Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Ayurveda has defined Pramana Sharira i.e. ‘regular anatomical proportions of the physique and physique components’. Each a part of the physique has a specific amount and it differs between the Prakritis. The physique proportions needs to be inside the vary of regular proportions in accordance with one’s Prakriti.
Being overtly skinny or excessively overweight, each are out of physique’s regular proportions. Whereas weight problems is above the road of regular physique proportions, emaciation is beneath it. However each aren’t perfect.
Even amongst each, being skinny is alleged to be higher than being overweight.
Ref – A.H.Su.14/31b-33a
Now, allow us to see by means of the reference and attempt to perceive extra about this.
Being skinny is best than being overweight!
कार्श्यमेव वरं स्थौल्यात् न हि स्थूलस्य भेषजम्॥३१॥
बृंहणं लङ्घनं वाऽलमतिमेदोग्निवातजित्।
मधुरस्निग्धसौहित्यैर्यत्सौख्येन च नश्यति॥३२॥
क्रशिमा स्थविमाऽत्यन्तविपरीतनिषेवणैः।
Grasp Vagbhata says –
‘Karshya – emaciation (being skinny) is best than sthoulya – weight problems (being fats). There isn’t a remedy for overweight individuals. It’s because brimhana – stoutening therapies or langhana – lightening or thinning therapies are incapable of destroying atimeda – extra fats accumulation, agni – digestive fireplace (metabolism) or vata. Emaciation will get cured by use of Madhura – candy and snigdha – unctuous or fatty meals and saukhya – comfy methods of dwelling. However, weight problems will get cured by use of meals and actions that are extraordinarily reverse to these talked about above within the context of emaciation, that too when utilized in most amount’.
Studying in between the traces
Ati sthula – overly overweight or obese and Ati Krsha – excessively lean individuals have been counted by Ayurveda amongst ‘Ashta Nindita’ i.e. eight sorts of despicable folks and socially unfit individuals. That is due to anatomical disfiguration in opposition to one’s prakriti. It’s because each these circumstances are tough to deal with and even amongst these, Acharya Vagbhata says that there isn’t a remedy for overweight people.
Why is remedy of weight problems tough?
Therapy of weight problems is a difficult and difficult factor for the physicians. It’s because the remedy of weight problems includes mutually antagonizing rules. Because the grasp says, extreme fats, elevated agni and elevated vata are large obstacles within the remedy of weight problems. Medicines meant to cut back fats would improve agni and vata. This may improve extra longing for meals and additional improve in calorie enter, improve of fats deposition and worsening of weight problems.
Instance pungent, bitter and astringent tastes or medicines and meals predominant in these tastes are able to destroying meda i.e. fats, however these tastes improve vata. This elevated vata would improve agni. Elevated vata and agni is a infamous mixture and can be extremely damaging in the long term.
However, medicines which might lower vata and agni i.e. candy, bitter and salt tastes or medicines wealthy in these tastes would improve kapha and meda. To search out some medication or meals which might stability all these three elements i.e. lower fats and on the identical time not worsen vata and agni are very uncommon to search out. The choices are only a few and uncommon. This makes weight problems tough to remedy.
Additionally, Guru Apatarpana i.e. heavy to digest meals that are additionally non-nourishing in nature needs to be administered for weight problems, which is good however planning such a eating regimen can be tough.
Weight problems requires a complete planning of therapies, medicines, life-style modifications, train, behavioral coaching which wants a devoted apply and lively involvement of the affected person into the method. Many occasions, both the planning fails or execution.
Weight problems will get cured with reverse meals and actions as these prescribed for emaciation i.e. use of katu – pungent and ruksha – dry meals and asaukhya – i.e. strenuous way of life with vigorous train and exercises. All these needs to be utilized in most amount which could be very tough.
Therapy of weight problems includes depleting undesirable issues from the physique, which is tough and painful.
Why is emaciation higher than weight problems?
Emaciation includes addition of issues which the physique has misplaced. Addition is straightforward, nurturing the physique is straightforward compared to depletion and subtraction wanted for remedy of emaciation.
Emaciation could be simply dealt with with administration of candy and unctuous meals that are often likable by all individuals and straightforward to devour. Therapy of emaciation calls for a snug life. Affected person can afford a resting, enjoyable and sedentary life, in opposition to an overweight one that ought to continually exercise to trim down his physique and produce it down. The choices of treating emaciation are many.
The remedy precept of emaciation is laghu santarpana i.e. meals that are gentle to digest however nourishing in nature. That is straightforward to manage.
To sum up
As a result of above stated causes, we will conclude that, regardless of each emaciation and weight problems being ‘not good physique dimensions’, karshya – emaciation is much better than sthoulya – weight problems. However medically, each circumstances shouldn’t be uncared for as a result of intensive systemic hurt they will trigger. Additionally it is essential to search out out the etiological elements and preserve them away and have wholesome meals and life-style selections and efficient stress administration. There could also be some long-standing illnesses within the backdrop of weight problems and emaciation. Treating them promptly might be a gamechanger within the administration of those circumstances.
