Role of natural methods to avoid use of antibiotics in agricultural practices for Healthy Ahara: A review article

Abstract In Ayurveda , food ( Ahara ) is considered the primary factor for sustaining life and is one of the three essential pillars ( Trayopsthambha ) along with Nidra (sleep) and Brahmcharya (regulated conduct). These pillars collectively support body, promoting growth, strength, and complexion. Disruption to any of these pillars can negatively impact the others, highlighting the need for a balance to ensure overall health and well-being. This study examines the cultivation process of Ahara dravya , emphasizing that crop health directly influences health of individuals consuming them. Despite India’s grain self-sufficiency, its agricultural practices are resource-intensive, cereal-centric, and regionally biased, leading to sustainability concerns such as desertification and land degradation. To meet agricultural demands and control diseases, cultivators use various antibiotics, including streptomycin, oxytetracycline, penicillin, and gentamycin. While effective in boosting agricultural and animal product yields, the extensive use of antibiotics has adverse effects on soil microbiota and has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes. To address this issue, the principles of Vrikshayurveda and intercropping of food crops with medicinal plants offer promising natural alternatives. These methods can mitigate diseases in plants, animals, and humans while conserving endangered medicinal plant species. It provides effective strategies for managing various plant diseases, considering factors such as Doshas , wounds, burns, and infertility. This study compiles and analyzes scientific data on antibiotic use in agriculture, its impact on microbial resistance and soil health, and explores the potential of herbal drugs in preventing plant diseases as outlined in Vrikshayurveda . Results shows that herbal drugs effectively prevent plant diseases with fewer complications.