Food is one of the basic instincts of man and Hunger is a sign for the food to be supplied to replenish the body and satisfy its nutritional demands. In our mechanics and dynamics of life, we often neglect the call of hunger. We either ignore hunger pangs or postpone it or forget to attend it at time. Over a period of time, the body and mind adjusts themselves and accommodates to our version of fulfilment. But on the backdrop there is a serious damage to the metabolism leading to tissue injury, which becomes irreversible with passage of time. The extent of cellular damage due to improper supply of nutrition determines the nature of immunity we have at a given point of time.
Negligence of hunger or want of food leads to metabolic errors and are reflected as loss of appetite, less interest in food, anorexia, indigestion, bloating, sour and salty belching, tastelessness, chest burn etc. According to Ayurveda these reflect damage to or impairment of Agni (the digestive capacity or digestive fire). This is the root cause of many systemic diseases.
Hunger is a natural urge or reflex and body gives a regular remainder. Holding on to the reflex or neglecting this natural reflex may lead to many metabolic disturbances and present as signs of malnutrition
Below enumerated are the signs and symptoms which occur when we forcibly withhold the impending hunger urges: Ayurveda perspective –
कार्श्यदौर्बल्यवैवर्ण्यमङ्गमर्दोऽरुचिर्भ्रमः।
क्षुद्वेगनिग्रहात्तत्रा स्निग्धोष्णं लघु भोजनम्॥{च.सू.७/२०}
तन्द्राङ्गमर्दावरुचिभ्रमश्च क्षुधो विघातात्कृशता च दृष्टेः।{सु.उ.५५}
अङ्गभङ्गारुचिग्लानिकार्श्यशूलभ्रमाः क्षुधः।
तत्र योग्यं लघु स्निग्धमुष्णमल्पं च भोजनम्॥{अ.हृ.सू.४}
- Karshya – Emaciation
- Dourbalya – Weakness (Loss of strength and immunity)
- Vaivarnya – Discolouration
- Angamarda – Beating type of pain in different parts of the body
- Angabhanga – Breaking / Splitting type of pain in different parts of the body
- Aruchi – Anorexia
- Bhrama – Giddiness, Fainting
- Tandra – Stupor, Sleepiness
- Drishti dourbalya – Weakness of vision
- Glaani – Fatigue
- Shoola – Colic
Treatment principles in Kshudha Avarodhajanya Vikara / Kshudjanya Udavarta (Diseases caused due to forcible control of Hunger):
- Snigdha Bhojana – Unctous food (Food having reasonable amounts of ghee and oil)
- Ushna Bhojana – Hot food
- Laghu Bhojana – Light food
- Alpa Bhojana – Less quantity of food
अन्नं वै प्राणिनां प्राणाः॥
Food is the life for all the living organisms including human beings. When we make a habit of not taking food at proper time and proper quantity it leads to metabolic disturbances. In turn the tissues get depleted of necessary nutrition. This leads to the above said complaints. When the food is not given at the proper time of demand, the Agni or metabolic fire feeds on the body tissues leading to weakness fatigue and drop in immunity. Inadequate formation or maturation of blood leads to loss of vision or diminished vision.
Time is valuable but health is more important. Nothing is significant in front of health maintenance. For good health it is important to eat right and take care of our tissues.
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Prevention or interventions…when you think of handling things in a natural way…think of AYURVEDA
Dr Raghuram Y.S.
MD(Ay), Ayurvedic Rheumatology
Consultant Ayurvedic Physician
Speciality: Joint and Spine care
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Ph: +91-9480071422
Email: drraghuramys@gmail.com
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