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Understanding Geography as per Ayurveda

Understanding Geography according to Ayurveda

Atha Desha Chintanam

Dr.Gururaja Tantry, M.S.(Ayu),PhD (Japan).

As Ayurveda is under global mission we should develop a global vision.

Desha:

 In ayurveda desha means 1. Bhoomi(Land)  and  2. Deha (Body)

Bhoomi:

Land or living area or Desha also has major influence on our body. It is the seasons which decide the qualities of the land, even geographical presentations of the land has key role in deciding the seasons and nature of the land. For eg. Presence of western guards makes west coastal area in India to get more mansoon rains. Himalaya plays an important role in changing Indian weather by preventing cold waves from entering into India.

According to ayurveda, land is divided into 1) Three:    a) Jangala land(Dry)- Vata

                                                     b) Anoopa land(Marshy) – Kapha

                                                     c) Saadharana land (Middle)- Sama

                                    2)Panchabhautika: Land having the qualities of Prutwi,Ap,Teja,Vayu &Akasha

Aristotle divided the earth into three zones: 
           Torrid around equator, Temperature and Frigid Zones

Zonal Classification: Tropics, Temperature and Polar

                         

  In ayurvedic texts, we can find the references about the Desha of Indian Subcontinent but present world is much bigger. There is a need to develop a global concept of Desha.

(I think during Charaka period rest of the world was under Ice age.)

Importance of Desha Jnana:

1      Desha is one of the important points under dashavidha pareeksha or Examination of a patient.Even today it plays an important role n understanding the endemics.

2      Desha will influence: Satmya, Prakruti, Bala, Ahaara. Knowledge of Lifestyle and food habits of a particular area places improtant role in understanding the pathology eg: Kerala pancreatitis.

3      To decide Sadyaasaadyata of vyadhi

4      Endemics : Some of the organisms are common in some area for eg:mosquitos and malaria and Mangalore city.

5      Pandemics: Due to development transportation people can travel from one end of the world to other within few hours. This has resulted in quick spread of pandemics.

6      Different countries have different seasons, to understand Prakruta (Seasonal) and Vaikruta vyadhi and unseasonal diseases.

7      Concept of “yasya deshasya yo jantuh”. Each land has its own Herbal specialities.

8      Dravya vishesha: Some land are famous for some special plants for eg:Cinchona Tree

Factors to be considered while studying Desha:

1 Nature of the land               

2 Weather and rainfall

3 Vegetation or plants and animals    

4 Altitude and distance from the sea level

5 Influencing factors like mountain etc.   

6 Major wind blows and Direction like monsoon

7 Customs of the land like food etc

8 Diseases

(Rutu and Desha are closely related and influence each other)

Importance of Desha pareeksha:

योगैरेव चिकित्सन् हि देशाद्यञो अपराध्यति |

वयो बल शरीरादिभेदा हि बहवो मताः|| (charaka chikitsa 30)

Desha and Atura:

अयं कस्मिन् भूमिदेशेजातः संवृद्धो व्याधितोवा तस्मिन् च भूमिदेशे मनुष्याणां इदं आहारजातं इदं विहारजातं इदं आचारजातं एतावच्च बलं एवं विधं सत्वं एवं विधं सात्म्यं एवं विधो दोषः भक्तिरियं इमेव्याधयः हितमिदं अहितमिदं प्रायोग्रहणेन || ( charaka vimana 8)
In relation to each land we have study Racial immunity, Climate, Habitate, Vegetables , Lifestyle, Common diseases etc.

Some more points about desha

Contest	Reference
Prakruti:	(Charaka Indriya 1)  Deshaanupaatini
Bala	(Charaka shaareera 6) balavath purushe deshe Janma Desha mahimnaiva balavaan;Saindhavaa balavantah purushaah
Ahaara vidhi	(Charaka vimana 1) Dravya utpatti,prachara,desha saatmya
Virudda	(Charaka Sutra 26) Anoopa – Snigdha,Sheeta sevana.   Dhanwa:Rooksha teekshna sevana
Apathya	(Charaka sutra 28)  Tadeva apathyam desha kaala ... Vreehi pittakruth: In Anoopadesha it is more apathya than in dhanwa desha
Ati sevana	(Charaka vimana 1) Kshara atisevana- Cheena and Praachya Lavana – Saindhava, Sauraastra, Bahleeka
Desha saatmya	(Charaka chikitsa 30) Baahleeka,Pallava,Cheena,Yavana,Saka:Maamsa,Godhooma,Maadhweeka Praachya:Matsya Saindhava:Ksheera Asmaka, Avantika: Tailaamla Dakshina: Peya Uttara paschima : Mantha Madhya desha: Yava, godhooma
Dravya discription	(Charaka kalpa1) Jaangala:Sthira Katina manushya         Vata pitta bahula Anoopa:Sukumaara        Pavana Kaphabahula Saadharana: Sthira,Sukumara
Nidaana	Jalabahula bhoomi: Sleepada Phiranga
Sadhyaasadhyata	Na desho Durupakramah
Bheshaja dravya	Vindya: Agneya Himagiri:Sheeta, Shresta
Specific drug names	Hingu:Bahleeka Paraseeka yavani Saindava lavana Phalandu –Yavanesta
Drug selection	Yasya deshasya yo jantuh
Janapadodwamsa	(Charaka vimana 3) Paanchaala
Famous physicians mentioned in Charaka Samhita	Bahleeka bhishak

Comment:

1 Pittolbhana Bhoomi: Why pittala bhoomi is not mentioned? (Agneya bhumi is told)

I think pitta bhoomi does not exist or not suitable for human habitat for example areas of volcanic eruptions can be considered as pittaja bhumi.

2 Himaavruta bhumi: There is a need to add and study this land.

                 Himalaya is mentioned; need to study subarctic and arctic land

3 Modern Classifications:Tropical,Arid,Polar etc

Jangala	Semi Arid and Arid,
Anoopa	Tropical wet, Tropical wet and dry
Sadharana	Moderate

Prutwee	Moderate,Tropical wet and dry
Ap	Tropical wet, Polar
Teja	Semi Arid, Volcanic eruption,
Vayu	Arid
Akasha	Arid

Further study is needed on this.

4 Rogada Bhoomi: I think, we should call special industrial areas as rogada bhoomi

5 Karmavisheshatah:            

Nagara	Upa Nagara	Grama
Mechanical life Pollution is more Good health care Hygiene is good Clean water  Santarpaneeya vyadhi	Labor class & slum areas Poor hygiene Contaminated water Poor health care Malaria,Dengue,Filaria,Cholera etc diseases Aupasargika Vyadhi	Farmers Pollution is minimum Clean water Hygiene is Medium

Desha and disease

Mumbai Mangalore Kerala

HIV (prostitution) Malaria (mosquitoes) Pancreatitis (Tapioca)

Urbanization is process of global scale changing the social and environmental landscape on every continent. Urbanization is a result of population migration from rural areas in addition to natural urban demographic growth. In 2007, the world’s population living in towns and cities surpassed 50% for the first time in history and this proportion is growing. Rapid, unplanned and unsustainable patterns of urban development are making developing cities focal points for many emerging environment and health hazards. As urban populations grow, the quality of global and local ecosystems, and the urban environment, will play an increasingly important role in public health with respect to issues ranging from solid waste disposal, provision of safe water and sanitation, and injury prevention, to the interface between urban poverty, environment and health. (WHO Report)

Desha as Country

Presently word “desha” is used as Country.

Poor countries	Developing	Developed
Poor Health care Apatarpaneeya vyadhi Aupasargika vyadhi	Health care system is improving. Aupasargika vyadhi	Good health care Santarpaneeya vaydhi Vruddapya

                         

Desha and/as Deha :

Humans are divided into different groups based on their skin color etc as race.

It is important to study the race. Diseases, resistance and action of drugs differ depending on race.

3 main human races:  1.Caucasians 2. Mangoloid  3. Negroid

This division is mainly based on 1) skin color  2) Eyes  3) hair  4) Appearance

Even though genetic factor plays an important role, I think Desha, Rutu, Ahara and Vihara influence this. If we stay for a long time at a region other than our native, changes or adaptation will occur. (For eg. If you stay in Japan for more than 20 years you will look like a Mangoloid. The adaptation is quicker in Caucasian and Magoloid races than with Negroid. )

 Differentiating factors:

Factor	Mahabhuta	Dosha		Bhava
Skin color	Teja (Sun rays)	Vata: Krishna Pitta:Peeta,Pingala Kapha:Shweta Rakta:Rakta		Varna:Satmyaja(Desha)       Atmaja(Genetic) Twak:Maatruja
Hair	Prutwee	Vata: Krishna,Ruksha Pitta: Palita, Pingala Kapha: Snigdha,Drudha		Pitruja:Kesha,Loma Varna:Satmya,Atmaja
Eyes	Akshi kuhara:Ap Akshi:Teja	Akshi Kuhara: Kapha Akshi:Kapha		Matruja
Constitution		Vata :Durbhala Pitta: Madhya Kapha: Balavaan		Atmaja: Akruti Satmyaja:Beejasampath

Race	Location Zone	Desha	Intensity of sunrays	Skin color	Winter and cold wind	Hair	Eyes
Mangoloid	China Temperature	Jangala Sadharan High lands	Less (sunrays fall first on these areas)	White with Brownish tinge	Long winter & Cold wind	Silky Black or Pingala	Small (Early morning look)
Caucasian Asian	India Tropical monsoon	Anoopa Sadharan	Moderate	Brown	Absent Less	Rough moderate curly Black	Normal (Morning look)
Caucasian Europeans	Europe America Temperature	Sadharan Hima	Less	White	Long winter & Cold wind	Grey, Silky (as pitta moves to core, paka at keshabhumi does not occur resulting grey color)	Normal (Evening look)
Negroid	Africa Tropics	Anoopa	More	Black	Absent	Black curly	Big (Noon look)

Skin color:

Intensity of sunrays and variation in day time during different seasons play an important role in deciding the skin color. In tropics, sun rays fall directly and have high intensity compare to the temperature region. In temperature region, during winter, day time is very short and winter is longer. Flow of cold winds also influences the skin and hair color.

Skin color (Charaka Indriya 1)	Race	Dosha
Krishna	Negroid	Vata
Shyama	Caucasian:South Indians, East asians	Vata and Pitta
Shyama avadata	Caucasian:North indians, Middle east countries	Pitta
Avadata	Mangoloid, Caucasian:Europeans	Kapha

We can add one more color as Shweta rakta varna seen in Northen Europe and Canada.

Comaprison between Udupi and Okayama, Japan (Prayograhanena)

	Udupi	Okayama
Desha	Anoopa	Sadharana
Race (Jati)	Caucasian (Sukumara)	Mangoloid (Sthira,Sukumaara)
Native Plants	Coconut,Banana,Teak,Jackfruit	Maple,Cherry blossom,Bamboo,Pine
Native Vegetables	Cucumber, Ladies finger, Beans	Cucumber, Bambooshoot, Lotus root
Fruits	Banana,Mango,Jackfruit	Peach, Persimmon, Strawberry
Flower	Jasmine,Lotus,Rose	Cherry blossom, Lotus
Major Food item	Rice	Noodles (wheat)
Local Food	Dosa, Idly,Upma	Sushi, Onigiri, Soya sauce
Non veg items	Fish, Chicken	Small fish, Meat
Satmya	Coconut	Green tea
Bala	Madhyama	Madhyama
Satwa	Madhyama (energetic)	Madhyama (Hidden anxiety)
Aharajata vyadhi	Rice and sweet- Diabetes	Salty dry fish- Gastric diseases Fugu fish (puffer fish) contain a tetrodotoxin a neurotoxin,If consumed without proper precautions causes paralysis. More than 50 deaths/year occurs in Japan due to this
Viharajata vyadhi	Back ache (Lifting etc)	Back ache and Neck pain
Acharajata		alcohol-Liver disease
Diseases due to Life style (Instead of Aharaja,Viharaja and Acharaja we can  call diseases due to life stye	DM,HTN,	DM,HTN
Seasonal disease(1)	Fever like Malaria, Filaria with other viral infections	Influenza or mainly viral
Life expectancy(2)	65years	Male:75years Female:85years   (22%elders) (Growing% of elderly population is a  big problem)
Causes of death	Cardiac diseases,CVA,Cancer	Cancer,Cardiac and CVA
Samaanya Vyadhi	Diabetes	Carcinoma of stomach (Now decreasing)

(1)  Anoopa desha   :     Stagnant water      :Mosquito :      Malaria etc fever

Okayama:  Sadharana desha       Long winter+ less rain     less mosquitoes

In the past there were incidents of Filaria etc vector spreading diseases.

Japanese encephalitis is a vector spreading (Culex) viral disease. Due to vaccination presently it has been almost eradicated.

(2)  Life expectancy, health status or Bala depends on many factors.

In Japan health status of the people is good because of:

Good healthcare system: after 60 every yearly medical screening,

Elders usually take Influenza vaccination to prevent seasonal respiratory infections.

Hygiene is good. Minimum dust or smoke

Proper nourishment, clean water and food

People are educated and follow preventive practices like wearing mask.

At the entrance of hospitals or Universities we can find hand wash liquid etc.

Desha and Dravya

Dravya	Udupi	Okayama
Rice	Laghu,Non sticky Amylose is more	Guru, Sticky Amylopectin is more
Mandukaparni	Tambuli and Chutney are delicious	Contain small hairs and Items prepared are not so delicious
Kakamachi	Tambuli and Chutney	Not tasty
Curds	Milk converts to curd at room temperature.	Due to low temperature it does not occur. (This might be a reason, why curd rice etc are not consumed )

Plants grown in Sadharan desha in India and in Japan have different qualities; it is due to difference in seasons. Desha guna are similar but Rutu guna are different. Bhautika guna of the soil also influence the plant growth.

Deciduous forests: (Leaf shedding)

In India; Tropical dry broad leaf deciduous forests are present. Plants shed their leaves during summer.

Greeshma Rutu        Ushna guna      Jala Kshaya        Rukshata

In Japan; Temperature mixed (broad and needle leaf) deciduous forests are present. Plants shed their leaves during winter.

Hemanta Rutu        Sheeta guna        Jala becomes Ghana      Rukshata.

In both the case due to yogavahi guna of vata (Cold wind and Hot winds), Rukshata occurs resulting in shedding of leaves.

Bala and seasons: Rukshata in nature resembles bala hani. But in humans Sun play an important role in maintaining the Bala. So during Hemanta and Shisira rutus balahani doesn not occur in humans. (Hemante shishire agryam balam).

Deha and Wind

Whichever may be the direction of wind blow we have to observe three points:

1.    Is it hot; 2. Is it cold; 3.Is it contain foreign particles like sand.

2.    Is it humidified or dry

(In Japan during July and August wind blows from china, carrying yellow sand.)

 (Rukshata spreads from Baahya to Abhyantara)

(There is no loss of Jala. Prevent freezing (ushna prayoga), application of sneha helps better.)

Hot wind

    (Rukshata spreads from Abhyantara to Bahya)

Intake of fluids is useful to decrease rukshatary hot wind: rapid evaporation occurs due to convection air current.

Desha and Jala:

Bhautika qualities of the soil are responsible for the qualities of the water. Rain water does not contain any minerals (atmosphere should be pollution free). As it falls on earth,  minerals present in the soil dissolves in water.

Desha and Ahara

Cuisine	Example	Main Ingredients	Non Veg
South Indian	Dosa,Idly,Sambar	Rice and Grams Red Pepper	Fish, chicken, Eg:Biriyani
North Indian	Roti, Puri, Gravy	Wheat Garam Masala	Fish, chicken Eg:Tandoori, Beef curry
Japanese	Sushi, Onigiri	Wheat,Sea weed Soya bean	Fish, All types of meat
Chinese	Noodles,Rice	Wheat,Rice,Millet	Any meat including snakes
Italian and continental	Pasta, Spaghetti	Wheat, Cheese	Pork,Beef,Egg etc
Fast food Kentuki,Mc Donald	Pizza, Burger, Potato chips etc	Wheat, Cheese Tomato Ketchup	Meat, Chicken, Egg
Universal	Bread, Dough nut	Wheat

This is general approach; further study is needed on this.

Videsha and Ayurveda

There is a need to study and apply our principles beyond Indian subcontinent. Along with Ayurveda prachara , we should improve our knowledge. There are two ways to proceed.

1 Be strong in India and Use present technology (Internet) to spread ayurveda.

2 Stay in foreign countries and teach and spread ayurveda knowledge

The later is growing as

   1 Teach, Preach, Home remedy, Kitchen, Beauty and Herbal Ayurveda

   2 Spa and Hotel ayurveda

   3 Research, University and Hospital approach.

For more details about international activities, visit AYUSH website.

(Be careful about Apaatra daana)

Conclusion:

योगैरेव चिकित्सन् हि देशाद्यञो अपराध्यति |

वयो बल शरीरादिभेदा हि बहवो मताः||