CLINICAL CORRELATION OF PRANAVAHA SROTAS AND ITS VIDDA LAKSHANA WITH MODERN SCIENCE

Ayurveda, the ancient science of life has given a great importance to the concept of srotas as no substance moves or transports into or out of the body without these channels. Acharyas of yore have described the Purusha is made- up of innumerable srotas. The diagnosis and treatment in Ayurveda are built on the fundamental principles like how the srotas are vitiated and what symptoms they exhibit. Innumerable srotas are present in body representing infinite elements transporting in the entire body. Conceptually body has as many srotas as it contains the biochemical entities and all metabolic activities take place in connection with the srotas. Acharya Charaka mentioned there are 13 srotases where as Sushruta explained 11 paired srotases. Pranavaha Srotas is a specific channel in which Pranavayu enters, nourishes and maintains the activities in the body. Hridaya has its role in the Pranvahan karma i.e. conveying Prana all over the body and hence Hridaya is considered its Moolasthana. There are many factors which are the definite indicative of Pranavaha srotas can be correlated with the Respiratory system. All clinical conditions associated with organs of the respiratory system can be considered same as clinical conditions affecting the Pranavaha srotas. Keywords: Pranavaha srotas, Hridaya, Mahasrotas, Viddha lakshana, Pradushta lakshana, Shwasa, Respiratory system, Anoxia.