Growing old comes with several degenerative diseases and problems. Changes in your Dosha, Dhatu, Mala, Agni, Oja, etc., take place and affect your physical and mental functions. As a result, you become more susceptible to health problems and diseases, including body pain (1).
Age-related body pain can occur anywhere and can even lead to musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions like arthritis, sciatica, spondylosis and migraine. However, if you follow a lifestyle in accordance with the Ayurvedic guidelines, you can prevent any type of body pain (2).
Ayurveda says that pain usually occurs due to vitiated Vata Dosha, which is prominent during old age. Therefore, these Ayurvedic guidelines usually involve pacifying Vata Dosha in the body (2).
How To Prevent Body Pain in Old Age With Ayurveda?
- Practice Abhyanga
Massaging your body with warm herbal oils is called Abhyanga. It is highly beneficial in strengthening the muscles and alleviating pain in the body (3). In addition, Abhyanga also helps delay age-associated pathological changes, restore the balance of the Doshas and promote longevity (4)
- Detoxify With Panchakarma
Panchakarma therapy is a set of five detoxification, purification and rejuvenation therapies that are considered of great importance in old age. They help provide strength and nourishment to the deeper tissues in the body, eliminate toxins, restore the smooth functioning of body organs and prevent age-related body pain (4) (5).
- Practice Yoga
Yoga helps improve muscular strength and body flexibility, alleviate stress, anxiety and depression, relieve chronic pain and boost your overall health. Therefore, Ayurveda recommends practising Yoga in old age (4).
- Regulate Your Sleep Cycle
Sleeping is essential for repairing damaged cells and rejuvenating the body and mind (5). Poor sleep patterns can also disrupt circadian rhythms and trigger age-associated pathological conditions, paving the path to chronic pain (4). Therefore, Ayurveda recommends taking a good quality and quantity of sleep, especially during old age.
- Include Herbs in Your Diet
Ayurveda mentions several pain-relieving herbs like Haridra (turmeric), Ardrak (ginger), Dalchini (cinnamon), Lavang (clove), Tulsi (holy basil) and Yashtimadhu (liquorice). Some of these herbs can be used as spices in your food, while others can be infused in water to prepare tea. These herbs also have potent anti-inflammatory properties that further aid in preventing age-related body pain (6).
- Eat a Vata-Pacifying Diet
As Vata Dosha is known to cause pain, Ayurveda recommends eating a Vata-pacifying diet to prevent body pain in old age (6). A Vata-pacifying diet consists of warm, moist and light-to-digest foods, predominantly of sweet, salty and sour tastes (7).
On a Final Note
Old age can lead to several changes in the body and increase the chances of getting body pain. However, if you follow Ayurvedic guidelines, you can easily prevent age-related body pain.
Some of these best Ayurvedic practices include Abhyanga, Yoga and Panchakarma. Eating a Vata pacifying diet and pain-relieving spices and herbs is also essential for preventing body pain.
There are also several Rasayana or rejuvenating herbs that can delay ageing and prevent body pain in old age. You can find some of these herbs at Zanducare, like Seniorz Daily Health Booster Granules.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3202253/
- https://www.wjpmr.com/download/article/33032018/1523880026.pdf
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282938413_ROLE_OF_AYURVEDIC_MASSAGE_IN_CHRONIC_PAIN
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148064/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272862503_Ayurvedic_approach_for_management_of_ageing_and_related_disorder
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331672467_PAIN_MANAGEMENT_THROUGH_AYURVEDA_A
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vata-dosha
