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The Holistic Principles of Ayurvedic Geriatrics

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Topics in Biomedical Gerontology

Abstract

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian traditional system of medicine is essentially the science of life and longevity. It carries a treasure of pro-nature holistic geriatric health care modalities. It deliberates on the science and philosophy of life and longevity with the goal of healthy aging and long life to achieve the Purusartha catustaya ie the Four fundamental Instincts of human life viz. Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksa. It considers aging as Swabhava or the natural tendency of life and describes in details the pattern of sequential losses of biological strength with advancing age in relation to the doctrine of Tridosa. The central focus of strength of Ayurveda in geriatric care swings around the concept of Rasayana/Rejuvenation therapy which compensates the age-related biological losses in the mind-body system and affords comprehensive rejuvenative effect. Combining Ayurvedic Rasayana, healthy dietetics, positive life style, yoga and spirituality it is possible to develop an effective package for geriatric care today for global use. New scientific evidences have been accumulating during last few decades which validate the age-old time tested science of life and health warranting further research and development. This strength of Ayurveda in geriatric health care is becoming more relevant today than ever before because of the rapid rate of population aging world over including India with an obvious shift in the age distribution denoting population aging with increased life expectancy of the people. Such an increase in the number of elderly people in the society is reflecting overtly in rapid rise in the incidence of diseases of old age warranting strategic plans for Geriatric health care and hence Geriatrics is fast emerging as an important medical discipline where the elements of holistic Ayurvedic geriatrics will find an important place.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kayachikitsa, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ram H. Singh

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  1. Ram H. Singh
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Correspondence to Ram H. Singh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Pramod C. Rath

  2. Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Megalaya, India

    Ramesh Sharma

  3. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Lab, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    S. Prasad

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Singh, R.H. (2017). The Holistic Principles of Ayurvedic Geriatrics. In: Rath, P., Sharma, R., Prasad, S. (eds) Topics in Biomedical Gerontology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2155-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2155-8_18

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