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.