A REVIEW ON ABHYANGA: A HEALTHY HABIT FOR PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF HEALTH

Abstract

With advancement of time people became avid to less physical activity and adapted unhealthy food habit. As a result, the prevalence of non- communicable diseases (NCDs) are much higher in the society, as the above mentioned two factors along with some other are the main causative factors for the NCDs. Due to practice of healthy lifestyle the number of NCDs were negligible in ancient time. Physical activity in the form of vyayama, abhyanga, udvartana etc. were incorporated in daily life. In abhyanga oil or ghee is used whereas in udvartana dry powder or herbal paste is used, but in both body parts are manipulated manually and hence can be considered as passive exercise. Abhyanga stash age related changes in the body by maintenance of skin and muscle health. Oil or ghee used for abhyanga is beneficial for skin as well as helps to penetrate specific medicine and fat- soluble vitamins. It facilitates sweat excretion and hence wash out morbid toxic products from the body. It helps in maintenance of body temperature also. Padabhyanga bestow more blood in active circulation which contributes positive effects on general health. Abhyanga as well as udvartana pacify kapha dosha and minify meda which further helps to prevent such diseases in which kapha and meda acts as an aetiological factor. Further udvartana strengthen the body parts. As a whole physical activity in the form of udvartana as well as abhyanga helps to prevents some diseases as well as responsible for maintains of positive health.