🌿 Why We Get Sick

 

What Is Health? What Is Disease?

Are sickness and health just a matter of luck, or of which bacteria you happen to encounter? What can we do to maintain a positive state of health and avoid getting sick?

Ayurveda, the five-thousand-year-old science of life, has examined these questions in depth. Drawing on profound insight and generations of practical experience, Ayurveda provides timeless guidance for preventing illness and restoring health.

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The Ayurvedic Definition of Health

According to Ayurveda, health is not merely the absence of disease, but a state of balance among body, mind, and consciousness.

“Health consists of a balanced state of the three doshas, the seven dhatus, the three malas, and the agni (digestive fire), together with clarity and balance of the senses, mind, and spirit.”

When these are in harmony, one experiences a state called Swastha, meaning “totally happy within oneself.”

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The Three Doshas (Biological Humors)

These fundamental energies govern all physiological and psychological functions:

• Vata – the energy of movement

• Pitta – the energy of digestion and metabolism

• Kapha – the energy of structure and lubrication

Balance among the three doshas maintains health; imbalance gives rise to disease.

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The Seven Dhatus (Tissues of the Body)

The dhatus form the body’s structure and sustain its functions. Each tissue develops sequentially from the nourishment derived from digestion:

1. Rasa (Plasma/Cytoplasm) – Nourishes all tissues, organs, and systems.

2. Rakta (Blood) – Governs oxygenation and vitality.

3. Mamsa (Muscle) – Provides movement and physical strength.

4. Meda (Fat) – Maintains lubrication and protects body heat.

5. Asthi (Bone & Cartilage) – Provides structural support.

6. Majja (Marrow & Nerves) – Fills bone cavities and transmits impulses.

7. Shukra/Artava (Reproductive Tissue) – Contains the pure essence capable of creating new life.

Each dhatu depends on the previous one. Improper digestion or nutrition at any stage impairs the next, leading to tissue weakness and disease.

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The Three Malas (Waste Products)

1. Purisha (Feces)

2. Mutra (Urine)

3. Sveda (Sweat)

Proper formation and elimination of these wastes are vital for maintaining internal purity and health.

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Agni — The Digestive Fire

Agni is the biological fire responsible for digestion, metabolism, and transformation. It breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and sustains life and immunity.

According to the Charaka Samhita:

“The span of life, health, immunity, energy, complexion, strength, enthusiasm, and vitality all depend upon agni.
One lives long if it functions properly, becomes sick if deranged, and dies when it is extinguished.”

Balanced agni digests food properly and transforms it into the energy of life and consciousness. When agni is impaired, metabolism weakens, toxins (ama) accumulate, and disease begins.

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Maintaining Health and Balance

True health can be sustained by living in harmony with nature and one’s individual constitution.
Key elements include:

• Proper nutrition and digestion

• Regular exercise and rest

• Balanced emotions and healthy relationships

• A disciplined daily routine (dinacharya)

• A calm, contented mind

Conversely, wrong diet, irregular habits, suppressed emotions, or stress disturb the doshas, weaken agni, and pave the way for disease.