How Doshas Get Disturbed (Imbalanced) And Cause Diseases?

Although the three doshas or body humors, vata, pitta and kapha are present in the entire body, yet these primarily exist or reside within the Koshtha or the body cavities. Here, in the hollow organ/s and hollow space or cavities of the body, the dosha/s is susceptible to imbalance and vitiation as it moves to and gets entrapped in the Dhatus or body tissues. There are a few activities mentioned in Ayurveda which proclaim of development of the disease as the dosha moves into the body tissues. These are ..

• ·         Taking to more exercise.
• ·    When the Agni or the gastric fire which normally aids in digestion, goes intense and extremely fortified.
• ·      When the individual is unable to follow moral conduct and goes into diet and lifestyle discrepancies.

Why Doshas Gets Affected?

Vata or the air body humor naturally has the tendency to be erratic, fast and on the go. This fast movement of the dosha sources swift action and reaction and furthermore propels its access into the body tissues or Dhatus, the skin, bones as well as in the marmas or the minute energy pathways which are the vital points in the body where the life force energy is focused.  

How These Travel Further?

When the minute channels or pores in the body called as Srotas in Ayurveda (which are responsible for the active inner transport) are actually clear and uncluttered, or when the doshas get aggravated beyond their normal limits, Abhishyandana or accumulation of morbid secretions in the body channels and as Vata or the air becomes forcibly controlled or inert, also as ripening sets in; at first the vitiated and imbalanced doshas move into the koshtha from the shakha or extremities of the body relating to the body tissues.

Further Wait

After this, once the vitiated doshas get settled into the Koshtha, these simply lie there and wait for the appropriate reasons needed for eruption of the disease. This is because without the interim factors, the imbalanced doshas are not themselves sufficient to cause disease eruption.

Eruption Of The Disease

Consequently, when factors like the right place and time or other grounds of disease formation are achieved, these doshas (already vitiated) tend to either stabilize and aggravate in their own abode, or even in the locations of other dosha/s. For example the Vata dosha, tends to either stabilize and aggravate in its own place or may travel further and aggravate in the confinements of Pitta or Kapha doshas, and vice-versa. This is how and when the disease essentially shows up.

So How To Cure?

Now, the imbalanced dosha needs to be brought back to balance so as to find cure and relieve the disease which has become obvious with its array of signs and symptoms. At this time Ayurveda focuses on the deranged doshas. This can be managed in two ways..

1.    In one scenario, it could be the case when the vitiated dosha which is foreign or extrinsic, that has traveled and stabilized itself is tougher and more powerful than the dosha that naturally has its place there. In this case, first and foremost the extrinsic and imbalanced dosha needs to be worked upon and brought back to balance. On the other hand if the extrinsic dosha is less strong than the dosha that is already dwelling in its position, in this case, the Vaidya would need to first cure the static dosha that is imbalanced.

2.    Another case is when the traveled extrinsic dosha has the similar strength as the dosha which is also imbalanced, but in its own place. It this case, it is suggested that the inhabitant imbalanced dosha needs to be brought back to balance prior to curing the extrinsic traveled dosha.