• CELLMED
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.4.1-4.4
• /
• 2020

Ayurveda scholars have well described about the physio-anatomical aspect of mammary gland (Stana), physiology of lactation, importance of breast milk (Stanya) in growth and development of baby, various factors affecting the lactation and causing changes in property of milk, Galactogouge (Stanyajanana), and drugs for purification of mother milk (Stanya Shodhana). The recent studies provide evidence for above descriptions of Ayurveda. Breast milk (Stanya) is the nearly complete sole source of nourishment for infants. It has been considered as subsidiary tissue (Upadhatu) of blood plasma (Rasa Dhatu) as it is formed out of Rasa Dhatu (Plasma) and its quality and quantity gets affected by quality of nutrient fraction of food formed after complete digestion (Aahar Rasa). It provides health (Aarogya), strength and immunity (Bala) to the feeding child and gives innumerable beneficial effects like protection against not only acute infections like URTI, diarrhoea but also on chronic illnesses like CVD, metabolic disorders too. The Ayurveda description related to Mammary gland and physiology of lactation still need a better understanding for its implementation on promotion of health. Thus an attempt has been made to compile and analyze the view of Ayurveda scholars on Breast (Stana), Breast milk (Stanya) and physiological aspect of lactation as well as to draw a possible scientific understanding for the relevance.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.5.1-5.6
• /
• 2020

In the present highly changing era, every dimension from Technology to Education, Environment to Sanitation and from Agriculture to our Food basket is getting changed. Our experiences say that the most affected ethnic group from this rapidly changing pattern of our food intake, lifestyle are our adolescent. This is also a fact that our adolescent passes their 2/3 of time of a day in their schools. In this regard our school system needs to formulate their comprehensive approach to Health for our adolescents. On other hand Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of Medicine had expressed views on a concept of Holistic Health thousand years ago. This research article is an attempt of borrowing this valuable concept from Ayurveda and suggesting to introduce them into our comprehensive school health programme such as concept of wellness, quality of life, Holistic Health and measures related to diet and lifestyle for preservation, promotion of health and prevention of disorders etc. This manuscript also evaluates the existing approaches of school health programmes towards current scenario. Now a day's our food habits, dietary intake and the life style are not at the level of satisfactory condition this lead to early onset of metabolic chronic disorder especially in our adolescents because on the basis of age-immunity relationship they are easily targeted. The chronic metabolic disorders results into overweight, obesity, anxiety, mental trauma, distress, over- fatigued, incapable for physical work, getting tired soon. This article provides a space to rethink and reformulate our school health programmes in light of our ancient tradition of medicine.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.3.1-3.7
• /
• 2019

Recent researches on adipocytes in human and mice model have reported that the adipocytes are not only the fat depots but having role in maintenance of physiology and metabolism through adipokines released by them in accordance to their anatomical location. Ayurveda scholars too have mentioned different tissues like Vasa (inter muscular fat), Meda (visceral fat) and Majja (bone marrow) which are predominantly rich in adipocytes similar to adipose tissues, with a different sites, functions, compositions and pathological outcomes. The metabolic effect of Meda and Majja Dhatu on other tissues like muscle (Mamsa Dhatu), bone (Asthi Dhatu) and reproductive tissue (Shukra Dhatu) shows their functional interdependence. The detailed description of therapeutic indications of Vasa and Majja under Snehakarma (oleation therapy) illustrates that clinical physiology of these tissues have been elaborated rather than general physiology. This article is an attempt to comprehend the physiological aspect of Vasa, Meda and Majja retrospectively on the basis of their therapeutic indication for the management of variety of disorders, in the form of Sneha through different therapeutic procedures. An effort has been also taken to distinguish Vasa, Meda, Majja based on the functional peculiarities of adipocytes present in different sites of body like omentum, muscle and bone marrow. Critical observation of explanations of Vasa, Meda and Majja in Ayurveda compendia and advanced research in field of adipocytes reflected that Ayurveda scholars had deep insights regarding the various dimensions of adipocytes, most of which are in consistent with the advanced physiology and biomolecular studies of adipocytes.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.18.1-18.8
• /
• 2017

The Tridosha theory, which is the cornerstone of Ayurvedic physiology governs all the functions of human body and mind. Tridosha are responsible in determining one's Prakriti and their functional status may vary in both gender of different Prakriti. No research work is available to assess the functions of Dosha by objective parameters. Therefore, this study was planned to find out the variation in functional status of different types of Pitta, using certain objective parameters, in 201 young healthy volunteers of both gender belonging to different Prakriti. Serum level of triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein and glucose level were estimated for Pachaka Pitta and hemoglobin concentration for Ranjaka Pitta, visual acuity for Alochaka Pitta, memory and reaction time for Sadhaka Pitta and RGB value for Bhrajaka Pitta were measured. Except the functioning of Bhrajaka Pitta, variation in functional status of all type of Pitta was not the same in different Prakriti of both gender. However these findings were not significant which may have occurred due to small sample size and homogenous population. Thus we propose the consideration of sex differences while planning and evaluating the studies that are based on Prakriti.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.7.1-7.7
• /
• 2015

According to Ayurveda, an individual can be classified into any one of the seven constitutional types (Prakriti) depending on the dominance of one, two, or three Doshas. A 'Dosha' is representative of fundamental mechanisms that are responsible for homeostasis, and thus, to health. In the recent years, there have been several efforts to see whether certain physiological, haematological or biochemical parameters have any relationship with the constitutional types or not. The objective of the present study was to see if the results of autonomic function tests vary according to Prakriti of an individual. We conducted this study in clinically healthy volunteers of both the gender belonging to the age group of 17 to 35 years after obtaining their written consent. The Prakriti of these volunteers was assessed on the basis of a validated questionnaire and also by traditional method of interviewing. After confirming that the primary Dosha ascertained by both these methods matched, 106 volunteers were grouped into three on the basis of primary Dosha and were subjected to various autonomic function tests such as cold pressor test, standing-to-lying ratio, Valsalva ratio and pupillary responses such as pupil cycle time and pupil size measurement in light and dark. The results suggest that, the autonomic function tests in the healthy individuals may correlate linearly with the primary Dosha expressed in an individual. In particular, people with Kapha as the most dominant Dosha showed a tendency to have either a higher parasympathetic activity or a lower sympathetic activity with respect to their cardiovascular reactivity in comparison to the individuals with Pitta or Vata as the most dominant Dosha.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.4.1-4.8
• /
• 2019

Now researchers have focused attention on exploring the mechanism of acute responses of heat stress given in heat therapy that ultimately promotes the long term health benefits. Heat therapy is not a new idea rather it was practiced since thousands years back in the form of hot bath, sauna bath, steam room. Similarly in Ayurveda there is very comprehensive description of heat therapy in the form of Svedan karma (Sudation therapy). Svedan is a process to induce sweating artificially in a patient who had already undergone Snehan. Svedan is applied for purification of body, as well as in management of various disorders originated due to vitiation of Vata, Kapha Dosha, Meda Dhatu and musculoskeletal disorders. It produces various beneficial effects by augmenting the Agni like clears the channels, liquefies the deposited Dosha, regulates Vata Dosha, helps in removal and pacification of Dosha, augments metabolism (Agni Deepan), increases appetite, flexibility in body parts, softness and shining of skin, removes coldness, stiffness, drowsiness, improves joint motility. However, Svedana karma is vastly used by Ayurveda Physicians in treatment of various disorders but the mechanisms of beneficial effects produced by Svedan Karma are yet not completely explored on scientific basis. In this article, we will discuss and try to establish a possible mechanism of action of Svedana karma in relation to heat stress, mitochondrial adaptation, heat shock protein (HSP) and glucocorticoids as these are secreted under stressful conditions.