Importance of Dincharya

Abstract

A person\'s ability to withstand the demands of daily living requires both mental stability and a reserve of physical strength and endurance. Only healthy individual of sound body and mind can endure social and cultural pressures. Being healthy not only entails being free from illness but also having the capacity to work with contentment and self-control. The best foundation for attaining Dharma (pious deeds), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (salvation) is good health. In current society, changing one\'s lifestyle is thought to be the most effective strategy for preventing illness and premature death. In Western culture, it is deemed early or premature death when a person passes away before the age of 65. Early death is caused by a variety of circumstances.

Introduction

Ayurveda emphasizes preventive healthcare and the treatment of illness by maintaining a balanced lifestyle through Dinacharya (daily regimen). According to both Ayurveda and WHO, health is a complete state of physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, not merely the absence of disease.

A person is healthy (Swastha) when:

• The doshas (humors), dhatus (tissues), malas (waste products), and agni (digestive fire) are balanced.

• Mental, sensory, and spiritual satisfaction is present.

2. Daily Ayurvedic Practices for Health Maintenance

• Waking Up Early (Brahma Muhurta): Ideal for learning and spiritual clarity; air is fresh and pollution-free.

• Achamana: Cleansing after sneezing, sleeping, bathing, etc., promotes digestion and hygiene.

• Danta Dhavana (Tooth Brushing): Using bitter, astringent herbal twigs (e.g., Arka, Khadira) removes plaque and bad breath.

• Gandusha & Kavala (Oil Pulling): Strengthens jaw, improves taste, and maintains oral hygiene.

• Anjana (Collyrium): Cleanses and enhances the eyesight.

• Dhumapana (Herbal Smoke): Clears sinuses and strengthens the head and throat (distinct from harmful modern smoking).

• Nasya (Nasal Drops): Clears the head, promotes mental clarity and good sleep.

• Vyayama (Exercise): Improves digestion, reduces fat, builds strength, and supports heart and bone health.

• Abhyanga (Massage): Nourishes skin, strengthens limbs, reduces fatigue and vata imbalance.

• Udvartana (Dry Powder Massage): Enhances skin tone and removes fat and toxins.

• Samavahana (Light Massage): Promotes sleep, affection, and circulation.

• Snana (Bathing): Refreshes the body, increases strength, and removes impurities.

3. Role of Diet (Ahara) in Health

• Balanced diet should begin with madhura rasa (sweet), followed by sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent.

• Healthy food choices: Fruits, grains, legumes, sprouted seeds, buttermilk, and vegetables.

• Cooking methods: Prefer boiling, steaming, roasting, or baking over frying.

• Water intake: 3 to 3.5 liters daily is recommended.

• Avoid excessive intake of calorie-dense fruits and alcohol.

• Tambula (Betel leaf): Taken after meals for oral hygiene and digestion.

4. Lifestyle Diseases & Prevention

Modern lifestyle issues like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and mental stress are often silent killers, with no symptoms for years. These conditions:

• Damage major organs (heart, kidneys, brain, eyes).

• Are largely caused by unhealthy diets, sedentary habits, and mental stress.

Ayurveda supports the view that prevention is better than cure, and offers a holistic approach that combines:

• Healthy routines

• Proper diet

• Regular physical activity

• Positive mental attitude

• Yoga and meditation

5. Mental Health and Psychosomatic Disorders

• About 80% of modern diseases are psychosomatic.

• Emotions like anger, depression, frustration, and stress chemically impact the body.

• Influences on mental health include environment, upbringing, education, and societal pressures.

• Ayurveda promotes inner balance and emotional well-being through structured routines, clean living, and spiritual awareness.

Conclusion

There are ten healthy lifestyle choices that have been linked to a lower risk of disease: 1) Better health 2) Consistent exercise 3) Healthy eating 4) Stress management 5) Steering clear of harmful behavior 6) Engaging in safe sexual behavior 7) Developing sound safety practices 8) Acquiring first aid knowledge 9) Developing sound personal health practice 10) Environmental protection. Healthy lifestyles can lead to a better sense of wellness, which is essential for optimum health, just as poor lifestyles are the main causes of illnesses in the current world. The public health service acknowledges the significance of \"Years of healthy life\" as well as what it refers to as \"Measures of well-being.\" Physical, mental, spiritual, and social functioning are all linked to this well-being or wellness. Thus, \"Disease management is extremely expensive and painful, but health management is free and enjoyable.

References

[1] YadavjiTrikamji, Charaka Samhita with Chakrapanidatta Ayurvedadipika commentary. Varanasi (India) (Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashana), 2011. [2] K.park. Parks text book of Preventive and social medicine, 21st edition (M/s Banarasidas Bhanot Publishers).

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Megha Yadav. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.