Concepts

Understanding the concepts of disease as expanded in Ayurveda and applying it to the human being of modern day whose lifestyle and environment has been the key motivators of modern disease was an immense task for researchers at Neeta's Herbal. The solution required an understanding of the concept of diseases both in the modern sense as well as that in Ayurveda.

The modern concepts of disease are derived from the knowledge that all life is based on cells, which is an aggregate, make up higher organisms such as human beings. Eventhough every cell has a specific function or role to play, it is only through effective communication among all cells that success is insured. Typical cells make up tissues such as nerves, blood vessels, muscle and bones.

Some cells form elaborate structural elements such as cartilage and bones, whereas other cells manufacture special products such as hormones and cytokines*. Finally, cells such as nerves are specialized in that it conducts information from one location to another. Distinct population of cells also makes up organs such as the kidney, liver and skin. The skin itself is made up of about 1 billion cells. On the other hand despite specialization all cells have certain elements in common, a central nucleus (which contains DNA and Genetic material) a surrounding cytoplasm (which contains the machinery of cell function), and an outer cell membrane (which receives and transmits signals to other cells and to the environment).

In the case of the skin, coordinated activities of the cell require coordination through communication. Cells usually communicate through

a) Touching
b) Releasing and receiving molecules (requiring a receptor at the other end)
c) And through nerve transmission

All 3 aspects operate in causing skin diseases. Disease may be caused by faulty release, abnormal molecules or by faulty receptor.

In modern medicine, the cause of skin disorder can therefore be concluded as being due to faulty cell function which can be brought about by pathogens (bacteria, virus etc), by environmental factor such as excessive UV rays from the Sun , chemical carcinogens from a polluted environment or by other means.

Ayurveda takes this understanding further to explain that such changes in cell function are just not caused by the effects of the ultraviolets rays or chemical carcinogens directly but by the inherent weakness within the body constitution which makes the attack by the ultraviolet radiation or chemical carcinogen easier. Thus not all human beings exposed to the sunlight, get skin cancer, but only those with an inherent weakness within the body constitution. Thus the emphasis is on bringing the human body to a proper balance, using an active regime of herbal remedies and change in diet, lifestyle and exercise.

*Cytokines are relatively small proteins that are produced by the cells and releases from the cell surface. The protein regulates the behaviour of adjacent and distant cells.