Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c10.1

Language: English

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§ 33. The Tridosas :— The principle of three doṣas ( dhātus ) of human body goes like a red thread through the whole of medicine. The three doṣas are : wind ( vāyu, vāta, māruta, anila, samīraṇa ), bile ( pitta ) and phlegm ( ślesman, kapha ). The disease or being ill is defined as the derangement of the doṣas and health as their normal condition or balance ( AHr 1.1.20). Without kapha, pitta and vāta as well as blood the body cannot exist, they always sustain it ( Su. 1.21.3). The usual name doṣa "defect" shows that doṣas deranged or existing in excess are to be properly treated. The name dhātu characterises them as the elements of the body. Vāta is dry, cold, light, delicate, moving, clear and raw, pitta is greasy, hot, sharp, fluid and acrid, kapha is heavy, cold, mild, oily, sweet, stable and phlegmatic. By substances ( medicines and articles of food ) of opposite qualities they are neutralised and cured ( Car 1.1.61 ). Vāta prevails in advanced age, pitta prevails in the middle age and kapha prevails in childhood. Similar condition concerning the prevalance of the doṣas exists also with regard to the end, middle and beginning respectively of the day, the night and the digestion ( AS 1.1; AHr 1.1.8 ). The doṣas pervade and occupy the whole body, yet vāta has its chief place below the navel, pitta between the heart and navel, and kapha above the heart ( l. c. ). Vāta is divided into five kinds : 1.

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udāna, in throat, goes upwards and causes the speech, music etc., and by its derangement those diseases particularly occur which have their place above the collar-bone ( in throat and head ). 2. prāṇa, in heart, causes breath coming from the mouth that leads the food inside, and causes inward breath; by its derangement hiccup, asthma and similar diseases occur. 3. samāna, in stomach and intestines, digests the food by the digestive fire and analyses it into its elements ( chyle, excreta, urine etc. ); if deranged it causes weakness of digestion, diarrhoea and swelling of the body. 4. apāna, in lower body, drives the faeces, urine, sperm, menses and the foetus below and if deranged causes the dangerous diseases of the bladder, anus, sperm as well as diabetes. 5. vyāna, in the whole body, causes the division of fluids, the flow of sweat and blood, and the moving, opening and closing of the eyes etc. According to AS, AHr, Bhāv, the bodily functions of movement, filling with food, retention of secretions etc. rest on vyāna, while according to Suśruta ( Dallana ) these functions are distributed among the five kinds of vāyu. The diseases catching hold of the whole body are caused by the derangement of vyāna. By simultaneous derangement of the five vāyus, man is no more ( Bhāv. ). There are five kinds of pitta : 1. pācaka, paktikṛt, between the stomach and intestines, causes the digestion and secretion of chyle, urine and excreta. 2.

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rañjaka, rāgakṛt, in the liver and spleen or in stomach, colours the chyle and turns it into blood. 3. sādhaka, in heart, causes sight, determination and memory. 4. ālocaka, in the eyes, causes faculty of seeing. 5. bhrājaka, in the skin, gives glaze to skin and absorbs ointment. There are five kinds of śleṣman : 1. kledaka, in stomach, moistens the food and the other places of phlegm in the body. 2. avalambaka, in the heart, causes firmness of limbs. 3. rasana, bodhaka, in tongue, brings about the taste. 4. snehana, tarpaka, in head, oils and refreshes all sense-organs. 5. śleṣana, in the joints, makes the joints flexible ( AS 1.20; AHr 1.12; Bhāv 1.1.28 ff; Su. 1.15 ). By certain signs one can know as to which of the three doṣas prevails in the body. Thus men with predominance of vāta are inclined to waking, are voracious, atheists, addicted to music, joke, hunting and fight, having lust for sweet, sour, sharp and hot food and drink, very talkative, unstable, thievish, disaffectionate, not having many children, thin, tall, having weak, stagnant, trembling or rough voice, miserable etc. Men with predominance of bile are bold, proud, civilized, clean, intelligent, prudent, not loved by women and not of loving nature; they eat sweet, astringent, sharp and cold things; dream of lightning, fire and the like; are tended to perspiration, bad smelling, have brown hair (on the head) and little hair on the body, become prematurely grey etc.

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Men with predominance of kapha are intelligent, trustworthy, faithful, truthful, do not utter any disgrace, are patient, grateful, eat pungent, astringent, hot and dry things but only in small quantity, dream of ponds covered with blooming lotuses and clouds, have many sperms and many sons and servants, long arms, a full and broad breast, high forehead, thick and dark hair etc. ( Su. 3.4; AS 2.8; AHr 2.3 ). Increase or decrease of normal doṣas evokes ailing appearances ( Su. 1.15 ). It depends particularly on diet; thus sour food increases pitta, sweet food kapha and pungent food the vāta ( Car 1.27.3 ).