?

Hypertension is defined as a Systolic pressure >140 mm Hg or Diastolic Blood pressure >90 mmHg/ An individual can show wide variation of B.P. throughout the day, depending upon physical activity, body posture, mental activity, environment and consumption of drugs, alcohol, tobacco & wrong eating habits.

On the basis of etiology, Hypertension is divided into two groups:

Essential – This group represents almost 90 % of all Hypertensives in which exact cause of Hypertension is not known.
Secondary – Comprises of about 12-15% due to Renovascular Cardiovascular, gestational & drug induced causes.

WHAT ARE ITS SYMTOMS?

It may be asymptomatic in the early stage, large number of hypertensive have no symptoms while in some cases severe headache, giddiness, irritability, fatigue and insomnia are the common features.

WHAT ARE ITS REMEDIES & PREVENTION SA PER AYURVEDA?

The treatment of Hypertension must start with proper diagnosis of the origin & to follow the Healthy conducts Swasthavritta.

DO’S (PATHYA)

A patient should be advised to take rest as & when required.
Strenous exercises should be avoided but morning and evening walk is beneficial.
Garlic (2 to 3 pieces) (Allium sativum) is one of the most efficacious drug in controlling Hypertension of primary origin.
Some of the Herbs like sarpagandha ( Rauwlfia serpentine), Brahmi ( Bacopa monnieri), Shankapushpi ( Convolvulus pluricaulis), Chandana ( Santalum album) etc. can be taken in this condition under the supervision of an Ayurvedic consultant.
Meditation, relaxation, pranayama and light Yoga are beneficial in this condition.
A patient should always consult with an Ayurvedic physician before any drug or regimen.
Faith in God and good deeds are much more helpful.

DON’T (APATHYA)

Intoxicants like Alcohol, Tobacco, excess tea, coffee etc. should be avoided.
Incompatible & irregular food habits, excessive oily, spicy, ghee, butter, pickles, papad, salt etc. aggravates the condition.
Stress, Strain and Anxiety should be avoided.

INSOMNIA

WHAT IS INSOMNIA (NIDRANASHA)?

Diminished in quantity of the sleep is called insomnia or sleeplessness

WHAT ARE ITS CAUSES?

Chief cause is psychic i.e. depression, anxiety, stress, strain, bad thought etc.
It may arise as the result of pain anywhere in the body.
In febrile conditions, in organic brain disease i.e. encephalitis .
In many forms of chronic toxemia.

MANAGEMENT THROUGH AYURVEDA

Factors should be elucidated, Panckkarma measures like shirodhara, shirovasti and Nasya should be prescribed, comfort, quite, warm, surroundings hot bath followed by massage, hot packs, hot drinks, head and foot massage, yoga nidra – deep relaxation, techniques are useful in this condition.

DO’S (PATHYA)

Drugs like Sarpagandha ( rauwolfia serpentine), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), shankhpushpi (convolvulus pluricaulis), Jatamansi (Nordostachys jatamansi), Ashwsgandha (Withania somnifera) etc.
diet rich in nutritious food such as milk, almonds, ghee, fruits, vegetables should be prescribed.
Counselling, light exercise, yoga, walking, breathing exercise –Pranayama, meditation are helpful in this condition.

DON’TS (APATHYA)