A survey report on status of Bala (Physical strength) and Agni (Digestive...

[Full title: A survey report on status of Bala (Physical strength) and Agni (Digestive Strength) during Greeshma Ritu (summer season)]

ORIGINAL ARTICLE July-Aug 2021 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2021 | Vol. 6 | Issue 4 85 A survey report on status of Bala (Physical strength) and Agni (Digestive Strength) during Greeshma Ritu (summer season) Sushma Kumari Assistant Professor, Dept. of Swasthvritta, Shiva Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India. I NTRODUCTION Ayurveda is not just a system of medicine for treating diseases but also a science that emphasizes on prevention and health promotion through proper diet and lifestyle. By following specific Aahara-Vihara (diet & life style) in response to change in climatic conditions, one can prevent many disorders & live a Address for correspondence: Dr. Sushma Kumari Assistant Professor, Dept. of Swasthvritta, Shiva Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India. E-mail: sushma 0767@gmail.com Submission Date: 21/07/2021 Accepted Date: 18/08/2021 Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: www.jaims.in DOI: 10.21760/jaims.6.4.13 healthy and disease-free life. According to Yogaratnakara, Dosha of Ritu (season) does not proceed towards untimely aggravation, if individual follows Ritucharya (seasonal regimen) . [1] All Acharya have mentioned a firm scientific analysis about Ritu (season) and Ritucharya (seasonal regimen) which is true even today. One year has been divided into six Ritu (seasons) viz. Shishira, Vasanta, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharada and Hemanta Ritu. With the changes in the Ritu (seasons) , environment also changes. These changes can be observed in our surrounding. e.g., dry vegetation during Greeshma Ritu (Summer season), flowering during Vasanta Ritu (spring season) , growth of new vegetation during Varsha Ritu (rainy season) and so on. As human is also a part of this ecosystem, body is greatly influenced by changes in external environment. If body is unable to adapt itself to stressors due to changes in specific characteristics of Ritu (season) , it may lead to Dosha Vaishmya (vitiation of Dosha ) , which in turn may lead A B S T R A C T Ayurveda advocates the maintenance of health by using regimen like Dincharya (daily regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen), Sadvritta (social code of conduct) , Aachara Rasayana (personal code of conduct) , Vega Vidharna (not to hold natural urges) etc Ritucharya means ‘the Aahara (diet) and Vihara (life style) and other behavioural activities according to specific Ritu (season) , in accordance with Shastra (scriptures) . A lot of physiological variations occur in the body during Greeshma Ritu (summer season) like exhaustion, general weakness, drowsiness, increased thirst, reduced appetite etc. Charaka Samhita has also described that the status of Bala (physical strength) and Agni (digestive strength) is very weak in Greeshma Ritu (summer season) . To observe the status of Bala (physical strength) and Agni (digestive strength) during Greeshma Ritu (Summer season) i.e., during April to June 2018 , a survey was conducted on 500 apparently healthy volunteers in Paprola and surrounding areas. Paprola is a small town of Himachal Pradesh, situated in foot hills of Dhauladhar Ranges of Himalaya. Data was collected by a questionnaire framed on the basis of Ayurvedic texts. Many volunteers showed reduced Bala (physical strength) but their Agni (digestive strength) status was good. Key words: Greeshma Ritu, Summer season, Survey, Bala, Agni

Sushma Kumari. A survey report on status of Bala & Agni during Greeshma Ritu ISSN: 2456-3110 ORIGINAL ARTICLE July-Aug 2021 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2021 | Vol. 6 | Issue 4 86 to development of diseases According to Ayurveda, Greeshma Ritu (summer season) comes under Aadana Kaala in the months of Shuchi-Shukra i.e., Jyeshtha & Aashadha (mid-May to mid-July) [2] It is the hottest of all Ritu (seasons) and status of Bala (physical strength) & Agni (digestive strength) is weakest [3] To maintain optimum Bala (physical strength) and Agni (digestive strength) , Aahara & Vihara (diet & life style) is described accordingly. In this regard, a survey was conducted to observe the status of Bala (physical strength) & Agni (digestive strength) in the Paprola and surrounding areas during 2018. A IMS AND O BJECTIVES Aim and objective is to estimate the status of Bala (physical strength) and Agni (digestive strength) in 500 apparently healthy volunteers during the months of Greeshma Ritu (summer season) in Paprola and surrounding areas M ATERIALS AND M ETHODS The survey was conducted on 500 apparently healthy individuals of Paprola and surrounding areas of approximately 2 km in diameter during 2018. Age group 20 - 60 years irrespective of sex, race, religion and socio-economic status was selected. Excluded individuals were; Volunteers not willing for the trial, Volunteers below 20 years and above 60 years, Volunteers having any associated chronic ailments like Diabetes Mellitus, Cardiac disorder, Renal disorder, Alcoholic liver disease and chronic haemolytic anaemia, Pregnant and lactating mothers. The subjects were screened for common diseases to which they were prone during this season. A questionnaire was prepared based of Ayurvedic texts. O BSERVATIONS AND R ESULTS 1. Status of Bala Table 1: Status of Bala of 500 apparently healthy volunteers during Greeshma Ritu . SN Bala No. of volunteers Percentage 1. Full energy with normal daily routine work (Samanya Bala 147 29.4% 2. Occasional feeling of general weakness but can do work 240 48% 3. Continuous feeling of general weakness but can do work 88 17.6% 4. Continuous feeling of general weakness which hampers routine work (Daurbalya) 25 5% Present survey revealed that, 70.6% volunteers had feeling of general weakness during Greeshma Ritu (summer season) . Out of them 48% volunteers were occasionally feeling general weakness but there was no hindrance in performing routine work followed by 17.6% with continuous feeling of general weakness but they were doing routine work. Only 29.4% volunteers had Samanya Bala (physical strength) i.e., they were performing normal routine work with full energy daily. 2. Status of Agni (digestive strength) a) Abhyavaharana Shakti (Food intake capacity) Table 2: Abhyavaharana Shakti of 500 apparently healthy volunteers during Greeshma Ritu. SN Abhyavaharana Shakti No. of volunteers Percentage 1. Normal intake of food 244 48.8% 2. Sometimes normal, sometimes decreased intake of food 177 35.4% 3. Decreased intake of food 79 15.8% During this survey it was revealed that 48.8% (244) volunteers had normal intake of food where as 35.4% (177) sometimes normal, sometimes decreased and 15.8% (79) had decreased intake of food. b) Jarana Shakti (Digestion) Table 3: Jarana Shakti of 500 apparently healthy volunteers SN Jarana Shakti (digestion) No. of volunteers Percentage 1. Able to digest adequate quantity of meals 417 83.4%

Sushma Kumari. A survey report on status of Bala & Agni during Greeshma Ritu ISSN: 2456-3110 ORIGINAL ARTICLE July-Aug 2021 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2021 | Vol. 6 | Issue 4 87 2. Unable to digest adequate quantity of meals but can digest small quantity of meals 50 10% 3. Occasionally unable to digest small quantity of meals 27 5.4% 4. Unable to digest even small quantity of meals 6 1.2% This survey revealed that maximum volunteers i.e. 83.4% (417) were able to digest adequate quantity of meals where as 10% (50) volunteers were unable to digest adequate quantity of meal but able to digest small quantity of meals. 5.4% (27) volunteers were not able to digest small quantity of meals occasionally where as 1.2% (6) volunteers were not able to digest even small quantity of meals. DISCUSSION 1) Status of Bala Feeling of general weakness doesn’t always mean a diseased condition. It is physiological phenomenon which is occurring naturally during Greeshma Ritu (summer season) as mentioned in Ayurvedic texts. The Sun, wind and moon are considered as causative factors of manifestation of seasons, body strength etc. During Greeshma Ritu (summer season) hot sun rays absorbs moisture, drinks unctuous element; piercing dry winds further dehydrate it and thus causing gradual waning of strength of mankind [4] Survey report revealed that 70.6% volunteers had feeling of general weakness. This can be attributed to hot climate in the region of Paprola. Another reason can be the life style of population as majority of people work in fields and fodder the cattle due to which day sleep is usually forbidden. Water and liquid diet intake is less among people of this area 2) Status of Agni during Greeshma Ritu It was observed that in 84.2% volunteers (48.8% volunteers had normal intake of food whereas sometimes normal, sometimes decreased in 35.4%) Abhyavaharana Shakti (food intake capacity) was almost normal and 83.4% volunteers had Saamanya Jarana Shakti i.e., they were able to digest adequate quantity of meals. Good status of Agni (digestive strength) may be due to the fact that, Paprola and surrounding area is a hilly area in Dhauladhar ranges of Himachal Pradesh. Majority of population here is rural and people work in fields and fodder their cattle. They remain physically active all the day. Good status of Agni (digestive strength) might be attributed to their active lifestyle Those, who had weak Agni (digestive strength), may be due to their faulty dietary habit and faulty life style or it can also be due to effect of Greeshma Ritu (summer season) . Therefore, observance of rules of Ritucharya (seasonal regimen) , is one of the factors for maintaining healthy state. One should consume Anna- Paana (foods & drinks) predominant in Madhura (sweet) , Sheeta (cool) , Drava (liquid) , Snigdha (unctuous) and Laghu (light to digest) properties [5] e.g. Shali Dhanya (rice) and/or Shali Dhanya (rice) mixed with Sharkara (sugar), [6] Saktu (roasted powder of cereals or Bengal gram) mixed with Sharkara (sugar) & cold water, [7] Sheeta Mantha mixed with Ghritta ( Mantha is Saktu soaked in cold water) and other food items like Ikshu Rasa (sugar cane juice) or Draksha (raisins) or Amla (Indian gooseberry), meat of Jaangla animals and birds like poultry meat, mutton, beef meat, milk, Ghritta (clarified butter), [8] Maansa Rasa (meat soup) not too thick in consistency, [9] Paanaka (drink prepared by mashing fruits in plenty of water) mixed with fragrant Sharkara (sugar) kept in mud pot along with Hima (ice), [10] Shrita Sheeta Peya (water which is boiled and then cooled) etc. CONCLUSION Therefore, it is concluded that during Greeshma Ritu (summer season) , status of Bala (physical strength) is weak and Agni (digestive strength) status is good among the population of Paprola and surrounding areas. To improve Bala (physical strength) , people should change their dietary habits as they should include more liquid dietary preparations like milk, Paanaka (drink prepared by mashing fruits in plenty of water), Sharbata (fruits plus sugar) rice water, meat

Sushma Kumari. A survey report on status of Bala & Agni during Greeshma Ritu ISSN: 2456-3110 ORIGINAL ARTICLE July-Aug 2021 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2021 | Vol. 6 | Issue 4 88 soup etc. during this season. Water intake should be increased. People should do rest in cool place, especially, day sleep is highly recommended. Agni (digestive strength) is although good but balanced diet and Laghu (easy to digest) food items should be consumed. REFERENCES 1 Kumari A. Tewari P.V. Yogratnakara Part 1, Basic concept of Ayurveda 1/830, Varanasi, Chaukhambha Visvabharati, 2010, p 103. 2 Shastri A. Sushruta Samhita edited with Ayurveda Tattva Sandipika Hindi Commentary Part-1, Sutra Sthana 6/6, Varanasi, Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, 2010, p 28. 3 Shastri K, Chaturvedi G, Agnivesha, Charaka Samhita with Vidyotini Hindi commentary, Sutra Sthana 6/8, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Bharti Academy, 2009, p 138. 4 Shastri K, Chaturvedi G, Agnivesha, Charaka Samhita with Vidyotini Hindi commentary, Sutra Sthana 6/6, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Bharti Academy, 2009, p 136- 137. 5 Shastri K, Chaturvedi G, Agnivesha, Charaka Samhita with Vidyotini Hindi commentary, Sutra Sthana 6/27, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Bharti Academy, 2009, p 142. 6 Kumari A. Tewari P.V. Yogratnakara Part 1, Basic concept of Ayurveda 1/829, Varanasi, Chaukhambha Visvabharati, 2010, p 103. 7 Gupta A, Ashtanga Hridyam of Vagbhata, Vidyotini hindi commentary, Sutra Sthana 3/28 Varanasi, Chaukhamba Prakashana, 2009, p 38. 8 Shastri K, Chaturvedi G, Agnivesha, Charaka Samhita with Vidyotini Hindi commentary, Sutra Sthana 6/28, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Bharti Academy, 2009, p 142. 9 Gupta A, Ashtanga Hridyam of Vagbhata, Vidyotini hindi commentary, Sutra Sthana 3/30 Varanasi, Chaukhamba Prakashana, 2009, p 38. 10 Tripathi R, Ashtanga Samgraha of Srimad Vrddha Vagbhata, Saroj Hindi commentary, Sutra Sthana 4/34, Delhi, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan, 2005, p 72. ******************************* How to cite this article: Sushma Kumari. A survey report on status of Bala (Physical strength) and Agni (Digestive Strength) during Greeshma Ritu (summer season). J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci 2021;4:85-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.6.4.13 Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared. Copyright © 2021 The Author(s); Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization, Vijayapur (Regd). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and perform the work and make derivative works based on it only for non-commercial purposes, provided the original work is properly cited

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