Our body weight is one of the most important factors that define our overall health. The fluctuations in our weight and BMI point towards other diseases and can label us as overweight or underweight. However, we know that values such as BMI are not enough to completely define a person's health. There are many factors, such as lifestyle, physical activity, muscle and bone weight, etc., to consider before deeming a person overweight or underweight. Still, weight management and treatment are things people all over the world constantly struggle with.
Health is differently interpreted everywhere, but modern lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits have made a big impact on our health as a society, and today more than 2 billion people, including children and adults, are considered obese or overweight in the world. Weight loss diets, lifestyle changes, and rigorous workouts—people opt for a number of such measures to lose weight, but in this article, we are going to discuss the approach of Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine, to weight management and treatment.
Ayurveda and weight management
Ayurveda is a life science that originated in India more than 5000 years ago, and since then, the influence of Ayurveda has been sustained in Southeast Asia to this day. From the home remedies we use to treat common minor diseases to therapies like panchakarma, Ayurveda is an extensive and holistic system of medicine that draws from nature. The Sanskrit word ‘Sthaulya’ is used in Ayurvedic texts to refer to obesity. The constitution (Prakriti) of a person is influenced by the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), according to Ayurveda, and the imbalance of these doshas is one of the main reasons for illness.
The excess of Kapha dosha is one of the main reasons for obesity, according to Ayurveda. Unhealthy lifestyle choices, eating habits, stress, sleeping habits, a lack of physical activity, hormonal imbalances, and diseases like hypothyroidism can all contribute to and be reasons for obesity. In Ayurveda, weight management and treatment are by no means easy feats, but there are Ayurvedic treatment methods to effectively treat obesity. Each person has a unique constitution, so the unique mix of reasons for weight gain will also be different from person to person. Ayurveda is a holistic science; rather than treating the surface of the problem, it focuses on finding the root causes of a disease and treating it to improve the overall well-being of the patient.
Weight management and treatment with the help of Ayurveda include remoulding your lifestyle, developing a healthy daily routine (dinacharya), diet, Ayurvedic therapies, herbal medicines, and the incorporation of yoga. As we have discussed before, treatment tools and methods can change based on your unique body constitution and the precise reasons for the illness, so consulting an experienced Ayurvedic physician will provide you with the valuable insights about your body you need to proceed with your weight loss journey.
Lifestyle
More than half of the human population around the world now lives in urban areas, and the stress and unhealthy habits that come with an urban lifestyle are known to have very damaging effects. Completely changing your lifestyle overnight is, of course, not possible for many of us, but taking a step at a time, slowly bringing in healthy lifestyle changes, and practicing mindfulness can transform your overall health. Developing a ‘dinacharya’ or daily routine with a tailored Ayurvedic diet plan and yoga can take you a long way in your weight management and treatment journey.
Healthy food habits and practicing mindfulness in your diet and all other things in your life will truly help in improving your physical health as well as your mental health. The food we eat is what nurtures our body and keeps it healthy, but it can be as effective as poison in killing your health if you eat the wrong things at the wrong time. Exercise and body activity are other factors that are essential to keeping yourself healthy. You don't need to indulge in heavy workouts, but maintain the consistency of your regular workouts and slowly build up your tolerance. This way, you won't accidentally hurt your own body with rigorous activity.
Regular exercise helps your body release the stress buildup and enhances your focus and productivity in general. Sleep is another point of discussion when it comes to lifestyle; a healthy sleep habit is essential for your body to function properly. Poor sleep has strong connections to weight gain, so according to Ayurveda, bringing balance to your sleep schedule and practicing healthy sleeping habits can be good first steps in your journey of weight management and treatment.
Ayurvedic medicines and therapies
Did you know that a vast majority of Ayurvedic medicines and herbs used to treat illnesses, including obesity, are plant-based? Yes, and this is why Ayurveda is considered a safe practice in weight management. Herbs like turmeric, fenugreek, guggul, ashwagandha, and ginger, along with Ayurvedic herbal medicines such as Abhayarishtam and Triphala, are used in obesity treatments by physicians based on your personal disposition. The minimal side effects are one of the main highlights of these kinds of treatment methods.
Ayurvedic therapies are another popular and result-oriented way of managing and treating weight. A blend of many procedures, including special diets, herbal medicines, and other treatments, Ayurvedic therapies such as panchakarma will not only help in weight management and treatment; they will also improve your overall health and rejuvenate you. The panchakarma procedure, one of the most popular Ayurvedic therapies in the world due to its rejuvenating nature, consists of five different therapies.
Other than panchakarma, Abhayangam, Samana, Sodhana therapy, and Udvartana are well-known therapies that help with weight loss and the improvement of your overall health. But as we discussed before, Ayurveda is holistic, and each person has a unique and complex system, so a method that works for one might not work for others.
Rasayana Ayurvedic Centre is one of the premier Ayurvedic hospitals in Ernakulam, and here you can get a tailored treatment plan for your weight loss journey with complete support from our medical team. Rasayana, the best Ayurveda hospital in Ernakulam, has a team of highly experienced physicians and staff that aim to revive the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our patients. NABH certification, high-end amenities, the healing atmosphere, and the incredible support of our staff on each step of a patient's recovery journey have made us one of the most trusted Ayurvedic treatment centres in Kerala. Choose health today, and connect with us to learn more about our treatment packages and specialty care.