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Causes with Symptoms & Signs:
Simple obesity occurs due to
alimentary factors like
overeating, having heavy, sweet,
oily foods, having cold potency,
lack of exercise, sleeping during
day time, leading very relaxed and
stress free life, and hereditary
predisposition. But it can be due
to other disorders of pituitary,
thyroid, adrenals, gonads,
pancreas, and hypothalamus.
Pathogenisis of Obesity
Ayurveda believes that derangement
of agni or digestive power leads
to production of ama, which
disturbs tissue fire 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 the movement of
Vata, which in turn increases
appetitie. Patient therefore eats
more and the entire food is then
converted into improper fatty
tissue, creating a vicious circle.
Symptoms
Obese people develop excessive
hunger and thirst, weakness, loss
of vitality, loss of sexual power,
excessive sweating with bad or
foul smelling odor, and dyspnoea
on mild exertion. All the tissues
in the body are not properly
formed which results in reduction
of longevity, premature aging and
mental confusion. The deposition
of excess fat takes place on the
abdomen and on breasts of women,
hence they become big and move
during walking. Due to excess
weight such people suffer from
lethargy and loss of strength.
If the condition is not properly
treated, various complications
like hypertension, hyper
cholesterol, heart disorders,
hyperacidity, kidney infection,
diabetes, fistula, arthritis, and
lipoma are produced.
Body Type and Obesity
(1)
Kapha Type – 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.
(2) Pitta Type – Persons having
Pitta constitution usually has
excessappetite. 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
excessive over eating sweets or
sugars, then they can develop
obesity.
(3) Vata Type – Obesity in these
people is very remarkable. There
are fluctuations in gaining weight
and losing weight. Many Vata
persons eat to provide security
against their nervousness or
anxiety, which is common in these
people.
General Treatment
Patient of obesity should be given
food that will reduce Kapha and
fatty tissue but at the same time
having anti – Vata
property. This means that
all the food substances should be
dry and light in quality, without
oils and fatty substances.
(However care must be taken also
that Vata does not get aggravated
at the same time). One should
drink warm or hot water, which
should preferably be treated with
herbs having pungent and bitter
taste. Regular massage with dry
herbs and decoction enemas also
help to reduce excess fat from the
body. He should also be ask to
take proper exercise every day.
Remaining awake late at night and
sex also helps to reduce fat and
Kapha. Treatment should be based
on 4 factors: proper diet,
exercise, meditation and use of
proper herbs having hot and
penetrating qualities.
To increase the tissue fire of
fatty tissue, herbs like guggulu,
Carthamus tinctoris, Careya
arborea, and shilajatu are used.
Formation of ama is treated by
toxin burning herbs like trikatu
and catechu. Aggravation of vata
is treated by medicated enemas of
cleansing type. Channel blocking
is treated by fat reducing –
lekhana – herbs, which have
scraping action to open channels
like chitraka and barberry.
Externally the same herbs are used
for massage with Acorus calamus.
Advisable
Practices
Eat regularly old rice, green
gram, kulattha, bread of yava,
kodrav, horsegram, old honey,
lentil, alcohol, tirkatu, iron
oxide, all dry food substances,
sarshapa and sesame oil,
application of agaru paste on the
body, drinking warm water before
meals and consuming
shilajatu regularly and perform
lekhana basti repeatedly. Regular
active exercise every day until
there is perspiration on forehead
and axillae is a must. It can be
in the form of cycling, swimming,
jogging, running, or outdoor
activities.Chinta, shrama,
ratri-jagarana, sexual activity,
langhana, exposure to the sun,
horse – riding is
advisable.
Precautionory Measures
Avoid all fried heavy foods,
chocolates, sweets, butter,
cheese, paneer, red meat, as well
as cold drinks and preserved
foods. Light diet is recommended
to provide only8 the necessary
energy. Avoid bathing with cold
water, taking rasayana herbs, new
cereals, sedentary job, consuming
milk and its products, jaggery,
salty food and drinks, drinking
excess water after meals, eating
meat and fish, day sleep snehana
and vamana karma. |