Hrudroga Nidana: Causes of Heart Diseases according to Charaka:
व्यायामतीक्ष्णातिविरेकवस्तिचिन्ताभयत्रासगदातिचाराः।
छर्ध्यामसंधारणकर्शनानि हृद्रोगकर्त्तृणि तशाऽभिघातः॥{च.चि.२६/७७}
Hridroga / Hrudroga vis-à-vis Heart Diseases (Cardiac disorders) are on a rise in the modern day due to our erratic lifestyle, diet, stress and many more factors.
Heart Diseases are the end products of many systemic and lifestyle disorders. It is a silent killer and may suddenly manifest in a dangerous way.
There are many causative factors for Hridroga, the compilation of which we can find in Ayurveda treatises. In this context let us see what Acharya Charaka has to say about the causative factors of Hrudroga.
Below listed are the causes of Cardiac Disorders as per Charaka:
- Avyayama: Lack of exercise or not pushing oneself towards Exercise {Being rest prone, Seated jobs and Sedantary life}
- Teekshna Ahara: Foods of Hot, Piercing, Sharp nature which causes gut-irritability and meddle with soft metabolism, cause inflammation and damage to the channels of circulation and cells, impair circulation
- Ati-Vireka: Undertaking excessive and frequent purgation as a part of Shodhana (Panchakarma treatment) or taking too many purgatives
- Ati-Vasti: Undertaking excessive cleansing Enemas as a part of Shodhana (Panchakarma)
- Chinta: Excessive and unnecessary thinking, Worry, Anxiety, Stress
- Bhaya: Fear, Panic, Tensions, Scare
- Trasa: Excessive exertion
- Gadaatichaara: Improper treatment or negligence of any systemic disorders / diseases {This points towards secondary heart diseases – secondary to conditions like obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia etc}
- Chardi: Excessive and or frequent episodes of Vomiting
- Ama: Due to residues of metabolism (endo-toxins) left out in the system and cells (not being flushed out), Ama is formed due to sluggish gut and or cellular metabolism
- Vega Dharana: Holding the impending body reflexes (natural urges) like those of flatus, faeces, urination, thirst, hunger, sleep, sneeze, yawn, vomiting etc as a part of practice or due to unavoidable situations (for a longer period)
- Karshanani: Taking medicines, food and activities which cause thinning (improperly planned or un-monitored weight reduction programmes)
- Abhighata: Injury or trauma to body, mind or heart
With evolution, the causes, symptoms and presentation of the disease might have evolved too, but when analyzed with the modern day disease nothing much seems to have changed.
Ayurveda always believed that the best way to prevent a disease from creeping up is to avoid its causative factors…..and the theory stands good even today and in a farther tomorrow….
So let us keep away these factors and keep our heart healthy…..
Healthy Heart is a Healthy Life………….
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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