Ayurveda-The Science of Life

Human life is considered as the invaluable opportunity to achieve the prime goals of life viz. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksa. To achieve all these things, one needs a healthy and calm life. Whole ancient society tried to achieve all four prime goals of life, so that they had a smooth, sound, safe, assured and healthy life style. On the other hand today every one trying to again good financial status and to fulfill all the physical and mental desires, therefore today's metaphysical society is facing unsteady, weakened, hard and everyday changing life style. The gift of this everyone appears to be stressed and confused, as a result they can lead to various physical and mental disabilities. Ayurveda deals with physical, mental and spiritual well being and covers all the aspect of human life, which enhanced by our great ancient sages, through their experience, logic and power of wisdom.

Psychopathology in Ayurveda

Ayurveda has mentioned the ‘abnormal status of mind’ i.e. psychopathology in various contexts. Caraka states that Raja and Tama are chief pathogenic factors of the mind and due to them many Manasa Vikaras (mental disorders) like Kama (passion), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (infatuation), Irsa (jealousy), Mana (pride), Mada (arrogance), Soka (grief), Cittodvega (anxiety), Bhaya (fear), Harsa (exhilaration) are produce. Visada (depression), Abhyasuya (indignation), Dainya (affliction) are also stated as Manasa Vikaras (mental disorders) in other Ayurvedic texts.

Susruta also explains that all the Manas Vikaras (mental disorders) are produced due to various types of Iccha i.e. desire and Dvesa i.e. hates. Hence, the Raja and Tama are the causative factors of mental disorders, which produce various types of desire and hates and in the end of the process all the mental disorders are generated.

Caraka Samhita (Sutrasthana 20) has mentioned 140 types of disease that produce by single physical Dosa i.e. Vata or Pitta or Kapha. Among those some mental disorders are mentioned here-

Vikara Dosa

Asabda Sravana (auditory hallucination) Vata

Tama (faintness) Vata

Bhrama (confusion) Vata

Visada (depression) Vata

Atipralapa (delirious) Vata

Asvapna (insomnia) Vata

Anavasthita Cittatva (unstable mind) Vata

Tandra (stupor) Kapha

Nidradhikya (hypersomnia) Kapha

Ayurvedic classics have explained some major mental disorders like Unmada (psychosis), Apasmara (epilepsy), Mada (intoxication), Murccha (fainting), Sanyasa (coma), Madatyaya (alcoholism) etc. that are produced by the vitiation of both physical and mental Dosa.

Thus Ayurveda has describe different types of psychopathology their application may offer more brilliance to treat difficult mental disability.