Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa (युक्तिव्यपाश्रया चिकित्सा)

Yuktivyapashraya chikitsa (युक्तिव्यपाश्रया चिकित्सा) is one of the 3 different treatment methods described in Ayurveda. The other 2 are Daivavyapashraya chikitsa (दैवव्यपाश्रया चिकित्सा) and Satvavajaya chikitsa (सत्वावजय चिकित्सा). This modality of Ayurvedic treatment is the common most form of disease management method. It includes administration of medicines as well as diet and lifestyle related interventions customized to the individuals' needs. Since customization needs alterations in dosage, form, adjuvant, ingredients etc it is called as Yukti (युक्तिः) based treatment. What is yukti as per Ayurveda and other relevant aspects will be discussed in the article hereafter.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

Yuktivyapashraya type of treatment chiefly includes use of various herbal and herbo-mineral medicines given for oral consumption. In Ayurveda even if multiple patients are sick with the same disease they would not receive the same treatment. And even if, the medicines, for any possible reason are same, their dosage, time of consumption and the adjuvant with which those would be prescribed would vary. This method of tailoring the treatment plan to the individual's needs is known as Yuktivyapashraya chikitsa in Ayurveda.

The term Yuktivyapashraya is made up of 2 parts viz, yukti and vyapashraya. Here,

• Vaypashraya (व्यपाश्रय) means "based on" and
• Yukti means (युक्तिः) "plan".

Plan of diet, lifestyle and medicines given to the sick person is known as the example of Yuktivyapashraya type of treatment.

परिभाषा॥ Definition

Yukti can also be understood as planning, applying, and executing knowledge using one's intellectual and reasoning abilities. Ayurveda scholars have defined the term Yuktivyapashraya as follows,

युक्तिव्यपाश्रयं- पुनराहारौषधद्रव्याणां योजना (Char. Samh. 11.54) Meaning: Yuktivyapashraya means planning and deployment of medicines and dietary elements.

One more definition that gives deeper insight into the meaning of Yukti is given by Acharya Charaka is as follows,

युक्तिः योजना; शरीरभेषजयोर्हितो यो योगस्तदपेक्षं संशोधनसंशमनादि युक्तिव्यपाश्रयमुच्यते| (Char. Samh. 1.58)

Meaning: Yukti is the deployment of a medicinal formulation which is suitable for that person in an appropriate way either as a cleansing method or pacifying medicine.

आयुर्वेदे युक्तिप्रमाणम्॥Yukti as pramana in Ayurveda

The term yukti is commonly used in Ayurveda at one more instance i.e Pramana (प्रमाणम्). Ayurveda has adopted Yukti as one of the 4 pramanas (प्रमाणानि). Pramanas are the methods of knowledge. Ayurveda has accepted 4 pramanas as below,

1. Pratyaksha (प्रत्यक्षम् Perception)
2. Anumana (अनुमानम् Inference)
3. Shabda (शाब्दम् Verbal testimony) and
4. Yukti (युक्तिः application and Reasoning)

The first 3 pramanas have been adopted from Darshanas (दर्शनानि) while Yukti remains the exclusive pramana in Ayurveda. Therefore, Yukti pramana is included as a source of valid knowledge in Ayurveda. It is the intellectual perception resulting from the analysis of varied causative factors. It represents the logical reasoning and interpretation constructed to gain knowledge regarding any phenomena.

आयुर्वेदचिकित्सायां युक्तेः स्थानम्॥ Importance of Yukti in Ayurveda treatment

Yukti in Yuktivyapashraya is highly important for any Vaidya (वैद्यः) or Ayurveda practitioner to succeed and give results with Ayurveda treatment. Few basic aspects of Yukti in Ayurveda treatment are discussed below.

• The basis of yukti in clinical practice - Acharya Charaka has stated that, yukti in Ayurveda treatment is based on the dosage and time of administration of medicine. The one who knows the appropriate application of these factors is always considered superior than those who know just dravyas (द्रव्याणि medicines).

मात्राकालाश्रया युक्तिः, सिद्धिर्युक्तौ प्रतिष्ठिता| तिष्ठत्युपरि युक्तिज्ञो द्रव्यज्ञानवतां सदा||१६|| (Char. Samh. 2. 16)

• The importance of Yukti and its clinical or practical application has been clearly explained by an example by Acharya Charaka. He says combination of 2 or more medicines is also an example of Yukti. When combined with specific or or other appropriate medicines, even a poison can act as a wonderful medicine. But, when a a very safe and effective medicine is combined making an inappropriate combination, it can act like a poison. And therefore, yukti is extremely important in the practice of Ayurveda medicine.

योगादपि विषं तीक्ष्णमुत्तमं भेषजं भवेत्| भेषजं चापि दुर्युक्तं तीक्ष्णं सम्पद्यते विषम्||१२६|| तस्मान्न भिषजा युक्तं युक्तिबाह्येन भेषजम्| धीमता किञ्चिदादेयं जीवितारोग्यकाङ्क्षिणा||१२७| (Char. Samh. 1.126-7)

• At other place, Acharya Chakrapani, commentator on Charaka Samhita explains Yukti in yet another way. He states that, Yukti is application or planning of medicine on the basis of deha / Shareera (शरीरम् Individuals' body - Body tissues or dhatus) and doshas (दोषाः Status of doshas in that particular individual). The Vaidya who knows such yukti along with causes of diseases, who has a good memory (required to identify and recollect medicines having desired activity) and who knows what to do if any unexpected situation arises, can provide treatment with combination of multiple medicines.
  

स्मृतिमान् हेतुयुक्तिज्ञो जितात्मा प्रतिपत्तिमान्| भिषगौषधसंयोगैश्चिकित्सां कर्तुमर्हति||३६|| (Cha. Su 2. 36)

Commentary- युक्तिः योजना भेषजस्य देहदोषाद्यपेक्षया|