The Caraka-samhitÓ ̄alists the following determinants of normality as cri-
teria for determining whether a cure has been effected:
- Alleviation of pain
- Normal voice
- Normal complexion
- Increased strength
- Appetite
- Proper digestion, and nourishment of the body
- Proper elimination of waste
- Proper sexual functioning
- Sufficient sleep at the proper time
- Absence of dreams indicating morbidity, happy awakening
- Unimpaired mind, intellect, and sense faculties [CS 3:8.89]
Central to Åyurvedic diagnosis and therapy is restoration of conditions
regarded as normal for all persons, but achieved on the basis of what is
normal for an individual’s particular type of constitution. Because an
individual’s normal structure and function depend on the equilibrium of
the three doÓsas, what is normal for a given person depends on his or her
type of constitution, whether dominated by vata ̄ (‘wind’: the force of mo-
tion), pitta(‘bile’: the force of heat), or kapha(‘phlegm’: the force of
stability) or a combination of two of these, or all three.
The entire body is in fact the abode of all the doÓsasand as such these
doÓsasbring about good and bad results according as they are in normal
and abnormal states respectively. When in a normal state, they bring
about good results like growth, strength, complexion, happiness, etc.
When in an abnormal state they cause various types of diseases.
CS 1:20.9Health and disease in Åyurveda are relative to the normal and abnormal
states of the doÓsas, and hence the absence or alleviation of disease is co-
extensive with equilibrium of the doÓsassuitable to a given person’s con-
stitution. The names of the three doÓsas should not be taken in literal
terms as the substances phlegm, bile, and wind, but understood to repre-
sent qualities of physiological structures and functions. The three forces
governing biological processes in the normal state of equilibrium that
constitutes health are traditionally called dhatus ̄ , ‘supports’ (√dh ̄a, ‘to
meanings of health in ̄ayurveda 59