Abstract

A REVIEW ON CONCEPT OF SROTAS

*Vd. Priyanka P. Raut and Vd. Suryakant D. Rokade

Abstract

Ayurveda is made up of two basic terms viz, „Ayu‟ and ‘Veda’ wherein „Ayu‟ stands for life and ‘Veda’ means science of knowledge, thus Ayurveda means ‘the science of life’. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medical science that focuses on the equilibrium of body, mind and soul. Our human body is made up of Strotas (macro and micro channels). Channels of circulation or tracts within the body are called Srotas. They are named so because of their tendency of trickling or oozing (sru: ‘to flow’) of secretions through them. They are the pathways (Ayana), for the nutrient products; waste-products and Doshas during the process of metabolism. Smooth flow of material inside srotas or channels leads to health & fitness. Srotas enable their product to reach their destination (viz. assimilation of nutrient substance by different parts of the body, or elimination of waste products from the body.) They transport the Dhatus which are undergoing transformation. They are physical structures (murtimantha), and specific in their functions. While the basic sites of srotas with different function are fixed depending on the biological material they are carrying, their openings are innumerable. The srotas can be compared with the unicellular end structures like capillaries or alveoli of lungs. Srotas concept is very significant from clinical point of view. Obstruction in srotas initiates the disease process intracellular to system level. Therefore in this article we focus on the concept of srotas.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Channels, Srotas.