- Ayurveda’s concept of disease is when the three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha – are disturbed, an imbalance is caused and disease results.
- The vitiation of these Tri – doshas may be due to misuse of the five sensory organs – the ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose. And also due to action of body, mind, speech, time, different seasons
- The restoration of health then depend on the regaining the balance of Tri – dosha
- The vata is located in the large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones, skin, ears, and thighs.
- It is responsible for respiration and circulation.
- The pitta dosha is located in the small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, skin, and eyes.
- It is responsible for metabolism and organizing enzyme activity.
- The kapha dosha is located in the chest, lungs, and the spinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord.
- The kapha holds the body together.
- It provides structure and support for the bones, muscle, and insulated fat.
Causes of Diseases
Adibalapravritta:
Consists of ailments as obstinate as skin diseases, hemorrhoids, diabetes,
tuberculosis and asthma that arise primarily due to defects in the sperm
(shukra) of the father i.e. pitraj vyadhi, or, due to defect in ovum (shonita) of the mother therefore matarij. Undigested food, abnormal behaviour, addiction of any type and stressful situations affect the reproductive elements of both the male and female, resulting in a defective fetus.
Congenital
Janmabalapravritta:
Caused essentially due to nutritional disorder (rasakrita) and unfulfilled cravings of the mother during pregnancy (dauhrdya) If diet and / or conduct of the mother aggravates Vata, the foetus might end up with deformities as kyphosis (hunchback), blindness and dwarfism; increased Pitta may cause alopecia and yellowish pigmentation of skin; and enhanced kapha might result in albinism.
Doshabalapravritta:
Arise out of any dietary or behavioural disturbance brought about by an imbalance in anyone of the three vital physical energies (tridosha) or the three vital mental energies (triguna).
Thus constitutional disorders are of two types: somatic (Sharirika) & psychic (Manasika).
Sanghatabalapravritta:
Undergoing any trauma causing experience – external or internal – leads to this.
External trauma is induced by injuries inflicted by sharp instruments and bites of animals or venomous insects. Stress and overstrain lead to internal truma.
Kalabalapravritta:
Brought about by changes in the nuances of seasonality. Sometimes the body fails to adjust itself to the sudden and abnormal climatic changes – extreme cold might lead to frostbite and rheumatic disease.
While extreme heat may cause sunstroke or fever.
- Daivabalapravritta: Either born out of natural calamities as lightning, earthquakes, floods and the invisible, malignant forces of nature. Or contacted through sexual & physical intimacy and sharing of food, plates, bed, clothes, towels and cosmetics with effected friends & relatives. Or as a result of sheer jealousy.
- Swabhavbalapravritta: Even the healthiest of people are struck by hunger, thirst, sleep, death or senility. Brought about by functional, organic and natural changes in the body.
