THE ROLE OF
DOSHA IN
AYURVEDA
*. Nature
and manner
of vitiation
of dosha
Doshas
become
vitiated in
various
manners. The
nature of
formation of
a disease
changes
according to
the nature
and manner
of
vitiation.
*.
Etiological
factors of
vitiation of
doshas
Mildness or
severity of
the
vitiation of
dosha mainly
depens upon
etiological
factors. If
the factors
are strong
and many the
vitiation is
also strong.
The duration
of contact
is also
important in
this
connection.
Contact for
a long
period is
more
dangerous
than an
occational
contact.
Regarding
aganthu
causes like
krimi
(pathogenic
organisms)
they cause
vitiation of
various
kinds of
according to
this
virulence or
non-virulence.
*. Types of
vitiation of
doshas
* Prakrutha
(normal) &
Vikrutha
(abnormal)
* Dependant
&
Independent
* Vitiation
of dosha
similar to
the
constitution
and that of
dosha
dissimilar
to
the
constitution.
* Vitiation
pertaining
to a tract
and that
pertaining
to gathi.
* Different
combinations
of doshas
dual and
triple.
*. Sama or
Nirama type
of dosha
A
consideration
of this also
is
essential.
*. Vitiation
&
Etiological
factors
Vitiation of
dosha occurs
due to
aggravation
of their
various
qualities
according to
the
etiological
factors
concerned.
E.g.:- Over
exertion
will vitiate
vata by
increasing
the ruksha
quality,
while
coldness
will
increase the
sitha
quality.Sour
diet will
increase the
quality of
pitta while
solar or any
kinds of
heat will
increase the
ushna or hot
quality of
pitha.
The
formation of
samprapthi
differs
according to
the quality
of
vitiation.
II. Nature &
manner of
spread of
doshas.
He presence
of dosha in
koshta,
sakha &
marma cause
pathological
conditions
which
becomes more
and more
complicated
and serious
in that
order.
It
depends on
the nature
and type of
the factor
which causes
the spread,
such as over
exertion,
sharpness of
agni,abnormal
food and
behaviour,
force of
vata etc. If
many factors
are
responsible
for the
spread it
will be
quicker and
will also
proceed
towards the
deeper
sakhas like
asthi, majja
and sukra or
even towards
marmas like
heart and
brain.The
curability
or
incurability
of
samprapthi
is related
to this
factor and
hence it of
great
importance
in diagnosis
and
prognosis.
* ROLE OF
DUSHYA
Dushyas
include
dhatus,
malas and
srothases.
Vitiation of
doshas alone
will not
produce
sammurchana
unless there
is a
suitable
ground in
the farm of
an
abnormality
and
vitiation of
srothes.
It is the
vital stage
in the
formation of
dosha dushya
sammurchana.
Just like a
traveler
first takes
shelter in a
waiting room
and then
starts
activities
like
coocking
washing etc.
The vitiated
doshas
traveling in
this body
take shelter
in dushya
and then
starts their
activity of
sammurchana.
The
same disease
may be
produced by
different
doshas just
because they
affect a
specific
site or
sthana.
Susrutha has
given a list
of such
diseases. In
the abdomen
doshas
produce
gulma, cold
abscess
(vidradhi),
udara(including
acitis),
loss of
appetite,
distention,
cholera
(vishuchika),
diarrhea
(athisara)
etc. In
basthi
(urinary
apparatus)
they produce
prameha,
calculi,
anuria(muthraghata),
painful or
burning
micturition(muthrakrichra),
etc. In
rectum and
anal canal
they cause
piles (arsa)
and fistula
(bhagandara).
Similarly
they produce
hydrocele
(vrddhi) in
the scrotum,
diseases of
ear, nose,
throat,
eyes, brain
etc. in the
supra
cervical
region,
glands,
tumors,
enlargement
of thyroid
(galaganda),
cold abscess
of lymph
glands
(apachi)
etc. In medo
dhathu
elephantiasis
(slipada),
rheumatoid
arthritis or
gout (vata
raktha) etc.
in the leg.
When doshas
take sthana
samsraya all
over the
body, they
produce a
disease
which is
manifested
on the
entire body
such as
fever,
rajayakshma
etc.
Just like
doshas
hethus like
krimi,
poisons etc.
also produce
different
types of
diseases
according to
the site of
sthana
samsraya.
E.g.
Streptococcus
haemolyticus
produces
bacterial
endocarditis
or
pericarditis
in the
heart,
pneumonia in
the lungs
and
meningitis
in the
meninges.
Sthanasamsraya
is the stage
in which
doshas just
start the
process of
sammurchana.
In this
condition
certain
symptoms are
produced,
they are
purvarupas.
The specific
nature of
purvarupa is
mainly due
to the
sthana and
not due to
doshas. But
when dosha
dushya
sammurchana
is completed
the disease
manifests
itself in
its full
form and in
this stage
it exhibits
the sighns
and symptoms
specific to
the
particular
dosha as
well as to
the disease
proper. They
are called
rupas.
