Ayurveda Dincharya-Healthy routine

It means daily routine or day to day life activity. It tells the rules which should be followed by a person for maintenance of good health.

They are as follows

  • Time to wake up
  • Excretion
  • Brushing of teeth
  • Gargling
  • Anjana
  • Nasya
  • Dhumpan
  • Exercise
  • Abhyanga
  • Udvartan
  • Bath
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Supper

Time to wake up

Wake up early in the morning, approximately 1 to 11/2 hour before sunrise. (wake up only after complete sleep as incomplete sleep produces many disturbances. Also wake up only after complete digestion of the dinner taken.)

This wake up time is the most fresh and pure time of the entire day. Sleep is completed. Mind and body are refreshed. Hence intellectual activities can be done during this time. (It proves more beneficial).

According to dominance of dosha, this is the time of vata dosha dominance. Hence functions of vata dosha are performed very well during this time.

Excretion

One should always keep in mind that forceful expression or suppression of natural urges lead to generation of many diseases. The process should be natural.

Brushing of teeth

In ancient times, sticks of medicinal plants were used for brushing tooth. Now days, we can use powders of these plants to massage gums and clean tooth. This leads to increased strength of gums and tooth, relieves bad breath, improves teeth sensation, prevention of many oral, dental diseases and may cure them if proper medicines are applied.

Some medicines used for this purpose are listed below

  • Wad (Ficus bengalensis)
  • Vijaysar
  • Ark (Calatropis procers)
  • Khadir (Acasia catachu)
  • Karanj (Pangamia glabra)
  • Apamarg (Achyranthes aspera)
  • Arjun (Termenalia arjuna)
  • Kanher (Narium indicum)
  • Behda (Termenalia belerica)
  • Hirda (Termenalia chebula)
  • Black peper (Piper nigra)
  • Pimpali (Piper longa)
  • Lavang (Syzygium aromatium)
  • Saindhav

Also, clean the tongue with tongue cleaner. It should be made up of metal and soft, smooth with rounded edges. It relieves bad breath, improves taste sensation, decreases kapha dosha accumulated in mouth.

Gargling

Gargle with hot water to clean mouth, teeth, gums and tongue.

One can also gargle with sesame oil, 1tsp. mixed in 200ml of water. It prevents dryness of mouth, diseases of lips and mouth, hypersensitivity of teeth to sour taste, improves taste sensation.

Gargle with yastimadhu kwatha prevents stomatitis. Gandush and kavala are the types of gargling. These are indicated in daily routine.

Anjana

Medicated eye liner.

It improves eye sight. Improves beauty of eyes, increases eye lashes, prevents diseases of eyes. It should be done with sauviranjana.

Nasya

Pratimarsh nasya with Anutaila

Benefits

  • Skin becomes shiny, prevents melanin deposition. Improves skin turger. Improves complexion
  • Improves voice quality
  • Enhances activity of senses organs
  • Prevents hair fall and premature graying of hairs
  • Revents acne

Dhumpan

Prayogic dhumpan is indicated in daily routine. It removes kapha remained in mouth, nose.

Exercise

Proper exercise is the key for good health. It keeps body active, mind become fresh. It improves digestive power, it removes excess fats, strengthen the body. Increases muscle power, tone.

Exercise is not indicated for children, old age, diseased persons. One should choose the type of exercise according to prakruti.

Abhyanga / Massage

Apply oil on the body and massage the body.

Benefits

Udvartan

After massage utne (medicated powder) are massaged on the body. It removes excess fat from the body.

Bath

Bath with warm water. Don’t wash hairs with hot water, it affects hairs and eye sight.

Benefits

  • Removes sweat and its odor
  • Increases digestive power
  • Improves complexion

Contraindication

  • Facial paralysis
  • After meal
  • Diseases of mouth, nose and eyes
  • Diarrhea
  • Flatulence
  • coryza

Breakfast

Must contain maximum nutrients and minimum calories. It is essential to provide energy for the activities up to the next meal.

Lunch

After 4-6 hrs. of breakfast. Food must contain proper nutrients and calories. Food should be according to doshaja prakruti of a person.

After lunch or bath thambula chewing is indicated.

Supper

It should be in an evening during 6-7 pm. We can take dinner before complete exhaustion. Dinner should be light, easily digestible. Do not go to bed immediately after dinner. Take a short walk. Sleep after 2 hrs.

Visit the main topic Swasthvritta, which constitutes this dincharya.