Secrets to everyday wellness

You stay awake most of the night, suffer neurological illnesses, you are being treated for acute gastritis, you cannot concentrate on anything, you are completely stressed and burned out, you have an erratic temperament, you are getting obese and are perhaps depressed all the time. Sound familiar? Most of us suffer from these health problems on a daily basis, but we either choose to ignore them or go on a pill-popping spree to get rid of them. However, there is only one reason for all these problems: We are not in tune with our circadian rhythm. Research shows that the human genes are out of tune with the circadian rhythms of Nature.

An ancient Ayurvedic concept dating back to 200 BC holds the key to resolving our lifestyle disorders. The concept is more relevant and highly significant today than it was perhaps in the olden days. The sacred trilogy of Ayurveda, the Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana (400-200 BC), the Sushruta Samhita Sutrasthana (300 BC) and the Ashtanga Hridayam Sutrasthana (200 BC) introduce the concept of Dinacharya to balance and harmonise the circadian rhythms, which has a direct bearing and impact on our health.

Strike a balance

Humans are microcosmic representations of the Universe, or the macrocosm. Any change in the macro, affects the micro and the macro operates on an established rhythm. A circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings and to attain good health, it is important that this rhythm is maintained, balanced and optimised.

Ayurveda primarily divides the human constitution into vatha (air and space), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (water and earth) elements. Depending on the predominant element of each or all of these, Ayurveda provides the necessary treatment and care. It is said that if either of the elements is not harmonised and balanced, it can lead to health disorders, some of which are given below:

Kapha imbalance causes obesity, cold, runny nose, lethargy, inactivity and depression.

Vatha imbalance leads to gastric disorders, hyperacidity, stomatitis, piles, fissures and temperamental behaviour

Pitta imbalance results in joint pain, neurological imbalance, constipation and erratic temperament

Dinacharya prescribes a way of life, down to the minutest details including lifestyle, discipline, eating habits, mental outlook and attitude, all of which are aligned to the vatha, pitta and kapha constitution in your body.

For mornings

The ancient texts state, "Braahmi Muhurthe Uthishte", which essentially means wake up two hours before sunrise. At this time, the mind is calm, highly receptive and energetic. Hence, rising early and doing any activity that requires focus is recommended - studying, meditating, working on a new concept, singing, writing, painting, thinking deeply about a subject and so on! This is to be followed by malotsarga or cleansing. This entails cleansing every part of your body in a particular manner, using specific ingredients. It is interesting to note that the ancient treatise cited use of water, astringents, cleansers called tripahalas (gooseberry, betel nut) and so on, most of which are in vogue today.

The text prescribes methods to cleanse eyes (washing with cold water, applying natural kajal), nose (cleanse with sesame oil) and oil pulling techniques for cleaning the oral cavity. Apart from these, you have abhyanga - oiling the body to keep ageing at bay, vyayama, which is to exercise and finally, snana, which is to bathe. Some of these techniques have the power to help the functioning of the brain and all sensory organs.

For noons

The guidelines for the meal at noon is insightful and offer a combination of best practices including the type of food to be consumed, the method of preparation and the manner it is to be served. The rules are simple: the food should be cooked at home, with love and served with dedication! The food served should be seasonal and conducive to the body type. There is a detailed description and chart on the type of seasonal foods, the foods that suit vatha, pitta and kapha.

For evenings & nights

The text recommends an early and light dinner, preferably by 7 pm. Perform activities that calm and relax the mind completely like spending time with the ones you love, listening to music and so on. Before you sleep, reflect on the day that went by and how you can do better the next day.

Did I just sound like a modern dietician or a psychologist? "Today, we see lot of patients suffering from the imbalance of the circadian rhythms. If you practice healthy lifestyle recommendations according to Ayurveda, you will experience a huge difference," says Dr Sandhya Kumar, senior consulting Ayurvedic physician, Sarvahita Ayurvedalaya.

Remember that the Dinacharya will enable you to find your own axis to good health, depending on the type of body and personality you have. The practice will ensure that you get the best of the energy, vibrations and positive elements from the Universe. And guess what, this concept is thousands of years old and highly relevant and significant today. So what are you waiting for? Get started now!