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"Concept of hetu - as a diagnostic tool"

Devlekar Sanket Sanjay1 Hake Ujwala Abhay 2
1. P.G. SCHOLAR, Dept. of Rognidan avum vikruti vignyan, Hon. Shri. Annasaheb
Dange Ayurved Medical College,Ashta,Tal-walwa,Dist-Sangli.
2. Guide and H.O.D. , Dept. of Rognidan avum vikruti vignyan, Hon. Shri.
Annasaheb Dange Ayurved Medical College,Ashta,Tal-walwa,Dist-Sangli.
*Corresponding author,
Email - [email protected]
Ph.No. - 08806196965 / 08080601522

ABSTRACT includes prognosis. The word nidan

Life style of the people changed refers specially to the cause that brings
drastically due to modernization. The disease.
lifestyle disease based on the daily In Ayurveda prevention of
habits of the peoples is result of an disease is more important than curative
inappropriate relation of people with aspect of disease. Understanding the
their environment. Life style disease is concept of hetu can lead to healthy and
called as disease of longevity and this balanced diet.finding cause (hetu) is
disorder is creating a big problem for more important as rather more than
our society today. Nidana is defined as finding treatment because if the
the eternal cause of the disease. causative factors are known their
Diagnosis is never complete without avoidance can help to avoid the disease
the elicitation of all the factors and to control the growth of the
associated with the diseases. The disease. Thus knowledge of cause is
Nidana Panchaka is denoted as having prophylactic (preventive) as
Nidana, Purvarupa, Lakshana, well as curative perspective. In
Upashaya, and Samprapti. So for Ayurveda it is explained that nidan
proper diagnosis nidanpanchak is very parivarjan(avoidance of causative
important. The popular meaning of the factors) is the best treatment to be
term nidan is diagnosis which also disease free.
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So inorder to know the leading for occurrence for many

importance of hetu and make people disease. Factors affecting
aware of diseases, the concept of hetu manifestation of disease are change in
as a diagnostic tool has been explained the life style, high population, socio
in this article. economic cause, stress, uncontrolled
KEYWORDS:Hetu,Causative factors. diet, addictions and lot more.
INTRODUCTION According to Ayurveda, the best
Ayurveda is an ancient science, treatment for all the disease is nidan
which has explained about the three parivarjan means to avoid all the
sutras in form of hetu , linga and causative factors. So in order to make
aushad. In which hetu word is referred people disease free and to make people
to as causative factor. Ayurveda has aware, Study of concept of hetu as a
explained the five tools for diagnostic tool has been presented in
manifestation of disease known as this article.
nidanpanchak. They are hetu
,poorvarupa, roopa, upshaya and AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:-
samprapti, which are the objective as
well as subjective for understanding of 1)To study the concept of hetu.
disease. In which hetu word also 2)To study the role of hetu as a
known as Nidan. Nidan helps us to diagnostic tool.
know about etiology, symptomatology
and pathogenesis. For proper diagnosis MATERIAL AND METHODS:-
of disease hetu is one of the most
important point for diagnosis of SOURCE OF DATA:-
disease. Charaka samhita
In this modern era, people are not Sushruta samhita
aware of their day-to-day life style. Ashtang hrudaya
There is a drastic change in their Ashtang sangraha
livings. And this has made their life Madhavanidan
more complicated and which are Indexed journal
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Research papers means one, which aggravates Vatadi

Authentic website doshas due to intake of ahita, ahara
and vihara.
METHODS: - Classification of hetu according to
author byadgi11:
1)To compile available literature on 1) Mithyaahar (improper diet)
hetu. 2) Mithyavihar (improper activities)
2)To compile the importance of hetu as 3) Improper administration of therapies
a diagnostic tool. 4) Shukra shonit doshas (defect in sperm
This is a literary research study. In and ovum)
this selection all the references from 5) Krumij (infective agents)
samhitas and respective commentaries 6) Adhrushya (unseen factors)
regarding “To study the concept of 7) Parabhisanskar (developed by others)
hetu as a diagnostic tool.” 8) Janapaupadvansa (epidemic disease)
CONCEPTUAL STUDY: - 9) Dhatu shaya (depletion of dhatu)
The word nidan/hetu is used in 10) Margavaran (obstruction in normal
two different contexts i.e. pathway)
Vyadhiutpatti dhnapti (diagnosis of 11) Sankramak (contagious disease).
disease) and hetubhuta (etiological Hetu bheda:
factors of the disease). There are various types of hetu
Vyadhiutpatti dhnapti: described in all the ancient literatures.
Nidan helps us to know about hetu, They are as follows:
lakshana and samprapti of disease, 1) 4 types of hetu1,2–
which give complete knowledge about a) Sannikrista – Cause which is near for
disease. In this way disease can be prakopa of the doshas.
diagnosed called Nidana. Aggravation of dosha as per
Hetubhuta: age,day,night during digestion is
Factors, which manifest the disease, common and is a physiological
called as nidana. It is also described as process.
causative factors of disease. Nidan
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Eg rukshadi bhojan and vihar manifest disease but acts as carrier when arises
jwara. for manifestation of disease.
b) Viprakrishta-It is distant cause for d) Pradhanik- It is powerful cause, which
production of disease. produces disease instantly like poison.
Sanchay of dosha is much essential
Eg. Sanchit kapha during hemant rutu 2) 3 types of hetu1,3 –
manifest kaphaja vikara in vasant rutu a) Asatmendriya samyog- Atiyoga, Ayoga
Sanchit pitta during varsha rutu and Mithya yoga of indriya are called
manifests pittaja vikara in sharad rutu. as Asatmendriyartha samyog.
Sanchit vata during grishma rutu Table no. 1- Following showing
manifest vataj vikara in varsha rutu. Asatmendriya samyoga of indriyartha.
c) Vyabhichari hetu – Cause which is
weak and unable to produce the

Indriya Atiyoga Ayoga Mithyayoga

Chakshurendriya Excessive gazing Not at all Seeing thing which
at highly seeing any are too far or nearer
luminous object
substance
Shravanendriya Hearing up Not at all Hearing of harsh
roaring noise hearing words and etc.
from thunder etc.
Ghranendriya Excessive Not at all Excessive abnormal
exposure to smelling smell, unpleasant ,
sharp, intense and poison gas etc.
odors etc
Rasanendriya Excessive Not at all The person who not
consumption of consuming follow any rules
various taste foods described under
foods ashtavidh ahar
visheshayatana
except rashi.
Sparshanendriya Excessive Not at all Touching unhygienic
exposure to cold, touching things.
hot things

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b) Prajnaparadha-
Doing all asubh karma due to vibhrama dhi, drati and smruti is called
Prajnaparadha.
Table no. 2 – Following showing Prajnaparadha-
Shareera mithyayoga Vaak mithyayoga Manasa mithyayoga
Improper utilization of Improper utilization of Improper usage of mind
body activities like speech like back biting, like fear, anger, greed etc.
vegadharan, prahara, lying, talks, irrelevant,
mardana etc. harsh words etc.

c) Kala- also known as parinama i.e consequences.

Atiyoga , ayoga and mithyayoga of kaala is cause for the disease.
Table no 3 - Following table showing ayoga ,atiyoga and mithyayoga of kala.
Atiyoga Ayoga Mithyayoga
Excessive manifestation of Lesser manifestation or not Improper manifestation in
character in ritu is called at all manifestation respective ritu.
as kaala yoga Eg. No cold in winter Eg. No rainfall in rainy
Eg. Extreme rainfall in season season but extreme cold
rainy season

3) Three types of hetu¹ – c) Ubhaya hetu –here causative factors

a) Dosha hetu- Normal sanchay, aggravates doshas and simultaneously
prakopa and prashamana of doshas manifest disease.
take place in respective ritu and after
madhuradi ahar sevan called as dosha 4) Three types of hetu6
hetu. a) Kshaya – Diminishes vitiation of
b) Vyadhi hetu – It is responsible for doshas due to causative factors.
development of specific disease by b) Sthana – Accumul;ation of dosha at its
specific etiology. specific space due to it causes.
Eg. Regular comsumption of mrutika c) Vriddhi – Increased in vitiation of
in mrudbhakshanaj pandu roga. doshas due to causative factors.

5) Three types of hetu7 –

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a) Urdhvaga – Vitiation of dosha in Eg. Vatadi dosha pakopa hetu is called

upward direction. as bahya hetu
b) Adhascha – Vitiation of dosha in b) Abyantara hetu – Shareerik dosha and
downward direction. dushyas is called abhyantara hetu.
c) Tiryaka – Vitiation of dosha in any 9) Two types of hetu-
direction. a) Prakriti hetu –Who manifest
naturally due to variation in ritu and
6) Three types of hetu – accordingly vitiates doshas.
a) Koshta Eg. Kapha in vasant, pitta in sharad,
b) Shakha vaat in varsha.
c) Marmasthi sandhishu. b) Vaikriti hetu – which manifest
unnaturally due to abnormal ritu where
1,4
7) Two types of hetu – prakopa of dosha is irrespective of
a) Utpadaka hetu - It is one which favors doshas.
accumulation of respective doshas Eg. Vasant- pitta and vayu prakopa,
with respect to change in ritu. varsha- kapha and pitta prakopa,
Eg. In hemanta rutu due to madhuradi sharad – kapha and vata prakopa.
dravya sanchaya of kapha observed
b) Vyanjaka hetu – Which stimulates the 9) Two types of hetu
development of disease. a) Anubandya¹ – It is the prime cause
Eg. Sanchit kapha during hemant rutu having swatantra vaykta lakshana and
manifest disorder of kapha in vasant shastrokta upakrama.
rutu due to effect of sun. b) Anubhanda hetu – It is secondary
cause not having swatantra vyakta
1,5
8) Two types of hetu lakshana and upakrama.
a) Bahya hetu- disease manifest due to Eg. Kapha pradhana vatkaphaja
ahita ahara ,vihar due to effect of rutu jwara.
and responsible for development of
disease. 10) Two type of hetu –

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a) Prakriti hetu – Kapha and Pitta rogas For proper diagnosis of disease it
are easily curable in vata prakriti is necessary to know about the
person if those come under curable causative factors. So if we are able to
category. know the exact cause and pathogenesis
b) Vikriti hetu – Vata roga are difficult to of disease it will help to diagnose it as
cure in vataja person and same applied early as possible. Thus the proper
to kaphadi prakriti person also. knowledge of hetus helps us to
1,10
11) Two types of hetu – Saam hetu and understand the diagnosis and proper
Niraam hetu. manifestation of disease. And it is
proved that the best treatment for all
12) Ashayapakarsha hetu1,8 –It means the disease is to avoid all the causative
prakrut or sama dosha moves from its factors.
own place by influence of vata and CONCLUSION-
produce disease. To conclude following are the points
Eg. Prakruta dosha moves to different which are derived from above
place other than its normal paths there discussion.
it becomes the aprakrut because that 1) The proper knowledge of the hetus-
place is not conductive to particular causative factors helps us for early
dosha. diagnosis of the patient.
2) It also helps in the differential
13) Hetu sankara9 – It means hetu with diagnosis of the disease.
respect to manifestation of disease. 3) After gaining the knowledge of
One hetu manifest many disease, on hetus, doctors can get the proper path
disease has one hetu and another for treating the disease.
disease have many hetus. Eg. Intake of 4) Hence by avoiding all the causative
ruksha manifest jwara, bhrama factors which resembles for
sometimes jwara but in some people manifestation of disease can treat the
manifests jwara, gulma , raktapitta etc disease in its own way.
depending on vyadhikshamtva. 5) So hetu is considered one of the
DISCUSSION – diagnostic tools which can play an
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important role for treatment of 6)Madhav Nidanam, Brahmanand

disease. Tripati, reprint 2007 Chaukhamba
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Cite this article:

"CONCEPT OF HETU - AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

SANKET SANJAY DEVELEKAR
Ayurlog: National Journal of Research in Ayurved Science-2014; 3(2): 1-8

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