Acharya Vagbhata’s ‘Flood Analogy’ to clarify why reversing a pathogenesis is troublesome


Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

As a norm of the creation, all of us would have seen or skilled from what occurs round us that ‘destruction is much simpler and faster’ however to reassemble and reconstruct the destroyed issues takes a hell lot of time, greater than the unique building. It’s because the remnants of the destruction must be cleared out earlier than the precise technique of reassembling begins.

Similar is the case with the human physique and thoughts. Doshas simply get aggravated. They unfold rapidly. They assault and harm the tissues even sooner. The illness can be rapidly manifested following the amalgamation of sturdy doshas and weak and inclined tissues which can not defend themselves in opposition to ‘dosha assault’. However the reverse engineering – known as the therapy course of or its impact, ‘the treatment’ – is troublesome.

The doctor must do quite a lot of train and make investments all his data and follow into effecting this reverse engineering right into a profitable treatment of the illness.

Firstly, he must deal with ama with ama pachana. He has to stability agni with agni Deepana. He has to loosen the doshas which have stubbornly lodged within the tissues and refuse to return out by the use of snehana and swedana. As soon as the liquified doshas stream from the tissues in the direction of the kostha – abdomen / gut – he shall expel them by administration of ideally suited shodhana measures – vamana in case of kapha and virechana in case of pitta. He then must put the affected person on graduated dietetic protocol via administering Samsarjana Krama, in order to carry again the agni weakened resulting from shodhana, again to normalcy. Then, he must administer Rasayana remedy to see that the restoration is nice and steady and the probabilities of recurrence of the illness would reduce and likewise to reinforce the immunity of the individual. He ought to hold having observe ups of the affected person till he makes it positive that the individual is again to his regular. We are able to see that this isn’t achieved simply. It differs from individual to individual, illness to illness.

However the well being seeker will simply be in search of reduction from his illnesses. The expectations can be cosmos excessive. There could also be many questions. ‘Why is it taking so lengthy for my downside to get addressed?’. ‘Why is the therapy not responding rapidly?’. ‘Physician, what number of extra days will it take for me to change into 100% okay?’. And lots of extra. This additionally builds up the strain on the doctor. That is the place he must be brave and assured. Assurance, reassurance and educating the affected person is essential.

From the doctor’s perspective, he too ought to know what Acharya Vagbhata superbly says on this perspective – ‘aggravation of doshas and their unfold within the physique is quick, their lower is gradual’. Allow us to see what the grasp has to say, his reference and analogy – on this course.

Reference – Ashtanga Hrdaya SutraSthana, Chapter 12, Verses 29 ½ to 30 ½ (A.Hr.Su.12/29b-30a)

Flood Analogy to clarify why reversing pathogenesis or dosha aggravation is troublesome and gradual

व्याप्नोति सहसा देहमापादतलमस्तकम्॥२९॥
निवर्तते तु कुपितो मलाऽल्पाल्पं जलौधवत्।

Acharya Vagbhata offers a ‘flood analogy’ to know why reversing pathogenesis of a illness or broken brought on by aggravated doshas is troublesome and a gradual course of, compared to the short aggravation and unfold of doshas within the physique and consequent manifestation of illness.

He says – ‘When floods happen, they spell catastrophe. The water rapidly rushes into the cities breaking all limitations and inflicting fast and excessive destruction of fabric and life. This damaging pathway is simple and occurs rapidly. However to get better the identical metropolis from the after-effects can’t be rapidly achieved. It’s because the reversal course of i.e. evacuating town of the water load could be very gradual and troublesome. It wants immense work and devoted groups to work for a lot of days to get better town and put it again to life. Nonetheless, every thing can’t be claimed and changed. No matter is misplaced, is misplaced perpetually. It’s virtually like rebuilding a ruined metropolis. It could by no means be the identical. It could get a brand new makeover after just a few years. The tragedy and harm could also be forgotten. However the metropolis isn’t the identical’.

Placing this analogy within the line of dosha aggravation, the flooding of town is correlated to flooding of doshas-in-rampage and aggressive temper reaching each nook of the physique, which is town right here. The doshas would impression extreme destruction of town of our physique. This pathway is simple and fast. However reversing the occasions and reestablishing peace, normalcy and well being within the physique is gradual and troublesome, as defined above.

Acharya says, in his phrases, ‘the vitiated doshas rapidly unfold all through the physique from foot to move and trigger many ailments, however the lower of doshas and restoration of normalcy takes place very slowly and takes quite a lot of time to get reversed, identical to the floods’.

So, a doctor who is aware of this and understands this is not going to hurry up in treating a given affected person or situation. He’ll delicately deal with the reverse engineering till the citadel is recovered from its damages. 





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