In modern medicine, it is still not known exactly why autoimmune diseases arise. The immune system, which is actually supposed to protect us, instead begins to attack the body itself.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, it is viewed differently.

First of all, we need to remember that “autoimmune disease” is a very broad concept. It can range from eczema or patchy hair loss to more extensive diagnoses. Ayurveda does not just treat the name of the disease, but searches for the cause of the imbalance.

According to Ayurveda, our health is based on the interaction between three key factors:

Agni - digestion and metabolism, the body's “inner fire”.

Manas - the mind, our thoughts, feelings and stress levels.

Ojas - the body's life energy, resilience and vitality.

When these three are in balance, the body can repair, protect and heal itself. But when Agni is weakened, food and impressions are not properly digested. Then ama can form – waste products and undigested material that the body cannot process. Ama can be stored in the body's tissues and circulate in the body's channels (srotas), while Ojas gradually weakens.

Ayurveda suggests that this can create an environment where the body starts to react in a way that no longer benefits us.

Another important concept within Ayurveda is not just to suppress symptoms.

If an imbalance is merely suppressed without treating the root cause, the symptoms may indeed decrease temporarily, but the disease process itself can continue and sometimes express itself in another way further down the line.

Therefore, Ayurveda always works to:

strengthen Agni

Reduce the ama

build up Ojas

calm the mind and nervous system

create balance through diet, sleep, daily routines and lifestyle

tailor the treatment to each individual's unique constitution

This does not mean that Ayurveda views all autoimmune diseases as the same - quite the contrary. Two people with the same diagnosis can have completely different underlying imbalances and therefore require different treatment.

To me, this is precisely what makes Ayurveda so fascinating. It doesn't just ask “What illness do you have?” but also “Why has your particular body fallen out of balance?”

That is where the real healing begins.

Are you curious about how Ayurveda views your particular symptoms? Please feel free to get in touch or do doshatestet on my website as a first step towards a better understanding of your own body.