Abstract

CONCEPT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AS PER AYURVEDA: A REVIEW STUDY

Dr. Vasudha Sunil Umate*, Dr. Ashish Y. Gotmare and Dr. Pramod F. Garje

.

Abstract

An emerging infectious disease is an infectious disease whose incidence has increased recently (in the past 20 years), and could increase in the near future. The factors contributing to emergence of new diseases are microbial adaptation and change, economic development and land use, human demographics and behaviour, international travel and commerce, technology and industry, breakdown of public health measures. All these factors can be summarized in a single term - „Pradnyaparadha’ which is said as the root cause for any disease. Not following various rules regarding ahara(diet), vihara(activities), achara(conduct) told in the samhita for maintenance of health make an individual susceptible to be victim to various diseases. Among the main two types of vyadhi(diseases), Nija and Agantuja, the later includes Bhutabhishanga (infectious agents) as one of its causes. This very term is used for infectious agents. In various Ayurveda treatises evidences has been mentioned about the diseases caused due to Bhutabhishanga along with their causes, pathogenesis, symptoms, complications, treatment and prevention. These siddhantas can be aptly applied for prevention as well as treatment of emerging infectious diseases.

Keywords: Infectious diseases, Pradnyaparadha, Agantuj Vyadhi, Bhutabhishanga.