Abstract

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF AAHAR AND VIHAR (LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION) IN PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF ANORECTAL DISEASES - A REVIEW ARTICLE

Dr. Shubham Sharma*, Dr. Jitesh Bansal, Dr. Ravi Kumar and Dr. Durgawati Devi

Abstract

Ayurveda is not only a medical science but also talks about the ways of living life. Ayurveda is known as „Science of life‟. In Ayurveda, the most emphasis is given on prevention or maintaining equilibrium of health status (balanced dosha, dhatus & mala) and management of various types of diseases. In today's era, it has become more important to use the principles of Ayurveda like dincharya ritucharya in lifestyle because people do not pay attention to their health. Diet (aahar) & lifestyle (vihar) is major cause of various types of anorectal disease (Gudaroga). In Sutrasthan Acharya Charka has also described health, diet, lifestyle, dos and don‟ts, causative factors, prophylaxis. Irregular bowel habits, constipation (vibandha) are the commonest etiopathogenesis for development of anorectal disorders like Haemorrhoids (Arsha), Fissure-in-Ano (Parikartika), rectal prolapse (guda bhramsha) etc. In preventive measures Acharya Charak has mentioned three sub pillars (triupstambh) i.e., diet(aahar) sleep(swapan) and celibacy(bhramacharaya) responsible for maintaining the equilibrium of three doshas. Even Acharya Sushruta has also explained about hitkar and ahitkar ahaar vihar in sutrashthan. The frequency of anorectal disorders is increasing day by day in society due to regular consumption of ahitkar ahar, fast food, packed junk food & low fiber food. Change in lifestyles and sleep pattern also affects the normal metabolism of body. In ayurveda our primary aim is to ignite our Agni by various methods (deepana, pachana, shamshodhana etc) and to prevent constipation by using laxatives and fibre rich diet with proper management of lifestyle.

Keywords: Lifestyle, Diet, Anorectal disease, Constipation.