European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

GERIATRIC CARE – AN INTEGRAL APPROACH

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Giri*, Dr. Sanghamitra Patnaik, Dr. Pavithra S. and Dr. S. H. Doddamani

ABSTRACT

„Jaraa Vyadhi‟ in Ayurveda is a natural phenomenon (Swabhavika). Acharya Susrutha has categorized Jara as Swabhava Pravrittha Vyaadhi. Rasayana therapy is specifically advocated for the management of Jaraa Vyadhi, and it is defined as a Jaraa Vyadhi Vidhwamsaka (medicine/procedure that overwhelms /destroys Jaraa Vyadhi). With the raise of geriatric population and increase in metabolic diseases Geriatric management is emerging as a challenging problem of 21st century, which is not only medical but is also a sociological problem. Both physiological as well as morphological changes occurring in an elderly individual. The metabolic and catabolic activities of different cell/tissue/genes encompasses the physiological changes whereas the reaction or ensuing of metabolic and catabolic activities are the morphological changes. The significant raise in diseases in Geriatrics population is the motive for emerging of geriatrics as a major medical specialty worldwide. There is a great need for development of geriatric care system. Conventional system offers the medical management of the diseases of old age under geriatric system. On the contrary, Ayurveda is fundamentally the science of life, and presents a comprehensive theory of aging, its prevention and management. Rasayana Tantra is exclusively dedicated for nutrition, immunology and geriatrics care. This paper intends to review the present and classical literature on geriatric care with recent developments.

Keywords: Jaraa Vyadhi, geriatric care, Aging, Rasayana, vayahsthambhana.