ABSTRACT
Comprehensive knowledge of a disease is gained using five parameters such as nidāna (cause of the disease), pūrvarūpa (prodromes), rūpa (signs and symptoms), upaśaya (confirmation by trial and error) and samprāpti (etiopathogenesis). AH teaches that symptoms and signs are the only tools for gauging the underlying pathology of a disease. Therefore, a physician should collect as many symptoms as possible, using the principles of observation, palpation and interrogation. He should then study and evaluate these symptoms at the levels of increase or decrease of tridōṣa, tissue elements, waste products; pūrvarūpa, rūpa, āvaraṇa (envelopment) and saṃprāpti. This exercise helps the physician to pinpoint the disease entity. Once the disease is identified, the physician follows the line of treatment recommended in its treatment. The prognosis of diseases can be of four types: curable, difficult to cure, manageable with medicines and incurable. In addition to elimination measures collectively called pañcakarma, several other measures such as fasting, exercise, fumigation and so on are also adopted in treatment. After conditioning the patient with these measures, compatible medicines from various dosage forms are administered. Suitable post-prandial drinks, desirable diets and behavioral restrictions are also recommended.
