Global warming and Ayurveda

Global warming and Ayurveda

           आधुनिक जनपदोध्वंसनीयम् व्याख्यास्यामः

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

Introduction

नापो यथाकालं वर्षति न वा वर्षति विकृतिं वा वर्षति वाता न सम्यगभिवान्ति क्षितिर्व्यापद्यते सलिलान्युपशुष्यन्ति ओषधयःस्वभावं परिहायापद्यन्ते विकृतिं तत उद्ध्वंसन्ते जनपदाः स्पृश्याभ्यवहार्यदोषात्……

These are the references from charaka samhita on affect of human activities on this nature. Since from the development of civilization, man always felt guilty about his activities causing damage to this nature. In Veda mantras we can get the references about the prayers before cutting any twigs from the plants. From the time of charaka samhita till today we can see discussions about effect of human activities on nature.

Ayurveda not only teaches us how to live healthy but also how to live harmoniously with this nature.

It is relevant and also important to upgrade our view on this. Now global warming is the major problem. In every international seminars we can see discussions on this. It is the right time to discuss on this problem.The above lines says about the Climate change leading to severe drought and floods, untimely weather resulting in the destruction of human civilization.

Ayurveda –Nature—Disease

Panchabhoota theory:

Tridosha theory:

In वातकलाकलीय chapter [ charaka Su] functions of dosha in nature is explained.

 ब्रह्माण्ड पिंडाण्ड वाद- says that body is the miniature of this world .

जनपदोध्वंस विमान  -explains about impact of pollution. Saadharana hetu

 काल or परिणाम –Time is considered as one of the causative factor.

Dinacharya and Rtucharya (daily and seasonal regimen) explains a nature friendly lifestyle.

Dravyasangrahana kala etc which explains about the method of collection of roots etc in a nature friendly way.

Ecosystem and Biodiversity

The term ecosystem refers to the combined physical and biological components of an environment. These organisms form complex sets of relationships and function as a unit as they interact with their physical environment.

Biodiversity underpins life on Earth, and refers to the variety found in biota from genetic make up of plants and animals to cultural diversity.

Impact of Climate change

Global environmental hazards to human health include climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, changes in ecosystems due to loss of biodiversity, changes in hydrological systems and the supplies of freshwater, land degradation, urbanization, and stresses on food-producing systems.

As a results new pandemics and new diseases are coming.Even simple viruses are becoming more virulent. Because of the pollution incident of genetic disorders, metabolic disorders and Malignant diseases are becoming very common. Now even cancer has become very common disease.

How to Approach

1 Understanding of global warming according to Ayurveda

2 Analyzing its affect using ब्रह्माण्ड पिंडाण्ड वाद

3 Effects of global warming on health according to Ayurveda

4 Prevention and treatment.

Understanding of global warming in ayurveda

वाताज्जलं जलाद्देशं देशात् कालं स्वभावतः।

विद्याद्दुष्परिहार्यत्वात् गरीयस्तरमर्थवित्॥cha.vi.

These two lines explain the total process of global warming
Air pollution - Water pollution - Land pollution - Climate or Time pollution (everything happens untimely like untimely rain etc on the earth and Untimely aging ,death etc in humans)
It becomes more and more complex and difficult to cure as we move from air to Time.

Air—increased carbon di oxide concentration etc

Water—pollution[ more difficult to control and has severe impact]

That area becomes poisonous.

    

Changes in Kala or changes in climate.

.Consequences –
Melting glaciers . Climate changes like untimely rains, draught,  potent cyclones etc.

When काल gets affected then it is difficult to correct

ब्रह्माण्ड पिंडाण्ड वाद:-

यावन्तो हि लोके भावविशेषास्तावन्तःपुरुषे,

यावन्तः पुरुषे तावन्तो लोके;  cha . Sha.
This logic says that what ever there in  the universe can be seen in our body.Our body is the miniature of this universe and Universe is the gross form of our body. If universe get diseased like global warming then human body and mind also get disease.

When nature gets disease then similar changes will appear in humans also.
 (Gaia hypothesis by Dr. James Lovelock.

It is an ecological hypothesis that proposes that the biosphere and the physical components of the earth are coupled together to form a complex interacting system.

Viewing earth as a single organism.)

Analyzing its effect using ब्रह्माण्ड पिंडाण्ड वाद

1 Sun is the source of energy and heat. Controlled radiation from the sun. 2 Earth-Heat is absorbed by forests, oceans. Retained by green house gases More temp in equator CO2 plays important role in maintaining the heat. If CO2 increases temperature also increases.(sea water absorbes extra co2 and responsible for maintaining gas percentage in atmosphere) . Glaciers-Reflects much light. Trees also play important role, acts as lungs in maintaining gas level. Pollution acts as Ama and produce Amaya or disease on this earth It is like Earth getting Fever

1 Pachakaagni. [Hypothalamus-For discussion] 2 Heat is produced by Jataraagni in grahani.Spread all over the body by the help of drava dhatu and vyana vayu. Lost by evaporation ,conduction , radiation and convection Normal rasa dhatu –temperature remains normal . If  Ama forms then temperature raises ( We should consider Udaka,Rasa Rakta mutravaha srotas while comparing role of sea water in maintaing the balance ,Prana for gas concentration)  Ama produces Fever like diseases. Fever has both bodily component has increased temperature and Mental component has stress, restlessness and violence etc.

In similar fashion we can interpret many other body functions with relation to the nature.

पृथिवी मूर्तिः आपः क्लेदः

तेजो अभिसंतापःवायुः प्राणः…. सामान्यं विद्यात्

Effects of global warming on health according to ayurveda

We will discuss some of the points

1 Increased global temperature.

2 Changes in weather or seasonal patern.

3 Pollution

4 Changes in plants.

5 Insects and micro organisms.

Increased global temperature.

आदानं पुनराग्नेयं

रविर्भाभिराददानो जगतःस्नेहं वायवःतीव्ररूक्षाः…

आदानदुर्बले देहे पक्ता भवति दुर्बलः

If we imply these references then we can say-

Body becomes weak, digestive power reduces, dryness increases resulting in disorders related to Vaata dosha,Rasa dhatu or Vikruta dhatvagni.

This is also a reasons why the humans are becoming weaker by generation to generation.

As glaciers are melting similar in our body kapha will change to drava leading to many kapha and Avarana Vata vyadhi.As Forests our body has lungs so many respiratory problems.As movement of Vayu or wind  in nature,our body has Vyana vaata  resulting in diseases of vyana vaayu.

As this nature is becoming more restless because of these changes, human mentality is also changing towards self destroying, as a result we are seeing increase in Terrorism or destruction mentality.

Change in quality of the food also influences the health.

Change in Seasons:

We have to rethink about ऋतु क्रियाकाल or seasonal regiman told in ayurveda because of changing weather. Change in rain pattern has been observed by us since few years .For more details read “Why the wind blows” by Matthys Levy and “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore.

Need to study कालबलप्रवृत्त व्याधि or Diseases resulting from change in climate.

Pollution: there is a need to

Study air, water and food pollution near any big industrial area eg MRPL, MCF.

We are seeing how our coastal region is becoming industrial hub resulting in pollution.

Changes in trees are observed, we should record such changes and its effects on their rasa,guna etc. qualities of the herbes. Thats is the reason herbs are not showing potential action as told in ayurvedic texts. 
Do not sit by just saying trees will lose their potency.

Insects and micro organisms

Change in habitat

More potent organisms are coming.

New epidemics like Chikengunya,Dengue etc. Change in the structure of insects are also visible.

Treatment

Create awareness about this nature-

सर्वलोकमात्मन्यात्मानं च सर्वलोके समं अनुपश्यतः सत्याबुद्दिः समुत्पद्यते॥cha sha 
We should see our universe as our body.There is no difference and they are mutually related.

This is very important quotation.If everyone looks nature according to this, then such situation will not arise.

Treat on the lines of जनपदोध्वंस.

We should plan the treatment after studying this nature.

Adopting more nature friendly Dinacharya, Samajacharya and Antarastriyacharya.

        Like – Personal level – Use more public vehicles more transport.

              Family level -  Save Current , Water and food.

              Society level -  Encourage Social forests etc

              Country level -  Save Forests , Nature friendly industries etc.

              International level – Control on carbon emission,

Cooperation between developed and developing countries on this matter.

             

Conclusion

युगे युगे धर्मपादः क्रमेणानेन हीयते ।

गुणपादश्च भूतानामेवं लोकः प्रलीयते॥

काले वर्षतु पर्जन्यः पृथिवी सस्यशालिनी ।

देशोयं क्षोभरहितः सज्जनाः सन्तु निर्भयाः॥