Dear Itamar,

I do not know the Indic sources in this case, but the Tibetan equivalent, rlung nad (lit. "wind disease"), often refers to states of panic, paranoia, hyper-sensitivity, etc. A somewhat popular, but not erroneous, presentation of the issue may be found in Terry Clifford, Tibetan Buddhist Medicine and Psychiatry, pp. 132-136. Those more familiar with medical literature than I am may well have additional suggestions.

Matthew

Matthew Kapstein
Directeur d'études, émérite
Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris

Numata Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies,
The University of Chicago



From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> on behalf of Itamar Ramot via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2022 4:23 AM
To: indology@list.indology.info <indology@list.indology.info>
Subject: [INDOLOGY] Psychological effect of vāta-doṣa
 
Dear All,

Is anyone familiar with a none physical effect of vāta-doṣa? Dictionaries translate vāta as gout or rheumatism, but in the context where I found this term, it seems as if it should have a more psychological/mental effect, such as madness or delusion. Any suggestions?

Best,

--
Itamar Ramot 
PhD Candidate, South Asian Languages and Civilizations
University of Chicago