Obesity and Ayurveda

Sthaulya (obesity) by definition means an abnormal or excessive amount of fat accumulation that may affect health. As per latest studies, the prevalence of obesity in India has trebled over the past decade.

The disease provides platform for conditions like Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disorder, Diabetes Mellitus, Osteoarthritis, Infertility, and Impotence along with psychological disorders like stress, anxiety and depression.

This indicates the weakening of multiple body systems which in turn affect the overall physiological equilibrium; making mortality and morbidity rate a lot higher for an obese person.

Ayurveda which is not just a system of medicine; but a way of life, advocating prevention of disease as its primary aim and following holistic approach in dealing with different diseases. 

Ayurveda is based on three principal doshas – Vatta, Pitta and Kapha.

Sthaulya is categorized as a kapha predominant disease (slesma nanatmaja) involving kapha and medas as main dosha and dusya in the pathogenesis. Sages prescribed that Sthaulya is a bahudosaja disease, which further proves that it leads to a number of serious conditions. 

Sage Caraka mentioned that Sthaulya and prameha have a direct relation because both have kledaka kapha and medas dominance in their pathogenesis.

Kapha dosha is comprised of the water and earth elements in the body. It administers the growth and structure in the body. Excess of Kapha in the body may lead to weight gain, fluid retention and manifestation of allergies. It weakens the digestive system. Sthaulya or Obesity is the most prevalent symptom of Kapha dosha imbalance.
 

The first step to treat Obesity in Ayurveda is to balance the excessive Kapha in the body. This is achieved by eating right, improving the sleep cycle and exercising regularly. One must refrain from consuming refined sugar, bread, dairy and oils. And include vegetable juices, whole grains and steamed vegetables in their diet. Ayurvedic herbs such as Guggul and Triphala also assist in weight loss.

It is one of the yapya (difficult to treat type of disease); the prolonged prognosis results in significant financial expenses. Obesity is a troublesome and problematic disease for both the patient and the physician, despite the advancements made in the modern system and the ancient one.

At Arya Vaidya Sala Kottakkal, a century old organization dedicated to the cause of Ayurveda, there is an extensive 15-day Weight Loss and Rejuvenation Program where they aim to bring in a complete holistic transformation in the patient. The program entails therapies, healthy eating, yoga and meditation. Arya Vaidya Sala provides best Ayurvedic Treatment for Weight Loss.

Most recently, they have opened up their center in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Along with therapists and doctors brought in from Kerala and state of the art infrastructure; it also has three temples, yoga and meditation center, in-house pharmacy, cow farm, organic farming site and satvik food served to all patients. Nearest airport to the center is Chandigarh, which is just 45 minutes away.

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UNDERSTANDING OUR BODY AND THE THREE AYURVEDA DOSHAS

Like the great cosmic forces, all of us possess all the three doshas, Kapha, Pitta and Vata, to constitute our mind and body. Kapha comprises the flesh and secretions in our body, i.e. essentially the water component. 

Pitta comprises our fire component, i.e. gives warmth to the body and its ability to transform substances. Vata is the air component and regulates our energies and activities. The content of each dosha in our body varies with each individual, and the predominance of a particular dosha shall determine our appearance and disposition.

The first step of Ayurveda treatment at Arya Vaidya Sala Baddi, is to identify the natural constitution of the individual in accordance with the doshas. This plays an important role in determining the course of action for prevention of disease, maintenance of health and treating/ curing diseases. This also helps the physicians to prescribe a healthy way of life to the patients.

There are 7 main types of dosha combinations. An individual may have one single predominant dosha or a combination of two predominant doshas in relatively equal proportions. A balanced amount of all three doshas also exists. These combinations include:

v   

1 1. Pure Vata (pure air)

v  2. Pure Pitta (pure fire)

v  3. Pue Kapha (pure water)

v  4. Vata-Pitta (air-fire)

v  5. Vata-Kapha (air-water)

v  6. Pitta-Kapha (fire-water)

v  7. Vata-Pitta-Kapha (VPK)

It should however be noted that mixed dosha types do not necessarily indicate better or worse health. It helps the physicians to determine the treatment. Generally efforts to balance a particular dosha may exaggerate another dosha, thus in combination type it is best to increase the third, lower dosha. For example Pitta-Kapha type should try to increase Vata dosha.

There are different levels of exaggeration of doshas and the terms used by different physicians are generally relative. For example there is a lot of difference when we say hight Vata as insomnia and high Vata as paralysis. Also the doshas merely provide us as a basis to start the examination, a more detailed analysis is often required. 

For example high Vata can induce dryness which in turn causes stiffness and rigidity, while one of its other attributes include quite the opposite symptoms such as excess mobility causing tremors.

Generally we know our bodies well to determine its Ayurveda constitution through physical attributes such as frame, weight and lifestyle. 

Although the basic composition of doshas remains the same throughout a lifetime, sometimes conditions such as a long illness can alter it.

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