This volume on Carakasamhita as I understood it contains nidänasthtäna and indriyasthtäna of carakasamhita. In the present work, the conventional sequence of sthanas is changed. Originally vimanasthana follows nudanasthana but here indriyasthana follows it. Practically, diagnostics and prognostics go together in clinical practice. Nidarasthana deals mainly with system of diagnosis while indriyasthäna with prognosis.
Nidanasthāna discusses the basic principles related to components of nidana (diagnosis) and also details of these components in relation to eight diseases as example. These eight diseases have been selected probably because of their prevalence during the period of authors of the text. However, it is mentioned that these are the diseases which were originated first in humans from greed, hatred and anger (ca.ni. 1/15). First chapter (jvaranidanam) deals with the basic diagnostic tools and detail diagnostic concepts in relation to furra which ordinarily signifies a febrile disease entity but in broader meaning covers all illnesses. Second chapter (raktapittanidanam) deals with raktapitta (a disease entity characterized by bleeding without any obvious injury). Third chapter (gulmanidanam) describes gulma (a movable or immovable rounded lump in the abdomen between epigastric and pelvic region). This text classifies this condition in five types though other texts enumerate differently. Fourth chapter (pramehanidanam) discusses prameha, a disease entity characterized by polyuria with altered composition of urine. It describes etiopathogenesis in detail and classification. There are ten types of kaphajaprameha, six types of pittaja and four types of vataja. Fifth chapter (kusthanidanam) describes nidana related aspects of kustha (disease entity which makes body despicable, having involvement of three dosas and four düşyas viz. toak, mamsa, soyita and lasika). It is popularly defined as-śarīramkusnātikutsitamkaroti, itikustham-one that makes body despicable is kustha (a.hr.ni. 14/4 and commentary of Arunadatta on it). Sixth chapter (sosanidanam) deals with soya (consumption, popularly considered as pulmonary tuberculosis). Seventh chapter (unmadanidanam) is dedicated to unmada (mental disease characterized by disturbance in functions of mind and its associated faculties). Eighth chapter (apasmaranidanam) also deals with a mental disorder having transient loss of consciousness and convulsions known as apasmara. Deep understanding of contents of these chapters will be helpful to authors in understanding diseases of modern time and planning their treatment strategy.
Diagnosis is not merely the nomenclature of an illness. Ayurveda does not emphasize upon nomenclature of a disease but to know the disease with its all aspects. Carakasamhita mentions openly that the diseases become innumerable when classified according to pain, color, cause or onset, location, form and nomenclature. A physician should never be ashamed if he is not able to name a disease because definite nomenclature of all diseases does not exist. The same provoked dosa according to different onsets and its being seated in different regions, produces various diseases. Therefore, a treatment is to be initiated after knowing the nature, different localizations, different causes of the disease (ca sü. 18/42-46). All nija diseases (caused due to own internal factors) are not produced by any factor other than vata, pitta and kapha. Just as a bird while flying throughout the day can never overtake its own shadow, all the diseases produced because of vitiation of one's own body components (dosas) can not happen without rata, pitta and kapha.
Wise persons (physicians) explain all the diseases only after analyzing specific localization, form, and nature of vata, pitta and kapha, as constituted by them (ca.sü. 19/5).
Ayurvedic diagnosis is, actually to know the patient more than a disease because Aturastukhalukaryadesa. Thus, Ayurvedic approach is more patient centred rather than disease centred.
Diagnosis is important component in a clinical practice. One cannot have a true success in practice without knowing the patient and his disease properly.
Acupuncture & Acupressure (197)
Gem Therapy (23)
Homeopathy (513)
Massage (22)
Naturopathy (429)
Original Texts (220)
Reiki (59)
Therapy & Treatment (171)
Tibetan Healing (131)
Yoga (43)
हिन्दी (1087)
Ayurveda (3168)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist