What is PATHYA, and why is it prescribed alongwith medicines in treating a disease?
PATHYA- is a regimen, a discipline, prescribed along with medicines in the treatment of a disease. It is to be followed to ensure maximum efficacy of the medicines in curing a disease. This regimen includes diet, sleeping and waking habits, body hygiene, physical and mental exertion, and anything that contributes to changes in the body system. It is to be noted that PATHYA is not for the medicine but the disease. It has been misconstrued that Ayurveda includes strict diet restrictions. In fact, PATHYA is prescribed depending on the nature and the severity of the disease; i.e., those habits that can aggravate the diseased condition are advised to be restricted. The regimen may be as simple as avoiding too much sugar or salt or it may be very stringent depending on the condition of the patient. Adhering to the prescribed PATHYA ensures faster and surer recovery.
