Obesity is the most common metabolic disorder and is one of the oldest documented diseases.
In Ayurveda as early as 1500 BC Charaka Samhita has described this disorder under the title Medoroga or diseased state of fat metabolism. According to Charaka, the great Ayurvedic physician, an individual whose increased adipose and muscle tissue makes his hips, abdomen and breasts pendulous and whose vitality is much less than his body size in obese. Simple obesity is due to alimentary factors like overeating heavy, sweet, oily foods, lack of exercise and hereditary predisposition. It can be due to other disorders of pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, gonads, pancreas and hypothalamus. Derangement of Agni or digestive powder leads to production of ama, which disturbs Agni of fatty tissue and blocks the proper formation of further tissues.
Improperly formed fatty tissue accumulates in the body causing obesity. Accumulated fat causes disturbance to movement of vata, which in turn increases appetite. Patient therefore eats more and the entire food is then converted into proper fat tissue, creating a viscous circle. Apart from the signs described above, Charaka has described that such person has reduction of longevity, premature aging, unpleasant odor, excessive sweating, dysponea on mild exertion, excessive hunger and thirst, weakness, loss of vitality, loss of sexual powder and mental confusion. If the condition is not properly treated, various complications like hypertension, hyper-cholesterol, heart diseases, hyperacidity, kidney infection, diabetes, fistula, arthritis and lipoma are produced.
Persons having kapha constitution, obesity is very common, as their metabolism is very slow. It has been found that to relieve strain or depression these people start eating. These people have the tendency to retain water. Hence the excess weight is mainly due to water retention and not due to accumulation of improper fatty tissue. In these individuals usually the function of the kidney is very weak.
Persons having pitta constitution usually has excess appetite. However their metabolism is very rapid, hence they have fewer tendencies to develop obesity than kapha constitution. But if these people do not take care regarding over eating sweets or sugars, then they can develop obesity.
In vata type people obesity is very remarkable. These are fluctuations in gaining weight and loosing weight. Many vata persons eat to provide security against their nervousness or anxiety, which is common in these people. In all types exercise is a must.
Herbal Remedies
• Fasting on lime juice-honey water is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity. In this mode of treatment, one teaspoon of fresh honey should be mixed with the juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and taken at regular intervals.
• The leaves of kujube or Indian plum are another valuable remedy for obesity. A handful of leaves should be soaked overnight in water and this water should be taken in the morning, preferably on an empty stomach. This treatment should be continued for at least one month to achieve beneficial results.
• Cabbage is considered to be an excellent home remedy for obesity. A valuable chemical called tartaric acid is present in this vegetable, which inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Substituting a meal with cabbage salad would be the simplest way to stay slim.
• Tomatoes are valuable in obesity. One or two ripe tomatoes taken early morning as a substitute for breakfast, for a couple of months, are considered a safe method of weight reduction. They also supply the food elements essential to preserve health.
• Finger millet is an ideal food for the obese, because its digestion is slow and due to this, the carbohydrates take a longer time to get absorbed. By eating preparations made of ragi, the constant desire to eat is curbed, thus reducing the daily calorie intake. At the same time, ragi supplies an abundant quantity of calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1 and B2 and prevents malnutrition inspite of restricted food.
TRIPHALA CONCOCTION :-
Ingredients:-
Triphala powder
Honey
Method of preparation :-
Put a table spoon of Triphala powder in a vessel and add a glass of water in it. Boil this until the water reduces to 1/4 th of the total quantity . Allow this concoction to cool. Filter the concoction and add a table spoon full honey to this . This should be consumed in early hrs of the day in empty stomach.
2.SPICED RICE MANDA.:-
Ingredients:-
Rice
Water
Cumin seeds
Dry Ginger powder
Pepper powder
Long pepper powder
Method of preparation :-
1. Take equal quantities of spices mentioned above (3-6) and grind them to a coarse powder.
2. Cook 1/4 teaspoon of this powder with two table spoon of rice in one big glass of water. Decant only liquid portion of this preparation add a pinch of salt to it . This can be used instead of soups.
WATER
Consumption of Boiled and cooled water helps to reduce weight.
