Abstract

AN AGING – ASSOCIATED DISEASE AND ITS PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN AYURVEDA

Rashmi Tiwari* and Leeladhar Sahu

Abstract

Ageing is an inevitable svabhava of living being. Ageing represents the accumulation of changes in a human being over time encompassing physical, psychological & social changes. Ageing is a natural process whereby the molecules, cells & tissues in a body damage, leading to loss of function & increased risk of death. Acharya sushruta has mentioned a group of svabhavaja (natural occurring) disease in which jara comes under. Aging is continuous process which begins with conception and ends with death. Charaka has mentioned the growth period that is up to 30 yrs after that the growth of individual stops and aging start to continue. According to ayurveda point of view, kala (time factor) play an important role in the production of aging. Kala causes daily changes, which are responsible for the kshaya. Thus these are the etiological factors which may be responsible for initiating aging process. Vata dosha is most important factor for pathophysiology of ageing because of its natural predominance at this stage. In this stage dhatu, virya, indriya, bala and utsaha decrease day by day. Alopecia, wrinkling of whole body, cough and breathlessness are general symptoms and ultimately with the failure of all activities. Ayurveda has many preventing measures for combating the ageing process.

Keywords: Jara, Kshaya, kala, virya, indriya.