Description
From the Editors Desk Winter 2020 – Anusha Sehgal
Communicable disease has been a primary hazard to health of an individual and society since the evolution of humanity. References of disease spread through a community have been mentioned in ancient texts including Caraka Samhita. Janapadoddhvaṃsa is the term used to indicate diseases which are epidemic in nature. Such conditions spread due to contamination of air, water, and soil as well as perversion of the natural order of seasonal changes. In Caraka Samhita, vimāna sthāna, chapter three, the author describes multiple risk factors that may support the spread of communicable disease. Preventative measures such as maintenance of health through daily routines, healthy diet according to one’s digestive capacity, consumption of cooked water along with practices to support mental health are advised. During these challenging times where much uncertainty may arise, the factors such as daily routine is still within one’s control. Āyurvedic literature and practices has innumerable techniques in prevention and maintenance of health.
