Concepts of Human Physiology in Ayurveda （阿育吠陀人体生理学的概念）.pdf

Concepts of Human Physiology in Ayurveda Kishor Patwardhan Lecturer, Department of Kriya Sharir, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi ‐221005 Abstract: ‘Human Physiology’, or the study of functional aspects of human body, is designated by the term ‘Śarīra Vicaya’ in Ayurvedic literature. The word ‘Vicaya’ means the special or detailed knowledge. Detailed knowledge of normal human body i.e., ‘Śarīra’, is considered helpful in understanding the factors influencing the health. Though most of the basic concepts of human physiology explained in Ayurveda are strikingly similar to the concepts of modern physiology, some concepts like ‘Ātmā’, ‘Manas’ and ‘Prakr ti’ are unique to Ayurveda. Understanding of Physiology in Ayurveda should start with the understanding of innumerable minute individual living units called ‘Śarīra Paramān us’ or ‘An u Srotāmsi’. These units are now known as cells. A group of such functionally and structurally similar units is called a ‘Dhātu’. These ‘Dhātus’ are almost equivalent to the tissues. Seven such ‘Dhātus’ have been enumerated. Similarly, the individual systems in the body have been designated by the term ‘Sthūla Srotāmsi’ and thirteen such ‘Srotāmsi’ have been described by Caraka. ‘Annavaha Stotas’, for example, stands equivalent to the digestive system and ‘Rasavaha Srotas’ to the cardio vascular system. Apart from these, the functioning of individual systems has also been described in a considerably detailed manner. Cardiovascular system as a closed circuit, role of liver