REVIEW ARTICLE ON IMPORTANCE OF NIDAN IN AYURVEDA

*Dr. Gazala Akhlaque Mujahid, Dr. Patil Ragini Rajan, Dr. Mhaske Rajesh Harishchandra, Dr. Singh Satyendrakumar Rajendraprasad and Dr. Shinde Suresh Sarjerao

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is the science of life which provides healthy long life as it deals with prevention and promotion of health as well as the treatment of diseases. All the ancient Ayurvedic classics discussed the Tridosha-theory as a base. The equilibrium of tridosha causes health where as disequilibrium of the same leads to different types of diseases depending upon specific pathogenesis. Effect is observed according to the cause as per the well known theory of Karya-karan-vad of Ayurveda. Illness is because of different causes and its effect is seen in the form of linga (symptoms of the disease) for which aushadh is essential to treat that‟s why ancient seers and sages of Ayurveda propounded the “Trisutra-Ayurveda” namely Hetu, Linga and Aushadha. Hetu is the synonym of nidan in the context of diagnosis of the diseases. It is the first and foremost factor which initiates the pathology and crucial in diagnosis as well as treatment also. Keeping this significance in the mind Acharya Charak has stated that a physician should first diagnose the disease correctly and Chakrapanidatta, the commentator of Charak-Samhita says that successful treatment depends upon the proper knowledge of hetu and linga of the disease. The term „ nidan ‟ in the Ayurveda has been used in two sense mainly i.e. vyadhijanak nidan and vyadhibodhak nidan. Knowledge of nidan in both the sense is essential for a good physician to get success. Diagnosis is never complete without the elucidation of all the factors related with the disease.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Nidan-Panchaka, Nidan, Karan, Hetu, Chikitsa.