Final part of the series. Part one — “Accumulation”, part two — “Aggravation and spread”. This closing article covers stages four, five and six: deposition, manifestation and changes in cells and tissues.
Stage four: deposition
An aggravated dosha penetrates the organs, tissues or systems that have been weakened by a past injury, genetic predisposition, emotional stress, suppressed emotions or other factors. Ama gathers in the tissues and cells weakened by poor immunity, disrupting the work of cellular intelligence. There it causes functional and structural disturbances.
At this stage degenerative diseases make their debut and the threat of serious infections arises. Which particular tissues and organs become a target for ama depends on a whole range of factors: heredity, the influence of a past lifestyle and diet, stress, chemical pollution and radiation, and injuries. This is how the seeds of disease send up their first shoots. If this state is not interrupted at this stage, it will develop into a manifest disease.
Stage five: manifestation
The seeds of disease sprout and the first visible symptoms appear — the very symptoms Western medicine uses for classification and diagnosis. It becomes clear to the person that they are ill.
The disease suppresses the body’s ability to maintain its protective and other functions. But because modern medicine has no precise and complete understanding of the causes of disease, treatment is often aimed at relieving symptoms rather than causes. Even when symptoms can be temporarily eased, the disease usually returns or finds another way to manifest.
Stage six: changes in cells and tissues leading to structural damage
At stage five a general diagnosis can be made; at stage six, a differential one. All groups of symptoms are fully manifest, so there is no doubt about the nature of the disease. This stage is characterised by serious disruption of cell function and severe damage to the energy channels. Painful effects may be intensified by the side effects of medication.
At this stage many diseases cannot be fully cured. For example, when aggravated Pitta enters the stomach wall at stage five, it may manifest as peptic ulcer disease, and at stage six as perforation of the ulcer and bleeding and possibly even a tumour. Function is disturbed as early as stage five, while at stage six the disease affects the structure of the tissue as well as the surrounding tissues and systems.
Source: San Light, “Ayurveda. Principles of harmony for body, soul and consciousness”.
Ayurveda is a traditional system for assessing health, not a medical diagnosis. Stages and signs of imbalance are best discussed with a specialist; in acute conditions consult a doctor.
