This document discusses the scope of Ayurveda in geriatric health. It outlines several key points:
1. Geriatric care in Ayurveda aims for "longer life with lesser disease and painless death," maintaining health and avoiding disease in old age.
2. Ayurveda views aging as a natural process involving the gradual depletion of tissues over time. Rasayana and Vajeekarana therapies can help rejuvenate tissues and support health in aging.
3. The management of health conditions common in older adults is addressed through preventive measures, lifestyle routines, herbal therapies, counseling, and rehabilitative techniques described in Ayurvedic texts.
2. Scope of ayurveda
in geriatric health
2
Introduction
Objective of
Geriatrics
Aim of geriatric
medicine
Brief history of Geriatrics
Geriatric
population
“ Longer life with lesser disease and
painless death” that is, a self
sufficient life followed by a peaceful
death.
Maintenance of health in old age by high
levels of engagement and avoidance of
disease
in Ayurveda it is a 5000
year old well planned
therapy
1980- 5.3%
2000- 7.7%
2025- 13.3% ( 1.2 billion )
6. Preventive geriatrics
Specific management
for medical conditions
Rehabilitations
Satwavajaya
chikitsa
Yuktivyapasraya
chikitsa
Daiva
vyapashraya
chikitsa
6
7. Primordial
prevention
• Pre geriatric care
Primary prevention
• Health education
• Exercise, Yoga,& Athma
vidya
Secondary
prevention
• Annual medical check-up
• Early detection (
Universal approach,
Selective approach)
• Treatment
7
8. Tertiary prevention
• Counseling and Rehabilitation
• Welfare activities (Sanjay
Niradhar Yojana, Vridhashrama)
• Chiropody services
Improving quality of life
• Cultural programme
• Old age club
• Meals-on wheel service
• Home help
• Old age home
8
9. In order to shorten long-time nursing periods for old people in need of
medical care
1.preventive treatment and
2.medical rehabilitation must be the main priority of all
measures
Geriatric rehabilitation is subdivided into
Prophylactic rehabilitation
General rehabilitation and
Target-specific rehabilitation.
On the whole, it has to be reckoned that older people need a
distinctly longer period of recuperation, in which the clinical picture
rather than the age is the decisive factor of a successful
rehabilitation
9
10. In ayurveda, this is called "Vridhopacharaneeyam".
Jara chikitsa is one among the eight branches of
Ashtanga Ayurveda and it deals with diseases and
conditions associated with old age.
Ayurvedic Geriatric procedures are aimed to cure the
physical, emotional and behavioral disturbances with the
help of well-planned Ayurvedic Chikitsa
Procedures.E.g.: Panchakarma ,Rasayana Chikitsa &
Vajeekarana Chikitsa
Jara Chikitsa is also called Rasayana Chikitsa or
rejuvenation therapy, because it aims at revitalizing the
body tissues for a youthful being.
10
11. Ayurvedic
approach
is based on
•Hita charya ( Ahara, Vihara, Manasa
)
•Dinacharya & Ratricharya,
Ritucharya, Sadvrtta
•Rasayana / Vajeekarana
•Manasopachara & Achara Rasayana
•Vyadhi pratyaneeka
11
12. Hita charya ( Ahara, Vihara, Manasa )
Covers a major sphere in the context of Praanapalana as aptly
quoted by:
“Nagaree nagarasyaeva radhasyeva radhi yadha
Swashareerasya medhavi krityeshu avahito bhavet”
( Cha Su 5 / 100 )
Commentator Gangadhara on the above verse
opines that the measures discussed are especially meant for
Jeeva rakshana or sustenance of life by adopting Hita acharas
and avoiding Ahita acharas thus striking an equilibrium between
the psycho somatic elements
12
13. Dinacharya / Ratricharya - the daily regimens for the
maintanance of Ayu, Bala, Pusti & Swasthya eg : daiva
poojanam, Abyanga, Nasya.
Ritucharya - the seasonal regimens for maintaing the Dosa
samya, Dhatu pusti, Indriya & Satwa bala and especially for
preventing the seasonal disorders
Sadvrtta – includes
Dharma acharana for Medha, Satwa, Pusti and Ayu
Dharaneeya & Adharaneeya vegas
Ahara – (nutritional aspects) Nityopayogi ahara, Hita
ahara, Matravat ahara etc
13
14. Sharngadhara notes that with each passing decade the body loses, one by one
the following factors ie
childhood-10
growth -20
luster and complexion-30
intelligence-40
skin health -50
strength of sight-60
virility& valour-70
discrimination -80
sensory perceptions etc-90
14
15. Rasayana & Vajeekarana is meant to enhance health and
ojas hence re-vitalizing tissues that were worn out or
are in the process of wearing out due to factors like
diseases and ageing.
Rasayana & Vajeekarana chikitsa
enhances immune system, arrests ageing, gives luster
to the skin, gives youthful energy, nourish blood and
body tissues (Sapta dhatus), and eliminate senility and
other diseases of old age.
To conclude these therapy
includes immuno-modulation, antioxidant action(
prevents bio-oxidation there by checking age related
disorders, auto immune disorders, degenerative
disorders), adaptogenic affects and so on.
“Asya prayogat Chayanah suvriddho abhoot
punaryuva ”
(Cha Chi I / I / 72 ) 15
16. Wherein the specific chikitsa explained in the Roga Adhikara have
to be followed
Selection of yogas may be done after considering the factors like
Heeyamanadhatu avastha
Saukumaratwa
Dourbalya
Hence mangement may be done using
Minimum dosage having maximum efficacy
Modifiable Aushada sevanakala and Aushada matra
Prescription with minimum adverse effect
Adequate supervision of long term medication
Therapeutic procedures like Panchakarma to be done after
thorough evaluation
16
17. Vardhakya avastha invariabily presents with
Psyosomatic afflictions
Glani
Sada
Nidra & Tandra
Alasya
Nirutsaha
Asamarthya chesta of
Sareera & manas
17