Understanding the Conditions of the Human Body
To understand the conditions of the human body, it is essential to study the functions of its organs. This can be categorized into two scenarios:
1. Normal Functioning: When the organs perform their functions correctly, as seen in a healthy individual.
2. Impaired Functioning: When the organs do not function properly, resulting in a state opposite to health, known as disease.
Definition of Disease
A disease is defined as a condition in which the body's organs and pathways fail to perform their functions correctly. This improper functioning can affect the entire body or be limited to a single organ. Regardless of the extent, this condition is referred to as a disease.
Types of Diseases
1. Simple Diseases
When there is a disturbance in the functions of the organs, it can occur in three ways:
i. Change: The natural state of the organs and their functions changes. This condition is called "dyscrasia," which has two types:
· Simple Dyscrasia: A disease in which only the qualities within the organs increase or decrease, such as an imbalance in heat, cold, dryness, or moisture.
· Material Dyscrasia: A disease in which the change in temperament occurs due to an excess of qualities, such as an imbalance in the humors.
ii. Deficiency: There is a decrease or disturbance in the organs and their functions. This condition is called "disease of composition," and it has three types:
a. Disease of Form: A disease in which the shape or appearance of an organ is not maintained. This is further divided into four types:
· Diseases of Shape: A condition in which an organ’s shape is disturbed, such as a flattened head.
· Diseases of Pathways: A condition in which the pathways of the organs are damaged, such as narrowing or loosening of a pathway.
·
Diseases of Cavities: A condition in
which cavities become excessively large, narrow, or completely closed.
· Diseases of Surface: A condition in which the surface of an organ or the entire body is damaged.
b. Diseases of Quantity: A condition in which an organ or the entire body increases or decreases in its appropriate quantity, such as obesity or thinness, or one limb becoming fatter or thinner.
c. Diseases of Number: A condition in which there is an increase or decrease in the number of an organ, such as a deficiency or excess in the fingers of a hand. This can be congenital (natural) or acquired (due to a disease developed later).
iii. Cessation: The organs and their functions completely stop. This condition is called "separation of connection."
2. Compound Diseases
A condition in which diseases of one organ accumulate. The names of diseases are generally based on their state, cause, symptom, or a combination of these, such as epilepsy (which means "to fall") or paralysis (which means "half and half").
Timings of Disease
The timing of a disease should be considered to match the treatment accordingly:
- Initial
State: Use
"retentive" medicines.
- Intermediate
State: Use
both retentive and resolvent medicines.
- Advanced State: Use resolvents and tonics.
Note:
Tonics should always be used at the end of the disease. If tonics are used during the disease, they will strengthen the disease, causing it to increase rather than diminish.
Benefits of the Organs
It is necessary to outline the functions and benefits of human organs to provide readers with a deeper understanding and increased knowledge. Understanding how the body's organs and systems work in a healthy state helps distinguish between health and disease. This knowledge allows one to better comprehend the contrast between health and illness when observing any disease in the body.
Human beings develop from the sperm of a man and a woman. When these sperms combine, a being starts to develop. Initially, it takes the shape of a mulberry, then resembles a leech. Eventually, it divides into three parts:
1.
One part forms bones, heart, and flesh.
2.
The second part forms the liver, kidneys, other glands, membranes, and ducts.
3. The third part forms the brain, nerves, and some parts of the skin. After nine months in the mother's womb, it transitions from non-existence to existence.
Within this body, nature has established four systems that prepare nourishment (blood), purify the blood, maintain heat, and ensure growth. These four systems are:
Digestive System
This system starts from the mouth and extends to the anus, involving the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, and pancreas. Its function is to process the food consumed:
·
Food is chewed in the mouth with the help of
saliva.
·
It passes through the esophagus to the stomach,
where it is digested by stomach fluids.
·
Part of it enters the bloodstream through the
thoracic duct, while the remainder moves to the intestines.
·
In the intestines, it is further digested by
bile from the liver, pancreatic fluids, and other intestinal fluids.
· The essence of the food is absorbed by the mesentery and sent to the liver, and the waste is excreted through the anus.
If there is a disturbance in the digestive system, symptoms such as loss of appetite, excessive hunger, constipation, or diarrhea may occur. Pain or swelling in any part of this system indicates the need to examine the entire system to identify the malfunctioning organ for proper treatment.
Respiratory System
This system includes the nostrils, windpipe, lungs, and their branches. Its functions are to obtain oxygen from the air through breathing and expel carbon dioxide:
· The process occurs in the lungs, where blood from the body is sent for purification.
When this system malfunctions, symptoms like cough, difficulty breathing, cold, and phlegm appear. It is essential to thoroughly examine the entire system to identify the specific issue.
Circulatory System
This system comprises the heart, arteries, veins, and skin. Its function is to circulate blood throughout the body:
·
Blood is circulated via arteries and brought
back to the heart through veins for purification.
·
The blood is sent to the lungs for purification
and returns to the heart.
· Waste from this system is expelled through the skin.
This system maintains the inherent body heat and significantly contributes to blood purification. When disrupted, it can lead to fever, blood disorders, and body-wide pain.
Urinary System
This system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Its responsibility is to expel certain waste products from the blood in the form of urine:
· Disturbances in this system can lead to variations in urine production, stone or gravel formation, or pain.
It is crucial to examine the entire system to pinpoint the issue for proper correction.
These four systems are essential for human life, growth, and purification. Human survival depends on them, and if even one system fails, survival is impossible. Additionally, there is another system crucial for the perpetuation of the human race, known as the reproductive system.
Reproductive System
1. Male Reproductive System: Involves the genital organs, testes, and seminal ducts. Its function is to produce semen from the blood and deposit it in the woman's uterus when needed. Malfunctions in this system result in issues such as impotence, semen viscosity problems, or irregular ejaculation. A detailed study of each organ in this system is necessary for proper treatment.
2. Female Reproductive System: Includes the uterus, ovarian follicles, fallopian tubes, and cervix. In adult women, menstrual blood is discharged monthly, and during pregnancy, this blood nourishes the fetus. This system also accepts male sperm and nurtures it with the same blood. Malfunctions can lead to irregular menstruation, excessive or scanty periods, or painful menstruation. Sometimes, conditions like leucorrhea occur. A thorough examination of the entire system is essential for treatment.
3. Lactation System: This system involves the breasts and their ducts, producing milk from the blood to feed the newborn. It becomes active at childbirth and continues for about two to three years. From a physiological standpoint, a child should be breastfed for two years. Common issues include insufficient or excessive milk production and, occasionally, inflammation in the breasts due to intense sucking by the baby, which can lead to abscesses. Careful examination of all related organs is essential for proper treatment.
These systems are fundamental for human survival, growth, and nourishment. Any disruption in one of these systems can significantly impact health and requires detailed attention for effective treatment.
Origin of Diseases
After studying the aforementioned systems, it is essential to understand how diseases arise from their proper functioning, which will facilitate effective treatment.
First, it is important to note that among the systems described, some are independent, some semi-independent and some are subordinate to others.
· Digestive System: Entirely independent; it processes food itself and expels waste. Other systems have minimal impact on it.
· Respiratory System: Semi-independent; it absorbs air through breathing and expels dirty air, but is significantly affected by the digestive system. When the digestive system is disturbed, it impacts the respiratory system as well.
· Circulatory, Urinary, and Reproductive Systems: Subordinate to the digestive and respiratory systems. These systems do not obtain anything directly from the outside; instead, they rely on the nutrients and air provided by the digestive and respiratory systems to function, clean, and strengthen the body.
Process of Disease Formation
Diseases arise when one of the mentioned systems becomes weak and cannot perform its function properly. The body's regulatory force then tries to expel the wastes that this system fails to eliminate by incorporating them into the blood and redirecting them to other organs. Since these wastes move through unnatural pathways, they cause diseases in those areas.
For example, in the case of constipation, the body may redirect the wastes meant to be expelled through the bowels toward the kidneys, lungs, or skin. When the wastes are directed to the kidneys, they cause disorders in the urinary system, leading to associated diseases. Similarly, when these wastes are directed to the respiratory or circulatory systems, they cause diseases there as well.
Treatment Considerations
During treatment, it is crucial to determine whether the malfunctioning system is inherently faulty or if it is affected by the dysfunction of another system:
· Inherently Faulty System: Correct it directly.
· Secondary Malfunction: If the malfunction is due to the impact of another system, first address the primary system's issues and then correct the secondary system if any problems remain.
