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“SWASTHASYA SWASTHA RAKSHANAM ATHURASYA ROGANIVARANAM”
- Asthanga Hridhaya, Chapter I
The objective of this science is maintenance of health of the healthy and treatment of disease in the patient.
To elaborate the aim of Ayurveda, we now see the first part of the aim:
“ SWASTHASYA SWASTHA RAKSHANAM”
i.e., maintenance of health of the healthy person.
Aiming at this, Ayurveda has given more importance to swastha vritham - Preventive Medicine.
All acharyas in their textbooks have given importance to Dinacharya Daily Regimen and
Ritucharya - Seasonal Regimen.
Now we go through Dinacharya – Daily Regimen. Ayurveda always recommends early from bed and early to bed for a healthy person.
The preferred time for getting up from bed is Brahma Muhurta (approximately between 3-6 a.m.)
After getting up form bed, the individual should analyse whether the previous day food has got digested properly. By saying this, the acharyas have also intended to tell that the individual can sleep a little longer if the previous day meal is not digested properly. For verifying the digestion of the previous meal, Ayurveda explain some symptoms in the later topics like
Sudha – udgara no taste of previous meal in the belching,
Angalagavam, lightness of the body, etc. So we can verify this here also.
Then Jathavega – attend to the call of nature and here the rules for urination, defecation and ablution are elaborately explained. But now in the modern amenities we don’t want to go into the details of this.
Now oral cleaning has been told. Even though twigs or roots of bitter, pungent astringent herbs are mentioned, for example
Arjuna, but today regular brushing with a toothpaste or Ayurvedic toothpowder –
Danthadavana Choornam - is recommended. Mildly massaging the gum with this powder is advisable. After brushing the teeth comes
Gihwa Nirleganam - clean the tongue, to remove the accumulated mucus. Then gargling (gandoosham). Ayurveda also prefers gargling with oil (sesame oil). After cleaning the teeth and tongue, what is next mentioned is
Anjanam - that is collyrium to be applied to the eyes daily to improve vision.
Then comes Nasya or nasal medication, generally medicine advised is
anu thailam, 2-3 drops in each nostril. After that
Dhoomapana - smoke inhalation - using turmeric. All these
Anjana – Nasya - Dhoomapana improve vision, strengthen the shoulder muscles, prevent sinusitis, spondylitis, produce clarity of senses, improve hair growth and enhance voice.
Then comes Abyanga – i.e. that is oil application with mild gentle massage all over the body including head. This improves sleep, relieves stress, etc.
Oil massage is not advisable if there is indigestion, cough, cold, diarrhoea, menstrual cycle and fever.
Then Vyayama, that is, exercise. Benefits of exercise can be elaborately discussed in the coming articles. Then
snana – bath. Luke warm water should be used for bath. Bath improves appetite, removes exertion. It also keeps skin pores clean.
What is next advised in the daily regimen is Tambula Charvanam – chewing betel leaves along with cardamom, areca nut, calcium, etc. The pan with tobacco and other additives are not advised.
Then about the performance of profession, which should be noble, respectful, beneficial to you and your society.
Avoid sins – for example cruelty to other living beings, stealing, unlawful sex, telling lies, cheating, hard speech, hatred, jealousy and faithlessness in God.
Other general instructions for daily practices are take easily digestible foods in the evening, sleep on a comfortable bed by keeping your head in the eastern or southern direction, never suppress natural urges like flatus, faesces, urine, thirst, hunger, sleep, vomiting, cough and sneezing.
Lastly recollect the deeds of the day and analyse them. Thank God and Nature for caring for you, before you sleep.
Dr C C Sagy
Ph No: 044 – 25735800 / 09884022742
E-mail: Drsagy_cheru@yahoo.com
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Aim and therapeutic approach of Ayurveda
