Ayurvedic concept of disease differes from modern medicine concepts. Despite the fact that Ayurveda recognizes the pathogenic effects of viruses and bacteria, it denies the ability of the latter to cause disease. A myriad of microorganisms inhabit in the body and in the environment which medicine considers to be the source of the diseases. Why does one person is subjected to the influence of pathogenic factors, while the other remains healthy in the meantime? What are the non-obvious factors involved in the development of disease?
There is a range of methods able to destroy pathogenic effects of viruses and bacteria. However, in most cases disease can appear again after eg, urogenital infections and TB. Antibacterial and antiviral therapy is effective for a short period of time. However, they can not cure weakness and increase resistence to some diseases. That’s why it’s not enough to cure only physical body, but also we should cure spirit of a man.
We are not just bodies. We are more than that. And the reason for disease is not only physical problems. As was mentioned above, a man consists of four elemenets, such as soul, mind, feelings and body (atma, manas, indrii and sharir). All four aspects take part in man’s health. If there is disbalance among them, then you have a disease. Mind is one of the most powerful mechanisms influencing our health system. Only mind can give us power and strength to fight with illnesses.
When intelligence is not more the one with the whole mind, the false choices start to lead to disease. Let's think about drinking and smoking. You can read on every pack of cigarettes a clear warning about the dangers they can bring to health. Everyone knows that alcohol and tobacco weaken the immune system and cause a number of serious diseases. Despite this, many people continue to drink and smoke, doing harm to themselves.
Once doshas are out of balance, burden on yathar Agni and Agni dhatu increases. Weakened yathar Agni possesses reduced ability to convert food into nutrients. As a result, the ama is formed, and dhatu does not get enough prana. When toxins accumulate in the dhatu and it doesn’t get enough prana, immune system is subjected to distruction. The body begins to produce pathogenic microorganisms, multiplication of viruses and bacteria, preparing stage for variety of infections and degenerative diseases. From an Ayurvedic point of view, pathogens are the second leading cause of disease. In almost all cases, the disease is on the physical level and is a result of disfunction and subsequent development of the structural consequences.
One possible example of display of this stage of disease could be the consequences of typical dietary habits of the western teenager. Attention of many young people is focused on cars, television, sports and communication with the opposite sex. Few people think of nutrition, especially as a form of healthy diet. Lunch may consist of pizza and soda water and end with chocolate and ice cream. This heavy food weakens yathar agni and inhibits the action of Doshas.