Ayurveda

Ayurvedic texts describe langhana as a group of lightening therapies intended to reduce excess burden in the body. Fasting, or upavasa, is one expression of this wider principle, although langhana can also include lighter foods, controlled fluid intake, exercise and other measures selected according to the individual’s condition.

Ayurveda places importance not only on what a person eats, but also on how much

The word Viruddha conveys opposition, incompatibility or contradiction, while Ahara means food or diet. In practice, Viruddha Ahara refers to circumstances in which food becomes unsuitable because one or more aspects of its use conflict with digestion, metabolism or the condition of the person consuming it.

The eight-week study involved around 38 children aged 6 to 14 years and compared Ayurvedic treatment alone with an integrated Ayurveda-Yoga approach. According to the Ministry of Ayush, the combined intervention produced greater improvement across several clinical and behavioural parameters than Ayurvedic medicine alone.

During the active part of the day, digestion is generally supported by movement, alertness and the body’s natural rhythm of activity. By evening, this demand begins to fall. A very large or rich dinner can therefore place a greater burden on digestion than the same quantity of food eaten earlier.

Ayurveda describes digestion through the concept of Jatharagni, the digestive fire responsible for transforming food into usable nourishment. A meal may contain high-quality ingredients, but Ayurveda maintains that its value depends greatly on whether the body can digest and assimilate it properly.

A traditional Ayurvedic dietary principle is expressed through the idea of Jeerne Ashniyat, meaning that food should be taken after the previously consumed meal has been sufficiently digested. This forms part of the wider Ayurvedic guidance on Ahara, or diet, described in classical texts such as the Charaka Samhita.

In Ayurveda, digestion is governed by Agni, which represents the body’s metabolic and transformative power. Strong and balanced Agni is associated with efficient digestion, proper nourishment and vitality.

Classical Ayurveda gives sleep an unusually important place in preventive healthcare. Nidra is traditionally considered alongside food and regulated conduct as one of the principal supports of life because appropriate sleep helps restore physical strength, mental clarity and the body’s capacity to recover from the demands of the day.

The RIS study, formally released during the 11th Ayurveda Day celebrations in Nagpur on September 23, 2026, was detailed by the Ministry of Ayush on September 30. It represents the first nationally scaled establishment-level assessment of the economic contribution of Ayush services across all major systems.