VEGADHARANA: ITS ROLE ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH—A SCIENTIFIC REVIEW

In the modern era, the drive for achievement often comes at the cost of health, with individuals neglecting the body’s fundamental needs. Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, recognized this millennia ago, introducing the concept of vegadharana—the suppression of natural bodily urges—as a root cause of disease. Acharyas like Charaka and Sushruta emphasized that maintaining the balance of dosha, dhatu, and mala is essential for health, and that ignoring natural urges disrupts this equilibrium, leading to a cascade of physical and mental disorders.[1,2] This review synthesizes classical Ayurvedic understanding and modern scientific perspectives on the mechanisms and consequences of vegadharana, highlighting its central role in disease pathogenesis and the importance of preventive strategies.