“Understanding the Entry of Disease into the Body: An Ayurvedic Viewpoint”

“Understanding the Entry of Disease into the Body: An Ayurvedic Viewpoint”

In Ayurveda, the term “vyadhi” refers to disease. The fundamental definition of disease in Ayurveda is encapsulated in the phrase “Dosha Dushya Samurcchana Janito Vyadhi”. This specific definition suggests that disease is the result of an interaction between dosha (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and dushya (the corruptible, also known as the seven dhatus or updhatus). A disease arises when the characteristics of an increased dosha overpower the qualities of a specific tissue or organ. The term “dis-ease” implies a state of disturbed ease. Health is considered a state of being at ease with the present moment. When this ease is disrupted, it results in disease.

Ama refers to the remnants of food that remain undigested due to weak agni, and this is considered the root cause of all diseases.

In Ayurveda, the aggravated doshas - vata in the colon, pitta in the intestines, and kapha in the stomach - accumulate and become provoked at their respective sites. They then leave the gastrointestinal tract and enter the general circulation during the third stage, known as prasara.

In the fourth stage, sthana samshraya, the dosha infiltrates a defective space (khavaigunya) if the Agni of a particular Dhatu is low. Agni is the natural resistance of dhatu, protecting the tissue from aggravated doshas. However, if Agni is depleted, the dosha can enter the dhatu, updhatu, srotas, or organ.

The result is that the increased qualities of the dosha attack the tissue, leading to an aggravation of those doshic qualities within the tissue. This is akin to a war. Sammurcchana also has another meaning. Murcha means unconsciousness. There is consciousness in every cell and tissue in the body. So, if an increased dosha enters a tissue, it attacks the consciousness of those cells.

As a result, the intelligence (The mahat principle) and selective function (the mind) of a tissue are both affected. Therefore, the cells become confused, and this affects their functions. This is why there is initially a change in functioning, and slowly, if the condition persists, the cells undergo structural changes.

Finally, we observe that an increased and disturbed dosha enters a tissue, attacks the qualities of that tissue, affects the consciousness, intelligence and mind of tissue at the cellular level and, as a result, changes the function and possible structure of the tissue.

*** In Ayurveda, “Khavaigunya” refers to a weak or defective part of the body, often caused by previous injury, illness, trauma, or genetic defects. It’s a term used to describe the body’s channels of transport and transformation that have become defective. These defects tend to be the most vulnerable to chronic imbalance or disease, as they attract the most ama (toxins) and excess doshas (functional energies). Understanding the location of this weakness is the first step in diagnosis and treatment. In Ayurveda, “Khavaigunya” refers to a weak or defective part of the body, often caused by previous injury, illness, trauma, or genetic defects. It’s a term used to describe the body’s channels of transport and transformation that have become defective. These defects tend to be the most vulnerable to chronic imbalance or disease, as they attract the most ama (toxins) and excess doshas (functional energies). Understanding the location of this weakness is the first step in diagnosis and treatment.