Abstract

A CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF FUNCTIONS OF APANA VATA

Dr. J. Antony Stephen Raj, Dr. Udhaya Shankar T., Dr. Jyothi T. and Dr. Vaidehi Raole*

ABSTRACT

The human body is composed of dosha, dhatu, and mala. Dosha are the very important factor for our body in both the aspect i.e. health and illness. The healthy state of the human body can be attained and maintained only by keeping these dosha in equilibrium and their imbalance causes illness. Dosha are 3, i.e. vata, pitta and kapha.Vata is considered as the prime among them, due to its property of governing the functions of other dosha also. Apanavata is a sub-division of vata, which has many vital functions on human body, including nishkramana of mutra (urine), purisha (feces), shukra (semen), artava (menstrual fluid & ovulation) and garbha (fetus). In Ayurveda, almost all the acharyaa has quoted about apanavata and its functions but its mode of action is not explained and due to lack of the explanations, we have the incomplete knowledge about it. So present study has been made to evaluate the apanavata and complete understanding of its functions (physiological action) with the help of available modern theories.

Keywords: Apanavata, Nishkramana karma, Mutra, Purisha, Shukra, Artava, Garbha.