UNDERSTANDING OF LIFESTYLE DISEASES IN THE LIGHT OF AYURVEDA

Abstract

Ayurveda is one of the most ancient medical sciences in the world. It is more life and health-oriented and empha- sizes prevention rather than cure. In Ayurvedic texts “CHARYA” word has been used to denote lifestyle or day to day activities being performed by individuals. Charya means “Aahara” and “Vihara”, which is to be consumed or followed, to maintain Swasthaya (Health) of an individual. A Comprehensive schedule of a health regimen for promotion and preservation of health as a code of conduct which can be attained through Dincharya (Daily regi- men), Ratricharya (night regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen), Vyaayaam (exercise), along with AaharaVidhi Vidhana (rules of diet) has been described in Ayurvedic texts. Lifestyle is the way in which a person lives. Life- style includes behaviours such as dietary habits, sleeping and resting habits, physical activity (include exercising), weight control, smoking and alcohol consumption. The diseases which are not transmitted by any vector, envi- ronment and not transmitted from person to person is called Non-Communicable Disease or chronic disease or Lifestyle disease. In Ayurvedic texts, there is no such type of disease mentioned but in Ayurveda, this kind of dis- ease and its causative factors have been mentioned in abundance during the description of Nidana. So, an attempt has been made to understand the Lifestyle diseases and their Nidanain the light of Ayurveda, through this paper. Keywords: Charya, Vihara, Lifestyle.