Ayurveda - Pathology, Nidana (etiology), Nidana panchaka ( etiological pentad), Sarira ( physical) and manasa( mental)

Pathology

Diseases and their causes have been mentioned in the classical texts of charaka, sushruta and vagbhata and in sarangadhara’s compendium. Explanations about diseases in the classical texts have been collected and nified by a later author namedmadhava in his well known book on diagnosis, madhava nisana. Other boks which deal with diseases are chakradatta, and bhaishajya- ratnavali.

Ayurvedic eiology broadly divides diseases into two

Sarira ( physical) and manasa( mental)

These are again divided into nija – endogenous diseases caused by the derangement of doshas and due to internal reasons, and agantu – exogenous diseases caused by external reasons like injuries and so on. Here too the derangement of doshas does occur but only after the condition of the disease becomes pathological.

According to charaka, the essential for diagnosing a disease are pratyakasha ( perception), anumana ( inference) and aptopadesha (authoritative instructions from classical texts).

Nidana panchaka ( etiological pentad)

Madhava lists out five aspects of diagnosis namely nidana (etiology) purvarupa ( prodromal symptoms), rupa (manifested symptoms) samprapti (pathogenesis) upsaya (therapeutic test) and ashtavidha pareeksha ( physical examinations).

Nidana (etiology)

One way of investigating the causes of a disease is by eliciting information from the patient about his medical history, family, environment and habits such as addictions and so on.

The two ways of interrogation here include samanya (general) and visesha (specific)