The Bits of Diagnostics Using Ayurveda

dianadem
Nov 1, 2020
3 min read

It is time to offer some of the most simplistic principles of Ayurvedic diagnostics. Now, this is certainly not a post that would teach you to become a true Ayurvedic practitioner. Nevertheless, you can use it as a certain guideline combined with our quizzes and learn better understanding for yourself. So keep in mind that when we say that there is a dosha imbalance, each dosha have different types of it and accumulation of a certain dosha in a certain element or organ doesn't necessarily mean that you have an overall imbalance of that dosha. Note that these examinations are usually much more thorough and accompanied with an overall examination of your prakruti and vikruti and your life balance review from your Ayurvedic

The nature of an illness is learned through five methods:

1. Cause (nidána)

2. Premonitory or incubatory signs (púrvarupa)

3. Signs and symptoms (rupa)

4. Diagnostic tests (upaähaya)

5. Pathology or stages of manifestation (samprapti)

Nidana in Sanskrit is often referred as diagnosis when translated to English, sometimes also it is translated as the cause, etiology.

I Part - self-examination (signs and symptoms)

You can easily use this part for self-assessment and give point 1-3 to each variant to understand which dosha imbalance you have more. Also, perhaps the Dosha Imbalance Quiz would help you go further.s

Urine

Yellow, dull, foamy urine - Vata imbalance

Darker, rusty color and/or strong smell - Pitta imbalance

White, cloudy, murky - Kapha imbalance

Sweat

Usually lower body temperature, inadequate amount of sweat (usually no odor) - Vata imbalance

Excessive sweating, odorous sweat, raised body temperature - Pitta imbalance

Excessive sweating and skin is oily and cold while sweating - Kapha imbalance

Stool

Hard, dry, rough, dark colored - Vata imbalance

Greenish, liquid - Pitta imbalance

Whitish, sticky, mucous - Kapha imbalance

Pulse

Pulse diagnostics is a whole separate area so these diagnostics simply refer to the main dosha and not necessarily the dosha imbalance.

Fast, weaker pulse - Vata dosha

Warm, irregular, excited - Pitta dosha

Regular smooth, steady - Kapha dosha

Tongue Examination

Dry rough, trembling tongue - Vata imbalance

Burning, reddish, bitter taste on tongue or painful growths on tongue - Pitta imbalance

Wet, slimy, white tongue - Kapha imbalance

Here is an illustration from the Ayurveda Encyclopedia (reference below) about the area of the tongue where dosha imbalance mainfests the most

Eyes

Dull, murky eyes, dark circles - Vata imbalance

Reddish eyes, sensitivity to light or burning eyes - Pitta imbalance

Puffy, tearing eyes - Kapha imbalance

II The Doshas in the Organs

Organs may be affected through many doshas, but here is a chart for the primary doshas in the organs. This gives you a map. For example if you have problems with kidneys, first thing to search is gallbladder-related remedies that could also balance out Pitta or learn more deeper how imbalanced Pitta manifests through this organ and then make specific changes.

III Diseases and Related Doshas

Most of the disease can be a sign for any dosha imbalance and it depends on specific manifestation and symptoms of the same disease. So in many ways, we can't say that swelling is always a Kapha problem. Also pay attention that there are different type of the same Kapha dosha and there are also different tissues in the same organs. Here are some diseases that usually are related to one primary dosha.

Hyperthyroidism - often related to Pitta imbalance

Parkinson's - mostly Vata imbalance

Multiple Sclerosis - Vata, secondarily Pitta

Diabetes - there are 24 forms of this disease in Ayurveda, 10 forms caused by Kapha, 6 by Pitta, 4 by Vata

Warts - Vata/Kapha imbalance manifestation

Asthma - mostly caused by Vata imbalance

Candida - usually due to high Vata or Pitta

Parasites - often Kapha imbalance in the intestine

Myocarditis, pericarditis - Pitta imbalance

Hoping this gave You some clues on where to start with your Ayurvedic journey!