Management of Obesity in Ayurveda (Carakokta Sthoulya Chikitsa)

Dr. Raghavendra Udupa, born in a small village Khambadakone of Karnataka (1974). He studies Ayurveda in SDM collage of Ayurveda, Kuthpadi, Udupi (1998) and completed his postgraduation in Ayurveda Siddhanta and Samhita from Govt. Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram.(2002). Presently he is working as Professor and H.O.D. in Alva’s Ayurveda Medical Collage, Moodubidri, Karnataka. He has guided more than 20 postgraduation students of the same department and Presented more than 30 papers in National and International Seminar. He is one among the Editorial Board of Sacitra Caraka Samhita published by Muniyal Ayurveda.

Obesity is a common problem of the word. In some of the developed countries more than 30% of population is suffering from obesity and related disorders. Many researches have been carried out to tackle this health problem.

We will get the terms like Sthula, Atisthula and sthoulya upadrava in Ayurveda. These terms are related to obesity. We will get numerous reference about the management of sthoulya and Atisthoulya in Ayurveda. Those topics will be thought in the classrooms but that will not be applied in the clinical practice. Most of the Ayurvedic practitioners give less importance to Caraka Samhita. Caraka Samhita is read as a book on theory. In reality Caraka Samhita is a very good book for clinical practice with a glld back ground of theory. An attempt is made in this book to show the link between theory and practice of obesity. Few of the concepts have been simplified with the application of Tantrayukti.

I would like to thank Dr. Shrivatsa for providing information about yoga and Dr. Likitha for supporting the book with modern view of obesity. I also thank Dr. Shubha M. and Dr. Pushpalatha for assistance. I am thankful to my parents and my wife Deepa. R. Udupa for their whole hearted support.

I hope this book is useful for practitioners, undergraduate and post graduate students of the Ayurveda.