Covid 19 has surely taught us the importance of Preventive health care; which is the most useful aspect of Ayurveda. "Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam" (Prevention of Health in a healthy being) is the first and foremost goal suggested and achievable by Ayurveda measures. On similar grounds, Ayurveda has gone ahead and suggested protection of Marma sthana's (Vital sites where Prana or Life is supposed to exist) of the body; the prime being; Heart, Brain and Urinary Bladder.
"हृदये मूर्ध्नि बस्तौ च नृणां प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः|| तस्मात्तेषां सदा यत्नं कुर्वीत परिपालने||९||
आबाधवर्जनं नित्यं स्वस्थवृत्तानुवर्तनम्|| उत्पन्नार्तिविघातश्च मर्मणां परिपालनम्||१०||"
"Marma Paripalan" is the term used for safeguarding of Vital sites of the body from any harm. On the occasion of World Heart day, we will discuss about factors significant for safeguarding Heart; one of the Vital Site. Following are measures suggested by Ayurveda for Marma Paripalan -
Abadha-Varjan (Avoidance of factors responsible for injury to the Heart)
Svastha-Vritta-Anuvartan (Following Health regimen suggested by Ayurveda)
Utpanna Arti Vighat (Treatment of newly rendered symptoms)
1. "Abadha-Varjan" is avoiding major factors responsible for external as well as internal injury to the Heart. All kinds of accidental mishaps lead to external injury to the Heart. But internal injury is a condition which is termed as attack in common language; caused due to internal attack of vitiated and aggravated dosha's (functional components responsible for health in normal proportions and disorders in abnormal proportions in the body). The major role in internal attack by dosha's is played by Vata dosha; which leads the other two dosha's viz Pitta and Kapha to subsequently form a pathological condition.
The effect of the attack can lead to grave conditions or even death. So the seriousness of such a condition must be kept in mind and much of an importance must be given to avoid such kind of fatal injury to the heart.
Here is a list of factors that can lead to vitiation of dosha's leading to an internal injury -
A. Dietary
B. Lifestyle
C. Mental
A. Dietary factors - Over-eating; Heavy foods like meat, milk; Excess oily are the factors which we are aware of causing heart diseases. Similar to them, excess hot and spicy; sour and salty in excess also lead to Heart disorders due to consistent use. Unlike the factors mentioned above, food which is dry in excess (not properly hydrated or that which are not unctuous), less in proportion; and even consistent indigestion can lead to heart disorders in the long run.
B. Lifestyle - No exercise at all is the major factor leading to heart disorders. But contrary to the belief; excessive exercise is also a root cause as seen amongst major youngsters hitting the gym with improper guidance nowadays. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends; "If you find yourself exceeding 300 minutes of exercise a week, you could be pushing yourself to physical “burnout,” or overtraining syndrome (OTS), and some of its associated health consequences.
With overtraining, even simple workouts become more effortful. Specifically, baseline heart rate rises in those who experience OTS, and it can be difficult for heart rate to return to normal after exercising, with longer periods of rest needed".
C. Mental - Excessive thinking, worry, fear, anger are some of the mental factors which lead to heart disorders and should be avoided.
Here, I would like to discuss one of my cases in practice. I had a patient once who came to me with the complain of recurrent pain around the area of the heart, and breathlessness on exertion since a few days. On complete examination of symptoms, diet and lifestyle of the patient; I came to the conclusion that the recent change in his lifestyle that is, hitting the gym and doing a rigorous workout; was responsible for his present symptoms. Here sudden over exercise was a factor in causing the pain by aggravating Vata dosha, so first of all I told him to avoid the gym for some-time and gave him some medications for relieving his symptoms. In a week, he was feeling well and off his medications. This kind of preventive measures are crucial considering "Heart" as a Vital site where Prana (Life) exists. Injury to this site in any form can lead to heart disorders.
So, Prevention of Heart disorders is possible by avoiding the above mentioned factors.
We will discuss the remaining two points of "Marma-Paripalan" in the next article.
To be continued...
@madhuri Vitekar
SSM Ayurveda, Panchakarma and Research Centre, Pune
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