Sharira Vichaya Sharira: Difference between revisions

|data8  = Patwardhan K., Deole Y.S., Basisht G.

 

<div style="text-align:justify;">The present chapter deals with various important aspects of physical body from diagnostic and therapeutic view. Starting with definition of the body, questions regarding causes of diseases or destruction of the body, increase or decrease of dhatus (body elements) and their treatment are well answered. Further, factors responsible for the growth of the body, promotion of strength, digestion and metabolism of ingested food (along with action of individual factor) are discussed. In the same context, the discussion regarding body wastes and body promoting elements appear subsequently. At the end, various queries related to foetal development, birth process, life span and time of death etc. are discussed. </div>  

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This sixth chapter of the [[Sharira Sthana]], entitled [[Sharira Vichaya Sharira]](analytical study of the body) follows the chapter on [[ Purusha Vichaya Sharira]] (detail study of the ''[[purusha]]''). To achieve divine bliss and ''moksha'' (salvation) that the preceding chapter talked about, it is imperative that the body is free from diseases. To achieve a disease-free life, it is of utmost importance to know the components of the body and what vitiates them or affects them, thus, causing diseases or complete destruction of the body, etc.  

If a particular ''[[dhatu]]'' is to be increased and the dietary articles with similar properties cannot be consumed because of their non-availability or even if available they cannot be used because of unsuitability, intolerable nature or any other cause, then food preparations of different nature having the predominance of the attributes of the ''[[dhatu]]'' (that needs to be enhanced) should be used. Here are some examples to illustrate this. When there is a deficiency of ''[[shukra]]'', milk, ghee and other such substances known to be ''madhura'' (sweet), ''snigdha''(unctuous), and ''sheeta''(cold) should be administered. In case of diminution of ''[[mutra]]'', sugarcane juice, ''varuni'' type of wine, ''manda'' (thin gruel), liquid food articles and substances having ''madhura, lavana'',and ''amla'' tastes and sticky nature should be administered. For diminution of ''[[purisha]]'' (feces), ''kulmasha, masha, kuskund'' (mushrooms), ''ajamadhya'' (meat of abdomen and trunk of goat), ''yava, shaka'' (leafy vegetables), and ''dhanyamla'' (sour rice gruel) should be given. The diminution of ''[[vata]]'' should be treated with substances having ''katu, tikta,'' and ''kashaya'' tastes, and ''ruksha, laghu'' and ''sheeta'' properties. In case of diminution of ''[[pitta]]'', substances having ''amla, lavana, katu'' tastes, and ''ushna'' and ''tikshna'' properties should be administered whereas for diminution of ''[[vata]],'' substances having ''madhura'' taste, and ''snigdha,'' ''guru, sandra'' and ''picchila'' properties should be administered. The activities which would increase these ''[[dhatu]]'' should also be followed. Similarly other ''[[dhatu]]'' should also be either increased or decreased by the administration of similar and dissimilar substances respectively in appropriate time.

Concept of analytical knowledge: The concept of analytical knowledge or detailed knowledge of the body elements that is described here is very much similar to the concept of systems biology in contemporary science.

A simple example that can illustrate System biology approach is of sickle cell anemia. This disease is caused by a single point mutation at position 6 of the β-chain of hemoglobin, which changes hemoglobin’s oxygen affinity and promotes polymerization under hypoxic conditions. However, individuals with sickle cell disease can present with variety of symptoms which include hemolysis, inflammation, cell adhesion and end-organ ischemia-reperfusion injury and infarction. Patients also experience intermittent painful episodes due to acute vascular obstruction. (Mack KA) <ref> Mack KA, Kato GJ. Sickle cell disease and nitric oxide: A paradigm shift? Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2006; 38(8): 1237–1243. </ref> There are many reasons for these different clinical manifestations, including the presence of other genes modifying the disease modifying genes (e.g., hemoglobin F). Hence, this example indicates that the knowledge of single gene is not sufficient to understand the disease. There is need to consider other genes or in other words other constituents of the body.  [verse 3]  

=== Definition of ''sharira'' and disequilibrium in body elements ===