Diagnostic Flowchart for Nidana Prashana (Inquiry into Disease Cause)

Step 1: Identify Primary Causative Factor (Nidana)

A. Dietary Factors (Ahara Nidana)

1. Does the patient consume excessive spicy, sour, or fermented foods?
   • Yes → Possible Pitta Dosha Aggravation → Check for Acid Peptic Disorders, GERD, Gastritis.
   • No → Proceed to next question.
2. Does the patient frequently consume processed, fried, or oily foods?
   • Yes → Possible Kapha Dosha Aggravation → Check for Obesity, Hyperlipidemia, Diabetes.
   • No → Proceed further.
3. Does the patient have irregular meal timings or frequently skip meals?
   • Yes → Possible Vata Dosha Imbalance → Check for Indigestion, Bloating, Constipation.
   • No → Proceed further.
4. Does the patient frequently consume cold, refrigerated, or raw foods?
   • Yes → Kapha Accumulation → Check for Slow Digestion, Sluggish Metabolism.
   • No → Proceed to next section.

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B. Lifestyle & Daily Routine (Vihara Nidana)

1. Does the patient engage in regular physical activity or exercise?
   • No → Kapha Stagnation → Risk for Obesity, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome.
   • Yes → Proceed further.
2. Does the patient sleep late at night or have irregular sleep patterns?
   • Yes → Vata-Pitta Aggravation → Risk for Insomnia, Stress, Hormonal Imbalance.
   • No → Proceed further.
3. Does the patient experience high levels of work stress or anxiety?
   • Yes → Vata Aggravation → Risk for Anxiety Disorders, Hypertension, IBS.
   • No → Proceed further.
4. Does the patient suppress natural urges (urination, thirst, hunger)?
   • Yes → Udavarta (Reversed Vata Flow) → Risk for Urinary Disorders, Constipation, GERD.
   • No → Proceed to next section.

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C. Environmental & Seasonal Factors (Parinama Nidana)

1. Has the patient recently traveled to a different climate zone?
   • Yes → Consider Seasonal Adaptation Issues → Risk for Respiratory, Digestive, or Skin Disorders.
   • No → Proceed further.
2. Does the patient experience seasonal allergies or frequent colds?
   • Yes → Kapha-Vata Aggravation → Risk for Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, Sinusitis.
   • No → Proceed further.
3. Does the patient experience joint pain worsening in cold weather?
   • Yes → Vata Increase → Risk for Arthritis, Joint Degeneration.
   • No → Proceed to next section.

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D. Psychological & Emotional Health (Manasika Nidana)

1. Does the patient frequently feel excessive stress, worry, or sadness?
   • Yes → Possible Manasika Roga → Risk for Anxiety, Depression, Psychosomatic Disorders.
   • No → Proceed further.
2. Does the patient have mood swings or emotional instability?
   • Yes → Vata-Pitta Fluctuation → Risk for Bipolar Disorder, Stress Disorders.
   • No → Proceed further.
3. Does the patient feel fatigued, unmotivated, or experience brain fog?
   • Yes → Ojas Depletion → Risk for Chronic Fatigue, Burnout, Memory Loss.
   • No → Proceed to next step.

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Step 2: Identify Disease Progression (Shatkriya Kala)

1. Sanchaya (Accumulation Stage): Mild symptoms, occasional discomfort → Focus on lifestyle modification.
2. Prakopa (Aggravation Stage): Symptoms worsening, early warning signs → Start detoxification (Shodhana).
3. Prasara (Spread Stage): Symptoms affect multiple systems → Targeted treatment for dosha balance.
4. Sthana Samshraya (Localization Stage): Disease-specific signs appear → Disease-specific intervention needed.
5. Vyakti (Manifestation Stage): Clear clinical disease → Full-fledged treatment required.
6. Bheda (Complication Stage): Severe pathology/organ failure → Intensive intervention & management.

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Step 3: Treatment Approach Based on Nidana Analysis

Primary Nidana (Cause)	Dosha Imbalance	Management Approach
Unwholesome Diet	Pitta/Kapha	Diet correction, herbal remedies
Sedentary Lifestyle	Kapha/Vata	Exercise, Panchakarma detox
Chronic Stress	Vata-Pitta	Medhya Rasayana (Brain Tonics), Meditation
Environmental Triggers	Kapha-Vata	Seasonal regimen (Ritucharya)
Genetic Predisposition	Varies	Long-term Rasayana therapy

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Total Number of Words: 475

Total Reading Time: 2 minutes 23 seconds