Excessive accumulation of meda (fat /adipose tissue)
According to Ayurveda a person in whom excessive accumulation of meda (fat /adipose tissue) and mansa (muscle tissue) leading to flabbiness of hips, abdomen and breast has been categorized as 'Sthoulya'.
According to WHO overweight and obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents risk health
What does Ayurveda say about Obesity & Weight management?
According to the science of Ayurveda, channels for fat/adipose tissue metabolization (Medovaha Srotas) is affected, which leads to overgrowth of Medo Dhatu (fat/adipose tissue) and this process eventually manifests as Obesity disease.
The prevalence of Obesity is increasing worldwide in all age groups. According to Ayurvedic Samhitas, obesity is a Santarpanjanya Vyadhi (diseases which arises due to over intake of heavy meals and sedentary lifestyle).
In obesity disease mainly Medovaha srotas is affected due to which there is overgrowth of Medo Dhatu and this process eventually manifests as Obesity disease.
Etiological factors described in Ayurveda can be classified into four groups as follows:
Food Factors
Lifestyle Factors
Psychological Factors
Other Factors
1. Food Factors- Due to continuous consumption of Kapha dense foods, Meda Dhatu (Fat tissue) increases by the principle of :
Similar quality food increases similar quality in the body : "Samanyam Vriddhi Karanam!"
Foods that are heavy in nature - Fried, fatty, sweet (Ati-Guru sevan- due to its guru paki and sheeta veerya) property takes time to digest and increases the kapha dosha which affects the dushya meda.
Excessive consumption of sweets (Madhura ati sevana Very heavy and has sheeta, guru, snigdha and parthiva property) increases the madhurasa of kapha after digestion.
Foods having cold potency (Sheetahara sevana- It has guru, mridu, sthula, pichila, snigdha, manda, sthir and shlakshana qualities which increase the styanavta of kapha dosha) It produces the obstruction in channels.
Fatty foods/fried foods (Ati-Snigdha, Shleshma bahula, and Pichhila Aahara- These types of ahara have guru, sheeta, sthula, pichhil properties) they affect the meda dhatu by increasing kapha doshas in quantam.
Over eating (Ati Bhojan) - It will affect the digestive fire leading to delayed or improper digestion. As a result of this, partially digested food/Ama is produced which spreads all over the body like a toxin. It causes obstruction in medovaha strotas and produces medorog due to medo sanchaya.
Eating before the previous meal is digested (Adhyasana) - Affect the pachak agni or tissue metabolism (dhatwagn)i.
Consuming stale food (Ati Pishtanna sevan) They are difficult to digest and aggravate the kapha dosha and produce Ama/Toxins by affecting the digestive fire, as a result dhatu agni especially medo dhatu tissue metabolism (dhatu agni) becomes dull and there is accumulation of ama in medo dhatu.
Consuming excessive sour foods (Amla rasa ati sevan). It causes obstruction in medovha strotas by aggravating kapha.
Newly harvested rice (Navanna sevan) - Navanna is abhishyandi (Substances which cause obstruction to srotas and are slimy & heavy in nature) in nature and leads to blockage in the channels of transportation, by aggravating the kapha dosha, ultimately increasing in meda dhatu which results in medorog (Obesity).
Consuming meat of Animals from marshy lands (Anupa Mamsa sevana) Consumption of excessive anupa mamsa aggravates the kapha dosha and vitiates the medovaha strotas causing medo dhatwagni sanchaya, which leads to medoroga.
2. Lifestyle Factors
Avyavaya (lack of sexual intercourse) - Increases the shukra dhatu and produces the shrotorodha, which leads to an increase of meda dhatu and obesity.
Avyayama (lack of exercise) - Increases the meda dhatu and (happy and comfortable living without any work) - It leads to kapha vriddhi and affects the meda dhatu which produces medoroga & increase in weight.
Diwaswapna (Day sleep) - Diwaswapna increase the kapha and affects the meda dhatu by obstructing the channels, which later on leads to the production medoroga
3. Psychological Factors
Achinta (abstinence from anxiety) - Increases the kapha dosha and by obstructing the channels and due to similar properties the meda dhatu, which leads to Obesity.
Nitya harsha (Continuous joy) - It leads to increase in the kapha dosha which obstructs the channels and produces the medoroga later on by increasing the medo dhatu.
4. Other Factors
Acharyas have mentioned the Genetics (Beeja swabhavaja) as the causative factor of Obesity.
If the sperm or ovum has the genetics of obesity producing factors then it affects the future child.
Pathophysiology of obesity (Sthoulya)
Due to excessive accumulation of Meda (Fat tissue) in the body Vata gets obstructed as a result Vata is specially confined to Kostha (Digestive system) leading to stimulation of digestive power and absorption of the food.
Digestion of consumed food becomes very fast due to enhanced Agni. That person eats more and more food.
In case of delay in taking food, he is afflicted with some serious disorders because it digest the Dhatus.
The Agni and Vata are the two most troublesome and complicating and burns the obese individual like the forest fire burning forest.
In the event of excessive increase of fat, Vata etc which may lead to development of severe disorders and destroy the life of an individual instantaneously.
Symptoms:
Atinidra - Excessive sleep
Tandra - Drowsiness
Alasya - Lasiness
Visra sharira gandha - Profuse body odor
Anga gaurava - Heaviness of body
Anga shaithilya - Flabbiness
Ati sweda - Excessive sweating
Obesity has eight major drawbacks:-
Short lifespan
Deranged movement
Difficulty in sexual inter course
General debility
Foul smell from the body
Excessive sweating
Excessive hunger
Excessive thirst
Complication as per Ayurveda
Prameha : DMII
Hridroga (can be correlated with Kaphaj Hridroga) : Cardiac diseases
Atisar : IBS
Arsha: Piles
Shleepada: Elephantiasis
Apachi : Indigestion
Symptoms
Due to increase in fat deposition in buttocks, abdomen and breasts the body does not grow proportionately.
He does not have proper enthusiasm and should be considered as a symptom of obesity
Management in Ayurveda
Food and drinks alleviating Vata and reducing Kapha and Fat
Hot and sharp Enema
Use of Guduchi, Devdaru, Musta, Triphala, Takrarishta, Honey is recommended for removing the over Obesity.
Use of Vidanga, Shunthi, Yavakshara
Ash powder of black Iron mixed with Honey
Powder of Barley
Amla juice mixed with Honey
Use of Bilwadi Panchmula mixed with honey and Shilajatu along with the juice of Agnimantha is recommended
Physical and mental exercise
Use of urinary laxatives
Abhyanga and Udvartana with Triphaladi Tail and Triphala Churna
Yoga Asana
Halasana
Mayurasan
Shirshasana
Naukasana
Pranayama
Meditation
Suryanamaskar
Pawanmuktasana
Udvartana - Remove Undesirable Meda from SphikUdara, Vaksha (Buttocks, abdomen and thorax)
Udvartana is the best Bahir Parimarjana Chikitsa for Madhyama Sthoulya.
According to Charaka it has been attributed to Bhibhatsahara
Dourghandyahara, which are the commonest stigmas of Sthoulya person
Advised diet
Anna Varga - Purana Shali, Rakta Shali, Shasthika Shali
Yava, Chanaka
Jalavarga - Shruta Sheeta Jal (boiled and cooled water), Panchkola Shruta Jal (boiled herbal water), Sunthi Siddha Jal.
Madyavarga - Purana Sidhu - Ayurvedic herbal beverage
Mutravarga - Gomutra
Kandavarga - Lasuna, Sunthi, Ardraka (Garlic, dry ginger, fresh ginger)
Ksheera Varga - Takra (Buttermilk)
Shakavarga - Patola, Karavellaka, Shigru, Nimbpatra (Ayurvedic herbs)
Mamsavarga - Jangalmamsa (Animals residing in dry/arid lands)
Apathya Ahara in Sthoulya
Anna Varga - Navanna, Masha (Newly harvested rice & black gram)
Jalavarga - Dusita Jala, Sheet Jala (cold and polluted water)
Madyavarga - Nutana Madya (Alcohol)
Ksheeravarga - Dadhi, Ksheera (Yoghurt/curd)
Mamsavarga - Anupamamsa (Animals residing in watery/marshy lands)
Easy Practical Tips
Limit fat intake to two teaspoons of ghee or olive oil per day (one teaspoon at lunch and one teaspoon at dinner).
For lunch and dinner, include more vegetables and proteins (lentils, beans, low fat cheese, cottage cheese)
Buttermilk is advised at lunch to help with vitamin B-12, if you are a vegetarian, and to help balance Sadhaka Pitta.
Barley water or kanji water is recommended during the day to help cleanse the system, give energy, and help with hunger. Helps maintaining fluid balance, reducing cravings, and assisting in the removal of toxins.
Avoid cold beverages, heavily processed milk products, potatoes, breads, butter, cookies, cakes, ice cream, chocolates, deep-fried foods, and cream sauces, and reduce your intake of rice.
Eat your largest meal at lunch, and have a smaller dinner eaten before Sunset.
Eat good, organic fats such as olive oil, A2 Cow’s ghee, Avocado, Blanched almonds and nuts.
Include whole grains like quinoa, whole barley, oats, millet, or amaranth. Including good protein, such as dhal, lentils, and nuts is helpful
Regulated fasting based on the status of your Dosha/Body type can be helpful
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