As may
already be noted, food is important in ayurvedic treatment of diabetes. In fact
it is regarded as ausadam-medicine in Ayurveda. Its bid in Ayurveda (treatment)
is based on the fact that beyond the calories and nutrients that we know food
for, it has other qualities-six tastes (rasa) and their associated energy
(virya).
On
entering the mouth, food will elicit one of either two possible responses -
Either one, an immediate cooling response or two a heating response.
"Pungent, salty and sour foods have a heating virya, while bitter sour and
sweet foods have a cooling virya". In addition to this, each food has
gunas-certain qualities affecting the dosha in certain ways. Further to this,
certain foods were prabhava (had a non-typical effect).
Thus by
following these special effects of food on the human body, it was possible for
ayurvedic practitioners to distill the causes of disease and the properties and
effects of food on the human system. This accordingly enabled practitioners to
create diets that could decrease the kapha, pitta and vata doshas by skilfully
tailoring various tastes, associated qualities (gunas) and energetics to the
individual's diet.
The
ayurvedic diet consists mostly of vegetables and unprocessed foods and as study
shows such a diet is very helpful in the control of diabetes. For example the
results of a study carried out by Dr James showed that diabetics who consumed a
high carbohydrate, high fiber diet (sattvic diet), were in the case of diabetic
Type 1s, able to lower their insulin medication by an average of 40%. In addition
to that, 24 out of the 25 diabetics tested in the study were able to stop
completely the use of insulin within a few weeks.
The Role
of Exercise
As stated
before, exercise is a part of the ayurvedic system for the treatment of
diabetes and disease in general. Here the recommendation is a daily regimen to
promote good health and longevity. This approach particularly when tailored to
an individual's Dosha balance need, has a dual focus; on one hand the physical
benefits conferred by exercise and on the other, its beneficial effects on the
psyche, i.e. the mind, senses, heart and spirit.
Such
exercise must however be done in moderation in order to gain the full benefits
and avoid associated risk- the creation of damage causing free radicals. Rather
in exercising, an individual is to incorporate the concept of balaardh or the
use of half of one's strength. This means that if you could do 30 press ups on
the spot, then what you should rather do is 15. When exercise is done this way-
within ones comfort zone, it is more enhancing of overall well-being. Such
exercise should be done in the morning as it would boost energy levels for the
day and assist sleeping at night.
The Role
of Routine
Timing in
the ayurvedic system as may have already been observed is very important and is
incorporated into the ayurvedic concept of daily routine (dincharya). This
daily routine consists of all aspects of regimen and diet and has been accorded
the strongest healing force of all curative medicines.
Daily
routine can be broken down into waking up, after waking up, elimination or
toileting, cleaning of one's self, giving one's self an oil massage, exercise,
taking a bath, meditation, breakfast, lunch, twilight, supper and going to bed.
All of these points have specific instructions with regards to how or when they
are to be done.
The two
that stand out however are the wake up stage- about two hours prior to dawn
between 4.30 am and 5.00am and, twilight. Waking up two hours before dawn
because sattva is most plentiful in the air at this time and twilight, because
it is regarded as the best time for one to see ones true self.
Seasonal
routine is also very important. Since different seasons elicit different body
needs, the observation of seasonal routine will enable the individual maintain
balance even as the seasons change. Thus briefly we have the Kapha season
(spring and early summer); Pitta season (Midsummer through early autumn); Vata
season (late fall through winter).
These
seasons all also have their dos and don'ts which should be followed if the best
advantages for maintaining balance is to be ensured. Here special emphasis is
placed on what one should and shouldn't eat as the seasons change.
Nevertheless, it has been suggested by modern scholars that this should serve
as a guide to aid the body in maintaining its balance and equilibrium rather
than as a strict weather-food guide.
The Role
of Medicinal herbs
Herbs are
well used in ayurvedic treatment of diabetes. Thus the use of Pterocarpus
Marsupium (Indian kino) has been scientifically shown to not only improve
insulin levels but to also stimulate beta cell regeneration. In addition to
this, the Indian Genera Sylvestre has been found to improve the ability of
insulin to lower blood sugar in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. Other herbs
which have been documented to be efficacious in the treatment of Type 2
diabetes are cinnamon, Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and Blueberry
(Vaccinium myrtillus). All these help to lower blood sugar level.
In
conclusion therefore, being premised on over six thousand years of development.
With the systems effectiveness for treating diabetes. With this effectiveness
becoming more known, and while being effective avoiding the occurrence of side
effects associated with the prolonged use of conventional drugs, it is certain
that ayurveda as an alternative system for the treatment of diabetes shall
definitely gain more traction and become more and more popular in the future.
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