Abstract

CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF SHADVIDH UPKRAMA

Hem Raj*, Balbir Singh and Manju Saini

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Abstract

Ayurveda has the ability to revolutionize the modern healthcare system and make the future medical system more sustainable. Its “Prevention is better than cure” purpose, aims to provide solutions for a healthy lifestyle to promote overall well-being. Ayurveda is a science of life with a holistic approach to health and personalized medicine. Ayurveda is a complete medical system that comprised physical, psychological, philosophical, ethical, and spiritual health.[1] Ayurveda has ability to treat many chronic diseases such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes and lifestyle disorders. Lifestyle disorders are constituted of diseases which arise because of unhealthy lifestyle. The important factors responsible for lifestyle disorders are low physical activity, unhealthy food habits, disturbed sleep patterns and incorrect body posture. This may increase the risk of developing certain critical illness in the later stage of life. The incidence of lifestyle diseases like diabetes mellitus, increased Cholesterol level, increased blood pressure and overweight associated with cardiovascular diseases is high on the rise. Ayurveda blends our lifestyle and health-oriented habits with the ancient wisdom of using Ayurvedic basic Principles, Ayurvedic medicines and natural herbs to help us lead a healthy, happy and disease-free life. Six types of treatment modalities have been mentioned in Ayurveda, known as Shadvidh-Upakram.[2] These are very beneficial in prevention and management of lifestyle diseases. In Ayurveda causes of a disease are classified into two types Santarpanjanya and Aptarpanjanya. These diseases are caused by unhealthy food habits and lifestyle. Santarpanjanya diseases are caused by taking food excess in quantity and lack of physical activities while Aptarpanjanya diseases are caused by intake of food less in quantity and more physical activities.[3] These Shadvidh-Upakram are used for prevention and cure of diseases.

Keywords: Lifestyle diseases, Aptarpanjanya vyadhi, Dosha, Santarpanjanya vyadhi, Shadvidh upakrama, Shadvidh-Upakram.