Dis-ease & Disease

Ayurveda's Three Main Causes

The topic of the three main causes of disease, according to Ayurveda, is perhaps a bit contentious by modern standards. Learning about this, I witnessed in real time a wide array of reactions to the following concepts, ranging from upset to anger. I say this to you as an invitation to tune in to the state of your nervous system and notice if perhaps right now is not the time to read on. That’s okay! I’ll see you in the next one or back here another time!

Especially given the context of the world right now, I do think it’s important to understand the following framework and how it can be applied to your daily life.

According to Ayurveda, disease or illness is always caused by imbalances in doshas that lead to the manifestation of physical symptoms and ailments.

Photo by Fabrice Villard on Unsplash

Failure of Intellect

This one is actually quite simple. Do you ever do something that you know is kind of bad for you, but you do it anyway? That is failure of intellect, the first cause of disease in Ayurveda.

It’s important to enjoy our lives and okay to indulge occasionally. On my birthday, I will eat cheesecake! Even though I know I won’t feel my best afterwards. However, if we know something brings us out of balance and we are consistently engaging with that thing, that is when disease or dis-ease begins and evolves.

Toxins, doom scrolling, spicy margaritas (ugh), or anything else that makes you feel imbalanced. I know it makes me feel like shit but I do it anyways.

Misuse of the Senses

Misuse of taste, sound, sight, touch, or smell is the second cause of disease according to Ayurveda. Compulsion, harm, and disconnect are ways that misuses of the senses perpetuate. Whether or not we know something brings us out of balance, the overuse, underuse or wrong use of the senses draws our attention further away from our inner world and fosters greater imbalance.

What we consume through all of our senses is what becomes part of us; physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

The more I reflected on this specific concept, the more I wondered; but what about epigenetic trauma? There are familial, environmental, socio-economic, and more, factors entirely outside of our control when we’re born.

Epigenetics refers to the external modification of DNA that turns genes on and off, affecting gene expression. This occurs without changes in the basic structure of the DNA. This gene expression can have transgenerational effects. The major factors that cause epigenetic changes are lifestyle and behavior, diet and digestion, stress, and environmental factors. Ayurveda addresses these factors, thereby affecting the Deha (body) Prakriti (psychophysiological constitution), which corresponds to the phenotype, and indirectly the Janma (birth) Prakriti, which corresponds to the genotype. Thus, it is proposed that epigenetics is an important mechanism of Ayurveda.

Sharma H, Keith Wallace R. Ayurveda and Epigenetics.

Without taking away our agency and sovereignty, it is important to acknowledge the epigenetic impact on our DNA and how that could inform which choices we make. Awareness is everything.

Time

The third cause of disease according to Ayurveda is also quite simple: time. Without knowing how not to be entirely morbid here, we will all die one day. The natural rhythms of life. The seasons of nature. All cycles end, and then begin again.

Practical Application

Growing up, my mom read the ingredients on everything. Now that I’m an adult making my own consumerist choices, I get it. When we are exposed to environmental poisons against our will, we have to focus on the things we can control. You can, as they say, vote with your dollar.

Audit the things that you put in, on and around your body through all your senses. What products do you use for skincare, hand soap, or laundry detergent? What are the ingredients? What external stimuli do you engage with every day? Without judging or rushing to change everything, can you instead increase intentional awareness?

Then, can you begin to notice how the things that you put in, on and around your body impact and affect you? How does your body react? What subtle signals does your body send you? How does your mind react?

Your choices, your decisions, how you choose to react, this is ultimately all we can control.