In Ayurvedic Medicine, weak spots in the body are known as khāvaigunyas.
Khā means an empty or vacant space leading to weaknesses in the scrotas or micro-channels responsible for transport and transformation of nutrients to the bodily tissues.
Vaigunya means that there is a defect or deformity resulting from such weakness, leading to the opportunistic progression of disease.

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These weak spaces and defective channels or khāvaigunyas are regarded as a prevalent underlying factor to diseases. The actual causation or etiology of illness is termed ‘hetu'. Together these present a picture of disorder and suffering.


We all need the good healthy functioning of our scrotas or micro-channels for healthy nutrients and other necessary constituents to flow with unobstructed movement internally around our bodies, as it is essential for us to support ourselves in good health and function properly. Khāvaigunyas interrupt such healthy flow.


We need to maintain:
Ayana - the transport of essential heathy nutrients.
Sravana - the ability for these nutrients to permeate and infiltrate our tissues.
Mokshana - the capacity to eliminate and effectively excrete all resulting metabolic waste products.


Diseases and illnesses that take advantage of the Khāvaigunyas are numerous and multifactorial. They can be attributed to previous trauma, genetic disposition, emotional stress, iatrogenesis, poor diet, malformation of tissues, or the debility and retention of toxicity within the body. Ideally, we need to inhabit an environment with clean soil, water and air free from pollutants and allergens. We also need to exercise, positive communication and the comfort of touch. It is important to support our immune systems properly and develop an all encompassing sense of happiness and wellbeing.


Most of us have physical or mental areas that we acknowledge to be particularly weaker than others in our own individual constitutions. By acknowledging this and then by working to ameliorate them, we will be more resilient to anything that challenges us in the future.


If you want to study this specific area of Ayurveda in more detail, there is a list of a few reference books below, for further reading.


Finally, a positive thought to take with us all - “let’s fill any vacant spaces with strength rather than weakness, with happiness rather than sadness and love rather than hate.” 



References - 
Charak. Charak Samhita. Edited by Jadavaji Trikamji Aacharya.
Ist ed Varanasi: Krisnadas Academy: 2000.


Shustruta. Sushruta Samhita. Edited by Jadavaji Trikamji Aacharya.
8th ed Varanasi: 
Chukhambna Orientalia 2005.


Vasant Lad. Textbook of Ayurveda Volume 2: Vasant Lad Ayurvedic Press 2006.

The new virus on the block ……. SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it can cause COVID-19 are constantly in the news at present. On March 6th, statistics released indicated that 98,000 cases had been confirmed in 88 countries with many experts suggesting that this figure was currently still on the rise. Fortunately only a relatively small percentage of those that are infected have died, but none the less, it is unfortunately causing a considerable amount of public panic.

But and it is a big but, there may be a light on the distant horizon. As spring and eventually summer arrive will we start to see a decline in numbers especially here in the Northern Hemisphere? Obviously we all hope that this will happen and some professionals think that it is more than likely. John Nicholls a pathology Professor at Hong Kong University, reckons that he can predict when the corona virus will start to become inactive. He postulates that there are three things that the corona virus does not like, these are sunlight, high temperature and high humidity.

Those of us that understand Ayurveda can see the sense behind correctly balancing the Doshic principles of Vata, Pitta and Kapha during any healing process. In this case we can attribute sunlight and the open air to the principle of Vata, high temperature to Pitta and the principle of moist humidity to Kapha.

John Nicholls estimates that sunlight may be effective at stopping the corona virus growing by approximately 50%. Ian Lipkin who is the Director of The Columbia University Center for Infection and Immunity has also been studying the effect of sunlight on the corona virus. He suggests that UV light from the sun breaks down viral nucleic acid. If you are out in open air and sunlight, it’s generally “cleaner” than indoors simply because of the abundance of UV light on warm sunny days. The light from the sun is also an important source of vitamin D. This vitamin is a necessary component in a healthy immune system. You may need to consider supplementing it if for one reason or another you are deficient. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GCSXNGc7pfs&feature=youtu.be . Nursing people in the open air, was seen to be effective in the outbreak of Spanish flu in 1918 https://medium.com/@ra.hobday/coronavirus-and-the-sun-a-lesson-from-the-1918-influenza-pandemic-509151dc8065

High temperature can also inactivate the virus according to Professor Nicholls. Between 4 degrees and 10 degrees Celsius the virus remains intact, but at 30 degrees it becomes relatively inactive, or does it?

A scientific research paper - “Influenza Virus Transmission Is Dependent On Relative Humidity and Temperature” - Anice C Lowen, Samira Mubareka, John Steel and Peter Palese, was published in 2007. It looked at the pattern of spread in a population of guinea pigs intentionally infected with flu in a laboratory. High temperatures and specifically high humidity slowed the spread of the virus. At extremely high levels of humidity the virus was halted completely. Warmer air holds more moisture which prevents airborne viral infections travelling as far as they can in dry air. In humid conditions, any small liquid droplets in coughs and sneezes gather more moisture as they are expelled. This makes them heavier and unable to remain airborne; thus reducing the airborne ability for the disease to travel.​

Interestingly, Nicholls also suggests that currently he doesn’t expect areas such as Australia, Africa and the Southern Hemisphere to have such large rates of corona infection that are being presented in the Northern Hemisphere because at the time of writing they are still experiencing the effects of summer. To conclude: let’s hope that most of us remain healthy and can eventually put this problem behind us. But please do not panic, as high levels of stress are detrimental to our immune systems.

Excessive attachment to the body is a common cause of physical, emotional and spiritual pain. Meditation is good for treating psychological problems. These may range from depression, to extreme anxiety and panic attacks. It can be used to assist insomnia and also severe emotional disturbances such as grief and addiction. Meditation is an ideal treatment for stress on all levels.
 
It is beneficial in controlling pain and can be used to treat arthritis and joint problems, as well as a host of wide ranging health issues, both acute and chronic.

It can be used as a vital tool in the interview process: by encouraging the patient to adopt certain meditation techniques, we may be able to find out more about what’s troubling them. If the patient is relaxed by meditation, a fuller and deeper picture of their health can emerge. 

When we go for a good walk in the fresh air, it is possible to meditate at the same time. Often when we go out for a walk, we are absorbed in our own thoughts and problems. It’s true to say that people sometimes find it easier to shift their fears and worries whilst walking. But if you leave your issues at home and simply walk and mediate, you may feel even better still!

To meditate whilst walking is really simple, you focus your thoughts on how each foot contacts the ground as it is doing so. You concentrate all attention on the experience of walking itself, whilst clearing your mind of all other thoughts. Just focus on the sensations in your feet and legs and nothing else at all. Why not try it for yourself for about 20 minutes a day and see if you feel any different afterwards?