Abstract

CRITICAL REVIEW ON ROLE OF AYURVEDA FOR PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE MEASURES IN GERIATRICS

Vd. Supriya Ashok Shelke* and Vd. Shital O. Chavan

Abstract

Ayurveda, a rational system of medicine has gained global acceptance on virtue of its fundamental doctrine of holistic approach. In India 3.8% of the population are older than 65 years of age. According to an estimate the likely number of elderly people in India by 2016 will be around 113 million. Maintaining the vitality of youth and preserving quality of life has long been a quest of civilized man. Ayurveda is the science of life and longevity. Jara (geriatrics) is one of the part of ashtanga Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda ageing is outcome of kala and is described under swabhav balapravritta vyadhi, which is caused by the time naturally. Vatadosha the most important factor in the patho-physiology of ageing obviously because of its natural dominance at that stage of life. Ayurveda has a power to prolonging life with promotion of health and prevention of disease occur due to ageing with a number of measures like proper diet, rasayana, sevan, achara rasayana, yoga practice, proper pancharma and some herbal drugs. Practice of all these measures increase the quality of life in old age.

Keywords: Jara, Geriatrics, proper diet, rasayana, yoga practice, panchakarma, herbal Drugs.