Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search
202 bytes added ,  02:55, 2 December 2017
Line 396: Line 396:  
#''Agni''( digestive processes) of a person shall be diagnosed as ''tikshna''(severe), ''manda''(low), ''sama''(balanced) and ''vishama''(irregular). The selection of diet and dose of medicine depends upon ''agni''.
 
#''Agni''( digestive processes) of a person shall be diagnosed as ''tikshna''(severe), ''manda''(low), ''sama''(balanced) and ''vishama''(irregular). The selection of diet and dose of medicine depends upon ''agni''.
   −
=== Vidhi Vimarsha ===
+
=== ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' ===
   −
Vimana literally means measurement, so this section gives the physical as well pathological parameters for the measurement of various entities like dosha, dhatu, agni, srotasa etc. In the present chapter method of classification of diseases is given on the basis of prognosis, severity, site of origin, cause and location. Physicians are directed to diagnose the disease as primary or secondary one on the basis of vitiated doshas and treatment given. Primary doshas manifest their respective diseases when they are aggravated. On the other hand, the sub-ordinate dosha manifests their respective symptoms only when they are stimulated by the primary dosha. In other words, in view of their un-manifested symptoms, subordinate dosha, do not get aggravated by the factor responsible for their aggravation as mentioned in the texts nor do they get alleviated by the therapy prescribed specially for them. They get alleviated only when the therapy prescribed for primary dosha is administered. That is to say the aggravation and alleviation of subordinate doshas are affected by the causative factors and therapies, other than their own. This is because they share the attributes of the dosha, of primary nature to some extent. For example, in the autumn season pitta is vitiated primarily and kapha secondarily due to sour vipaka of water etc. This is because sour taste is responsible for the vitiation of both. For the treatment of primary doshas, viz. pitta, ghee boiled with bitter drugs is employed; bitter taste, by nature, alleviates the subordinate dosha, viz. kapha also. Anubandhya and, anubandha are the technical terms for primary and secondary diseases respectively known to scholar adapt in the medical science.
+
''Vimana'' literally means measurement, so this section gives the physical as well pathological parameters for the measurement of various entities like ''dosha, dhatu, agni, srotasa'' etc. In the present chapter method of classification of diseases is given on the basis of prognosis, severity, site of origin, cause and location. Physicians are directed to diagnose the disease as primary or secondary one on the basis of vitiated ''doshas'' and treatment given. Primary ''doshas'' manifest their respective diseases when they are aggravated. On the other hand, the sub-ordinate ''dosha'' manifests their respective symptoms only when they are stimulated by the primary ''dosha''. In other words, in view of their un-manifested symptoms, subordinate ''dosha'', do not get aggravated by the factor responsible for their aggravation as mentioned in the texts nor do they get alleviated by the therapy prescribed specially for them. They get alleviated only when the therapy prescribed for primary ''dosha'' is administered. That is to say the aggravation and alleviation of subordinate ''doshas'' are affected by the causative factors and therapies, other than their own. This is because they share the attributes of the ''dosha'', of primary nature to some extent. For example, in the autumn season ''pitta'' is vitiated primarily and ''kapha'' secondarily due to sour ''vipaka'' of water etc. This is because sour taste is responsible for the vitiation of both. For the treatment of primary ''doshas'', viz. ''pitta'', ghee boiled with bitter drugs is employed; bitter taste, by nature, alleviates the subordinate ''dosha'', viz. ''kapha'' also. ''Anubandhya'' and, ''anubandha'' are the technical terms for primary and secondary diseases respectively known to scholar adapt in the medical science.
   −
After the description of the classification of diseases, agni is described which is essential for the maintenance of the body. The term “sharireshu” indicates that agni (factors or enzymes responsible for digestion and metabolism) residing all over the body. However, in subsequent elaboration, agni residing in the gastrointestinal tract is described because this agni regulates the aggravation or abatement of all the other agnis (Chikitsa 15:39). Agnis belonging to regular or balanced category are the most beneficial for a healthy living; still agnis belonging to the sharp category are given priority in the order of description because of their importance in as much as they are capable of tolerating all types of irregularities. Balanced (sama) condition of vata, pitta, and kapha during their natural states and when they are aggravated, accompanies regular or balanced agnis. The term ‘prakriti’ (meaning natural state) has different other meaning as well. Because of these two factors and with a view to specifying the intention, Acharya has used the term “prakritisthanam” along with “vatapittashleshmana”.  In the case of an individual having the dominance of vata in his constitution, agni becomes irregular only when the sites of agnis in his body are afflicted by vata and not otherwise. Similar is the explanation for the changes in the agnis in individuals having the dominance of pitta and kapha in their constitution. The concept of prakriti is also described in the chapter in the context of disease. It is worth mentioning that the prakriti described in this chapter is in reference to disease state i.e. vikrita avastha. [1-2]
+
After the description of the classification of diseases, ''agni'' is described which is essential for the maintenance of the body. The term ''sharireshu'' indicates that ''agni'' (factors or enzymes responsible for digestion and metabolism) residing all over the body. However, in subsequent elaboration, ''agni'' residing in the gastrointestinal tract is described because this ''agni'' regulates the aggravation or abatement of all the other ''agnis'' (Chikitsa 15:39). ''Agnis'' belonging to regular or balanced category are the most beneficial for a healthy living; still ''agnis'' belonging to the sharp category are given priority in the order of description because of their importance in as much as they are capable of tolerating all types of irregularities. Balanced (''sama'') condition of ''vata, pitta,'' and ''kapha'' during their natural states and when they are aggravated, accompanies regular or balanced ''agnis''. The term ''prakriti'' (meaning natural state) has different other meaning as well. Because of these two factors and with a view to specifying the intention, Acharya has used the term ''prakritisthanam'' along with ''vatapittashleshmana''.  In the case of an individual having the dominance of ''vata'' in his constitution, ''agni'' becomes irregular only when the sites of ''agnis'' in his body are afflicted by ''vata'' and not otherwise. Similar is the explanation for the changes in the ''agnis'' in individuals having the dominance of ''pitta'' and ''kapha'' in their constitution. The concept of ''prakriti'' is also described in the chapter in the context of disease. It is worth mentioning that the ''prakriti'' described in this chapter is in reference to the diseased state i.e. ''vikrita avastha''. [1-2]
   −
Doshas pertaining to mind are given priority in the order of their description because they are comparatively smaller in number. [5-6]  
+
''Doshas'' pertaining to mind are given priority in the order of their description because they are comparatively smaller in number. [5-6]  
Classification of various diseases on five parameters is described and then gives a generalized method for classification of disease on the basis of grief as a universal symptom. Here it is important to note that he uses the term grief instead of pain to identify the disease. The word grief (dukha) signifies both mental as well as physical trouble. Thus more emphasis is given on the fact that both the component of a disease i.e. somatic and psychic should be equally treated for successful management. Description of the causative doshas for mental diseases and their relation with physical doshas is given. In the same context the psychosomatic diseases are described. Chronic somatic diseases cause psychological diseases and chronic psychological diseases leads to somatic diseases i.e. both are intermingled and have cause and effect relationship.
     −
Modern scientific research supports this age-old tenet of medical wisdom. Walter Cannon in 1920, documented the physiological changes in body as a response to stressors through hormones called catecholamines. This was further researched by Hans Selye to pioneer the field of stress research. He described the close relation between body and mind with various articles on stress affecting humans biologically. Biofeedback is found effective in treatment of various psycho-somatic disorders. Dean Ornish and his colleagues also worked upon the concept to integrate yoga, meditation for designing protocol for stress management in a medical centre.   
+
Classification of various diseases on five parameters is described and then gives a generalized method for classification of disease on the basis of grief as a universal symptom. Here it is important to note that he uses the term grief instead of pain to identify the disease. The word grief (''dukha'') signifies both mental as well as physical trouble. Thus more emphasis is given on the fact that both the component of a disease i.e. somatic and psychic should be equally treated for successful management. Description of the causative ''doshas'' for mental diseases and their relation with physical ''doshas'' is given. In the same context the psychosomatic diseases are described. Chronic somatic diseases cause psychological diseases and chronic psychological diseases leads to somatic diseases i.e. both are intermingled and have cause and effect relationship.
 +
 
 +
Modern scientific research supports this age-old tenet of medical wisdom. Walter Cannon in 1920, documented the physiological changes in body as a response to stressors through hormones called catecholamines. This was further researched by Hans Selye to pioneer the field of stress research. He described the close relation between body and mind with various articles on stress affecting humans biologically. Biofeedback is found effective in treatment of various psycho-somatic disorders. Dean Ornish and his colleagues also worked upon the concept to integrate ''yoga'', meditation for designing protocol for stress management in a medical center.   
    
International classification of diseases and related health problems is a system that classifies disease on the basis of interpretation and comparison of mortality and morbidity data across globe.  
 
International classification of diseases and related health problems is a system that classifies disease on the basis of interpretation and comparison of mortality and morbidity data across globe.  
The relation between agni and disease process is essential to be undertood. Impairement of agni is a cause of accumulation of various toxic products inside body leading to disease. Agni includes all processes of digestion and metabolism taking at gross level, tissue level, micro-cellular level. Hence it needs a special emphasis while treating a disease. Diagnosis of agni of a person is one of key factor in understanding disease. The following charts 1,2 and 3 shows various types of agni and its related processes in ayurvedic perspective.  
+
 
 +
The relation between ''agni'' and disease process is essential to be understood. Impairment of ''agni'' is a cause of accumulation of various toxic products inside body leading to disease. ''Agni'' includes all processes of digestion and metabolism taking at gross level, tissue level, micro-cellular level. Hence it needs a special emphasis while treating a disease. Diagnosis of ''agni'' of a person is one of key factor in understanding disease. The following charts 1,2 and 3 shows various types of ''agni'' and its related processes in ayurvedic perspective.  
 
   
 
   
 
==== Chart 1:  Different types of Agni1 ====
 
==== Chart 1:  Different types of Agni1 ====

Navigation menu