Sanskrit Verse

दूष्यं देशं बलं कालं अनलं प्रकृतिं वयः। सत्त्वं सात्म्यं तथाऽऽहारमवस्थाश्च पृथग्विधाः॥

— (Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 8/94)

Explanation

These are the ten essential factors that must be examined to fully understand a patient and their disease. They are: Dushya (the vitiated body element), Desha (geography/body part), Bala (strength), Kala (time/season), Anala (digestive fire - Agni), Prakriti (constitution), Vayas (age), Sattva (mind), Satmya (habituation), and Ahara (diet).

Clinical Importance

This framework ensures a truly holistic and individualized diagnosis. A physician must consider all these factors before creating a treatment plan. For example, the same disease will be treated differently in a young, strong patient in winter versus an elderly, weak patient in summer.