A Comprehensive Guide to Ayurvedic Specialties
These are the factors that directly aggravate the Pitta dosha, leading to Pittaja Jwara.
Dietary Causes (Aharaja):
Excessive intake of pungent (katu), sour (amla), salty (lavana), and very spicy foods.
Excessive intake of alkalis and fermented foods.
Consuming food that is too hot in temperature.
Overconsumption of oily, greasy, fried (especially in reused oil) foods.
Alcohol and caffeine abuse.
Viruddha Anna (incompatible food combinations), e.g., fish with milk.
Fasting for long periods or skipping meals, leading to increased gastric fire and acidity.
Lifestyle Causes (Viharaja):
Excessive exposure to heat and sun (Atapa sevana).
Excessive exposure to fire (Agni sevana).
Intense anger, jealousy, hatred, and stress (emotional factors that heat the mind and body).
Over-exertion and physical strain.
Staying awake late at night.
Seasonal Cause (Kālaja):
Sharad Ritu (Autumn season). After the cooling and humid monsoon (Varsha Ritu), the sun comes out and aggravates the Pitta that has accumulated in the body, making autumn the prime season for Pitta disorders.
Modern Correlations: Consuming hot, spicy junk food; sunstroke/heatstroke; hyperacidity; inflammatory conditions triggered by stress; bacterial/viral infections that present with high fever and inflammation.
These are the early warning signs that appear before the full manifestation of the fever.
Yellowish discoloration of the eyes, skin, urine, or nails.
Excessive burning sensation in the body, especially the palms, soles, and eyes.
Loss of taste or metallic/bitter taste in the mouth.
Increased thirst.
Heartburn and a feeling of acidity.
Discomfort with heat and a desire for cool places and cool breezes.
Modern Correlations: Prodromal phase of hepatitis (jaundice), initial symptoms of a urinary tract infection (yellow urine, burning), onset of gastroenteritis (burning, acidity).
These are the characteristic clinical features of the fully manifested disease.
High-grade fever with intense burning sensation all over the body (as if burning from inside).
Profuse sweating with a foul odor.
Complete aversion to heat (desire for cold things).
Excessive thirst and dryness of mouth.
Loose stools or diarrhea that may be yellow, green, or bloody, accompanied by a burning sensation.
Fainting, dizziness, and delusions.
Bitter taste in the mouth.
Redness of the eyes, face, and skin.
Vomiting of bile (yellowish or greenish), nausea.
Headache with a burning quality.
Modern Correlations: This picture is classic for acute inflammatory and infectious conditions:
Gastroenteritis / Food poisoning with diarrhea.
Typhoid fever (high fever, diarrhea, delirium).
Urinary Tract Infections (burning, fever).
Acute Hepatitis (jaundice, nausea, aversion to food).
Dengue fever (high fever, intense body burn, rash).
Acute Inflammatory Response (e.g., post-surgery, severe burns).
This is a unique Ayurvedic tool for diagnosis by observing the patient's response to certain factors.
Upashaya (Relieving Factors): Symptoms of Pittaja Jwara subside with:
Cooling therapies: Application of cool water, sandalwood paste, cool air.
Cooling diets: Intake of sweet, bitter, and astringent tasting foods (e.g., coconut water, pomegranate, ghee, coriander water).
Pitta-pacifying medications like Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry).
Anupashaya (Aggravating Factors): Symptoms are worsened by:
Pitta-aggravating factors: Exposure to heat, sun, or fire; consuming spicy, sour, salty foods; and emotional stress like anger.
This confirms the Pitta nature of the fever.
The sequence of disease pathogenesis for Pittaja Jwara.
1. Sanchaya (Accumulation): Pitta starts accumulating in its main sites (small intestine, stomach, liver, spleen) due to the etiological factors.
2. Prakopa (Aggravation): The accumulated Pitta becomes severely aggravated and overflows from its sites.
3. Prasara (Spread): The aggravated Pitta spreads throughout the body via the blood vessels (Raktavaha Srotas).
4. Sthana Samshraya (Localization): The circulating Pitta gets lodged in weak tissues or channels (often the Rasavaha and Raktavaha Srotas - plasma and blood channels), disrupting their function.
5. Vyakti (Manifestation): The lodged Pitta manifests its specific signs and symptoms, primarily intense heat and inflammation, leading to the full clinical picture of Pittaja Jwara.
6. Bheda (Chronicity/Complications): If untreated, it can lead to complications like Raktapitta (bleeding disorders), Kamala (jaundice), or severe dehydration.
Pittaja Jwara is not a direct 1:1 match for a single modern disease but represents a syndrome of acute inflammatory and infectious fevers. Key correlations include:
Bacterial Infections: Typhoid fever, Bacillary dysentery, UTIs (Pyelonephritis), Streptococcal infections (Scarlet fever).
Viral Infections: Dengue fever, Viral Hepatitis (A, E), Influenza (some strains with high fever), Infectious Mononucleosis.
Inflammatory Conditions: Acute pancreatitis, Cholecystitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) flare-ups, Cellulitis.
Heat-Related Illness: Heat exhaustion and Heatstroke.
While Ayurveda has its own diagnostic methods (Nadi Pariksha - pulse diagnosis, etc.), modern lab tests are crucial for a complete diagnosis and management.
Complete Blood Count (CBC):
WBC Count: Often elevated in bacterial infections (leukocytosis) or decreased in viral infections like dengue (leukopenia).
Platelet Count: Crucial to monitor in fevers like Dengue (thrombocytopenia).
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) & Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): Markers of inflammation, typically highly elevated in Pittaja Jwara.
Liver Function Tests (LFTs):
Elevated bilirubin (causing yellow discoloration - jaundice).
Elevated ALT (SGPT) & AST (SGOT) enzymes indicate liver inflammation (as in Hepatitis).
Blood Culture and Sensitivity: To identify the specific bacteria in suspected septicemia or typhoid.
Urine Routine and Microscopy:
Nitrites, Leukocyte Esterase: Positive in UTIs.
Bilirubin, Urobilinogen: Present in liver disorders.
Serological Tests: For specific diseases (e.g., Widal test for Typhoid, NS1 Ag for Dengue, HAV/IgM for Hepatitis A).
Stool Routine Examination: For detecting pus cells, RBCs, or parasites in cases of infectious diarrhea.