Ayurveda has given us many health secrets for a perfect health. Balance of good health and wellness is not only contributed by the food, dietary supplements or the medicines that we take, it is as much contributed by our other daily activities including our mental activities.
There are natural products (and emotions) that are produced in the body and mind that needs to be thrown out at appropriate times. This is well-explained in Ayurveda. Ayurveda explains two principles in this regard.
1. Whenever there is a natural urge, it should not be withheld.
2. Whenever there is no natural urge, it should not be voluntarily induced.
Here are those natural urges which should not be induced voluntarily, at the same time, should not be held back.
Flatus: Releasing it in public is a bit embarrassing. But from a health point of view, it is highly recommended.
Urine and Faeces: Modern day busy lifestyle leads us to voluntarily visit bath rooms to keep up with work. But it is not a good habit to visit bathroom untimely, and also to hold back.
Cough, Sneeze, Hunger and Thirst: Out of these, hunger is the most important. Lot of enzyme related imbalance, gastric problems, etc can be well-managed by eating only when hungry and not eating while there is no hunger. Same rule applies to cough, sneeze and thirst.
Sleep: While it is important to wake up early, it is equally important to sleep when eyes & body are filled with urge to sleep and wake up only when sleep is complete.
Tears: It is a good habit to cry out and weep during the time of depression, rather than fighting back the tears. Unexpressed bad emotions will affect physical and mental health very badly.
Why is this concept so important?
There is a particular rhythm in the body. Our body has a natural mechanism for the maintenance of health and wellness. For example, when there is hunger, the digestive enzymes are released into the stomach and intestines. At that time, if proper food is taken, the enzymes are used up in time, giving a negative feedback to the brain to stop further enzyme production, till the time the food is completely digested. Thus, the biological clock will run very smoothly and timely. If we take food when we are not hungry, it will upset the rhythm. Similarly, if we do not take food when we are not hungry, it also upsets the rhythm. This natural rhythm is called as circadian rhythm.
Thus not suppressing the natural urges and at the same time, not forcefully inducing an urge is the greatest health secret revealed by Ayurveda.
In many disease explanations, suppression of natural urges is explained as a reason. Example: Rajayakshma – chronic respiratory disorders.
17 comments on “The Greatest Ayurvedic Health Secret – Revealed!”
chandra
Dear Sir,
It is a very good information for the regular health habits which we don’t take care of. It not only educates every one but also is very useful to every individual . Thank you so much.
Best Regards,
Chandra
Ramesh
I have read many places to eat small meals every 2-3 hours for better health. Am I violating any ayirvedic principles by following this practice?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Eating small meals quite often is a healthy eating habit. Only thing, one should eat after the previous food has been digested.
meena gohil.
Very Simple and clear explanation and indeed informative article. thank you.
Stella H Howell
Kindly advise what are your views on fasting.
Thank you.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Dear Stella Howell,
Greetings!
I have already have written about fasting in detail.
Please read it here – https://www.easyayurveda.com/2011/10/26/different-types-of-fasting/
https://www.easyayurveda.com/2011/10/25/mental-and-spiritual-benefits-of-fasting/
tarun
Very good article sir. I follow this and have got many benefits. I don’t suppress natural urges & try to take food only when I am hungry. But sometimes this doesn’t happens then I have to take a supplement that digests my food completely & then no complications arise. But I don’t take this on permanent basis. Only sometimes when I have heavy meal from outside or party, wedding etc as we normally indulge in wrong fooding habits too at that time as taking something cold soon after taking something hot.
Ligia Dsouza
which fish do we need to avoid
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
As per Ayurveda, a variety called Chilachima fish needs to be avoided.
Santhanam
Really very informative which everyone should know about. Very nicely written so that anyone can easily understand. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about Ayurveda through this website and articles. Please keep up your good work.
taj
very good article about to relax the stomach,my amily members eats only 2 times a dat they never tells their stomach is upset
Monique
Wonderful article. Just wanted to say, that we are taught to eat our 3 basic meals, at certain times of the day. We have done this for years. When feeding a family, we eat at those times, if hungry or not. How can we help that? Difficult to break old habits. Thanks for great articles.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
As per Ayurveda, you are supposed to have food when hungry. So, if you are accustomed to eat 3 meals a day, lower the food quantity so that you feel hungry by the next meal time.
Richard Bortey
Wonderful article.I just wanted to say,that we are taught to drink plenty of water a day.
Please what do you say about this?
Namaste.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Whenever we are thirsty, we can drink as much water as we want, to quench the thirst – Please read here – how much water is good to drink per day? – https://www.easyayurveda.com/2012/09/14/how-much-water-should-you-actually-drink-ayurveda-opinion/
Shyam borkar
Very useful information sir
Sir, i’m intrested in knowing about benefits of use of warm water for usual driking
Is that really useful or not?????
I have read it from unreliable source so i want to confirm it
Could u plz help me in that??
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, read about hot water drinking benefits as per Ayurveda here – https://www.easyayurveda.com/2010/08/19/drinking-hot-water-benefits-what-ayurveda-says/