Acharya Charaka mentions that a man is healthy, when his tissues are well in a proportionate state with firm and strong sense organs and mana (mind), not overpowered by disease. One who can endure hunger, thirst, heat, cold and physical exercise and in whom the level of agni (digestive enzymes) and assimilative powers are also in normal state is regarded as of a proportioned mamsa (fleshy tissue). The following factors depict health:

• Desire for food.
• Comfortable assimilation of the food partaken.
• Comfortable passing of urine and faeces.
• Lightness of body thereafter.
• Very favorably disposed sensory capabilities.
• Easy and sound sleep.
• Easy awakening.
• Attainment of good amount of energy and strength.
• Good complexion and span of life.
• Cheerful spirit.

Truly speaking, Ayurveda views health and disease as two phases of our life. So, its objective is to preserve and promote health in the present and also to prevent diseases occurring in the future. On the other hand, in the diseased state, it teaches us how to cure the disease.

The plan should be to root out the disease as far as possible. Similarly, simultaneous consideration of prakriti as well as vikriti is also a holistic approach. Several measures have already been recommended to maintain health. The use of massages and timely use of rejuvenative (rasayna) and virilifying agents/aphrodisiacs (vajikarna theraphy), is beneficial.

A review on medical research over the last two decades shows that research in medicine has reached a saturation point and nothing new is being invented. The focus seems to be on surgical transplantation of organs like kidneys, heart, lungs or lately liver. Of course, the prevention of diseases and immunization programs are on the top priority to fight against diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, yellow fever and now in this decade for viral types of hepatitis disease and smallpox, which until recently were dreaded diseases. Small pox has been eradicated by intensive immunization and pulse programme.

However, for understanding the clinical aspects of Ayurveda, it is necessary to understand the fundamental concepts of “dosha” at the body level and triguna at the mental level.

Thus health and disease basically revolve around the doshic theory. The disturbance in the state of balance of dosha, also known as dosha-asamyata, is induced by the intake of unwholesome diet and life style (mithya-ahaarvihar). In our daily life, particularly today, we are most exposed to unwholesome diet and life style. The only safeguard we have is our body resistance and we are always in a state of tug-of-war with the aggressive mechanism at one end and defense mechanism on the other. When the defense mechanism of the body becomes weaker than the aggressive mechanism, the dosha aggravates and localizes in the susceptible organs of the body and produces the disease. In Ayurveda, prime importance has been given to the diseased individual as a whole rather than the diseased organ/system. Even the minutest symptoms are taken into account while planning the treatment and management of the patient with a holistic approach. Management includes advice for avoiding the factors which are responsible for causing the disease, dietary regiment, sleep regimen, etc.

Treatment includes management by herbal crude single drug or multiherbal combinations with specific anupana (vehicle) for the holistic management.

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Tags: Ayurveda, health