Diagnosis
Process
The
imbalance of doshas and the course they follow to cause disease
is termed samprapti or pathogenesis. Since diseases
develop in distinct stages, a good knowledge of those helps in early
recognition of disease. Ayurveda thus elaborates a
six stage process for diagnosis called Kriya (action) Kal (time).
The first 4 stages being unique to Ayurveda in that
they permit recognition and elimination of the disease before it
ventures into differentiated clinical symptoms.
One
who knows the various stages of pathogenesis accumulation (sanchaya),
provocation (prakopa) spread or migration (prasara),
deposition or augmentation (sthana samshaya), manifestation
(vyakti) and the differentiation (bheda)
is entitled to be a physician.
Stage
One: Accumulation (Sanchaya)
-
Weak
digestive power and excess of dosha is responsible for
such a condition.
-
Here
toxins (ama) produced by improper digestion collects
in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.
-
Toxins
resulting from a kapha
imbalance accumulates in the stomach, those associated with a pitta imbalance collects
in the small intestine, and that related to vata
malfunction amasses in the colon.
-
Due
to the presence of one of these toxins, mild and ill-defined symptoms
may show.
-
We should recognise and eliminate the cause instead of ignoring
or suppressing it.
-
Causes
aversion to similar things and attraction for contraries.
Stage
Two : Aggravation (Prokapa)
-
The
accumulated, stagnant doshas are now `excited’
by factors as ahara, vihara &
seasons.
-
The
toxins amass in such degree to get provoked in the site of production
in the GI tract.
Stage
Three : Spread (Prasara)
-
In this stage, the toxins accumulated in the GI tract start
overflowing.
Generally, up to this stage the damage is entirely reversible
and restoration of doshic balance can be achieved with proper
measures. Or there may be spontaneous prashama (remission)
influenced by seasonal changes. Thus there is sanchaya of
pitta
in rainy season, prakopa in fall and prasara in early winter.
Based on degree of excitation, it might even passed the stages
of prashama or prasara.
Stage
Four : Agumentation (Sthana Samshraya)
-
Overflowing
toxins migrate, entering and taking refuge in localised, weak
or defective dhatus thereby leading to malfunction
and structural damage.
-
It
is from here that specific degenerating disease and susceptibilities
to serious infections begin.
Stage
Five : Symptom Manifestation (Vyakti)
Stage
Six: Complications/Differentiation (Bheda)
-
The disease having taken taken years or even decades to reach
this final stage, becomes chronic.
-
Offers detailed understanding of the group of symptoms thereby
making clear nature of disease.
-
Might act as predisposing factors for the spread of other diseases.
Diagnosis
in Ayurveda | Diagnosis Process
Three Fold Examination | Eight Fold Examination |
Ten
Fold Examination
|
