March 11, 2014: Among human hierarchical needs HEALTH is third even before shelter. Health management should be a continuous process- Jeevanavidhanam is an integral part of everybody's life DINACHARYA, RUTUCHARYA as mentioned in OUR ANCIENT LIFESCIENCES TEXT- ASTANGAHRIDAYA by our rishis. They have also mentioned about SWASTHAVRITTA which clearly mention about protection of good health and prevention of disease they have given second place for curing a disease. The health has to be maintained as 2 main segments viz. internal factors of the body & external factors- environment they are inter

Internal factors: As per ancient Indian Life sciences- Ayurveda our body is paanchabhoutika, i.e. made of 5 basic elements like Agni, Vayu, Prudhvi, Apo and Akasa. As long as the balance is maintained between these elements inside and outside body the person will be healthy. Ayurveda defines health as "Samadoosha, Samaagni, Samadhaatu, Samamalakriya, Prasannaa Indriya and Prasanna Atma".

As long as balance is maintained in above factors the body is in very good state of health. Any imbalance causes diseases. For these 2 factors has to be considered the mental aspects-80% and physical aspects-20% for maintenance of good health

 Universe is macro cosmos (Brahmanda), human body (Pindanda) is micro cosmos both are paanchabhoutika made of 5 basic elements. Hence good health depends upon balance between Brahmanda & Pindanda. To maintain balance humans learnt to be one among nature, nurture, worship, love nature and best utilization of natural resources with the policy of Live & Let Live for millions of years.  

As the so called civilization progressed, selfishness increased deterioration of nature resulted deterioration of health of all living beings on this planet- humans, animals, plants, aquatic life etc. Let us each of our natural resources contribute for our health.

 Air: .Human life cannot survive without air even for few seconds. If we look at the nature's cycle. Plants take CO2 + Sun Light from nature and prepare their food from the nature and in the process leave out O2 into the nature. Humans, animals take O2 for their living purpose and leave CO2. Animals eat plants and live, humans eat both plants and animals and live. Cycle is going on for ages. Today because of urbanization, industrialization, smoking, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers/ pesticides has made life difficult for both urban/ rural population by air pollution. 30% or world population of all age groups is suffering from respiratory problems which are reversible by taking proper steps to prevent air pollution

 What is the answer?

Every individual must realize and reduce air pollution especially in villages and surrounding areas. Take up the following steps.

 *    Every house must have a neem tree which is known as Sarvabhadra in ancient India offering all round protection, 2-3 varieties of fruit trees (Jama, Sapota, Badam, Battai, Nimma, Karivepa, Danimma, Mamidi, Arati, Vavili, Bilwa etc.) for family consumption for good health Tulasi plant (Which will leave O2 all the 24 hrs) Tulasi helps in prevention, relief of many childhood, elderly health problems.

*    Every house must have 10-15 sft area for leafy vegetables consumption for good health

*    Every house must have a Kalabanda plant for consumption which is  amrutha for good health and help in 86 chronic diseases

*    Every 3-4 houses collectively can have a cow for milk and better utilization of cow dung, cow urine as they are best germicidal, antiseptic items having many medicinal properties. Cow milk is next best to mother's milk good for all ages. Cow curd, ghee if used in limited quantities with pepper reduces joint pains. Give flexibility to joints. Warm cow milk with turmeric, clove is excellent in throat infections. Cow dung when burned will absorb toxins from surroundings and reduce AIR POLLUTION.

*    Have community parks, avenue plantation on either side of all roads, schools, panchayat office etc. Every village should have green cover to prevent air pollution. They can plan to plant fruit trees and can have income to the panchayat by selling the fruits to the needy.

 *    All formers collectively decide to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers to reduce air pollution as methane is released in agri fields.

*    Avoid firewood burning to prevent air pollution.

*    Have deep slow breathing which will improve your prana sakthi and improve energy level

 Water:  The other name of life is Water. Human civilization developed for millions of years on river banks on most parts of the globe. Humans can't live without water for more than 2 days unless they know hatayoga. Life evolved from water from a single cell organism as per modern science. Even ancient civilizations say that life evolved from water. 75% of human body weight is because of body fluids. Good health possible only when we maintain balance in input & out put of good water of the body. Water pollution causes many diseases. Today globally every year Billions of rupees are spent on water borne diseases. Both in urban, rural areas water bodies, ground water pollution has reached an alarming stage, even causing deaths apart from lot suffering due to diseases. Fruits, vegetables reared with polluted water are dangerous for our health. Even animal, aquatic health affected due to water pollution. Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, detergents, chemical soaps, open defecation, washing animals in potable water bodies in rural areas, lack of proper sanitation, drainage system is also contributing to large scale water pollution.  

 What is the answer?

Every individual must realize and reduce water pollution especially in villages and surrounding areas. Take up the following steps.

*    Try to avoid open defecation and have individual toilets with the help of Govt. & NGOs

 *    Avoid using detergents use natural detergents for cloths, avoid chemical soaps and use natural bath powders for body

 *    Plan to have individual, collective drainage system to prevent water pollution. By doing this you can prevent many diseases for you, you family, near & dear and can save lot of money spent on expensive, painful treatments with lot of other side effects.

 *    Water pollution will increase child death rate due to diarrhea.

 *    Water pollution increase absenteeism among your workers causing inconvenience to you and your family.

*    Have separate water bodies for humans, animals. Plant more trees to protect water bodies and maintain ground water level.

 *    Reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers which will cause water bodies, ground water pollution.

*    Have avenue plantation with fruit baring trees around water bodies.

*    During rainy season drink boiled, cooled water; you can use a clean cloth to filter water for drinking.

*    Drink 3-5 lts. of clean drinking water per day based on your body weight (70 ml/ Kg/ 24 hrs)

Constipation is king of diseases and can cause many Chronic diseases from simple headache to life threatening heart attack. The main reason for constipation in 99% of the people is improper intake of fluids.  This can be avoided by taking required quantity of water on daily basis. This problem is more in girl children as they don't have proper toilet facilities in schools, so they avoid taking water.

Even consumption of Dosakaya (Cucumber) prevents constipation, Rudra Tulasi (Sabja) seeds, Triphala churnam, Sunamukhi leaves decoction, warm water; water in copper vessel also prevents constipation. Ripen bananas consumption on daily basis also relieves constipation.  Dampudu biyyam (Unpolished rice) will help to relieve constipation because of high roughage. Yoga, Surya namaskaras are also good to relieve constipation.  

Attitude:  Sound mind in sound body is rishiproktam. For good health physical reasons contributes 20% but mental reasons contributes 80%. Unless one controls mind through Yoga & Dhyana you cannot lead a happy, healthy life. You will be healthy if your thoughts and attitudes are healthy. You must have positive thoughts, good family/ social relations, helping attitude to be healthy. People who participated and worked for community benefit had less heart problems a social research study in Canada proved in 1992.

Our ancient wisdom also confirmed this. Sharing, caring go a long way in having good health.  Before asking what society has given to you, ask yourself what you have given to the society in your own capacity.

Your relations make your society

Our ancient culture also says you are what you think "Yad Bhavam Tat Bhavathi" if you want to be healthy have positive thoughts and live in healthy environs.  For good mind you must have green, serene atmosphere. Pure Oxygen gives healthy mind. Tulasi plants leave out 02 for 24 hrs.  Unlike other plants & trees. Rishi ashramams are always surrounded by Tulasi vanams.

Even happiness is good for mental health. As the popular saying.

Navvadame oka bhogam

Navvinchadame oka yogam

Navvakapovadame oka rogam

Food:  Next to Air & Water food is very essential for all living beings including human beings. Based on food 2 groups of human beings are there globally

1.      Eat to live

2.      Live to eat

For good health healthy, sensible, timely food is very important. After green revolution, neo rich class in society, increasing incomes among working class food related diseases are increasing. Today people are not eating food, food is eating people. Our rishis said that

*    Eka Bhokte Maha Yogi

*    Dwi Bhokte Maha Bhogi

*    Tri Bhokte Maha Rogi

*    Chatur Bhokte Sada Rogi

It is always important to eat to live, but not to live to eat. As the civilization is progressing diminished physical activity is causing many health problems making life miserable. Even timing is very imp. Jatharaagni (appetite) is very imp for a person to enjoy food and digest it to be converted into ATP the final form of energy. 

Jatharaagni starts just before Sunrise and reaches to peak by about 2-3 hrs after Sunrise. One must have healthy, natural, easy digestible food around 8 AM including a fresh seasonal fruit in daily food. Light lunch with vegetables around 1 PM, herbal tea with Tulasi, Lavang, Dalchini, Sonti without sugar & salt around 4 PM and light supper before 8 PM.

Also phalopavasa for 24 hrs every week for all age groups above 25 yrs will go a long way in maintaining good health. It is better to avoid NV food completely after 30 yrs as it takes 72 hrs to digest and a veg. food takes 3-5 hrs to digest.

Avoid fast/ bakery/ fried/ spicy food after 30 yrs as it causes lot of gastric problem, constipation, ulcers, back ache, sciatica, spondilytis, sleeplessness, obesity, heart problems, High BP and Diabetes.

Avoid 4 white poisons SUGAR-SALT-POLISHED RICE-MAIDA for a healthy life

Use medicines very sparingly under medical supervision only as the saying goes

"There is no pill for all ills, but there is an ill followed by the use of every pill"

Yoga & Dhyana reduces body carbon and good for health. Whereas gym exercises cause more CO2 release in the body causing many diseases.  Suryanamaskaras for 20 min a day will make you a complete healthy man. Even Mudras for few minutes a day will go long way to lead healthy life.

In chronic diseases & disorders Ayurveda goes a long way if taken by observing lifestyle changes; you can lead happy life without any side effects of allopathic drugs. For e.g. In Diabetes, High BP, Heart problems, Obesity, Arthritis, Gastric problems Ayurveda is best, safe no side effects.

Sleep:  Based on age one needs 20 hrs- 6 hrs sleep children below 1 yr need 20 hrs sleep. Adults above 25 yrs need 5-7 hrs sound sleep per day. Good sleep is possible only when you are healthy both mentally & physically. Drug induced sleep is disease causing.

Aim & Goal: Every human being must have purpose, aim, goal in the life otherwise life is boring, miserable and not worth living. People should remember you for your deeds even after your death. Lead an exemplary life.

Please remember health is not automatic you must work on daily basis as you service your automobile you have to service your body.

If you want good health observe slow deep breath, consume proper quantity of water, eat sensibly, learn Yoga & Dhyana, have good sleep, have proper life, aim and goal.