HEALTHY AGEING THROUGH AYURVEDA

Abstract

Ageing is a process natural for human beings wherein the being is ultimately subjected to death. Rather than saying a person becomes old, Ayurveda describes the ageing of Vruddha (growing further) as a state of development. Ayurveda has considered Jara (ageing) as a natural and inevitable process i.e it is a Swabhavaja Vyadhi. As old age sets in, homeostasis between the tridoshas is disturbed. Jara represents the structural and functional changes of an organism over its entire life span. According to the 2011 population census there are nearly 104 million aged people in India and this number is expected to grow to 173 million by 2026. The aged have become one of the cardinal concerns due to the health related issues they tend to face. Jarachikitsa is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with the problems of the elderly. Jara is the process of ageing during the later legs of life when degeneration of body tissues and sense organs occurs at a fast pace. Ayurveda advocates an excellent approach towards promotion of health and prevention of diseases with a littany of measures like, a wholesome diet in proper quantities, dinacharya, ratricharya, ritucharya, sadvrut palana, achara rasayana , practice of yoga, rasayana therapy and panchakarma. The proper practice of all these measures can slow down the process of ageing and act as a home remedy for the diseases the senile are susceptible too.