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It is interesting to note that traditional Indian thought views the very occurrence of birth on this planet as a disease and as a source of suffering! Tiruvalluvar reiterates this when he says, “It is knowledge of the ultimate truth that removes the folly of birth” (pirappu ennum pedaimai neenga chirappu ennum chem porul kaanbadhu arivu; Thirukkural 358).

Yoga understands that physical ailments that are not of a psychosomatic nature can be easily managed with surgery, medication, prayers, and lifestyle modifications, as required. Various yoga techniques may also be used to help prevent or correct physical ailments and restore health, with regeneration, recuperation, and rehabilitation as necessary.

Yoga Vashista gives an elaborate description of the mechanism by which psychosomatic disorders occur. It starts with mental confusion, which leads to agitation of the life force (prana) and a haphazard flow along life force channels (nadis), resulting in depletion of energy and/or clogging up of these channels of vital energy. This leads to disturbance in the physical body, with disorder in metabolism, excessive appetite, and improper functioning of the entire digestive system. Natural movement of food through the digestive tract is arrested, giving rise to numerous physical ailments. Yoga Vashista is many thousands of years old, and the concept of psychosomatic disorders in modern medicine has only recently been realized and accepted.