The Ayurveda Experience January 07, 2024
In today's world obesity has become one of the primary global health concerns affecting millions of individuals throughout the globe. WHO states since 1975, the rate of obesity has nearly tripled and since 2016, 650 million of the population has been obese.[1]
It's alarming that obesity is affecting all age groups (adults, children, or adolescents). A person suffering from obesity because of several associated diseases has a lesser life expectancy and decreased quality of life.
But, have you also wondered if obesity is only a modern world disease and there was no history back?
Then you are mistaken. In Ayurveda, the ancient medical science, there is a mention of obesity as sthaulya. A disease condition caused due to the imbalance of tridoshas along with meda and mamsa dhatu.
Let's delve into and read about the Ayurveda view on obesity (sthaulya).
Obesity, a complex and multifactorial disease, has been affecting over a third of the world's population. It is a condition where excessive body fat accumulates in your body, leading to several adverse effects on health.
Obesity increases the chance of health concerns like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, hyperlipidemia, kidney-related health issues, hypertension, and much more, which in many ways directly hampers life.[2]
It is caused by an imbalance between consumed calories and expended calories due to an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, while treating obesity, the main emphasis is on burning calories through physical exercise, various diet plans, medications, and sometimes even surgery.
Acharya Charaka, an Ayurveda scholar, defines sthaulya (obesity) as an accumulation of meda (fat/adipose tissues), and mamsa (flesh) leading to fat accumulation on the hips, abdomen, and breasts.
Sthaulya (obesity) develops primarily due to an imbalance of doshas in your body. Due to various ill dietary habits, a sedentary lifestyle, a carefree approach, eating only sweet and heavy food items and not being physically active, it becomes the nidana or cause for obesity. These causes ultimately lead to the aggravation of Tridosha, especially Kapha dosha and thus give rise to several other health issues.
Moreover, Acharya Charaka has kept sthaulya (obesity) under santarpan janya vyadhi (diseases caused due to overnutrition) become the reason for numerous health issues like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and many more.
In Ayurveda, it is a must to eradicate the primary causative factor of any disease to seize its root and treat it completely. The same goes for obesity.
For a better understanding, Ayurveda's scholars have divided causative factors into different categories.
Dietary causes: Also called as aharatmaka nidana
Lifestyle causes: Also called as viharatmaka nidana
Genetic causes: Also termed as bijatmaka nidana
Psycholgical Causes: maansika nidana
According to Charaka, an Ayurveda scholar, the above-mentioned causes the disbalance in Kapha dosha and meda dhatu. The aggravated meda dhatu obstructs the channels of the body. Due to obstruction of these channels, the Vata dosha present in the region gets irritated and increases the agni (digestive fire). This increase in agni leads to rapid digestion of food and increases the pseudo-hunger. Thus, people tend to eat more food and the cycle continues. In this way, it becomes a cycle inducing more deranged Kapha and meda dhatu in the body leading to sthaulya.
According to Sushruta, another Ayurveda scholar, unhealthy lifestyles, improper diets, lack of exercise, and several other causes lead to the accumulation of ama (toxins). These toxins move in the whole body and obstruct the channels leading to sthaulya (obesity).
After a deep understanding of the causes of sthaulya (obesity), let know the associated symptoms.
Obesity never comes as a single health issue but brings a cascade of health issues.
Some of the common symptoms are:
The treatment of obesity in Ayurveda focuses on rebalancing the doshas, dhatus, metabolism and digestion. This treatment requires a multifaceted approach of medicine, dietary changes, lifestyle modifications and regular exercise or physical movements.
In the management of any disease, Ayurveda has two methods shamana (medicinal treatment) and shodhana (purification treatment).
Shamana treatment: This treatment includes various changes in ahar (the food you consume), vihar (the habits you follow) and Ayurvedic medicines to cure the condition.
It involves:
Remember, it is always advisable to start taking any medication only under the guidance of a qualified Ayurveda practitioner to avoid any side effects and get full-fledged results.
Shodhana treatment – It includes purificatory procedures to detoxify the body, destroy the root cause of the disease, and abolish the chances of its recurrence.
It is believed that “doshas of any disease cured by Shodhana treatment have very low or negligible chances of their recurrence until the causes hit the body again”.
Panchkarma – A bio-purificatory procedure to restore your health in every way possible. For obesity, the Panchakarma procedures described in Ayurveda texts are the following:
However, always remember the treatment plans may vary from person to person as per the requirements of their bodies. It is necessary to consult a qualified Ayurveda practitioner before switching any treatment to avoid complications and have a personalized treatment plan.
Ayurveda treats different individuals with different treatment approaches. As we all are different from each other in our ways, the same are our bodies and their constitution.
However, there are some general guidelines to stay away from obesity.
The guidelines are as follows:
READ MORE: How Ashwagandha Can Help Treat PCOS? | Know Ayurveda's Take On Naps And Weight Gain
In a nutshell, sthaulya (obesity) is an unparalleled epidemic growing at high speed and not showing any sign of stopping anytime soon. It is a global health concern that requires demand and attention.
Here, Ayurveda can extend its helping hand. Ayurveda science offers a comprehensive and personalized approach to addressing the root causes of it and thus treating it accordingly. However, it is pivotal to understand that it is a lifestyle disorder so lifestyle changes are a must to fight against it.
Written By:
Dr. Vaishali Atri, holding an MD in Panchakarma from Maharashtra University of Health Science and a BAMS from Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurveda Charak Sansthan, possesses extensive knowledge and experience in Ayurveda medicine.
With over 5 years of experience, Dr. Vaishali draws upon her expertise in traditional medicine, purification therapies, and dietary plans to guide patients toward optimal physical and emotional health. She has performed various Ayurveda procedures and therapies, aiding in detoxification and rejuvenation.
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