International Journal of and Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Volume 7 Issue 2 2017

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Int J Ayu Pharm Chem REVIEW ARTICLE www.ijapc.com e-ISSN 2350-0204

Sushruta’s Concept of Prakriti

Bijit Das1* and Pankaj Kumar Barman2

1,2Dept. of ShalyaTantra, Govt. Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Guwahati-14, Assam, India ABSTRACT Every individual is different from another & hence should be considered as a different entity. As many variations are there in the universe, all are seen is human beings. Pharmacogenomics is a re-definition of diseases on the molecular level so that diagnostic & therapeutics can be targeted to specific patient populations sub typed on the basis of genetic make-up & thereby offer the right treatment for right patient populations. The concept of personalized has been around for as long as people have been practicing medicine. In Ayurveda,from to , all have practiced the personalized approach for treating diseases. The basis of personalized medicine is gene biology. Though no such direct relation between prakriti and gene biology has been established yet some aspects of classifications of different prakriti may show some relevancy. With basic principles of Sushruta’s view towards prakriti the study has been carried out.

KEYWORDS Prakriti, Pharmacogenomics, Tridosa theory

Greentree Group Received 25/07/17 Accepted 31/08/17 Published 10/09/17

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INTRODUCTION PRAKRITI: Every person in the universe is different In Ayurveda, predisposition to a disease as from another and hence should be well as selection of a preventive & curative considered as different entity. It is also said regime is primarily based on phenotypic that “It is far more important to know what assessment of a person which includes one’s person has the disease than what disease the body constitution termed as “Prakriti” person has”. Former President of India Dr. Prakriti is a concequence of the relative A.P.J. Abdul Kalam focusing on proportion of three entities-Vata, Pitta personalized medicine of Ayurvedic System &kapha which are generally genetically of medicine has invited our attention to the determined (Sukra-Sonita).It is also fact that in this post genomic era, the influenced by environment, maternal diet & emerging concept of personalized therapy lifestyle. depending upon concept of pharmacogenomics. “PRA” means beginning or commencement

or source of origin. AIM “KRITI” means to perform or to form. To discuss about Sushruta’s view on Combining together “Prakriti” means natural Prakriti (with special reference to form or original form or original source. DehaPrakriti). DEFINITION OF PRAKRITI: Pharmacogenomics is a re-definition of As per Monier Williams, English disease on the molecular level, so that Dictionary-Prakriti means constitution, diagnostic & therapeutics can be targeted to disposition or fundamental forms. specific patient population. The concept of Bhagwat Geeta says personalized medicine is mainly based upon gene biology where DNA forms the basis in relation to any physiological response of human body towards any internal or external It is the basic nature of intelligence by which stimuli. Prakriti based medicine can offer the universe exists & functions. It is remedies to the challenging health issues described as the prime motive force. like adverse drug reactions, drug withdrawals etc.

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In Ayurveda, dehaprakriti or doshajaprakriti 1. VatajPrakriti: A person of vata is basically specific composition of doshas constitution is wakeful, averse to bathing & that is permanent throughout the life. cold, unpleasant to look, dishonest, fond of Dominence& unchangeable nature of dosha music. The soles & palms are much fissured. is called Prakriti. He is violent & having a habit of biting nails Acharya Sushruta explained Prakriti as- & grinding the teeth. He is a person with less patience &unsteady in friendship, ungrateful, lean &rough. Especially the hands & legs show the network of vessels. He walks fast & dreams of scaling the sky in

his sleep. His eyes are always moving. His In relation to above Sushruta also mind is never steady. explained that by nature, the prakriti do not 2. PittajPrakriti: A person of pittaj get aggravated, perverted or diminished constitution perspires copiously emitting an except when the end of life is approaching. unpleasant smell. His limbs are loosely CLASSIFICATION OF PRAKRITI AS shaped & yellowish in colour. The nails, SARIRA STHANA OF SUSHRUTA eyes. palate, tongue, lips, soles & palms of SAMHITA: such person are copper coloured. He eats The deha- prakriti are of seven types, much, is aversh to warmth & irritable in 1. Vataj temper. The person is a man of moderate 2. Pittaj strength. He is intelligent &possessagood 3. Kaphaj retentive memory. He dreams about 4. Vataj-Pittaj meterors, lightening, flashes. He never fears 5. Vataj-Kaphaj & bent before powerful opponents. 6. Pittaj-Kaphaj 3. Kaphajaprakriti: The complexion of 7. Sannipataj. a person of kaphaja constitution resembles Although seven types are mentioned, yet either the colour of blade of grass, blue lotus only features of first three are explained or polish sword. The person is attractive & fully. handsome. He is fond of sweet taste. He is SPECIFIC FEATURES OF EACH prosperous in life. He dreams in his sleep of PRAKRITI AS PER SUSHRUTA: large lakes or pools deeled with myriad of

______Das and Barman 2017 Greentree Group © IJAPC Int J Ayu Pharm Chem 2017 Vol. 7 Issue 2 www.ijapc.com 335 [e ISSN 2350-0204] Int J Ayu Pharm Chem fully grown lotus flowers, swans. The limbs enumerated as one of the factors required to are proportionately & symmetrically categorise the disease as sukhasadhya, developed. He is capable of sustaining pain, kricchasadhya& asadhya.eg.-when the stress & is respectful towards superiors. He etiological factors &prakriti is not of same also possesses faith in religious texts. type, the disease is sukhasadhya. IMPORTANCE OF PRAKRITI: D. Management of disease &prakriti: A. Maitainence of health: Knowledge Plan of use of medication varies from about Prakriti is prerequisite for assessment patient to patient due to variation in their of vikriti, hence it is important for diagnosis strength. For instance, if powerful or strong & therapeutics. Primary objective of Prakriti medication be used in debilitated person, assessment is to estimate Balapraman & detrimental consequences may be obtained Doshapraman of an individual. & if weak drugs be used in powerfully built B. Prakriti & Vikriti: If the current patient or patient suffering from severe proportion of our doshas differs significantly disease, no effect will be obtained. The from our constituents, it indicates imbalance treatment may fail, if the patient is wrongly which in turn lead to illness. This deviation assessed. It may also be emphasized that is called Vikriti. The farther a person is while suffering from similar disease patients vikriti from his or her prakriti, the more do not respond to similar treatment modality he/she is prone to illness. because of variation in their constitution. C. Prakriti, Pathogenesis & This stresses the fact strategy of treatment Manifestation of disease: When etiological modalities is different in diverging patient. factors & constitutional factors are Universal management principle of disease antagonistic to each other, a disease is not also lays emphasis on role of constitution. produced. When these factors are synergistic RECENT RESEARCH IN PRAKRITI: only in few respects, complete manifestation Different molecular based studies have doesn’t occur & mild or latent type of shown about prakriti specific physiological disease is produced. When their combination response of individual. is synergistic to each other in all respect, the PRAKRITI, NEWBORN GENETIC disease is manifested fully with all clinical SCREENING & PERSONALIZED features. Prognosis &Prakriti: While PREVENTION: describing Sadhya-asadhyata, Acharya have

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Possibilities for future: used more effectively by targeting them on New born genetic screening has its history patients of particular prakriti. The potency in 1960s in US as a public health program. of Prakriti based medicine lie in- With time, the list of disorders that can be  Promotion of health, quality of life & detected by newborn genetic screening has there by longevity. expanded with different countries having  Prevention of disease & its different lists of disorders that they screen management for. However, the kind of newborn genetic  Understanding patient’s needs& risk screening that are envisage in this review factors for various chronic conditions. differs from just testing for possible genetic  Provision of new approaches for disorders. diagnosis & management. As such, screening of newborns to detect  Making healthcare affordable for any defect right after the time of their birth people of various economic strata. can have very significant & far reaching  To promote further integrated implications. Knowing the prakriti of a research by AYUSH with modern medicine newborn can lead to inculcation & adoption & Indian Systems of Medicine. of lifestyle of a newborn that will result in prevention of chronic diseases & more healthy high quality life for individual.

CONCLUSION The promotion of health & prevention of diseases are stressed by both Prakriti based medicine & Personalized medicine. Fields of genomics study, the contribution of genes, proteins, metabolic pathways & non-genetic factors to human & variations in pathways that has vital role in disease susceptibility of an individual. It is there that Ayurgenomics can play its role in explaining how current drugs can be

______Das and Barman 2017 Greentree Group © IJAPC Int J Ayu Pharm Chem 2017 Vol. 7 Issue 2 www.ijapc.com 337 [e ISSN 2350-0204] Int J Ayu Pharm Chem

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. SusrutaSamhita of Maharshi Susruta by KavirajAmbikaDattaSastri Publishing- Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthana, Edition- Reprint on 2010 (1st Part). 2. A text book of - by Dr. I.B. Singh.

______Das and Barman 2017 Greentree Group © IJAPC Int J Ayu Pharm Chem 2017 Vol. 7 Issue 2 www.ijapc.com 338 [e ISSN 2350-0204]