Disease Progression
by Sheela Rani Chunkath
I wish Mr. Kejriwal or his wife would read my blog where I have uploaded my earlier articles. Patanjali has listed obstacles to success in our endeavours and the very first of them he has listed is vyadhi or ill-health. It is not rocket science to keep to keep yoursel free from cold, cough and fevers. If Mr. Kejriwal is to be effective as a leader he needs to be healthy.
He is just 47 years old and already he has diabetes and suffers from frequent colds and fevers. He probably has a vitiated kapha dosha. He needs to pay attention to his diet and avoid those foods that increase kapha. I was happy to hear that while he bought ice creams for his supporters, he himself did not have any. Since kapha is associated with the water and earth elements, the foods to be avoided taste sweet, salty or sour. So the common food items to be avoided include curds, juices and fruits (which have an underlying sour taste as well as being sweet). The only exception is pomegranate or guava which can be eaten in small quantities. The tastes that decrease kapha in the body include pungent, bitter and astringent tastes. So foods such as bitter gourd, herbal decoctions made from triphala would be helpful. However, most people who are in politics also suffer from some vitiation of pitta or digestive fire because of irregular meal timings. Such persons have to avoid even pungent foods.
The reason a leader needs to look at his or her health critically and tackle it right in the beginning is because the disease process goes along its predetermined path, so to say, and then it may be too late.
First the dosha gets vitiated due to lifestyle behaviour and improper diet. The digestive fire or the jatharagni is affected and ama or toxic substances accumulate in the body. Ama or toxic substances being the cellular and metabolic waste products as well as environmental pollutants. The impaired digestive fire or agni is unable to digest and metabolize the food. The undigested or improperly digested ends up as ama.
In the next stage the toxins that are formed move to different channels of circulation and cause blockages. Ayurveda emphasizes that over time the accumulation of ama leads to the manifestation of serious diseases.
Ayurveda lists six physiological stages in the development of a disease.
1. Sanchaya: Accumulation (Pre-clinical Stage I) In this stage the dosha that is vitiated accumulates in the homesite of the dosha. The site of origin is called udbhava sthana. Vata when initiated accumulates in the colon, pitta accumulates in the small intestine and kapha n the stomach or in the lungs. In this early stage the signs of vitiation are not very clear. Vata vitiation is usually accompanied by gas or bloating in the stomach, pitta vitiation will be accompanied by a burning feeling or a bitter taste in the mouth, kapham vitiation by a heaviness in the head etc. If one corrects ones diet, lifestyle or behaviour at this stage all will be well otherwise the disease proceeds to the second stage.
2. Prokopa: Aggravation (Pre-clinical Stage II) Vata vitiation is accompanied by pain etc., pitta vitiation by acid regurgitation, kapha vitiation by lethargy, fatigue etc.
3. Prasara: Spread (Pre-clinical Stage III) Here the disease flows out of their homesites in the gastro-intestinal tract and goes into the blood and lymphatic channels.
4. Sthana Samshaya: Localization (Clinical Stage IV) Here the ama or toxins are deposited in already weakened or damaged areas. In this stage the toxins obstruct the channels and the actual disease manifests. The channel obstruction is called srotorhoda. The quality of life of the individual is affected.
5. Vyakti: Manifestation (Clinical Stage V) The full display of a particular disease makes its appearance.
6. Bheda: Diffrentiation (Clinical Stage VI) In the final stage there is differentiation in the disease process. Disease complications arise during this stage. Now it may be difficult to tackle the disease without heroic efforts.
Mr. Kejriwal should take note when he is still young. While one disease, namely diabetes has manifested itself, he should now at least pay careful attention to his diet, meal timings and quality and quantum of sleep to prevent further progress of diseases.
Nadi shodhana, called the king of pranayamas, which purifies the nadis and channels, should be practised to prevent further progress of disease. In present day kali yuga you need a long healthy life to promote change for the better.
--- The writer is retired Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/