Prakṛti: A Determinant of Health and Personality

Abstract

     The modern medical system operates by addressing the indicators or parameters of a disease which brings about instant relief and comfort, hence making this form of remedy the most preferred and recommended one. However, despite its efficacy in providing immediate solutions, it is not devoid of drawbacks, one of them being the superficial nature of this system of treatment as it seldom delves deeper into the root cause of any infirmity or disorder, due to which oftentimes the condition of concern may be suppressed or temporarily subdued. On the contrary, the traditional medical system of cure incorporated a holistic approach by examining not only the symptoms of a disease, but also the reason for its onset and the factors sustaining it such as lifestyle practices, dietary habits and other biopsychosocial aspects. Such an all-encompassing approach makes it highly individualized to suit the needs of each person rather than generalizing it to the type of disease. Nevertheless, as these therapies have their origin in the Indian canonical scriptures, they are often dismissed as being unscientific, religious or spiritual. The present conceptual article is an attempt to minimize the misconceptions attached to the traditional medical system by highlighting the practicality and logicality of the basic principles of Āyurveda which is the most popular and widely known among the various indigenous systems of healing and medicine.