-by Sheela Rani Chunkath
In ayurveda, obesity was recognised as a health issue and has been dealt in many of the classical texts with Chapter 39 of the Bhaisajya Ratnavali titled Medo Roga devoted to the treatment of obesity and its attendant problems.
Physical exercise is as usual recommended for reducing weight. Long walks are also mentioned as a way of reducing weight (The pedometer I talked about in my earlier article should come in handy for this).
Most people have heard of taking honey and water for losing weight but keep wondering whether taking the sweet stuff will really help one lose weight. Ayurvedic texts extol the use of honey for losing weight; it is said that honey melts away fat. However, one should never mix honey in hot water or ever heat honey. Furthermore, vaidyars prefer that you use unprocessed honey. Honey which has not been treated by heat or pasteurised is the honey to be used. Look out for unprocessed honey. If you know a bee-farmer ask him to just centrifuge the honeycomb, strain the honey and give it to you without any further processing.
The Bhaisajya Ratnavali also talks about Navaka Guggulu which is prescribed by many Ayurvedic physicians for either losing weight or for combating the problems associated with obesity such as arthritis and sciatica. It is also prescribed as a cure for chronic ulcers and boils. Navaka Guggulu also helps to control body odours and is considered a deodorant.
Yet another popular mixture advocated by Bhaisajya Ratnavali for losing weight is the following. A fine powder is made from equal parts of dried ginger (Zingiber officinale), pepper (Piper nigrum), long pepper (Piper longum), asafoetida (Ferula assafoetida), cumin (Cuminum cyminum) black salt and citraka (Plumbago zeylanica). 2 grams of this powder with 2 grams of roasted cornflour is taken with buttermilk from which butter has been physically removed. This is said to reduce obesity and stimulate digestion. While the powder is effective with citraka you can make it without it if you are not able to obtain it easily.
Triphala, made with equal quantities of Terminalia chebula (haritaki), Terminalia bellirica (bibhitaki) and Emblica officinalis (amlaki) also helps lose weight. A small quantity, maybe a quarter tablespoon, taken at night with warm water helps to keep weight under control. It is also a great colon cleanser and helps prevent constipation.
Keeping body fat under control is tough. Each one's body constitution is different and what works for one person may not work for another person.
Apart from ayurvedic prescriptions I have found low carbohydrate diets to be useful for persons who love eating non-vegetarian food. It is useful and extremely effective for people whose digestion is good and who have a kapha constitution. The low carbohydrate diet helps almost all people to lose weight but if you have a vayu constitution, there is a tendency to increase vayu. If you select those low carbohydrate foods which do not increase vayu, you will be able to lose weight without adversely affecting your health.
For pure vegetarians who do not even eat eggs, a low carbohydrate diet is not as easy to follow. The problem with a low calorie diet in comparison with a low carbohydrate diet is that while the former helps you lose weight it also severely restricts the amount of food you can eat, making it difficult to follow in the long run.
Ultimately keeping ones weight under control is a challenge that has to be taken up individually. I am sure you must know of someone who probably eats far more than you but never puts on any weight. I know one such lucky devil who eats far more than me and who eats mainly carbohydrates. He has never crossed 56 kg in his life -- a thin wiry person who is now in his 70s. I cannot aspire to eat like him and hope to remain thin and free from diabetes. Now, this individual is blessed with good genes, with neither of his parents being diabetic. If you are not one of those who has inherited such lucky genes, just tighten your belt and choose one of the methods prescribed earlier. Consulting a vaidyar or a weight loss specialist may be helpful as she can help you lose weight without adversely affecting your health. However, motivation remains the key. Imagining a slimmer, smarter, healthier you, will help in exercising and eating right.
--- The writer was earlier Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and is currently Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman & Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/