Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Devendramuni, A D Batra, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Rajasthankesari Adhyatmayogi Upadhyay Shree Pushkar Muni Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 1150

Concept of Pathogenesis with special reference to Yoga and Ayurveda
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Concept of Pathogenesis with special reference to
Yoga and Ayurveda
Dr. S. N. BHAVASAR, M. A., Ph. D.
Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Rasta Peth, Poona-11
the
Therapeutics presupposes Pathogenesis ; Pathogenesis again presupposes Genesis. The
term Pathogenesis, here signifies cause, course and manifestation of disease. The term Genesis would refer to the notions of Nature (macrocosm), Man (microcosm) an Transcendental.
At the very outset there are two main considerations in Pathogenesis in this context : one is the East and other is the West. In the East the medicine is the same from the earliest times to this day, it is Ayurveda. In the West, however, there is a difference, between the ancient and the modern. It is quite interesting to note that the ancient western system of medicine and that of Ayurvedic, there are some fundamental affinities and similarities, as regards approach and Orientation, in Pathogenesis and Therapeutics. Philosophically speaking they are subjectively oriented as against the modern medicine which has objective orientation. The West contends that the growth and advancement of modern medicine and of modern science in general, is mainly due to its bifurcation from the Church. The problem as a whole rests upon four wings so to say ; (i) subjectivity, objectivity, (ii) the east and the west (iii) Ancient and modern, and (iv) Location.
Ancient Western Medicine Genesis, according to ancient West, presupposes God (transcendental). Nature according to the ancient west constitutes of four fundmental elements, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. God has created everything out of these four. This is macrocosm and microcosm. In man, the living organism, there are other four corresponding factors, termed as 'Humours'; Blood, Bile (yellow and black), and Phlegm, corresponding four qualities of which again, are, dry, hot, cold and moist; Blood (hot and moist), Yellow Bile (hot and dry), Black Bile (cold and dry). They constitute and determine the bodily state in health and ill-health i. e. Physiology and Pathology. A proper and evenly balanced mixture of humours is responsible for health of body and mind; an imperfect balance resulting in disease, the characterstic of which depended upon, which humour was deficient or predominated. Corresponding again to these quadruple of humours, also was the temperament (psychological make-up), sanguine (Blood) choleric (yellow bile), melancholic (black-bile), phlegmatic (phlegm).
Later on the seasonal and astral considerations were included into the then medicine. On metaphysical level, good and bad spirits, gods, were, with their good and bad effects on man, thought of causing disease and derangements etc.
This was in general the Pathogenesis and so also the Theraputics as its counteract consisting of both physical and metaphysical measures.