Ayurveda’s 6 Stages of Illness: Secret Insights for Health & Prevention

Have you ever gone to the doctor with a health issue, yet after all the tests, nothing was found? Maybe the doctor said, 'its all in your mind' – not very comforting, or accurate when your intuition or some pain tells you otherwise. Here's some reassuring news, Ayurveda notes six stages of illness; only the last two stages can be detected by modern medical testing.

More good news, the first four stages are easily and quickly healed (balanced), thus preventing more serious illnesses from developing. With Ayurvedic therapies, health begins to be restored within a few days. And because of insights into personal doshas, there are no harmful side effects because the therapies nourish or restore what is deficient. Here's the icing on the holistic cake, with Ayurvedic therapies, healing is fun.

Still another fascinating insight that Ayurveda offers is that all illnesses, from mild colds to life-threatening cancers, all begin in one of three locations in the body; each location is the home of one of the three doshas:

This remarkable understanding simplifies the healing process. With this profound level of acumen, a person can monitor their health and balance, observing the signs of illness previously thought non-existent.

The 6 Stages

1. Accumulation
2. Aggravation
3. Overflow
4. Localization
5. Manifestation
6. Distinction/Complication

1. Accumulation begins in one of the three main dosha sites when excessive lifestyle choices (eg, too much or imbalancing foods, work, etc.) create a buildup of that dosha, leading to internal blockage. Minor symptoms are noted at this step, such as bloating (Kapha), heartburn (Pitta), and gas (Vayu). In all cases, moderation of foods and other habits, including digestive spices can ameliorate the condition within one to two days.

2. Aggravation occurs when the accumulation increases, untreated. The above symptoms become more bothersome, last longer, and occur more frequently. A moderate lifestyle and digestive spices will also mitigate these symptoms in a few days.

3. Overflow results when aggravated doshas increase beyond what the organ (where they originated) can hold. Doshas next flood into the GI tract, and joining with plasma and blood circulation ensues. The doshas seep into weaker related organs and into the waste matter, symptoms become more pronounced. Healing remains quick and easy.

4. Localization occurs when the aggravated doshas find a weak site in the body. Interestingly, excessive doshas find weak organs of the same dosha (eg, pitta dosha chooses to settle in pitta organs, like the liver, that are weak). At this stage, healing is still a simple process.

5. Manifestation is the first stage when Western science can detect a sign of disease. The disorder is now fully developed with clinical features. In this step, names are given to dosha imbalances (eg, arthritis, PMS, cancer). Healing such conditions, while simple, will take longer to prevail.

6. Distinction/Complication is the chronic stage, occurring when a person ignores the previous symptoms. Now the illness will show signs that help identify its dosha origin. For example, Vayu arthritis may now be associated with dry skin, constipation, or anxiety. There may be complications as well (eg, a stage-five abscess may now burst, becoming a chronic ulcer). Chronic healing takes longer to achieve.

Conclusion

Taking advantage of the insight into the six stages of illness offers the West a new, simple, effective health paradigm, inexpensive, and without side effects. For those who say, ‘this illness came out of nowhere’, Ayurveda lifts the veil blocking the mechanics of illness-stepped development, and reveals how healing and prevention can be a simple reality with Ayurveda. With this unique, penetrating view, readers may now take their ‘first step’ in this unparalleled health system.