95.1 Medicine

 95.1 Medicine

Question:

            What are the three humours that must be in balance to be disease free?

Answer:

Experts say that excess or deficiency of three things, i. e.

 air, bile and phlegm causes diseases.                                                      (Couplet – 941)

மிகினும் குறையினும் நோய்செய்யும் நூலோர்

வளிமுதலா எண்ணிய மூன்று.                                                 (குறள் – 941)

 

Explanation:

                Ayurveda and Siddha are the original medical systems of India. They both believe that the entire universe is composed of five elements: Air, Water, Space (or ether), Earth, and Fire. These five elements are considered to form the three basic humors of the human body in varying combinations. The three humors are Vata dosha[1], Pitta dosha and Kapha dosha, and they are collectively called “Tridoshas,” and they control the body's basic physiological functions.  Vata dosha maintains cellular transport, electrolyte balance, elimination of waste products, and its effect is increased by dryness. Pitta dosha regulates body temperature, optic nerve coordination, and hunger and thirst management. Heat conditions of the body aggravate Pitta. Kapha dosha is increased due to sweet and fatty foods, and it provides lubrication to the joints for proper functioning. The catabolism of the body is believed to be governed by Vata, metabolism by Pitta, and anabolism by Kapha. A balance between the three doshas should be maintained for a healthy state of health. Any imbalance between the three causes a state of illness or disease[2]. The basic principle in Ayurveda and Siddha, a perfect balance between the five nature elements and the Tridoshas of the human body, should be maintained for a healthy state of living[3].

 

What Valluvar describes in Couplet 95.1 is the basic principle espoused in the Ayurveda and Siddha medical systems.

 [1] . Dosha is a central term in Ayurveda originating from Sanskrit, which can be translated as "that which can cause problems" (literally meaning "fault" or "defect"), and which refers to three categories or types of substances that are believed to be present in a person's body and mind.

[2].  Ravishankar B., Shukla V. Indian systems of medicine: a brief profile. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2007;3:319–337. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

[3]. Lad V. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited; New Delhi, India: 2002. Ayurveda: The Science of Self-healing: A Practical Guide. [Google Scholar]