Ayurveda rogi pareeksha or patient examining is the detailed process of identifying the social, physical and mental conditions of a person that seeks treatment. Rogi pareeksha is a detailed ten-fold process. The physician studies the person as a whole; his/her level of emotional stability, lifestyle, etc are the things to look for.

The ten fold rogi pareeksha routine as described by Charaka in his book Charaka Samhita are described below.

Prakriti  – prakriti refers to the physical condition of a human being. It is the some total of the state of tridoshas and trigunas. Identifying the states in each place forms the first step in assessing the physical and mental state of a person.

Vikriti – vikriti is the vitiation from prakriti. Diseases caused due to vikriti are easier to treat than diseases caused due to prakriti itself. The state of vikriti is identified by closely examining the dhatus, malas, and the emotional control of the person.

Sara – Sara refers to the quality of sapta dhatus. The conditions of dhatus are classified as pravara (good), madhyama (medium) and avara (poor). Pravara suggests excellent immune system and condition. In Sara, the physician also checks the extent of satwa in the mind of the person. Emotional stability, clear thoughts, calmness, optimism, etc are regarded as high level sattwa, while a decreased level of this quality refers to rajas and tamas gunas of trigunas, the three qualities of mind.

Samhanana – samhanana refers to the physique of the person. A compact body frame usually suggests a healthy body. Lean or obese body are unhealthy.

Pramana – pramana or examining body proportion involves assessing the relationship between the lengths of spread arms and the height of the person. An almost same length is a healthy sign. There are also several other measurements that tell the physician about a well proportioned body.

Vyayama shakti – (or strength for exercise) is the strength of the person for physical exertion. Appropriate secretion of metabolic or endocrine products during physical is essential for good endurance in demanding situations.

Satmya – adaptability measurement. It is a process of measuring the capabilities of the person to physically or mentally adapt to changing conditions. It is a complex process, measuring the mental and physical reaction of the person to demanding conditions. His/her psychological, neurological, immunological conditions are checked. No other treatment method had similar tests.

Sattva – checking mental balance. It is the capability of the person to continue doing what is required of him without giving heed to distractions – both physical and mental.

Ahara Shakti – or the power of digestion, this test involves checking the metabolic capacity of the person. To take, digest and absorb food to the body.

Vaya – vayassu or age – Ayurvedic physician compares the actual age of the person with his or her apparent age. Sounds strange, but a person appearing younger than he or she really is, is a sign of health. There are different things to look for – skin condition, hair, lifestyle, etc.

There are different methods to follow in roga pareeksha or diagnosing the disease in Ayurveda.

Prasna (interrogation) is the process of obtaining data about present illness, diseases in the past, his/her lifestyle change or activities in the immediate past, etc.

Panchendriya Pareeksha (test using five senses, panchendriyas) is the physical examination. The body is divided into six major regions – head, neck, chest, abdomen, and two extremes. It also includes identifying the state of srotas and dhatus. Physical examination also includes darshana (by sight) and sparshana (by touch).

Ashtavidha pareeksha (ashtavidha pariksha) or eight-fold examination includes checking eight physical aspects of the body

1. complexion
2. eyes
3. voice
4. tongue
5. skin
6. stool
7. urine and
8. pulse

The roga pareeksha and rogi pareeksha are methods for identifying the cause of the disease and the stage of the disease. The response of the condition to medications is also observed until the person is declared complete healthy.

Diagnosis in Ayurveda, or identifying the disease(s) affecting a person is an elaborate process. An Ayurvedic physician takes into account condition of both rogi (patient) and roga (disease). It is entirely different from modern allopathic medicine, where medicines are prescribed for disease (roga) only. A medicine for a disease – a side effect – another diseases – another set of medicines and the cycle continues.

An Ayurvedic practitioner must take into account the whole human being. Ayurveda principles say that there is a reservoir of vital energy capable of bringing the body back to its healthy state. The medicines and regulations are meant for strengthening that healthy part to completely recover the body and mind from illness. This concept, called ‘svabhavoparamavada’ is the attempt of the body to repair the inadequacies to heal itself. Medicines act as a support to this vital mechanism that tries to put the body back in a healthy state.

Allopathic doctors tell us that diseases are caused due to the action of pathogens – bacteria, virus – or genetic conditions and the medicines applied are to kill the pathogens. Thus they treat the disease only, not the person. Same disease, different persons, same medicine and dose – it is the state the main item of allopathic treatment.

Diseases, according to Ayurveda, mainly is due to the vitiation of tridoshas. Identifying the root cause of a disease takes careful observation, and extensive precise examination of the disease process and the individual.

Ayurvedic method of diagnosis, called rogi-roga pareeksha (examination of rogi – patient and the roga – disease) is a unique method of assessing the state of the disease and the condition of the person. Understanding the normal dosha state and the present vitiation from the state forms the corner stone of Ayurvedic diagnosis of diseases.

The physician identifies the doshas, the dhatus and the srotas responsible for the present condition. The physician also checks the general physical condition of the person, his/her normal lifestyle, mental functioning and the health history.

Rogi pareeksha is a ten-fold Ayurvedic diagnosis process to identify the condition of the person and
Roga pareeksha, a detailed examination to diagnose the disease.