Introduction

The World Health Organization defines Disease as any harmful deviation from the normal structural or functional state of an organism, generally associated with certain signs and symptoms and differing in nature from physical injury. A diseased organism commonly exhibits signs or symptoms indicative of its abnormal state. In Āyurveda, that which causes Vividha duḥkha (different types of grief or pain) to both Śarīra (body) and Manas (mind) is called Vyādhi (disease). Ācārya Ḍalhaṇa explained Vyādhi that the Duḥkha (grief or pain) which afflicts the Kāya (body), Vāk (speech) and Mānasī (mind). The terms Vikāra, Roga, Āmaya, Gada, Ātaṅka, Yakṣma, Jvara and Pāpmā are used as synonyms of Vyādhi in the Saṃhitās.

Generally, the Vyādhi is classified into two types namely Sāmānyaja and Nānātmaja Vyādhis. Sāmānyaja Vyādhis are caused by vitiation of Tridoṣas (Vāta, Pitta and Kapha) individually or collectively. For examples, eight types of Udara, Mūtraghāta and Śukraduṣṭi, seven types of Kuṣṭha, Prameha Piḍakā and Visarpa; etc. Whereas, Nānātmajā vyādhi is caused by single doṣa, there are 80 disorders of Vāta, 40 diseases of Pitta and 20 diseases of Kapha. To diagnose these conditions, one should observe and examine the patient to understand the clinical manifestation of the diseases and analysis the signs and symptoms to determine the Pratyātma lakṣaṇa, Doṣa, Dūṣya, Srotas, Agni, Udbhava sthāna, Sañcāra sthāna and Vyakti sthāna to form a Saṃprāptī (pathogenesis) of the disease. Once the Saṃprāptī is formed, the Saṃprāptī vighaṭana (Cikitsā) can be planned accordingly. Before planning the treatment, one should assess the Roga bala (strength of the disease) and Rogi bala (strength of the patient) by adopting the Daśavidha parīkṣa to decide the Bheṣaja pramāṇa (dosage of the medicines)

        Generally, Cikitsā is classified in to two types namely Doṣa pratyanika cikitsā and Vyādhi pratyanika cikitsā. Doṣa pratyanika cikitsā is the treatment which is contrary to the doṣas like Vāta, Pitta and Kapha; and it is helpful in the first three stages of Ṣaḍkriyā kāla i.e. Sañcaya, Prakopa and Prasara and in Sthāna saṃśraya avasthā, if the doṣa dūṣya sammūrcchana takes place due to Doṣaja hetu or Prakṛti sama samaveta hetu (intimate combination of substances of similar sources) then Doṣa pratyanika cikitsā should be adopted. Whereas, Vyādhi pratyanika cikitsā is treatment quoted in the particular disease and it is helpful in fifth stage of Ṣaḍkriyā kāla i.e. Vyakti. In Sthāna saṃśraya avasthā, if the doṣa dūṣya sammūrcchana takes place due to Vyādhija hetu or Vikṛti visama samaveta hetu (unnatural combination, contrary to nature), then Vyādhi pratyanika cikitsā should be adopted. In Āyurveda, Pañcavidha Kaṣāya Kalpana i.e. Svarasa (fresh juice), Kalka (paste), Kvātha (decoction), Hima (cold infusion) and Phāṇṭa (hot infusion) are described to prepare the medicinal formulations for easy consumable. These classical formulations should be given in proper time with proper dosage. The following table demonstrates the dosage of the medicinal formulations according to the age of the patients