Academic Note From Dr. Marc Halpern: In order to understand how doshas cause disease, it must first be understood how they act under normal or ordinary conditions. Doshas are not static. They move within the body as the tide moves within nature. Doshas increase, peak and retreat, only to rise again with the next tide. The three phases of normal doshic movement are accumulation (increase), aggravation (peak), and alleviation (retreat). As the tide is moved by external factors, so are the doshas. The major external factors moving the doshas are age, the seasons, the time of day, and the climate. Disease occurs when the tide does not retreat but keeps on advancing. Just as the ocean may flood the shores, the doshas can keep on rising and flood the body. When they do, disease occurs. In Sanskrit, the terms sanchaya, prakopa and prashama are used to describe the natural flow. Sanchaya means to gather or accumulate. Prakopa means to excite or aggravate. Prashama means to alleviate. Understanding the natural stages of dosha development allows individuals to understand their personal connection to nature. It also allows a person to take proper care to assure that the doshas do not rise beyond their normal patterns, but retreat as nature intended them to do. - From Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine By Dr. Marc Halpern - The First Year Textbook at the College.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 03:49:35 +0000
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