Ayurveda charges us to take-on and engage-in daily (Dinacharya) and seasonal (Ritucharya), which are practices in order to maintain Good health and to prevent dis-ease (disease).
When Ayurveda addresses a disease, it is more about the type of person (vata, pita, kapha) that gets a certain disease, more than it is addressing what disease a person gets. Therefore, the individual is treated, and not the disease.
Having said that, acknowledging the Dinacharya and Ritucharya, and the 13 Natural Urges should never be ignored, postponed, repressed or suppressed, so as to maintain balance in the body and mind as one impacts the other.
These 13 natural urges include:
1) Breath
2) Burping - Belching
3) Coughing
4) Crying
5) Defecating
6) Hunger - Thirst
7) Menstruation
8) Sexual Expression - Orgasm (Ejaculation)
9) Sleep
10) Sneezing
11) Urinating
12) Vomiting
13) Yawning
The ignoring, postponing repression or suppression of these 13 natural urges can not only lead to a physical disorder, but a psychological disorder as well.
When observing the origin of these 13 natural urges we can clearly see how they co-relate and co-create in areas where Vata, Pitta and Kapha are known. Ignoring or suppressing any one of these 13 natural urges has the potential to cause severe dysfunction in that area, which can then transfer or refer to another part of the body.
Example - the gastrocolic reflex is a physiological reflex that controls the motility of the lower gastrointestinal tract following a meal. When the gastrocolic reflex is inhibited, ignored or suppressed, it has an adverse affect on the bowels, which will not only cause gas or pain, but it can also lead to constipation. The right thing to do would be to answer the call when the bowels ring the reflex, which will then remind the body that it needs to use the restroom. This should occur about 15 to 20 minutes after a meal. So the gastrocolic reflex is stimulated by a meal, which prompts the body to dump the previous meal, which may have taken place 4, 5 or 6 hours earlier. The gastrocolic reflex signals the colon to increase motility in response to the stretch of the stomach with the ingestion of food. The result is defecation.
Example - holding back tears or swallowing hurt feelings could cause more suffering to the lungs, heart, and even thyroid creating complications in these organs.
Example - Skipping meals when the body says it is hungry creates digestive issues.
Example - Postponing the need to sleep can create sleep disturbances, which could eventually create irregular sleep patterns or the need for artificial assistance (pills).