Ayurvedic Assessment of Body Homeostasis Through Kriya Kaal

Before we begin, always keep it noted in your mind, Disease is the game of Doshas. Disease is not something that occurs overnight, it follows a certain route of Exacerbation. It is only when the disease changes from initial trigger to making physical and chemical changes in the body at cellular levels, the disease manifests. Ayurveda understands this progression of Disease under the term Kriya kala. Literally Kriya menas functions. There are two sets of samprapti or division of severity of disease, used to assess in ayurveda, the Shat Kriya Kaal and the Rithu Kriya Kaal.  Shat here refers to the number 6, where the disease progression is divided into 6 stages and Rithu stands for seasons, indicating the physiological Doshic flucationos that are responsible for maladies.

Now which are  these stages

Acharya Susrutha has explained in detail these six stages of disease progression in the epic, the Susruta samhitha. The stages are :

1. Sanchaya (Stage of Accumulation)

Before the development of a disease, it sparks with the accumulation of the vitiated doshas in their sites of manifestation. Like a glass being filled with water, the doshas gradually swell up with vitiation and produce the characteristic sign of each entity. It is not possible to understand the disease in this stage, but for sure a rearrangement has taken place in the entities can be inferred. Ama being the causative factor for any disease, accumulates in the Koshta, the alimentary canal, to initiate the fluvation from the optimal function of the Pitta to the other doshas progressively.

2. Prokopam (Stage of Spill)

The accumulated bodily entities in the previous stage find their way to spill out of the seat. Just like a tumbler filled with water just reaches the brim and an urge to spill is the same condition with the dosha in this stage. Be it physiological or pathological, every disease has this condition. The manifestation of certain signs and symptoms are seen associated in this state, but the modern field is not functionalized to understand them.

3. Prasaram (The Stage of Initial Movement)

After the stage of the spill, the doshas make their way out of their innate location to other sites where the disease actually manifests. The exact signs and symptoms of a disease are seen manifested in this stage and can be clinically visible. As the vitiated entities leave their site, it starts to spread. According to the extent of vitiation and involvement of the entities, the signs manifested will be many in ascending severity.

4. Stana Samsrayam (Stage of Movement)

The fourth stage of Kriya Kala deals with the speed of these entities. The doshas make it to different sites in the body, be it organs, joints, etc and lodges within them creating the actual disease. This is the exact location when the disease can be seen as happening even by the common public. Here, the main villain that has transmitted the disease so far, proceeds to further structural and functional damage of the body. Increased fatigue, restlessness and general lethargy associated with any malady  is an aftermath of this complication.

5. Vyakthi ( Stage that Encapsulates)

As the name suggests, in the fifth stage of disease progression, the person itself is consumed as the result of the disease. At this level clear cut and well differentiated signs which are totally characteristic to the disease can be perceived, i,e: paleness of anemia, icterus or yellowishness of jaundice and others. Here the disease overpowers the inbuilt human mechanism to maintain homeostasis and immunity, rather confirming the clinical presence of the maldy. The Ojas or the coefficient of immunity can also be seen as reduced in this stage. Structural and functional dysfunction can be monitored from this stage.

6. Bheda (Stage of Wildest Manifestation)

The final stage of disease progression is the stage of wildest manifestation with the occurrence of many complications associated with the disease. The most probable differential diagnosis is assessed in this stage. It also gives a detailed idea about the group of clinical symptoms that arise as a result of tissue degradation, functional disruption and others. It is the stage where the diabetic crbonels can be expected, or the oedema in severe anemia. Ayurveda understands this stage as the last phase, and if treatment is not initiated then the condition might turn fatal.

Deepen Vision to Deepen Understanding

Understanding these steps of disease progression is important for the Ayurvedic practitioner to infer the entities involved and to arrive at the treatment protocol. During the gradual gardatin of the disease, it progresses by involving further entities and deepening the root of the same.

Probably the art of understanding a disease with its complexities might be first explained in Ayurveda. Ayurveda accounts for not mere symptomatic relief but evacuation of the entire disease, for which even the most subtle doshic influence must be analysed. These Shat Kriya kala enable the physician to detect and analyse the illness at the earliest to come out with the most probable solution. This avoids the need for aggressive medication or studious treatment protocols to achieve the desired outcome of wellbeing. Even in the later stages of disease progression Ayurvedic practices such as detox therapies can reverse the condition and earn you back your lost health and immunity. In case of any query kindly visit www.PlanetAyurveda.com