In the last two articles we discussed the first part of Ayurvedic aim, which gives more importance to the preservation of health in the healthy individual or promotion of health in the healthy. Now we will go through the treatment of disease in a patient.

General treatment in Ayurveda is called Kaya Chikitsa, kaya is otherwise called Agni or fire which is referring to the metabolic activity of an individual. So the whole therapeutic approach is to correct the Agni or Kaya.

Before going for the classification of treatment we now see the definition of a healthy person.

Samadosha Samagnischa Samadhathu Mala kriya
Prasanathma indriya mana swastha ythyabhidheeyathe

One who is having equilibrium of Dosha (Vatha, Pitha, Kapha) Agni (metabolic activity) Dhathu (tissues) mala (waste products) and pleasant Atma (being,) Indriya (sense organ) and manas (mind) is called as a healthy person.

To achieve the balances and holistic health, Ayurveda advocates different therapeutic approaches. The following classification summarises the therapeutic approaches offered in Ayurveda.

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1. Daiva Vyapasraya

Homam - Special pooja or prayers for the individual or society as a whole
Mantram - Chanting specific word or slokas to transcend the mind.
Mani Dharanam - Wearing stones or raksha as per astrological advice
Theerthadanam - Pilgrimage – Visiting holy places. 

2. Yukti Vyapasraya

Nidhana Parivarjanam- Removal or avoiding causative factors 
Pathyam - Diet
Aushadhavm - Drugs prescribed for Hetu Viparitam contrary to cause 
Vyadhi vibaritam - Symptomatic
Ubayarthukari - Treatment against both
Anoushadham - Treatment without drugs i.e. Yoga, meditation, fasting, exposure to sun, wind etc.

3. Satvavajaya

Counselling / re-assurance to boost the patient’s confidence in treatment and improve inner consciousness 

One of the most important principles in choosing a therapeutic approach in Ayurveda is that no treatment should cure a disease and give rise to some other disease.

“Prayoga Samaye Vyadhi Mekam yo Anya Mudheerayetu
Nasu Visudhaha Sudhasthu Samayedya Nakopayeta”
Ashtang, Hridya, Chapter 13/16

The therapy which pacifies disease (symptoms) and give rise to other disease (symptoms) is not a pure therapy – the pure (correct) one is the one which pacified without erupting other problems.

In Ayurveda, the origin of disease is attributed mainly to disequilibrium of body constituents. Logically, therefore, the therapeutic approach is directed towards re-achieving the equilibrium of dosha, dhatu and mala which was disturbed by disease so the removal of the pathogenic agent from the body without leading to some other pathological condition relieving the tissue of the effects caused by the pathogenic agents, soothing the excited doshas, and sub-normal doshas and dhatus (ksheena dosha and dhatu) abstinence from improper food item or improper conduct (that was responsible for causing the disease) and restoration of the natural powers of resistance (vyadhikshamatwam- immune) are the main objects of the medical treatment in Ayurveda.

Doshas exist in vridhi (excess) state or dosha samyatha (normal) state or kshya (decreased) state. An increase of a dosha is recognised by the abnormal activities and manifestation of specific sign and symptoms. These enable the physician to recognise that particular disease. A decrease of a dosha is recognised by an absence of signs and symptoms indicating the dosha presence.

From the above discussion it is clear that Ayurvedic treatment deals with the cause of disease, the symptoms, the area of manifestation and the dosha dhathu involvement.

Ayurveda also give importance to Pancha maha bootha thatwa, Triguna thatwa and Thridosha thatwa and their inter-relations. 

PANCHA MAHABOOTHA 

These are the five great elements that constitute Nature and individual.

Prithvi - Earth
App - Water
Thejas - Fire 
Vayu - Air
Akasa - Space 

Triguna

Three gunas (qualities) attributes of the nature of mind 
Satva (pure intelligence ) 
Rajas (activity – energy)
Tamas (inertia or darkness)

In man these tamas, rajas and satva express themselves as ignorance, activity and wisdom.

Now their correlation with panchamaha bhootha.

Earth - Tamas
Water - Satva, Tamas
Fire - Satva, Rajas
Air - Rajas
Space - Satva 
Tridosha and Triguna correlation 
Vata – Rajas, Satva
Pitta – Satva, Rajas
Kapha – Tamas, Satva
Tridhosha and bootha correlation 
Vata - Space, Air
Pitta – Fire
Kapha – Water and earth 

So while treating a disease the physician should analyse the panchabootha, triguna and tridosha involvement and select herbs according to their panchbootha quality and function, for example space and vayu predominant herbs are porose, light, dry and transparent.

Fire predominant herbs are digestive, improve complexion, vision and metabolism.

Water predominant herbs are moist, lubricating, soft and pleasant, Earth, predominant herbs help in growth, compactiveness, stability and heaviness.

Components of body derived from bhutas (elements)

Dr C C Sagy
Ph No: 044 – 25735800 / 09884022742
E-mail: Drsagy_cheru@yahoo.com