Har Din, Har Ghar Ayurveda: Ayurveda Every Day, Ayurveda Everywhere

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The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India observes Ayurveda Day every year on Dhanawantari Jayanti (Dhanteras) since 2016. Ayurveda is perceived as one of the most ancient well-documented systems of medicine equally relevant in modern times, wherein prevention of disease and promotion of health are both given due consideration. Its holistic approach, whether for healthy individuals or for diseased ones, remains unparalleled.

The objectives of the 7th Ayurveda Day (October 23, 2022) include:

 Promote Ayurveda into mainstream, globally.

 Explore the potential of Ayurveda to contribute towards national health policy & national health programmes.

 Reduce the burden of disease and related morbidity and mortality by utilizing the potential of Ayurveda.

Focus on strengths of Ayurveda and its unique treatment principles.

 Enhance confidence building in public for Ayurveda.

Create a sense of awareness in today's generation and promote Ayurvedic principles of healing in society.

Create awareness that Ayurveda is evidence-based scientific medical systems.

The Ayurveda Day celebrations are being held under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav keeping an eye on Ayurveda @ 2047.

The theme of this year Ayurveda Day is 'Har Din, Har Ghar Ayurveda', 'Ayurveda Every Day, Ayurveda Everywhere' (AEAE).

Whether it is something that we would like to admit to ourselves or not, it's true that our daily routines and habits (Dinacharya) play an integral role in our long-term health. Every decision made throughout the day impacts the way that we look and feel: the foods we eat, lifestyle choices we make, even the subtle thoughts we think. When it comes to making decisions to support our health it can often feel overwhelming. It takes awareness, discipline, and dedication to establish healthy habits that actually stick and that is why following an Ayurvedic self-care routine can be one of the best things you'll ever do for yourself.

Ayurveda is an eternal science of life. The goal of Ayurveda is to maintain health and cure disease. To achieve one such goal of maintaining health, Dinacharya is one of the means to follow certain things like morning walk in Ayurveda. Along with these there are other different procedures such as Nasya, Snana, Abhyanga, Tambula Sevan. etc. Ayurveda has not only advised the treatment for various diseases but also its prime motto has been to protect people's health. Many dietary and lifestyle-related rules and regulations have been described in the classical texts of Ayurveda for the prevention of health. Dinacharya is the first and basic lifestyle regimen to be followed and Dinacharya is mentioned by many Ayurveda Acharyas.

What comes under Dinacharya

n Waking up in Brahmamuhurta

n Evacuation of the natural wastes

n Cleaning and brushing, scraping of tongue & washing of mouth

n Application of collyriums

n Application of Nasya

n Holding and gargling of water in the mouth

n Herbal smoke inhalation

n Oil application on the body

n Vyayama (physical exercise)

n Bathing

n Powder massage

Brahmamuhurta-jagarana: It is advisable to wake up during Brahmamuhurta (early at the 5 am, i.e., 90 minutes before sunrise.) Nascent oxygen in the atmosphere in the early morning easily and readily mixes up with hemoglobin to form oxy-hemoglobin which nourishes the remote tissues rapidly. Secretion of serotonin (neurotransmitter) keeps the person active and alert. In the early morning, there is minimal pollution (noise, water, air) which enhances the concentration. Late night sleeping or chronic sleep loss causes the elevation of cortisol which in turn is responsible for rise in BP and is likely to promote the development of insulin resistance, a risk factor for obesity and diabetes.

Darpana Darshanam: (looking at one's face) Ayushyam increases longevity, avoids mental conflict.

Ushna jalpana: Drink a glass of room-temperature water, preferably from a pure copper cup filled the night before. This washes the tract, flushes the kidneys and stimulates peristalsis. It is not a good

idea to start the day with tea or coffee, as this drains kidney energy, stresses the adrenals, causes constipation, and is habit-forming.

Malotsarga: Defecation at proper time clears the rectum and increases digestive power. Proper elimination also helps to remove the kapha

that naturally accumulates overnight. Defecation once or twice daily is the best. If you wait until later in the morning or during the day you are slowly poisoning yourself due to accumulation of toxins and wastes and creating an opportunity for chronic conditions to arise.

Danta-dhavana: It helps to remove the impurities of tongue, teeth and mouth. It is directed to clean the teeth in the morning and after taking 7 meals. It stimulates taste perception and increases the salivation. Saliva contains salivary amylase (ptyalin) which plays a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices, thus protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Saliva contains lysozyme act as antimicrobial agents.

Jihva-nirlekhana: This practice eliminates bad breath-causing bacteria, and prepares the digestive system by stimulating the taste buds.

Traditionally, tongue cleaners are made from copper which provides a naturally, powerful antibacterial action. Copper tongue scrapers thoroughly cleanse and will last longer than plastic or stainless steel options.

Mukha Netra Prakshalana: It purifies the eyes and prevents Akshi roga.

Sneha gandusha-dharana: Prevents dryness of mouth and throat, prevents cracking of lips, makes the teeth healthy and strong, and enables them to chew even the hardest eatables. The sukhoshna (lukewarm) gandusha and kavala dravyas are used which improves the circulation of oral cavity. Gargling procedure of kavala poses the massaging effect over the oral mucosa and even strengthens the muscles of cheek,face and jaw bones.

Tambula sevana: After taking the food one should take Tambula (betel leaves and nut) because it will gives oral hygiene, digestion of food. It pacifies all the three doshas, causes cheerfulness, cleanses the mouth, removes all foetid odour, causes extra salivation which will aid the digestive process

Anjana: In today's time, excessive work on computer results in dry eyes or computer vision syndrome. When Anjana dravyas are applied, it causes irritation to eyelids and conjunctiva and enhances the circulation. It makes eye beautiful and resistant against wind and sunlight.

Nasya: Putting 3 to 5 drops of warm ghee or oil into each nostril in the morning helps to lubricate the nose, clean the sinuses, and improve voice, vision, and mental clarity. Cleaning your nose with Anu Thailam should be performed for 7 days, 3 times a year. The rest of the time, you may use neti (warm water mixed with rock salt). It improves sense of smell, clears sinuses, makes the voice vibrant, strengthens muscles and joints of face and neck and also improves circulation. It also helps relieve stiff neck and prevents diseases like facial palsy, baldness, premature gray hair and headaches.

Dhumapana: Prevents jatrurdhwagata roga which are caused by vata and kapha, it strengthens the voice. It also prevents premature graying of hair. Carbon atom in CO2 has the tendency to stimulate the respiratory centre present in brain stem which may triggers the normal physiological function of respiratory system. Disinfective action of the dhumpana dravyas like haridra, guggulu and vacha cleanses the respiratory tract, oral cavity and pharynx.

Vyayama: Regular exercise improves circulation, strength and endurance. It helps one relax and have sound sleep, and improves digestion. Exercise daily to half of your capacity, which is until sweat forms on the forehead, armpits, and spine. It can be anything including a walk, a swim, sun salutes or whatever. This early morning exercise removes stagnation in the body and mind, strengthens the digestive fire, reduces fat and gives you an overall feeling of lightness and joy as it fills your body with good, fresh and pure Prana.

Abhayanga: It is one of the main ways that Ayurveda keeps us strong and prevents us from aging. Massaging the scalp, forehead, temples, hand and feet for about 5 minutes is sufficient. Apply the oil all over the body from head to toes. If you have limited time, you may just focus on the head, face, ears, and feet. It prevents premature aging, fatigue, joint diseases and poor circulation, improves vision, provides compact body, induces normal sleep, improves complexion and lustre of the skin

Karna Purana: It is a simple, effective way to maintain the longevity of your hearing and the overall health of your ears. Karna purana

pacifies certain imbalances often caused by excess vata accumulation and aggravation brought on by cold and windy weather, overstimulation and travel.

Snana: Daily bath improves enthusiasm, strength, appetite and removes sweat and other impurities from the body. It promotes virility and longevity, eliminates fatigue, sweet and dirt. It increase body strength. Bath stimulates digestive fire, increases span of life and strength. It also removes itching, dirtiness, fatigue, sweat, lassitude, thirst etc.

Aahara: One should start Ahara with Madhura rasa then amla, lavana, tikta, katu, kashayaa. Like this one should take Ahara in a chronological order. And one should take anupana as jala. Ahara rasa gives strength, bala, varna, pushti, dhatu poshana, indriya prasadata etc. Food is life, it improves complexion and voice, prolongs life, gives happiness and satisfaction. It promotes growth, strength, intelligence, memory, appetite, energy, natural strength of mind and increases the ojas.

Ratri Bhojana: It should be light and less in quantity – gets easily digestion, but provides nourishment.

Nidra: Seven types of nidra have been mentioned, out of which is ratri Swabhawaja (bhoota dhatri). Proper sleep is one of the three pillars of life in Ayurveda. Sleep is an essential time for healing the body from daily stress. As our minds rest during sleep, the body is able to focus on digesting, metabolizing and regenerating.

In this era where people are in a hurry and living a fast lifestyle, principles of Dinacharya are most relevant. It is because of this negligence that most lifestyle-related diseases emerged. Dinacharya are some healthy habits which should be included as a lifestyle even in the busy schedules, if the person wants to be healthy.

Ayurveda lays more emphasis on prevention of diseases, and that's why Dinacharya have been described in the context of daily regimen so that by following proper charyas the person will remain well.