AYURVEDIC VIEW ON CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF BALA AND BALA PARĪKSHĀ – A REVIEW

Abstract

Bala is considered as the physical and mental strength of the individual. It can be assessed in healthy as well as diseased individual. It is helpful in assessing the severity of the disease. The knowledge of bala of a patient is needed to know about the prognosis of the disease and to fix the dosage of drugs, to adopt proper treatment modality and to advice proper regimens for a healthy life style. Bala is widely described in Āyurvedic texts in different-different contexts. Among the explanation given are, bala is one which prevents the disease (roga), one which is adhiṣṭhāna of ārogya and treatment is given for protecting it. Thus assessment of bala of an individual is important. It cannot be assessed solely on basis of parameters alone like body built, as it has explanation in different contexts like, role of ojas in bala, assessment of prākṛta kapha as bala, assessment of śārīrika, mānasika and vyādhikṣamatva bala. There are different methods available for assessing bala, so in this study an attempt is being made to collect references regarding to concepts of bala and suggest an appropriate method for assessment of bala.