Ayurvedic Diagnosis

March 23rd, 2007 | admin

Diagnosis in Ayurveda, or identifying the disease(s) affecting a person is an elaborate process. An Ayurvedic physician takes into account condition of both rogi (patient) and roga (disease). It is entirely different from modern allopathic medicine, where medicines are prescribed for disease (roga) only. A medicine for a disease – a side effect – another diseases – another set of medicines and the cycle continues.

An Ayurvedic practitioner must take into account the whole human being. Ayurveda principles say that there is a reservoir of vital energy capable of bringing the body back to its healthy state. The medicines and regulations are meant for strengthening that healthy part to completely recover the body and mind from illness. This concept, called ‘svabhavoparamavada’ is the attempt of the body to repair the inadequacies to heal itself. Medicines act as a support to this vital mechanism that tries to put the body back in a healthy state.

Allopathic doctors tell us that diseases are caused due to the action of pathogens – bacteria, virus – or genetic conditions and the medicines applied are to kill the pathogens. Thus they treat the disease only, not the person. Same disease, different persons, same medicine and dose – it is the state the main item of allopathic treatment.

Diseases, according to Ayurveda, mainly is due to the vitiation of tridoshas. Identifying the root cause of a disease takes careful observation, and extensive precise examination of the disease process and the individual.

Ayurvedic method of diagnosis, called rogi-roga pareeksha (examination of rogi – patient and the roga – disease) is a unique method of assessing the state of the disease and the condition of the person. Understanding the normal dosha state and the present vitiation from the state forms the corner stone of Ayurvedic diagnosis of diseases.

The physician identifies the doshas, the dhatus and the srotas responsible for the present condition. The physician also checks the general physical condition of the person, his/her normal lifestyle, mental functioning and the health history.

Rogi pareeksha is a ten-fold Ayurvedic diagnosis process to identify the condition of the person and
Roga pareeksha, a detailed examination to diagnose the disease.