Abstract

APPRAISAL OF OBESITY & RELATED DYSLIPIDEMIA W.S.R. MEDOROGA IN AYURVEDA

Dr. Harbans Singh*, Dr. Amit Kumar Rai, Dr. Deepa Sharma and Dr. Sanjiv Kumar

Abstract

Obesity and related dyslipidemia is one of the most common disorder of metabolism in human being and perhaps also one of the oldest documented metabolic disturbances in Ayurveda. An obese or Sthula person has been identified as Atinindita (worst despicable personality) in Ayurvedic classical texts. Acharya Charaka has described Sthaulya as excessive increase in quantity of Meda and Mamsa Dhatu leading to pendulous movements of buttock, abdomen and chest with morphological disproportion. Sthaulya is the disease of Medodhatvagni Vikriti. In Sthaulya, over-nourishment of only Meda dhatu cause malnourishment of all other Dhatu. Two types of Meda (Fat) are described viz. Baddha Meda (adipose tissue) & Abaddha Meda (circulating lipids). Genetic predisposition as well as overeating along with decreased energy expenditure is considered as its primary etiological factors. It is a rapidly emerging medical problem and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. For this reason, prompt treatment must be advocated which should aim at normalizing Kapha, Vayu and decreasing Meda by Guru and Aptarpana Aahar and Vihara as per Ayurvedic principles.

Keywords: Medoroga, Sthaulya, Meda, Baddha Meda, Abaddha Meda, Obesity, Dyslipidemia.