Preventive Healthcare, An

Ayurvedic Perspective
Dr. Pratibha Shah
MD (Ay.)
 The Spectrum

Diet Rat Race

Lifestyle Fast Pace
Meditation STRESS
HEALTH DISEASE

Consulate General of India 2010 2

Diseases of the new world

Consulate General of India 2010 3

 Why do we need Prevention?

Health is a fundamental human right

To improve the quality of life
To bring down the cost of healthcare
To decrease DALYs
To increase QALYs

Consulate General of India 2010 4

WHO Constitution: "the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every
human being..."

http://www.who.int/hhr/en/

Declaration of Alma-Ata: International Conference on Primary

Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6-12 September, 1978
The Conference strongly reaffirms that health, which is a state of
complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity, is a fundamental human right and that
the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most
important world-wide social goal

http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Health_Systems_declaration_almaata.pdf

Consulate General of India 2010 5

 Goals of Ayurved

Broadly speaking, Ayurved states two main

goals namely:
Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam
Aturasya vikaar prashamanam ch

(Ch.Su.30/26)

Consulate General of India 2010 6

 Tenets of Preventive
Healthcare in Ayurved

Consulate General of India 2010 7

 Factors affecting immunity at
conception, and in the prenatal
period
Maternal factors
- Health of the female sex cell
- Health of the Uterus
- Regimen followed during pregnancy,
including diet

Consulate General of India 2010 8

 Factors affecting immunity at
conception..contd

Maternal factors contd

- Mental health of the mother
during pregnancy
- Influencing external factors during
pregnancy

Consulate General of India 2010 9

 Factors affecting immunity at
conception.contd

Paternal factors
- Health of the male sex cell

Consulate General of India 2010 10

 Activities performed immediately
after birth

- Fontanelle are covered with a piece of cotton

soaked in ghee
- Baby is administered saindhav lavan
(rock salt) mixed with ghee orally, for
cleansing
- A lot of anti-septic procedures are
performed, including fumigation

Consulate General of India 2010 11

 Sanskaras (rituals)
performed in childhood

Out of the 13 40 sanskaras or rituals that are

advised in the childhood period, the most
mentionable, from a health point of view is the
karnvedhana sansakara or piercing of the ears.
It is supposed to confer immunity against
respiratory and certain other disorders.

Consulate General of India 2010 12

 Daily regimen

- Waking up early
- Attending to natures calls
- Cleaning teeth and tongue with any of the
prescribed herb twigs
- Doing gandoosh or kaval dharan for
multiple health benefits
- Eye care with anjan, tarpan, putpaak,
sek, etc.

Consulate General of India 2010 13

Dr. Mary Martha Stevens, Chairperson of the
Dental Hygiene Department of Wichita State
University, found that people who gargled with
sesame oil daily had significantly lower
(p<0.001) bacteria colony types in sub-gingival
probe specimens (The effects of a sesame oil
mouth rinse on the number of oral bacteria
colony types.)

(Presented at the 11th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene, Ottawa,

Canada, June 1989)

Consulate General of India 2010 14

 Daily regimen contd

- Nasal cavity and sinus care with nasya.

- Ear care
- Whole body and specific body part
massage
- Exercise
- Others shaving, cutting nails, etc.

Consulate General of India 2010 15

 Studies on benefits of massage

Significant benefits from massaging newborns,

such as enhanced weight gain and
responsiveness

(Field T, Scafidi F, Schanberg S 1987 Massage of pre term newborns to

improve growth and development. Pediatric Nursing 13:385-387)
(Rice R 1977 Neurophysiological development in premature infants
following stimulation, Developmental Psychology 13:69-76)

Consulate General of India 2010 16

 Seasonal regimen

There are 6 ritus or seasons according to

Ayurved, namely
Hemant, Shishir (Winter), Vasant
(Spring), Greeshm (Summer), Varsha
(Monsoon), Sharad (Fall).
Characteristics and the dos and donts of
each of these seasons, including diet and
regimen are described in great detail.

Consulate General of India 2010 17

 Giving heed to factors like bala,
kala, sattva, etc.

Every individual has a different level of

bala, sattva and other individual
attributes. Also, there are factors like kala,
etc. which need to be taken into
consideration before undertaking any
activity.

Consulate General of India 2010 18

 Knowing your body type and
eating and living accordingly
Based on dosha predominance, there are 7
body types
Each body type characteristics are listed with
fine details and therefore it is possible to identify
every individuals body type.
If the individual follows the diet, regimen and
lifestyle according to ones body type, he or she
can keep diseases at bay

Consulate General of India 2010 19

 Taking care of mental health

Mental health is an important component of

ones health
Mind and mental attributes have been described
in great detail in Ayurvedic texts
Various means of maintaining mental health like
meditation, chantings, charity, etc. have been
listed

Consulate General of India 2010 20

 Recognizing
prodromal symptoms
This is one of the strongest areas of Ayurved.
Prodromal symptoms for virtually every disease
have been elaborately described.
Recognizing prodromal symptoms and starting
preventive care at that stage, is a major tool to
prevent a full blown disease.

Consulate General of India 2010 21

 Others

A lot of other instructional gems are found

throughout the ancient Ayurvedic texts.
Some pertain to diet various types of diets, diet
categories, seasonal diets,
unhealthy/contradictory food combinations, rules
to be followed while eating, etc. are found in
elaborate detail
Some pertain to Public Health issues

Consulate General of India 2010 22

 The three upstambh (pillars) of
health

Aahaar (Diet)
Nidra (Sleep)
Brahmacharya (Controlled celibacy)

Consulate General of India 2010 23

 Importance of Aahaar (diet)

Of the three pillars of health, aahaar or

diet is the most important, and that is why
it is mentioned first
Of all the factors that are responsible for
the growth and development of the human
body, diet is the most important.

(Ch. Sh. 6/12)

Consulate General of India 2010 24
 Hitaahaar (Beneficial or conducive
diet)
Hitaahaar:
Is panchbhautik (made up of 5 components Earth,
Water, Fire, Air, Space), because every individual is
panchbhautik
Has shadras (6 tastes), or has all or most of them or has
rasas according to prakruti (body type)
Is liked by the one eating
Is clean and pure
Not very hot
Has been freshly prepared
(Ch. Soo. 25/33)(Su. Soo. 46/465)

Consulate General of India 2010 25

 Importance of hitaahaar
(conducive diet)
It is only hitaahaar that is solely responsible for
shareer vriddhi (growth and development of the
body) and maintenance of health. On the
contrary, ahitaahaar (inconducive diet) is
responsible for disease development.
Although there are other factors in the
development of the body, aahaar is the most
important

(Ch. Soo. 25/33)

Consulate General of India 2010 26
 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar

Food should be prepared and served by well

wishing people or aids.
The kitchen/cooking area should be clean and
not congested
For kings, testing for poisoning should be done
before food is served.

(Su. Soo. 46/451-453)

Consulate General of India 2010 27

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Rules for vessels or containers:
Ghee should be served in cast iron bowls
Drinks like water to be served in silver
containers, clay glasses, glasses made up of
alum or glass; or boiled and cooled water can be
stored and served in brass containers.
Drinks like alcohol or cold drinks should be
served in containers made up of clay, glass or
alum.

Consulate General of India 2010 28

(Su. Soo. 46/454-455)

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Fruit juices, soups and liquid food should be
served in silver containers.
Dry accompaniments to the food, and food
processed with yogurt should be served in
containers made of gold.
Food and fruits to be served on clean leaves of
banana, palash (Butea monosperma), etc.

(Su. Soo. 46/456)

Consulate General of India 2010 29

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Rules for serving:
The one being served should be seated on
even, clean ground.
The serving area should be pleasant, not a
thorough fare, and should be fragrance, flowers
and other things that are pleasant to the senses,
around him.

(Su. Soo.46/457)

Consulate General of India 2010 30

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Fruits, solids and other dry edibles like paapad
(cracker), etc. should be placed on the right side
of the plate.
All liquids like water, fruit juice, soup, alcohol,
etc. should be placed on the left side of the
plate.

(Su. Soo. 46/458)

Consulate General of India 2010 31

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Sweets and jaggery preparations should be
placed towards the front portion of the plate.
After having placed all these accompaniments,
the server should carefully and respectfully
serve the main dishes in the center of the plate.
Dishes should be served in order of liking,
starting with the least favorite dish and ending
with the most favorite.

(Su. Soo. 46/459)

Consulate General of India 2010 32

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Rules for the one eating:
Should be hungry
Should sit straight on a slightly elevated seat
Should eat in silence focusing on the food
Should eat not too fast, nor too slow, chewing
many times before swallowing
Should rinse mouth when changing rasa
Should drink sips of water in between meals
Should floss with herb twig or silver/brass wire,
after meals Consulate General of India 2010 33
(Su. Soo. 46/471, 489)
 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Rules for the one eating: Do not eat
Before or after meal time
Less or more
Contaminated, uncovered, spoilt, burnt food.
Left over food
Food that you do not like, or that which tastes
and smells bad
Food that has not been cooked properly
Food that has been reheated, was cooked long
time back or is very cold.

Consulate General of India 2010 34

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Rule for optimum serving:
According to ones agni (digestive fire)
Conducive to ones doshic prakruti (body type
according to dosha)
That which gets digested in time

(Ch. Soo. 5/1-4)

Consulate General of India 2010 35

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Qualitative assessment:
Assessing the gurutva/laghutva of the diet:
- One must evaluate whether the food is guru
(heavy) (milk products like curd, cream, etc., red
meat, meat of animals of marshy or wetlands,
sesame seeds, etc.) in terms of digestion,
- Or laghu (light) moong daal (green gram), red
rice, bird meat, deer meat, etc.
Assessing the rasas of the diet:
- A shadras diet is highly advocated.
Consulate General of India 2010 36
 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Quantitative assessment:
Fill the first 1/2 of stomach with solid diet, guru
diet taken first, followed by laghu diet; but if diet
is very heavy, fill only 1/3rd of the stomach with
solids
Fill the next quarter or third with anupaan
(adjuvant).
Leave the rest quarter or one third space for
action of different doshas

(Ch. Soo. 5/7)(Ch. Vi. 2/4)(As. Hr. Soo. 8/46)

Consulate General of India 2010 37
 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Other Rules:
Eat solids first
Eat the highly beneficial amalaki (gooseberries)
in the beginning, middle and end of meal
Eat salad in the beginning of the meal
Meals should be taken in a timely manner or
when hungry.
Meals should be taken in the right amount,
neither too much nor too less.

(Su. Soo. 46/468-470)

Consulate General of India 2010 38

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
One should take into account the characteristics
of the season, ones body type, time of the day
and other factors, before selecting their diet.

(Su. Soo. 46/468-470)

Consulate General of India 2010 39

 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
After Meals Regimen:
Sit straight for 5-10 minutes, waiting for food to
settle down
At this time, smoke herbal cigars or hookah
and/or chew beetle leaf or other mouth
fresheners
After that, take a stroll (about 100 steps)
After dinner, do the above and then lie down on
your left side.
Surround oneself with pleasantness
Consulate General of India 2010 40
 Fundamentals and rules of Aahaar
(contd)
Avoid after meals:
Sleep or sit for a long time
Laugh or talk excessively
Avoid unpleasant sensory exposure
Consume large amount of fluids
Excessive physical activity like swimming, horse
riding, etc.

(Su. Soo. 46/495-496)

Consulate General of India 2010 41

 Anupaan (Adjutant)

Anu means that which follows.

Paan means a drink.
Therefore Anupaan means a drink that follows or
in the context of, a drink that follows meals or is
taken along with it.
Anupaan that is opposite in properties to the meal
that has been taken, but is not contrary to it, is the
best.
(Ch. Soo. 27/320-330)(As. Hr. Soo. 8/47-51)(Su. Soo. 46/424-436)
Consulate General of India 2010 42
 Benefits of Anupaan

A well selected Anupaan confers the following

benefits:
Softening of food
Good digestion and absorption
Satiation
Energy
Nourishment
(Ch. Soo. 27/320-330)(As. Hr. Soo. 8/47-51)(Su. Soo. 46/424-436)

Consulate General of India 2010 43

 A few common Anupaan

Water This is a universal Anupaan; can be

taken with any type of food.
Milk This is considered the best Anupaan,
especially for the weak, tired, infants and aged,
people who have fasted, traveled or done
excess
physical labor, or have undergone excess of any
kind.
Honey + Water For the obese
(Ch. Soo. 27/320-330)(As. Hr. Soo. 8/47-51)(Su. Soo. 46/424-436)
Consulate General of India 2010 44
 A few common Anupaan

Herbal alcohols for the lean, insomnia, fear,

etc.
Meat soups for the emaciated
Warm water after any oily preparation
Kanji (a type of vinegar) - after a particularly
or buttermilk heavy meal
For the diseased, the Anupaan should be opposite
to properties of the dosha involved.
(Ch. Soo. 27/320-330)(As. Hr. Soo. 8/47-51)(Su. Soo. 46/424-436)
Consulate General of India 2010 45
 Benefits of disciplined eating

Strength
Stamina
Good complexion
Good health
Happiness
Long life
Vitality
It is rightly said that the jathraagni or the digestive
fire, needs fuel in the form of diet, to sustain itself.
Consulate General of India 2010 46
(Ch. Soo. 5/8)(Ch. Soo. 27/342)
 Diet recommended for frequent use

Shashtik rice(ripens in 60 days), shali rice

Moong daal (Green Gram)
Saindhav lavan (rock salt)
Amalaki (Gooseberry)
Millet flour
Cow milk
Lean meat
Honey
Aakaash jal (rain water collected at strategic
high points)
(Ch. Soo. 5/12)

Consulate General of India 2010 47

 Diet recommended for infrequent
use
Dried flesh
Dried plants
Lotus stem
Pippali (long pepper), Kshaar (alkalis), Lavan
(salt)
Meat of pig, cow, buffalo; fish
Curd
Bengal gram

(Ch. Soo. 5/10-11)

Consulate General of India 2010 48

 Diet to be always avoided

Vairodhik aahaar (diet which is harmful due to

processing, combination or other factors):
- Heated honey
- Milk with sour things
- Milk with fish
- Curd taken at night
- Ghee and honey mixed in equal amounts

(Ch. Soo. 26/80-111)

Consulate General of India 2010 49

THANK YOU