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 and Satvavajaya chikitsa. This modality of the treatment is the most common form of disease management that includes administration of medicines as well as diet and lifestyle related interventions.

Introduction

The term Yuktivyapashraya is made up of 2 parts viz, yukti and vyapashraya. Here vaypashraya means based on and Yukti means plan. Plan of diet, lifestyle and medicines given to the sick person is known as the example of Yuktivyapashraya type of treatment.

Yukti as pramana in Ayurveda

Ayurveda has adopted Yukti as one of the 4 pramanas. Pramanas are the methods of knowledge. Ayurveda has accepted 4 pramanas as below,

1. Pratyaksha
2. Anumana
3. Shabda and
4. Yukti

The other 3 pramanas have been adopted from Darshanas while Yukti remains the exclusive pramana included in Ayurveda.

Yukti can also be understood as planning, applying, and executing knowledge using one's intellectual and reasoning abilities. ‘Yukti pramana’ is included as a source of valid knowledge in Ayurveda.[Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/17] 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.

Definition

युक्तिव्यपाश्रयं- पुनराहारौषधद्रव्याणां योजना (Char. Samh. Sutra. 11.54)

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

Importance of Yukti in Ayurveda treatment

मात्राकालाश्रया युक्तिः, सिद्धिर्युक्तौ प्रतिष्ठिता|

तिष्ठत्युपरि युक्तिज्ञो द्रव्यज्ञानवतां सदा||१६|| (Char. Samh. Sutra 2. 16)

योगादपि विषं तीक्ष्णमुत्तमं भेषजं भवेत्|

भेषजं चापि दुर्युक्तं तीक्ष्णं सम्पद्यते विषम्||१२६||

तस्मान्न भिषजा युक्तं युक्तिबाह्येन भेषजम्|

धीमता किञ्चिदादेयं जीवितारोग्यकाङ्क्षिणा||१२७| (Char. Samh. Sutra. 1.126-7)

स्मृतिमान् हेतुयुक्तिज्ञो जितात्मा प्रतिपत्तिमान्|

भिषगौषधसंयोगैश्चिकित्सां कर्तुमर्हति||३६|| (Cha. Su 2. 36)

Commentary- युक्तिः योजना भेषजस्य देहदोषाद्यपेक्षया| युक्तिं स्तौति- सिद्धिरित्यादिना| सिद्धिरिह विकारोपशमस्य साध्यस्य निष्पत्तिः||