Obesity
A door way to illness
The role of any medicine is to enable and support the body to cure disease. When we say medicine it could be the food we take, the environment we live in or even the thoughts we have.
Obesity is common nowadays. It could be termed as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. A BMI [ Body Mass Index] over 25 is considered overweight, BMI over 30 is obese ( according to WHO). By this definition, we can understand that obesity or excessive weight is a doorway for many diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, cancer and so on. Modernized view of obesity, how to calculate BMI, what are the causes all these can be seen everywhere, So let’s explore the Ayurvedic approach, what Ayurveda says about obesity.
“Atisthoola”
is the term used for obesity in Ayurveda. Ayurveda clearly explains the causes, symptoms, and side effects of obesity. Also, the ways to correct it by adopting the proper lifestyle, treatment, and medicines.
Nidana Or cause for Atisthoola
- Atisampooranat – Excessive Intake
- Guru-madhura-sita-snigdha upayogat – Excessive use of food that has properties like heavy, sweet, cold, and oily
- Avyayama – Not doing any exercise ( Sedentary lifestyle )
- Divaswapna – Day sleeping
- Harsha nityatwa – Always being happy ( Not worrying )
- Achintanat – Fewer thoughts
- Bija swabhavat – Hereditary
All these will affect normal tissue metabolism and increases the production of fat tissue metabolism. The increased fat tissues does not nourish the other tissues so the person feels very weak even though the body weight is more.
Obesity leads to follow : short life span . sluggishness . difficulty in sex . weakness . bad body odour . excessive sweat . excessive hunger . excessive thirst.
Are you obese?
Because of excessive ( over nourishment ) muscle and fat tissue, the hips, abdomen, and breast become pendulous. The body’s metabolism and enthusiasm get decreased. The one who is having these characteristics is termed Atisthoola. One should try their best to reduce their obesity because obese persons are “Nitya Rogi” ( always suffer from illness ).
What to do to Reduce Obesity?
Generally what we do is fasting, obese people will skip their meals but it won’t work and it may worsen the situation as it may lead to other diseases. Because in obese person the digestive fire is very sharp and if one is not taking food then the fire will affect the metabolism and start to destroy their own body tissue. Ayurveda did not recommend fasting as a treatment principle for sthoulya. Instead, Ayurveda recommends the following.
- Food that pacifies the Vata and Kapha dosha
- Medicated enema (Vasti),
- Body rubbing with medicated powder (Udwartanam)
One should slowly adopt to do the following food and activities
Food
Foxtail millet
Little millet
Barley
Kodo millet
Green gram
Horse gram
Red cowpeas
Pigeon pea
Snake gourd
Goose berry
Water mixed with pure honey ( do not mix with hot water)
Activities
Prajagaranam – Awakening during night
Vyavayam – Proper sex
Vyayamam – Exercise
Chintani – Thinking ( activities using mind)
You see a lot of remedies and ads for reducing weight in a short time… is that true, will they work? Why fasting and such miracles are not healthy for obesity? How can we choose a diet plan or lifestyle for weight loss? Be patient… Our next blog will have all answers to these questions.
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