ABSTRACT
Ayurveda defines normal health as a balanced state of Doshas, Dhatus, Agni, mala and happiness of Atma, Indriyas and Manas as well as the physical mental and social wellbeing. According to WHO’s definition of health “a state of physical mental and social wellbeing and not merely an absence of diseaseâ€. proper nutrition is very essential for healthy life. Ahara (food) is the main source of nutrition. Ahara (Food) sustains the life of living beings. All living beings in the universe require Ahara (food), complexion, clarity, good voice, longevity, geniusness, happiness, satisfaction, nourishment, strength and intellect are all conditioned by Ahara (food). Professional activities leading to happiness in this world, Vedic rituals leading to abode in heaven and observance of truth, Brahmhacharya leading to salvation are all based on food. Only the individual having a healthy body can afford to perform all activities leading to happiness, heaven and salvation, and for the preservation of health intake of food is essential. Hence food is the basic factor for the attainment of all of them. Ahara Vidhi Vishesha Ayatan (Eight types of special directions for ingestion of food). According to Acharya Charaka only the normal quantity of Ahara cannot provide the good result of Ahara because the result of Ahara depends upon Ahara, Vidhi, Vishesh, Ayatan Eight types of special direction have been given by Acharya Charaka for ingestion of food.
ABSTRACT
One hundred forty-three patients, 72 males and 71 females, with extrapulmonary tuberculosis were aspirated and subjected to cytological (Ziehl-Neelsen stain) examination and culture in Lowenstein-Jensen media. Routine haematological examination and Mantoux test were done in all the cases, x-ray chest in 112, skeletal x-ray in 3 relevant cases and sputum was examined for AFB in 16 cases where pulmonary tuberculosis was associated/suspected with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. HIV status was evaluated in 51 cases and 9 (7.64%) were seropositive. FNA cytology in 102 cases (71.3%) had caseating epithelioid granulomas while smear for AFB was positive in 57 cases (39.8%). Both culture and smear were positive in 29 (20.2%) cases. Combining both smear and culture yielded positive results in 47.5% cases. It was observed that AFB positivity was higher in untreated patients and with HIV positive cases. Further more, the triad of FNAC, AFB smear and culture were cheaper, foolproof and confirmatory than costlier tests like TB IgG, IgM, RTPCR and BACTEC.