QUANTIFICATION OF DISEASE AND PATIENT ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA AND ITS RATIONALIZATION IN THE PRESENT ERA

*Kajaria Divya and Chandola H. M.

ABSTRACT

The whole science of medicine stands on the pillar of disease and patient. Understanding disease is as important as having good acquaintance with patient. Ayurveda the ancient treatise of medical science gives the method for quantification of disease and patient to assist easy diagnosis and proper management. Acharya Agnivesha in Charaka Samhita describes the parameters for the quantification of diseases, and patients. The parameters used for the quantification of diseases are prognosis, intensity, location, nature of causative factors and site of origin. Prakriti is used as the parameter for stratifying and clustering the various types of patients in three major groups namely Vatika, Patikka and Kaphaja. In the contemporary medical system diseases are classified for collection of statistical data to assess morbidity and mortality of disease and to estimate its epidemiological prevalence. An astonishing similarity exists between concept of ancient and contemporary classification of diseases. The paper will explore the existing similarity between the two systems and suggest the benefit of incorporating classification of patients on the basis of their psychosomatic constitution (Prakriti) in the contemporary system to enhance the therapeutic utility of the system.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Prakriti, Personalized medicine, ICD.