Lifestyle Diseases in Relation to Shalakya Tantra and its Management: A Conceptual Study

Abstract

The lifestyle diseases are a result of an inappropriate relationship of people with their environment. The onset of these lifestyle diseases is insidious, they take years to develop, and once encountered, do not lend themselves easily to cure. Hence, proper awareness is very important for prevention of lifestyle disorders. Indriyas are the media through which the objects of the external environment are perceived and they also reflect the ill health of the body by features like Aprasannatwa, etc. Indriyas also take part in awareness and reaction with the external environment. Hence, these are important faculties of our body, which are prone to get afflicted by various factors. Today’s mechanical life has changed the “Lifestyle” drastically. Overpopulation, overcrowding of vehicles leading to sound and air pollution, junk food habits, etc. have brought many hazards to human life affecting the sense organs as well as whole body causing various diseases like Nasashosha, Badhirya, Gandhahani, etc. The lifestyle disorders of above organs include macular degeneration, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, deafness, otalgia, epistaxis, headache, hoarseness, otorrhoea, ozaena, sinusitis, tonsillitis, dental caries, gingivitis, bleeding gums etc. A detailed description of above diseases is emphasized, keeping in mind the diseases related to Shalakya Tantra.