Changes

== Ahara as medicine ==

== Ahara as medicine ==

Cha. Su. 11.54

Various diseases develop due to intake of inappropriate and unwholesome ahara (food). Therefore it is counted as one of the causative factors for diseases. But at the same time, appropriate changes in such food articles and their consumption manners can also cure these diseases. Therefore, Ahara is believed to be the equally consequential medicine in Ayurveda. Administration of right diet plan in a patient with any disease gives fast relief and many a time offers permanent cure. Thus Ayurveda [[Vaidya (वैद्यः)|Vaidya]] always recommends do's and dont's in Ahara while giving treatment for any disease. These are known as Pathyas & Apathyas.  

युक्तिव्यपाश्रयं- पुनराहारौषधद्रव्याणां योजना,

[[Chikitsa (चिकित्सा)|Chikitsa]] i.e. treatment is said to be of 3 types in Ayurveda literature. Daivavyapashraya, Yuktivyapashraya and Satvavajaya. Among these 3 types, use of wholesome food articles and administration of diet plan is counted under the Yuktivyapashraya type of a [[Chikitsa (चिकित्सा)|chikitsa]]. <blockquote>युक्तिव्यपाश्रयं- पुनराहारौषधद्रव्याणां योजना.. (Char. Samh. 11.54)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 11 Sutra 54)</ref></blockquote>

Ahara as the only only medicine to regain strength after recovery from diseases

Ahara is the only medicine to regain strength during recovery from diseases. Many acute severe or chronic diseases affect the person in such a way that the person recovering from them becomes weak, looses strength and remains incompetent to perform routine activities. In many instances the strength of the patient is lost due to the strong medicines used for treatment of the disease which in turn make the person weak. In such conditions Ayurveda scholars have identified and emphasized the role of ahara as medicine. In spite of using any medicine to boost strength, it is advised to use different types of food recipes that will boost energy and strength. In such cases, ghee, meat soup, milk, soups/broths etc. <blockquote>भेषजक्षपिते पथ्यमाहारैरेव बृंहणम्|....</blockquote><blockquote>..तथा स लभते शर्म युज्यते चायुषा चिरम्||२३|| Cha.Su. 16.22-23</blockquote>Going further the benefit of administering such diet in diseases individuals, Ayurveda acharyas have mentioned that, it helps to balance the the body-mind-energy complex and increase the longevity. 

=== Role of ahara in management of diseases ===

 

Any medicine used to treat a [[Roga (रोगः)|roga]] (disease) in Ayurveda, is believed to act chiefly on doshas and dhatus. It helps to re-establish the equilibrium of these components responsible for laying the foundation of disease. Samanya vishesha siddhanta is commonly used to select the dravyas (medicinal substances) to treat that disease. Therefore when ahara is to be used to manage a certain ailment or in addition to medicines, food articles, recipes and combinations are selected which will help to reduce the aggravated doshas, increase the depleted dhatus etc. Since Ahara and shariram as well as its component like doshas and dhatus are also panchabhautika in nature, 5 elements are the basis of this type of activity of ahara. 5 mahabhutas in ahara help to increase or reduce the disturbed 5 mahabhutas in shariram. <blockquote>अनया चोक्त्या आहारः शरीरगतानां भावानां समानगुणानां गुणद्वारेण वर्द्धनहेतुः,विपरीत गुणानां च क्षयहेतुः इति प्रतिपादयति ----</blockquote><blockquote>यथास्वं ते च पुष्णन्ति पक्वा भूतगुणान् पृथक्| पार्थिवाः पार्थिवानेव शेषाः शेषांश्च देहगान् (Asht. Hrud. 3.60)<ref>Ashtanga Hrudayam (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 3 Sutra 60)</ref></blockquote>

 

 

 

 

 

=== Effect or function of ahara in management of diseases ===

अनया चोक्त्या आहारः शरीरगतानां भावानां समानगुणानां गुणद्वारेण वर्द्धनहेतुः,विपरीत गुणानां च क्षयहेतुः इति प्रतिपादयति ----

 

यथास्वं ते च पुष्णन्ति पक्वा भूतगुणान् पृथक्|

 

पार्थिवाः पार्थिवानेव शेषाः शेषांश्च देहगान्||६०|| A.H.SHA.3.60

== Specific recipes in specific diseases ==

== Specific recipes in specific diseases ==

Shirororogas- Ghrutapura, sanyawa S.u.Ut.26

The subject of food can not end without recipes. Ayurveda acharya in their treatises have not missed this extremely important aspect of administering food. At many instances they have described recipes of medicinal food articles which would be beneficial for intake in special health conditions. Various recipes have been designed in such a way that not just the food ingredient in it but also its processing method will be adding quality to that recipe which will be desired in that specific health conditions. There are certain classical treatises like Kshemakutuhalam that are entirely dedicated for describing ancient traditional and healthy recipes which have basis of Ayurveda and were commonly followed in Bharata in ancient times. One can find the mention of Sanyawa (Haluwa), Ghewara (a type of jalebi) and many such interesting preparations in Ayurveda treatises in the context of management of diseases. For example, in the management of certain Shirorogas (diseases of head & neck), use of Sanyawa, Madhumastaka, Ghrutapoora (ghewara) etc has been advocated. <ref>Sushruta Samhita (Uttaratantram Adhyaya 26 Sutras 37-38)</ref> Similarly in certain rogas like Jwara, Pandu use of soups of Mudga (Green gram), Masura, Chanaka, Makushthaka has been recommended in aharakala (right time of having food). <ref>Sushruta Samhita (Uttaratantram Adhyaya 39 Sutra 150-151)</ref>

 

 

 

मधुमस्तकाः रवजुकाः, संयावः कण्डकघृतैश्चातुर्जातककर्पूरसुगन्धः लप्सिकेति लोके, घृतपूरः ‘घेवर’ इति प्रसिद्धः||३६-३७||

 

Jwara- Soups-

[[Category:Ayurveda]]

[[Category:Ayurveda]]

<references />

<references />