Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Prashanth Shetty ¹, Achyuthan Eswar ², Rajkumari Roshni ¹, Raj Lakshmi ¹, Balakrishna Shetty ¹, Nithin ¹, H. R. Nagendra ³, Suhas Vinchurkar ³

Affiliations
1 Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Ujire, Karnataka, IN
2 Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Ujire - 574 240, Karnataka, IN
3 Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Naturopathic fasting (NF) therapy is the cornerstone of most naturopathic therapy protocols. It has been claimed to reduce the acidity of the body, but this has not been conclusively proven. The present study was designed to assess the effect of NF therapy on urine pH young healthy volunteers. Seventy participants with ages ranging from 19 to 21 years (group mean age±standard deviation; 20±0.8 years) were assigned to either a fasting group (n=35) or a vegetarian diet group (n=35). The two groups were matched for age, education and routines. Fasting was conducted for a period of 5 days under supervision by project coordinators. We executed a matched controlled design with urine pH assessed by testing first-void midstream urine using pH meter at baseline and every day subsequently until the period of fasting ended. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 20. The data were checked for normality. The data was checked for normality, and then a paired samples t-test was performed to investigate statistically significant difference within-group in urine pH of fasting group and control group. Urine pH increased by 0.24±0.49 pH units (p<0.05) after 5 days' NF therapy. NF therapy significantly increases urine pH. This signifies that acidity of the plasma is reduced, which can be linked to many health benefits.

Keywords

Naturopathic Fasting Therapy, Urine pH, Acidity.

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Rajashree Ranjita ¹, Soubhagyalaxmi Mohanty ¹, Alex Hankey ¹, H. R. Nagendra ²

Affiliations
1 Division of Yoga and Life Science, SVYASA Yoga University, Bengaluru, IN
2 SVYASA Yoga University, Bengaluru, IN

Abstract

Ayurvedic texts have described 'Kasa' as an independent Vyadhi and a symptom of various debilitating diseases with its separate types, signs, symptoms, pathogenesis, and treatment. If treatment of Kasa Vyadhi is not done in time it can give rise to critical conditions like Swasa, Shosa, Rajyakshama, Urakshata, Rakttapitta, Granthi, Arbuda of respiratory tract etc. So to avoid the above complications it is essential to prevent and manage Kasa Vyadhi. Kasa is of five types; Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Kshayaja and Kshataja. Among all, Kaphaja Kasa is prevalent in these days originated due to the exposure to active and passive smoking, air pollution, occupational hazards. Kaphaja Kasa is a disease described in Ayurvedic texts that shows close resemblance with chronic bronchitis on the basis of clinical manifestations. However, according to WHO chronic bronchitis and emphysema are now included within the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a major cause of health care burden worldwide and the only leading cause of death among respiratory diseases that is increasing in prevalence. So in this article, critical analysis was done on the Ayurvedic management of Kaphaja Kasa vis-à-vis chronic bronchitis.

Keywords

Kaphaja Kasa, Chronic Bronchitis, Respiratory Diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

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