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== Prakriti vis-a-vis varna ==
== Prakriti vis-a-vis varna ==
<p style="text-align:justify;">Though the complexion of a person is an outcome of many factors such as humidity, temperature, race, occupation, etc.but prakriti (constitution) of individuals pre-dominantly affects his complexion.Since vata dosha is dry, rough and cold in nature due to predominance of vayumahabhuta,vata prakriti individuals are more prone to have lustreless,dry dusky complexion.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/98] [Ast. Hri. SharirSthana 3/85]Since pitta dosha is unctuous, hot, and fluid in nature due to predominance of agnimahabhuta,pitta prakriti individuals are prone to have fair complexion, with freckles and blackmoles.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/97] [Ast. Hri. ShariraSthana 3/90]Since kapha dosha is unctuous, smooth, soft, cold and clear due to predominance of jalamahabhuta, kapha prakriti individuals are prone to have a pleasing smooth fair complexion with lustre, comparable to gorochan (an auspicious yellow pigment collected from ox), lotus or gold. [Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/96] [Ast. Hri. SharirSthana 3/97] Thus the specific complexion in specific prakriti may be attributed to the composition of their respective predominant dosha. The prakriti depends on genetic constitution of a person. Fewresearches have identified the genome responsible for imparting skin colour.Several genome-wide association studies for pigmentation have now been conducted and identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in known, TYR, TYRP1, OCA2, SLC45A2, SLC24A5, MC1R, ASIP, KITLG and previously unknown SLC24A4, IRF4, TPCN2, candidate genes.<ref name="ref4">Pavan WJ, Sturm RA. The Genetics of Human Skin and Hair Pigmentation. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2019 Aug 31;20:41-72. doi: 10.1146/annurev-genom-083118-015230. Epub 2019 May 17. PMID: 31100995.</ref><ref name="ref5">Sturm RA. Molecular genetics of human pigmentation diversity. Hum Mol Genet. 2009 Apr 15;18(R1):R9-17. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddp003. PMID: 19297406.</ref></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Though the complexion of a person is an outcome of many factors such as humidity, temperature, race, occupation, etc.but prakriti (constitution) of individuals pre-dominantly affects his complexion.Since vata dosha is dry, rough and cold in nature due to predominance of vayumahabhuta,vata prakriti individuals are more prone to have lustreless,dry dusky complexion.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/98] [Ast. Hri. SharirSthana 3/85]Since pitta dosha is unctuous, hot, and fluid in nature due to predominance of agnimahabhuta,pitta prakriti individuals are prone to have fair complexion, with freckles and blackmoles.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/97] [Ast. Hri. ShariraSthana 3/90]Since kapha dosha is unctuous, smooth, soft, cold and clear due to predominance of jalamahabhuta, kapha prakriti individuals are prone to have a pleasing smooth fair complexion with lustre, comparable to gorochan (an auspicious yellow pigment collected from ox), lotus or gold. [Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/96] [Ast. Hri. SharirSthana 3/97] Thus the specific complexion in specific prakriti may be attributed to the composition of their respective predominant dosha. The prakriti depends on genetic constitution of a person. Fewresearches have identified the genome responsible for imparting skin colour.Several genome-wide association studies for pigmentation have now been conducted and identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in known, TYR, TYRP1, OCA2, SLC45A2, SLC24A5, MC1R, ASIP, KITLG and previously unknown SLC24A4, IRF4, TPCN2, candidate genes.<ref name="ref4">Pavan WJ, Sturm RA. The Genetics of Human Skin and Hair Pigmentation. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2019 Aug 31;20:41-72. doi: 10.1146/annurev-genom-083118-015230. Epub 2019 May 17. PMID: 31100995.</ref><ref name="ref5">Sturm RA. Molecular genetics of human pigmentation diversity. Hum Mol Genet. 2009 Apr 15;18(R1):R9-17. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddp003. PMID: 19297406.</ref></p>
== Excellence of body tissues (sara) vis-a-vis varna ==
<p style="text-align:justify;">The excellence of dhatus (body tissues) is studied with reference to sara. Sara is classified into eight categories. Among these eight categories, twak sara (excellence in rasa dhatu) individuals have unctuous, smooth, soft, clear, fine, less numerous, deep rooted and tender hair with lustrous skin.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/103] Rasa dhatu is rich in jalamahabhuta imparting smoothness, softness and unctuousness to the skin. <br/>Rakta sara (excellence in rakta dhatu) individuals have unctuousness, red colour, beautiful dazzling appearance of the ears, eyes, face, tongue, nose, lips, sole of the hand and feet, nails, forehead and genital organs.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/104]These individuals are believed to have well developed intra-dermal blood capillaries and circulation along with overall excellence in blood vascular system. <br/>Meda sara (excellence in meda dhatu) individuals have unctuousness in complexion, eyes, scalp hair and other parts of the body, nails, teeth, lips, urine and faeces.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/106]These individuals have excellence in adipose tissue which is unctuous in nature. <br/>Majja sara (excellence in majja dhatu) individuals too have unctuous complexion.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/108]Majja dhatu is predominantly formed of jalamahabhuta. <br/>Shukra sara (excellence in shukra dhatu) individuals have a gentle look, having eyes as if filled with milk, cheerfulness, having teeth which are unctuous, round, strong, even, beautiful, clean and have unctuous complexion with dazzling appearance.[Cha. Sa. VimanaSthana 8/109]Shukra dhatu or reproductive tissues are believed to be formed at the end from essence of all other dhatus. Thusit indicate the excellence of all dhatus.</p>
== Effect of dinacharya(daily regimen) on varna ==
<p style="text-align:justify;">A healthy daily regimen helps in maintaining a healthy varna. These regimens include following: <br/>Consumption of food in proper quantity[Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 5/8] <br/>Applying udvartana (massaging the body with soft, fragrant powder) [Ast. Hri. Sutra Sthana 2/15] <br/>Maintaining the three supports of life viz. food, sleep and brahmacharya (avoidance of sexual act physically, mentally and verbally in all ways under any circumstances) in life[Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 11/35] <br/>Use of rasayana[Cha. Sa. ChikitsaSthana 1/1/7] (the drug, food or therapy which has capacity to prevent ageing, improve longevity, provide immunity against the diseases, promote mental competence, increase vitality and lustre of the body) <br/>Jatharagni (digestive capacity) is also responsible for complexion [Cha. Sa. ChikitsaSthana 15/3], hence such diet should be consumed which establishes a healthy jatharagni. Importance of diet in imparting good complexion is mentioned.[Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 27/349] [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 27/3]. The food that is consumed is digested by jatharagni. This digestion produces nourishment to the dhatus (tissues) of the body. Healthy tissues are responsible for maintenance of healthy skin, thus indicating role of jatharagni in varna.</p>
== Ojas & varna ==
<p style="text-align:justify;">Ojas is the essence of the body tissues (dhatus) [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/24]. As healthy state of all dhatu keeps the skin healthy.Thusone of the functions of ojas is to maintain varna.[Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/25] The qualitative deterioration (ojavyapat) causes impairment of complexion.[Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/29]</p>
== Varna as an atmaja bhava ==
<p style="text-align:justify;">Ayurveda believes that six procreative factors affect the formation of foetus. One among these factors is atmaja (atma=soul, ja=emerging from) factor. Atmaja factor is belived to affect varna.[Cha. Sa. SharirSthana 3/10]</p>
== Importance of concept ==
=== Importance in diagnosis & prognosis of disease ===
<p style="text-align:justify;">The natural complexion indicates a state of health or natural physiological processes inside the body. Sudden spontaneous change in natural complexion may be due to some pathology. Sudden drastic change in natural complexion may also indicate death in near future. Apart from discussing the natural complexion, some of the abnormal complexions like blue, grey, coppery, green and albino (extremely white) are described. [Cha. Sa. IndriyaSthana 1/9] Example, cyanotic complexion is observed in severe right ventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.<ref name="ref6">Li M, Zhang L, Zhang Z, Wang S, Dong N, Wang G, Xie M. Isolated Severe Right Ventricular Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 Jan;107(1):e23-e25. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2018.05.061. Epub 2018 Jun 23. PMID: 29944878.</ref> The abnormalities include if half of the body has natural complexion and the other have abnormal complexion, and both of them are evenly demarcated by a line. These normal and abnormal complexions may simultaneously appear in left and right sides, front and back sides, upper and lower parts or internal and external parts of the body. Natural and abnormal complexions simultaneously appearing in face or other parts of the body, are the morbid signs indicating imminent death.[Cha. Sa. IndriyaSthana 1/10]For example, amelanotic melanomas presenting as red skin lesions are often lethal.<ref name="ref7">McClain SE, Mayo KB, Shada AL, Smolkin ME, Patterson JW, Slingluff CL Jr. Amelanotic melanomas presenting as red skin lesions: a diagnostic challenge with potentially lethal consequences. Int J Dermatol. 2012 Apr;51(4):420-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05066.x. PMID: 22435430; PMCID: PMC4465919.</ref> </p>
=== Clinical diagnosis based on varna ===
<p style="text-align:justify;">Some diseases often have an impact on varna. Thus varna can be used as one of the diagnostic criterias for identification of diseases. Examples are as follows:
* Pandu (anaemia); Pale colour. [Cha. Sa. ChikitsaSthana 16/11]
* Kamla (jaundice): Yellowish [Cha. Sa. ChikitsaSthana 16/35]
* Vitiligo: Depigmented patches over skin.
* Albinism: Depigmentation of skin.
* Cyanosis: Bluish colour (may be due to heart defect). </p>
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