A bird’s eye view on vyadhikshamatva with special reference to charaka samhita

Summary of article contents:

The modern understanding of immunity fits in the broad aspect of Vyadhikshamatva in Ayurveda. The process of prevention of disease development and capacity to resist disease are jointly known as Vyadhikshamatva . Acharya Charak has explained Vyadhikshamatva for the first time in Ayurveda. Chakrapani has defined Vyadhikshamatva as it denotes the resisting power of the body which reacts to arrest the progress occurrence or reoccurrence of the disease. He has described this in two aspects– antagonistic to the strength and virulence of disease ( vyadhi Bala Virodhitvam ) and the capacity to inhibit, contain or bind the causes on factors of disease ( vyadhi utpadaka vibandhakatva ). In ayurvedic samhitas , the natural inherent strength or power of the body which is responsible for health is termed as Bala . Bala depends upon the health status of normal Dosha , equilibrium state of Dhatu , normal functioning of Agni , the potency of Srotasa , Prakruti , Desha , Kala and Ojas . This Bala is classified into three types- Sahaja , Kalaja , and Yuktikrita . Innate immunity can be correlated to SahajaBala described in Ayurveda. Kalaja and YuktikritaBala may be correlated to acquired immunity. The present article throws light on the Ayurvedic concept of immunity i.e., Vyadhikshamatva from Charaka Samhita . Keywords: Vyadhikshamatva , SahajaBala , KalajaBala , YuktikritaBala , Charaka Samhita INTRODUCTION Human life is always surrounded by many obstacles