STAGES OF DISEASE FORMATION

Mr. X, a middle aged person, lived in a city having moist, warm climate. He was known for his regular morning walk, exercise, healthy eating habits etc. Suddenly, one day the mercury dropped and weather changed. Mr. X continued his routine and believed he won’t be affected being fit and fine. Three to four days later he got fever and body ache. The person wondered, and asked me how it could happen to him? No doubt he was fit but due to improper care towards the sudden change in weather he became diseased!

Basically, in Ayurved, six stages are enumerated to land up in a disease. In the above example, they can be assessed like:

1.       Accumulation of toxins

2.       Saturation of toxins

3.       Spread of toxins

4.       Stabilization of toxins at an immune deficient organ

5.       Disease

6.       Complications/ Rejuvenation

Normally, body gives some signals at each and every stage for further prevention. If identified properly and taken care of, we can keep ourselves fit for a longer while!

1.       Accumulation

Ø  Affinity towards opposites- e.g. wishes to have hot and warm food, drinks, and atmosphere.

Ø  Decreased or loss  of appetite

Ø  Heaviness in body

Ø  Lethargy

Ø  Aversion towards the causative factors e.g. cold weather, food, drink etc.

Ø  Abdominal discomfort

Ø  Yellowish color in urine, sweat, stool, eyes etc.

Remedies such as drinking warm water, eating easier to digest food, soups, fruits, and medicines like Trikatu powder, Sitopaladi powder, Triphala powder can be used to restore the appetite. The duration of this stage varies between 3-4 days. 

2.       Saturation

Addition to the above signals if a person continues his routine like doing exercise, not taking adequate sleep, eating heavy to digest food, sleeping in daytime etc. then further symptoms may occur.

Ø  Pain in abdomen

Ø  Heaviness in abdomen

Ø  Excess thirst

Ø  Heartburn

Ø  Hyperacidity,

Ø  Sour taste in the mouth

Ø  Aversion to food

Ø  Nausea

Ø  Excessive salivation

3.       Spread

The above stage if neglected causes

Ø  Flatulence

Ø  Referred pain in cardiac, low back region

Ø  Abdominal bloating

Ø  Burning, dryness, feeling like heat wave coming out of the body or feverish

Ø  Aversion to food

Ø  Indigestion

Ø  Weakness

Ø  Vomiting

4.       Stabilization of toxins in a specific system which is comparatively immune deficient.

This stage shows predisposing symptoms of the future disease. E.g.in Fever

Ø  Sour taste in mouth

Ø  Heaviness in body

Ø  Food dislike

Ø  Dry or stressful eyes

Ø  Yawning

Ø  Affinity to warmth

Up till the above stage a disease can be prevented.

5.        Visualization of symptoms of a specific disease.

The toxins now start affecting the cellular level, travel deep in the body making the regression period longer. At this stage classical symptoms of a disease are seen e.g. fever, diarrhea, abscess, tumor, cyst etc. If not treated properly it ends up in the last stage of complications.

6.       Complications or Rejuvenation

Rejuvenation stage holds a very key position to prevent further illness. After the successful treatment of each disease this should follow to regain the full vitality and strength of our body.