Diseases and their Causes
The condition which causes uneasiness to Sharira(Body) or Mana(Mind) is defined as Vyadhi or Disease. It is produced by three factors.
- AsatmyendriyarthaSamyoga
The excessive, faulty or no use of the sense organs called as AsarmyendriyarthaSamyoga.
- Prajnaparatha
If the right thing is not done at the right time is called Prajnaparatha.
- Parinama
The seasons play an important role in the health and its abnormality may disturb the equilibrium of Dosha.
Agni (Digestive Fire)
Agni is a very important factor because Ayurveda believes that majority, if not all the diseases are caused by vitiation of Agni. It is responsible for all the digestion and metabolism of the body. An entity which converts or transforms any substance (especially food) in to substance of more advanced or of higher order, also which changes biochemically a gross substance in to a finer or minute form is called Agni.
Ama
Ama is a term denoting a product that is an undigested form derived from food that gets absorbed into the system without proper assimilation. Such partly digested material cannot be used by the system, and acts to clog it, eliciting an immune reaction.
Improper nutrition and emotional stress contribute to the formation of Ama.
- Intense emotional tension caused by a feeling of grief, anger, worry, fear, etc.
- Food containing incompatible products such as fruit milk.
- Heavy or indigestible food.
- Overeating or irregular eating habits.
- Taking food that is unpleasant to you.
- Regular consumption of raw, cold and uncooked food
- Food which produces distension of the abdomen
- Foods which are irritating and capable of causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines
- Consumption of unclean and contaminated/infected food, for instance food that has been stored in the refrigerator for a long period of time
- Consumption of dry, fried or dehydrated foods
- Food soaked in too much water.
Signs and symptoms of Ama
- Srotosang – obstruction of channels;
- Balakshaya – loss of strength;
- Gauravta – heaviness;
- Anilamudata – impediment to the flow of Vayu;
- Klama – lethargy;
- Ajeerna – indigestion;
- Athipraseka – excessive salivation;
- Vegavrodha – disturbance of the natural urge in terms of faeces, urine, flatus, etc.;
- Mandagni – anorexia;
- Angsada – malaise.
DIAGNOSIS IN AYURVEDA
Diagnosis is a very vital aspect of Ayurvedic treatment. Diagnosis is to find out the root cause of a disease (Nidan). Unless the proper diagnosis is not done it is difficult to provide medicine and cure the disease.
There are three main methods for diagnosing a disease and Dosha imbalance in a person. They are:
- DarsanaPareeksha
By observing the patient’s physical appearance and symptoms- colour of skin, hair, eyes, behaviours, body condition etc.
- PrasnaPareeksha
By asking detailed questions to know about the degree of imbalance of each Dosha.
- SparshanaPareeksha
It includes checking the pulse (NadiPareeksha), palpitation, percussion and auscultation of a person.
Diseases can be diagnosed in either eight steps or ten steps
AshtaSthanaPareeksha (Eight step diagnosis)
- Nadi - Pulse diagnosis
- Jihwa - Examination of tongue
- Malam - Examination of stool
- Mootram- Examination of urine
- Sabdam - Examination of voice
- Sparsanam - Examination of body temperature
- Drik - Examination of eye ball
- Akriti - Examination of the physique
DasaVishaPareeksha (Ten step diagnosis)
- Dooshyam - examination of the seven Dhathus and Doshas
- Desam- examination of the surroundings
- Balam - examination of the strength
- Kalam - examination of season
- Analam - examination of Agni
- Prakruti - examination of Body Constitution
- Vayas - examination of Age
- Satwam - examination of Mental Power
- Satmyam - examination of Compatibility
- Aharam - examination of food habits