The role of shatkriyakala in the creation and prevention of disease

Summary of article contents:

The goals of medicine are to promote health, preserve health, restore health when it is impaired, and minimize suffering and distress. These goals are embodied in the word ‘prevention’. Successful prevention depends upon a knowledge of causation, and dynamics of transmission. In the modern day, the concept of prevention has become broadbased. It has become customary to define prevention in terms of four levels. viz primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary. In Ayurveda etiopathology of disease i.e., the progression of the disease is explained in six stages of Shatkriyakal Viz. Chaya, prakop, prasar, sthansanshray, vyakti, bhed . Chaya, prakop and prasar can be correlated with prepathogenesis, and sthansanshray, vyakti, and Bhed can be correlated with pathogenesis. We can apply primary prevention at Chaya, prakop, prasar avastha and we can apply secondary prevention at the sthansanshray avastha and we can apply tertiary prevention at the stage of vyakti and Bhed avastha. This unique and important concept of Shatkriyakala is mentioned by Acharya Sushrut for prevention and management of disease which gives an indication about the succeeding stages of the disease and accordingly preventive measures has been described to overcome the complications. An early diagnosis of a disease will help in curing the disease more successfully with planned management. Keywords: shatkriyakala, Chaya, prakop, prasar, sthansanshray, vyakti, bhed