Review Article
Rina Manohar Malunjkar
Rina Manohar Malunjkar
Corresponding Author
Department of Kriya Sharir, Government Ayurved College, Nanded, Maharashtra State, India.
E-mail: rinamalunjkar@gmail.com, Tel: +9022395156.
Shilpa Kantilal Ingle
Shilpa Kantilal Ingle
Department of
Kriya Sharir, Government Ayurved College, Nanded, Maharashtra State, India.
Kishor Ramchandra Ugale
Kishor Ramchandra Ugale
Department of
Kriya Sharir, Government Ayurved College, Nanded, Maharashtra State, India.
Abstract
Medasara person achieves wealthy, healthy, happy feeling that makes life pleasant and comfortable with luxurious lifestyle. Therefore, medasara person shows less physical strength. They cannot face physical strain. So, they require jobs like administrative or sedentary jobs. Medasara people are intelligent, but they like to enjoy life. They are unable to bear any exertion. These all things lead to a sedentary lifestyle. So, their love to sedentary lifestyle causes various lifestyle disorders/diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, overweight associated with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, insomnia, arthritis, PCOS, heart diseases, constipation, etc. Medosarta is beneficial but there are two chances. Firstly, the person enjoys the functional benefits of the activity of medadhatu sarta as explained above. But later, there are also chances that they will suffer from de-arrangement in their functions due to prolonged consumption of meda dhatu prakopak aahar-vihar sevan, leading to increase in its normal structure & functioning either by vriddhi Or prakop of medadhatu. The resultant condition leads to the development of obesity which ultimately contribute to the increase in various lifestyle disorders which are one of the cause of mortality in today's world including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insomnia, obesity, cancer, etc. Also, rapid acceptance towards the western lifestyle and rapid financial development in the past few decades caused increase in lifestyle disorders. Therefore, understanding the concept of medosarta relevance in the present scenario is an important step in learning. It enables Ayurveda scholars to find out the relevance of medosara in the present scenario with special reference to lifestyle disorders.
Abstract Keywords
Medasara,
medadhatu, medasarta, vriddhi (increase in bulk and
mass), prakop (hyper dynamic state), kshaya (decrease in bulk and
mass), snehan, dridhta, asthiposhan, prakriti, pravara sara, madhyam sara,
avara sara.
1. Introduction
Medadhatu
sarta/meda dhatu is important among sapta dhatu,
due to the function of snehan, dridhta, asthiposhan [1]. Acharya Charak has explained that
sometimes by looking at the body of patients such as a patient is strong
because of being corpulent, he is weak because of leanness. But actually, it is
observed that some persons having small bodies and leanness are stronger than
big and corpulent people. Hence inherent power of person cannot be perfectly judged
by the bulk of the body which is only and easily assessed by sara examination.
Dhatus
have the same set of functions in every individual, but the quality and richness
of these functions may vary from person to person. This is decided by prakriti
of a person and more by a 'sarta' of that particular dhatu. This sarta
is beneficial but there are two chances. Firstly, the person enjoys the
functional benefits of the activity of medadhatu sarta as explained
above. But secondarily, there are also chances that they will suffer from de-arrangement
in their functions. Because medosara person is unable to bear exertion.
So, they like sedentary lifestyle which leads to being overweight (medodhatu
vridhhi) after certain period due to various causes like medodhatu
prakopak aahar vihar sevan. This must not at all be confused with the
increase in its normal structure & functioning, either by vriddhi or
prakop with the medasara which is the purest form of dhatu.
Vriddhi and kshaya are considered abnormal conditions and differ
from sarta. If medodhatu in the body becomes victim to this vriddhi,
the resultant condition is known as meda vriddhi, which may contribute to
the development of diseases [2]. This
condition leads to the development of various lifestyle disorders/diseases like
hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and overweight/obesity associated with
cardiovascular diseases [3]. According to
research, cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality nearly 30% of
all deaths worldwide. So, it is important to study lifestyle disorder and their
rooting. As a PG scholar, it inspires us to find out the relevance of medosarta
in the present scenario with special reference to lifestyle disorders.
2. Materials and methods
For this study, data
was collected from our ancient Ayurvedic samhitas, Ayurvedic literature,
etc. Also studied research papers related to medosara/medadhatu and
lifestyle disorders.
2.1 Review of literature
For achieving this aim, literary matters collected from Ayurveda Samhita also their preventive and curative aspect relative to disease have been explained.
Medosara
Purush Lakshan: Acharya Charak says, in medosara
individual, his colour, voice, eyes, hair on body and head, nails, teeth, lips,
urine and feces are specifically unctuous. They achieve wealth, richness,
happiness, feeling of wellbeing, offering of cordiality; they are tender. These
individuals are specially bestowed with softness due to medosarta. These
persons enjoy the softness and smoothness of all the structures mentioned
above. Since all these organs are locations of medodhatu, they are bound
to be rich in excel part of this dhatu and bear all qualities of meda.
The materialistic and Psychological achievements are due to the esteem
functions of this dhatu [4].
Acharya
Sushrut says about medosara purush lakshan-
individual with medosarta bears unctuous urine, sweat and voice. He has
stout body. He cannot face physical strain. Medosarta put forward by Sushrut
Samhita gives one more characteristic than Charaka samhita. Stout
body is easily explainable. This dhatu brings heaviness and durability to the body.
It does not offer strength to physical movements. Hence medosarta does
not offer as much power as mamsa dhatu offers. This is because of the panchabhautik
predominance of jala in meda. Parthivatwa is also needed for
physical strength [5].
Medovridhhi
(obesity):
According to Ashtang
hridya, due to increased medodhatu abdomen and buttocks becoming
oversized, individual suffers from dyspnea even after slight strain [6].
Acharya
Sushrut added while explaining medovridhhi, due to
increased medodhatu entire body becomes oily, abdomen and flanks become
obese, individual suffers from cough, dyspnea and smells very bad [7].
2.2
Lifestyle disorder
Simply defined
as diseases that occur primarily based on the daily habits of people and are a
result of an inappropriate relationship of people with their environment. Prolonged
consumption or exposure to modern lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking,
unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity, ultimately result in the development
of chronic diseases, like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and
metabolic syndrome [8].
3. Results and discussion
MedaSara
is the excellent or best functional aspect of medadhatu responsible for
enduring strength to a person. Therefore, pravara meda sara
persons cannot have lifestyle disorders because medasara is the purest
form of medodhatu that shows the excellent health status of a person.
Also, saraparikshan is useful to assess bala of person.
Therefore, medasara is purest medodhatu, not disease causing
agent. But, when it leads to vridhhi/prakop of medodhatu that can
cause disease. For example, medasara person is a healthy one, but obesity
leads to cause various diseases. So, avara meda sara persons can develop
various lifestyle disorders including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia,
overweight associated with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism,
insomnia arthritis PCOS, heart diseases, constipation, etc. in the present scenario [9].
To control these lifestyle disorders, pravara medasara of that
person will play an important role. This is how medasarta will help to
prevent and cure lifestyle disorders by understanding their etiological
factors.
4.
Conclusions
Sarta
and vriddhi, these two concepts that are unique in ayurveda. Though the
terms like 'increase and hypertrophy' can be used for 'vriddhi' and 'Excellence
of dhatu' can be used for dhatu sarta. Medadhatu vriddhi that
means increase in medadhatu which is responsible for various disease
condition in the body. This includes lifestyle disorders/ diseases. But medadhatu
sarta is Excellency of the dhatu. That may give rise to meda
vriddhi or prakop due to its various causes like meda dhatu
prakopak aahar vihar sevan, therefore these persons show avara meda sara
or sometimes madhyam meda sara condition, then it will be responsible
for the various disease condition like lifestyle disorders/ diseases. In today's
world, lifestyle disorders are the burning problem. To get control over it, Ayurveda
practitioners will be required to keep safe control between medadhatu sarta & medadhatu
vriddhi.
Authors’ contributions
All the author contributed equally
Acknowledgements
I am very
grateful to Dr. Sampada Sant mam, Dean, RA poddar ayurved college, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, for their support. My special thanks to them for their valuable
guidance. I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Ugle sir & Dr. Shilpa ingle
mam who helped me at every stage of preparation.
Funding
The author did
not receive any financial aid.
Availability of data and materials
All relevant
data are within the paper and its supporting information files. Additional data
will be made available on request according to the journal policy.
Conflicts of interest
The authors have
declared that no competing interests exist.
References
1.
Vaidyaraj datto ballal borkar, Sarth
Sushrut Samhita, published by Raghuvanshi prakashan; Sushrut Sutrasthan Chapter
15 Shlok no.5.
2.
Astanga Samgraha of Vagbhata, part II, translated
by Prof. K.R. Srikantha Murthy, Published by Chaukhambha orientalia, Third
Edition 2001, Sharir sthana chapter 6 verse 28 p. 84.
3.
API Textbook of Medicine, Editor in
chief Shantilal Shah, Published by Association of physician of India, Bombay ,1988,
Section VII, Chapter 14, p. 266.
4.
Tripathi, B. CARAKA-SAMHITA of Agnivesa,
published by chaukhamba surbharati prakashan Varanasi, reprinted in 2006,
Charaka samhita Viman sthan chapter 8 shlok no.106.
5.
Vaidyaraj datto ballal borkar, Sarth
Sushrut Samhita, published by Raghuvanshi prakashan; Sushrut Sutrasthan chapter
35 shlok no.16.
6.
Gupta, K.A. Astangahridayam; published
by chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan; reprinted in 1993 eleventh edition; Ashtang
hridya sutrasthan chapter 11 shlok no. 10.
7.
Vaidyaraj datto ballal borkar, Sarth
Sushrut Samhita, published by Raghuvanshi prakashan; Sushrut Sutrasthan chapter
15 shlok no.23.
8.
Sharma, M.; Majumdar, P.K., Occupational
Lifestyle Diseases: An Emerging Issue. PMC Pubmed Central. Website ncbi.nlm.nih.gov;
Last assessed on 25 Sept 2023.
9.
Pappachan, M.J. Increasing prevalence of
lifestyle diseases: high time for action. Indian J. Med. Res. 2011; 134, 143–5.
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Abstract
Medasara person achieves wealthy, healthy, happy feeling that makes life pleasant and comfortable with luxurious lifestyle. Therefore, medasara person shows less physical strength. They cannot face physical strain. So, they require jobs like administrative or sedentary jobs. Medasara people are intelligent, but they like to enjoy life. They are unable to bear any exertion. These all things lead to a sedentary lifestyle. So, their love to sedentary lifestyle causes various lifestyle disorders/diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, overweight associated with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, insomnia, arthritis, PCOS, heart diseases, constipation, etc. Medosarta is beneficial but there are two chances. Firstly, the person enjoys the functional benefits of the activity of medadhatu sarta as explained above. But later, there are also chances that they will suffer from de-arrangement in their functions due to prolonged consumption of meda dhatu prakopak aahar-vihar sevan, leading to increase in its normal structure & functioning either by vriddhi Or prakop of medadhatu. The resultant condition leads to the development of obesity which ultimately contribute to the increase in various lifestyle disorders which are one of the cause of mortality in today's world including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insomnia, obesity, cancer, etc. Also, rapid acceptance towards the western lifestyle and rapid financial development in the past few decades caused increase in lifestyle disorders. Therefore, understanding the concept of medosarta relevance in the present scenario is an important step in learning. It enables Ayurveda scholars to find out the relevance of medosara in the present scenario with special reference to lifestyle disorders.
Abstract Keywords
Medasara,
medadhatu, medasarta, vriddhi (increase in bulk and
mass), prakop (hyper dynamic state), kshaya (decrease in bulk and
mass), snehan, dridhta, asthiposhan, prakriti, pravara sara, madhyam sara,
avara sara.
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Dr. Christian Celia
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License.(CC BY-NC 4.0).