While the modern view considers aging as a series of mechanical problems fixed with specific treatments, modern medicine has also no doubt greatly improved understanding and treatment of age-related diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and arthritis. And many now hope to live healthy, active lives to age 100 or more. However, beyond medical conditions, people also strive to delay other aspects of aging, such as external appearance,
Ayurveda also has its own science on aging and considers the phenomenon as a natural and inevitable process classified as one of the natural and Yapya (palliative) diseases, with several changes taking place in the body per Dosha (constitution), Dhatu (body tissues), Mala (waste), Agni (metabolism). Thus, Ayurveda takes a holistic approach toward the maintenance of health and body (homeostasis) and offers time-tested approaches for healthy aging. For example Vata, the cool, drying, airy element of our body (Dosha), increases, leading to symptoms of dryness, chilliness, and dissipation in our body and mind, hence, keeping warm, hydrated, and grounded, are all important as we age.
Hence, it isn’t a matter of which view is better, but together they can provide a complementary and comprehensive support system for healthy aging, and by applying the different approaches together, the negative effects of aging can be significantly minimised. Nonetheless the application of Ayurvedic principles have the best effects when started as early as possible in life.
Yamuna Sisupalan A et al. A review on the concept of aging in Ayurveda literature. J Complement Integr Med. 2021 May 20;19(2):173-179.
An eloquent description of the aging process from the Ayurvedic perspective can be found here: https://himalayaninstitute.org/online/ayurveda-aging-well/
