Health Tips: From Ayurveda
=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya
The preventive and remedial measures derived under Ayurveda deal with multidimensional complexities and problems of human life and provide solutions in perfect harmony with Nature. It is therefore most relevant and promising towards achieving total health in the present times as well.
The following series of articles on health tips from Ayurveda gives the excerpts most relevant in today's context from such scriptures for our ready-reference. If we could adopt even a fraction of these in our daily life, lot of our time and money would be saved from running around the clinics and dispensaries in our hectic and stress-inducing schedules.
Following 9 articles are the tips covering holistic health.
Ayurveda lays special emphasis on prevention of diseases and disorders and takes scientific consideration of every aspect of daily routine in this regard. This article we will elucidated a brief background of Ayurvedic medical concepts and described the successive steps of morning routine. The major steps included Best timings and mode of getting up Atmabodha Sadhana, Ushapana, Shauca and Dantadhavana... Read Complete article. Now we proceed further in this sequence and discuss about Abhyang (oil massage), Kshaurkarma(shaving), physical exercise, morning walk, bathing and suitable type and mode of wearing clothes. At a first glance, one might doubt as to what could be scientific about such routine chores. But reading the views of the rishis in Ayurvedic scriptures tells us how deeply and comprehensively they had looked at every aspect of health vis-a-vis our physical organism and environment.
The last two articles dealt with health-promoting activities of daily routine. Before we proceed further in the sequence, let us look at the noble purpose of the founders of Ayurveda to realize the majestic strength and grandeur of knowledge this science of healthy life holds in its roots. The great rishis the devoted seekers of God, the scientists of ultimate knowledge, the true followers of eternal religion had developed Ayurveda for pure altruistic purpose (of human welfare) and not for any materialistic gain. Today's scenario is just the opposite. Read.
What should be our food? What Ayurveda says about the role of food in maintenance of vigorous health. Healthy food is compared with nectar in the vedic scriptures. At the same time, the scriptures also alert us to be careful about the quality of food, which apart from the gross and subtle properties of the ingredients, also depends upon the way it is earned, prepared and eaten. Annaharartham Karma Kuryadanindyam, Kuryadaharam Prana Sandharnartham (Yoga Vashishtha)
Health Tips: Guidelines from Ayurveda V (The science of leading a long, happy and healthful life)
While discussing with rishi Punarvasu the author of "Charak Samhita", some vaidyas (Ayurvedic doctors) raised the query "Koruka?" (Meaning: "who does not fall ill?"). Somebody said " one who eats chyavanprash every morning". "Who takes lavan bhaskar and triphala regularly" said some others; eating chandravati every day was described by another vaidya as the source of health. Finally the fundamental principle of natural maintenance of good health was expressed by Vagbhatt as "Hitbhuka, Mitbhuka, Ritbhuka". Hitbhuk: means.
Health Tips: Guidelines from Ayurveda VI (Spiritual Effects of Food)
For most of us, food is meant to be only for satisfying hunger and nourishing the body. However, as per Vedic Scriptures, what we eat and drink significantly, though subliminally, affect our subtle and astral bodies as well. For instance, the Chhandogya Upanishad says� "Aharashuddhau Sattvashuddhih..." Meaning: Purity of food helps in purifying the inner self. Purification of the inner self and hence of the mind and intellect, accelerates elimination of illusions and ignorance...
This article we shall focus upon what should be the ideal routine since evening till early morning (called ratricharya). The following shlokas provide guidelines on the major aspects and activities pertaining to the ratricharya including late evening routine, going to bed, sleep, dream, disciplines of chastity, etc. Wise men and women avoid the following five activities during the first of the four phases of night eating, sleeping, general reading or studying, sexual activities, and roving away from the house.
Health Tips: Guidelines from Ayurveda-VIII (Health tips for Sleep)
Here we highlight some more health tips especially those pertaining to sleep. Cleanliness of nightdress or the clothes worn while going to the bed is also emphasized in Ayurveda. One should preferably avoid wearing the same clothes, which one has been wearing during the day. The clothes on the body should be loose while sleeping. The bed should be neat and tidy; the sheets covering the body and the bed should also be clean. According to the adepts of Ayurveda, the mattresses and bed-sheets should be made up of cotton. Use of foam, sponge, nylon etc for long is harmful. As far as possible, one should develop the habit of sleeping on a thin mattress; only a mat with bed-sheet should be enough in the summer..
Ayurvedic treatment emphasizes more on fasting and diet restraint rather than on consuming medicines to fight out the diseases. Ayurveda asserts that half the disease is cured simply by appropriate diet control. As the principles of diagnostics and therapeutics under Ayurveda are based on the identification of the level of tridoshas vata, pitta and kapha, so are the disciplines of fasting and diet. Let us first look at the recommended diet for the maintenance of generally good health. Followed by this are some common guidelines for major classes of diseases and disorders due to the three doshas. What is generally recommended as good or edible?
Thanks GOD,Thanks Sadguru,
Shiv Sharma
