Bathing

A bath in the morning is refreshing and stimulating. It enhances stability in the body and gives it strength. Above all, it helps remove fatigue, dirt and perspiration. Generally, warm baths should be taken in winter or during the rainy season. Cold baths are better in warm weather. Hair and scalp should be washed with cold to tepid water.

Miscellaneous
Wearing clean clothes adds to one?s appearance and personal hygiene. Clean apparel inspires self-confidence. Enhancing one?s looks and providing a well-groomed appearance by trimming one?s hair and beard (for men), combing one?s hair, keeping the finger-nails trimmed and clean.

Longevity, cleanliness and beauty help in maintaining physical and mental well-being. Proper and comfortable shoes preserve the skin of the feet. It protects the feet from contact with germs, disease-carrying bacteria and from the attacks of reptiles and other creatures.

Food
Food, an important factor in the maintenance of good health, is healthiest when eaten in proper quantities (depending upon the power of digestion and the metabolism of the individual). The right quantity of food is the amount that, without disturbing the equilibrium of tissues and doshas of the body, gets digested as well as metabolized in proper time. The power of digestion varies with individual metabolisms.

In Ayurveda, food is characterized as light or heavy. Food that is light, is rich in the qualities of air and fire. Those dominated by earth and water are heavy. Light food stimulates appetite and are less harmful, even if eaten in excess of the prescribed quantity.

On the other hand, food that is heavy suppresses appetite and is exceedingly harmful if taken in excess unless the power of digestion and metabolism are greatly reinforced by physical exercise. If the food is heavy, only three-fourths or half of the stomach should be filled. Even in the case of light food, excessive intake is not conducive to the processes of digestion and metabolism.

Depending on the causative factors, there are seven types of sleep: 
(1) sleep caused by lethargy, 
(2) sleep caused by vitiation of Kapha, 
(3) sleep caused by mental exertion, 
(4) sleep caused by physical exhaustion,
(5) exotic type of sleep (agantuka) which is caused by artificial means like sedatives, 
(6) sleep caused by diseases, 
(7) sleep caused by nightfall when the body naturally demands sleep or physiological sleep.

It is not advisable to sleep during the day in seasons other than summer. Doing so causes vitiation of Kapha and Pitta. Obese people who are used to unctuous substances, those with a Pitta constitution, those suffering from diseases due to vitiation of Kapha and those suffering from artificial poisoning (which happens when substances are incompatible are mixed and consumed either deliberately or inadvertently; honey in hot water can act as a poison) should never sleep during the day.

This could lead to liver problems, heaviness of the body, fever, loss of digestive power, edema, anorexia, nausea, urticaria, eruption, abscess, drowsiness, coughing, diseases of the throat, impairment of the memory and intelligence, obstruction of the circulatory channels of the body and weakness of sensory or motor organs.

Sleeping during the day in all seasons is permitted for those who are exhausted by singing, studying, alcoholic drinks, elimination therapy, carrying heavy weights, walking long distances; those suffering from diarrhea, colic pain, difficult breathing, insanity; those who are too old, too young, weak and emaciated; those injured by fall and assault; those exhausted by a journey, vigil, anger, grief and fear. In summer, nights become shorter and Vata gets aggravated in the body due to absorption of fluid because of perspiration. Therefore, during this season, sleep during the day is allowed for all.

Some authorities say sleeping after lunch on your left side (in any season) improves digestion and is acceptable sleep.

After lunch rest for a while.
After dinner walk for a mile
                        - Swami Shivananda

Causes of Sleeplessness
Elimination of doshas from the body through purgation and emesis; fear, anxiety, anger, smoke, physical exercise, excessive bleeding, fasting, uncomfortable bed go a long way towards overcoming sleep. The above-mentioned factors along with overwork, old age, diseases, specially those due to the vitiation of Vata (like colic pain) are known to cause sleeplessness even in normal individuals.

Measures to Induce Sleep
Sleep may be induced by massages, unction, bath, drinking meat soup, eating rice with curd, drinking warm milk (or water) and raw honey, drinking jatamanshi tea, giving the mind rest, peace and happiness and hearing soft music, applying soothing ointments to the eyes, head and face, massaging the feet, having a comfortable bed and home and going to bed at an appropriate hour.

There should be a sufficient gap between retiring for bed. This will aid the digestive process that in turn will result in good sleep. Food should, as far as possible, be light and easily digestible. Curd should be strictly avoided at night (after sunset). Though good for health, curd has a negative effect on the channels of circulation when taken at night and obstructs them. It is specially unsuitable for patients suffering from asthma, bronchitis and rheumatism.

Natural Urges
The living body has some natural urges. They are the urge to urinate, to dedicate, to have sexual intercourse, pass wind, for vomiting, sneezing, yawning, hunger, thirst, tears and sleep. Inhibition of these natural urges leads to many complications. These complications affect digestion and metabolism which in turn can lead to several kinds of ailments. Therefore, on order to sleep enough at night, it is essential to see that the body?s natural urges are never curbed.

Therapy for Old People
The philosophy behind Ayurveda is to enable the individual to live his full span of life as a useful and productive member of society. By prescribing various diets and regimens along with therapies, Ayurveda aims to help the individual towards this end. Specialized therapies such as garlic and rejuvenation therapies have been touched upon in brief to show the scope of this complex system of medicine that heals and preserves at the same time.