The dosha imbalance causing various diseases and the path followed by the doshas to cause disease is known as pathogenesis or samprapti. The development of diseases takes place in different stages and thorough knowledge of the stages helps in diagnosing the disease in the early stages. Thus, making its treatment more effective.

Ayurveda recognizes the six stages of diagnosis process (pathogenesis) known as kriyakal (action time). These six stages are:

Excess of dosha and the weak digestive power is often responsible for such a condition. Due to improper digestion the toxins gets accumulated in the gastro-intestinal tract. Toxins resulting from a kapha imbalance accumulate in the stomach, those associated with a pitta imbalance collects in the small intestine, and that related to vata imbalance accumulates in the colon.

The diet, lifestyle and seasons excite the accumulated and stagnant doshas. The toxins get accumulated and provoke the site of production in the gastrointestinal tract.

In the third stage the accumulated toxins in the gastro intestinal tract starts overflowing. Up to this stage the use of proper measures can help in achieving the restoration of doshic balance. There may be spontaneous remission influenced by seasonal changes. Thus there is accumulationof pitta in rainy season, aggravationin fall and spread in early winter.

The overflowing toxins from the gastrointestinal tract makes their away to the localizes, weak and defective tissues or dhatus resulting in

The affected location starts showing different symptoms and these symptoms are used for classification and diagnosis of the various diseases.

The disease becomes chronic and it takes long time to reach at this final stage. This stage provides a complete knowledge of the symptoms making the physicians clear of the nature of the disease.

Besides the stages of disease the physicians should also know the complete history of patient. Ayurveda recognizes the closely knotted relationship between describing the pathological process in a person and assessing the state of disease. Ayurveda has evolved a unique simultaneous approach to diagnosis and pathology. This method is known as rogi-roga pariksha. Ayurveda is the only medical system that describes an elaborate strategy for assessing both the patient (rogi) and the disease (roga). For the complete interrogation and physical examination, Ayurveda uses a two-part approach:

The rogipareeksha is the real strength of Ayurvedic diagnosis. It includes the physician’s judgment regarding the patient’s temperament, discipline, habits, digestive capacity, support system, genetic traits, intelligence and the constitutional type. The rogipareeksha is carried out in different ways. Rogapareeksha is the diagnosis of the disease and it aims towards assessing the nature of the disease. It involves the examination of pulse, tongue, voice, skin, eye, general appearance, urine & stool. The rogapareeksha provides the complete nature of the disease along with general condition of patient.