An Ayurvedic Classification of Disease
'There are basically three types of disease: endogenous (breakdowns from within), exogenous (attacks from without), and mental, any one of which can lead to any other. In exogenous disease—which includes infections, epidemics, occupational disorders, iatrogenic disease, accidents, adverse planetary positions and possession by spirits—the symptoms arise first, followed by an imbalance of the dosas. In endogenous disease, it is the other way around.
'Mental disease can arise from an imbalance in either the mental dosas (rajas and tamas) or in vata, pitta, or kapha, or because of intense emotions or misuse of intoxicants. It can manifest in the mind (as does anxiety), in the body (as may asthma) or both; constipation, for example, may be a purely mental condition, caused by intense mental attachment and ‘tightness.’
'From another perspective there is only one type of disease, which comes from within as a result of prajnaparadha. According to this theory, even such seemingly uncontrollable events as accidents are due to long-term accumulating stress, which periodically releases itself into the consciousness, like an earthquake, and causes one to put oneself, knowingly or unknowingly, into harm’s way.'
- Robert E. Svoboda, in his book, 'Ayurveda: Life, Health and Longevity.'
'Mental disease can arise from an imbalance in either the mental dosas (rajas and tamas) or in vata, pitta, or kapha, or because of intense emotions or misuse of intoxicants. It can manifest in the mind (as does anxiety), in the body (as may asthma) or both; constipation, for example, may be a purely mental condition, caused by intense mental attachment and ‘tightness.’
'From another perspective there is only one type of disease, which comes from within as a result of prajnaparadha. According to this theory, even such seemingly uncontrollable events as accidents are due to long-term accumulating stress, which periodically releases itself into the consciousness, like an earthquake, and causes one to put oneself, knowingly or unknowingly, into harm’s way.'
- Robert E. Svoboda, in his book, 'Ayurveda: Life, Health and Longevity.'
