Body odor- ayurvedic medicines, panchkarma, diet, home remedies

BODY ODOR

Body odor is the unpleasant smell from the body. The causes of body odor vary from simple to complex. This condition is mostly associated with personal hygiene.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BODY ODOR

• Unpleasant smell from the body especially from armpits, groin region, back of the ear.

CAUSES OF BODY ODOR

• Obesity
• Those who regularly eat spicy foods
• Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes.
• People who sweat too much, such as those with hyperhidrosis

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF BODY ODOR

• The apocrine glands are mainly responsible for body odor because the sweat they produce is high in protein, which bacteria can break down easily.
• These apocrine glands are more present in armpits, groin region, ears, skin etc

DIAGNOSIS OF BODY ODOR

• Laboratory tests carried to find out the associated systemic illness like diabetes, thyroid problems, infections
• To diagnose a problem with sweating and body odor, your doctor will likely ask about your medical history and do an examination.

TREATMENTS OF BODY ODOR

• Antiperspirant – reducing the amount of perspiration.
• Deodorant- Deodorants can eliminate odor but not perspiration.
• Diabetic control

PROGNOSIS OF BODY ODOR

• Prognosis is based on the cause of the diseases, duration  and condition of the patient
• Generally, body odor is manageable.

COMPLICATIONS OF BODY ODOR

• Isolation or withdrawal
• Loss of work from embarrassment over persistent abnormal odor.

BODY ODOR AND AYURVEDA

• As per Ayurvedic classics, body odor is more common in Kapha and pitta prakriti individuals (kapha/ pitta constitution).
• Body odor also associated with the vitiation of swedavaha srothas ( sweat gland) and medas ( Fat)

NIDANA- Ayurvedic CAUSES OF BODY ODOR

In this disease mainly pitta dosha and Kapha Dosha  are involved (vitiated). Dushya involved is sweda and medas.

• More acrid, sour, sweet, fatty,ushna virya foods

PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF BODY ODOR

• Sweda ativridhi – increased sweating

SAMPRAPTHI –AYURVEDIC MATURATION OF BODY ODOR

Due to the causative factors, pitta and kapha dosha along with sweda and medas are vitiated and resides in the body.

LAKSHANA -AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BODY ODOR

• Sweda ativridhi – increased sweating
• Dourgandhyam – unpleasant odor
• Kandu – itching

AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF BODY ODOR

• Curable – sugha sadhya
• If the underlying diseases are serious then difficult to cure – krichra sadhya

CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT OF BODY ODOR

SAMANA

• Kapha Pittahara – medicines which alleviate Kapha and pitta dosha
• sweda stambana
• Bathing using snana churna

SHODHANA or Panchkarma Treatment for Body Odor

• Virechana – purgation therapy which alleviates pitta dosha and Vamana- Emetic therpay which alleviates Kapha dosha

COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR BODY ODOR

Internal administration

• Guloochyadi kashayam
• Drakshadi Kashayam
• Patolakadurohinyadi Kashayam
• Pachanmrutham Kashayam
• Manjishtadi Kashayam
• Haridrakhandam
• Dadimashatak Churna
• Vaiswanara Churna
• Avipatti churna

HOME REMEDIES

• Intake of Indian gooseberry – cools the body
• Drinking water boiled with khus

DIET AND BEHAVIOUR

• Avoid food items which produce pitta dosha imbalance like acrid and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
• Daily bathing

YOGA

• Nadi Shuddi Pranayam    – cleans the respiratory passage  and cools the body

The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.

• Sheethali kriya

Keywords: body odor, pitta dosha, sweda, Ayurveda

source https://ayurvedapc.blog/2020/10/19/body-odor-ayurvedic-medicines-panchkarma-diet-home-remedies/