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| <li>As stated byacharya Charak, pregnant woman with aggravated vatawho practice frequent fastingdevelop retardation of fetus. This underdevelopment stays for long without any other signs, known as ‘Nagodara’. [Ch.Sa. Shareerasthana 8/26]</li> | | <li>As stated byacharya Charak, pregnant woman with aggravated vatawho practice frequent fastingdevelop retardation of fetus. This underdevelopment stays for long without any other signs, known as ‘Nagodara’. [Ch.Sa. Shareerasthana 8/26]</li> |
| <li>Fasting is contraindicated in vataja diseases, chronic diseases and fever, along with this, in people with anger, jealousy and psychological disorders. [Ch.Sa. Chikitsasthana 3/140]</li></ol> | | <li>Fasting is contraindicated in vataja diseases, chronic diseases and fever, along with this, in people with anger, jealousy and psychological disorders. [Ch.Sa. Chikitsasthana 3/140]</li></ol> |
| + | |
| + | == Physiology of fasting == |
| + | <ul style="text-align:justify;"><li>Glycogen, a polymer of glucose, is stored in the liver and during non- availability of food, certain enzymes break it down into glucose, which provides energy to thebody. If one never fasts, this enzyme system that breaks glycogen into glucose may not remain effective. Therefore, periodical fasting is considered beneficial to the body. Once the glycogen reserve is exhausted, the adipose tissue comes to the rescue of the fasting person.</li> |
| + | <li>During fasting, firstly, blood glucose is used for energy. Next to that, glycogen stored in hepatocytes is utilized. This increases the breakdown of adipose tissues which is stated as lipolysis. As a result of which, more fatty acids and glycerol are formed and released into blood. <br/>Ketones are produced in our body. Fatty acids are transported to hepatocytes, then get metabolized to produce Beta-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) and acetoacetate. This induces mitochondrial biogenesis. Ketones are carried into cells with high metabolic activities like neurons, muscles etc., converted into acetyl coenzyme A. It enters into Tricarboxylic acid cycle where ATP are generated. Glucose is primary source of energy, but it gets shifted to fatty acids and ketones during fasting. </li> |
| + | <li>Prolonged fasting is not advisable, as fasting for extended periods makes the fat cells pathological. Further, during fasting the cell membrane lining the intestine undergoes a reorientation program to achieve maximum efficiency. The membrane cholesterol level goes down; hence, the membrane becomes free and absorbs more during fasting.</li> |
| + | <li>Fasting also has an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and eliminates pre-neoplastic cells.</li></ul> |
| + | |
| + | == Probable mode of action of upavasa == |
| + | <ul style="text-align:justify;"><li>Upavasa makes the body light by relieving heaviness and clears the channels. So, during fasting, our body, as well as mind, feels light. Heaviness is the characteristic of kapha.Kapha creates a blockage in the channels of our body.</li> |
| + | <li>During Upavasa, Agni, previously busy with digestion, becomes free; hence it digests the undigested food already present in the body. Then it digests the samadosha, dhatu and mala.</li> |
| + | <li>The atmospheric air and the heat dry up the small water bodies on the earth's surface. Similarly, fasting increases vayu and agnimahabhuta (the air and fire components) in the body. This in turn dries up the mildly vitiated dosha. [Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 03/44]</li></ul> |
| + | |
| + | == Applied aspect of upavasa(fasting) == |
| + | <ul style="text-align:justify;"><li style="font-weight:bold">Diagnosis of disease: <br/><span style="font-weight:normal">The desire to fast may be used as a diagnostic criterion forvataocclusion by excessive kapha dosha. [Cha.Sa.ChikitsaSthana 28/63]</span></li> |
| + | <li>In management of disease:</li> |
| + | <ol><li>Fever (jwararoga) [Cha.Sa.ChikitsaSthana 3/139],</li> |
| + | <li>Blood vitiation (raktajaroga) [Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 24/18]</li> |
| + | <li>Diseases originating from the stomach (amashaya) can be treated through fasting. [Cha.Sa. NidanaSthana 8/31]</li> |
| + | <li>Bleeding disorders (raktapitta) especially urdhwajaraktapitta through the upper orifices (eyes, mouth, and nose) [Cha.Sa.ChikitsaSthana 4/30],</li> |
| + | <li>Noninfectious gastroenteritis (visuchika). [Cha.Sa.VimanaSthana 2/13],</li> |
| + | <li>Mild aggravate dosha can be managed by fasting therapy in case of diarrhea (Atisara) [Cha.Sa.ChikitsaSthana 19/19],</li> |
| + | <li>In all disorders of nutritive fluid (rasa dhatu) [Cha.Sa.SutraSthana 28/25] and the conditionsaffecting mouth and oral cavity. [Cha.Sa. ChikitsaSthana 12/80]</li> |
| + | <li>Disorders due to over-nutrition (santarpanjanyavikara) [Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 23/8]</li> |
| + | <li>In the prodromal stage of all varieties of erysipelas (visarpa) [Cha.Sa.ChikitsaSthan 21/44]</li> |
| + | <li>Indigestion caused due to ama (amajeerna). [Su.Sa. SutraSthana. 46/505]</li> |
| + | <li>Fissure in ano associated with ama. [Cha.Sa. SiddhiSthana 6/63]</li> |
| + | <li>Grahaniroga[Cha.Sa. ChikitsaSthan 15/65]</li> |
| + | <li>Akshiroga, Udararoga, Pratishyaya, Vrana<ref>Vaidya Lakshmipati Shastri. Yogaratnakar with Vidyotini Hindi Commentary (uttarardha:netra roga Chikitsa verse no.3 ).Varnasi;Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthana;Fifth Edition;p.361</ref></li> |
| + | <li>Fasting can improve or even cure diseases related to cardiovascular system, circulatory system, digestive system, locomotor system (ex. rheumatism), respiratory system (ex. asthma)</li></ol> |
| + | </ul> |
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| == References == | | == References == |