Changes

==Principles of management of diseases of rakta dhatu==

==Principles of management of diseases of rakta dhatu==

If there is excessive vitiation of rakta dhatu, then purification procedures are indicated. This includes therapeutic purgation (virechana) and bloodletting (raktamokshana) after considering strength of the patient.

*The principles of management for disorders of rakta are mentioned as below [Cha. Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 24/18].

In case of mild to moderate severity of disease and in patients with low strength, pacification therapies (shamana) is indicated. This includes therapeutic fasting (upavasa) and management on the lines of bleeding disorders (raktapitta).  

If there is excessive vitiation of rakta dhatu, then purification procedures are indicated. This includes therapeutic purgation ([[virechana]]) and bloodletting ([[rakta mokshana]]) after considering the strength of the patient.

 In case of fever (jwara), the dosha located in raktadhatu are treated with pouring of medicated liquids (seka) and ointment application (pradeha).[Cha. Sa. ChikitsaSthana 3/316].

In the case of mild to moderate severity of disease and in patients with low strength, pacification therapies (shamana) is indicated.  This includes therapeutic fasting (upavasa) and management on the lines of bleeding disorders (raktapitta).  

 In case of poisoning, the spread of toxins is arrested by applying coolingexternal application (pradeha  and alepa) and poring medicated liquids (seka). [Cha. Sa. ChikitsaSthana 23/42-43] It shows pacifying actions on vitiated rakta and pitta. [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 18/3]

Best herbs in management (agryasamgraha):

*In case of fever (jwara), the dosha located in rakta dhatu are treated with pouring of medicated liquids (seka) and ointment application (pradeha).[Cha. Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 3/316].

Some food items and herbs have excellent action on blood as follows:[Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 25/40].

*In case of poisoning, the spread of toxins is arrested by applying cooling external application (pradeha and alepa) and poring medicated liquids (seka). [Cha. Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana ]]23/42-43] It shows pacifying actions on vitiated rakta and [[pitta]]. [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 18/3]

Pollens of utpala (Nymphaca alba Linn.), kumuda (a variety of utpala) and padma (Nelumbo nucifera gaertn.) or pollen of blue and white water lilies Astringent effect, alleviating raktapitta (sangrahikaraktapittaprashamana)

Bark of kutaja (Holarrhenaantidyscenterica wall.) or kurchi bark Among astringent and desiccant of kapha, pitta and the blood (shlesma pitta raktasangrahikopsosananam).

Fruit of kashmari (Gmelina arboria) or fruit of white teak Causing haemostasis and curing raktapitta (Raktasangrahikaraktapittaprashamana)

Guduchi (Tinosporacordifoliamiers) or amrita Act as astringent, curative of vata, promotes digestion, curative of vitiation of kapha and blood (sangrahikavataharadipaniyashleshmashonitavibandhaprashamana).

Priyangu [Callicarpa macrophylla Vahi.] or the perfumed cherry Alleviate the plethoric condition of blood and pitta (shonitapittatiyogaprashamana)

Physiological effect of various tastes on blood:

===Best herbs in management (agryasamgraha):===

The substances with predominant tastes (rasa) produce physiological effect on rakta dhatu as shown below.[Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 26/43]

Some food items and herbs have excellent action on blood as follows: [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 25/40].

Rasa (taste) Effect

Sour(amla rasa) Vitiates blood (raktamdushayati)

Salty(lavana rasa) Increases volume(raktamvardhayati)

Pungent (katurasa ) Breaks the blood clots/anti-coagulant (shonitasanghatambhinatti)  

Bitter (tiktarasa) Depletes the quantity of blood by absorbing fluid portion(raktamshoshayati)

|Goat milk (ajaksheera) || Pacifying raktapitta (bleeding disorders) (raktapittaprashamana)

Astringent(kashaya rasa) Pacifies vitiated blood (Raktaprashamana)

|Ananta (Hemidesmus indicus R.B.)or Indian sarsaparilla ||Astringent effect, pacifying raktapitta (Sangrahikaraktapittaprashamana)

|Pollens of utpala (Nymphaca alba Linn.), kumuda (a variety of utpala) and padma (Nelumbo nucifera gaertn.) or pollen of blue and white water lilies || Astringent effect, alleviating raktapitta (sangrahikaraktapittaprashamana)

|Bark of kutaja (Holarrhenaantidyscenterica wall.) or kurchi bark || Among astringent and desiccant of kapha, pitta and the blood (shlesma pitta raktasangrahikopsosananam).

|-

|Fruit of kashmari (Gmelina arboria) or fruit of white teak || Causing haemostasis and curing raktapitta (Raktasangrahikaraktapittaprashamana)

|Guduchi (Tinosporacordifoliamiers) or amrita || Act as astringent, curative of vata, promotes digestion, curative of vitiation of kapha and blood (sangrahikavataharadipaniyashleshmashonitavibandhaprashamana).

| Priyangu [Callicarpa macrophylla Vahi.] or the perfumed cherry || Alleviate the plethoric condition of blood and pitta (shonitapittatiyogaprashamana)

The above factors are used in diagnosis as well as treatment. E.g. Sour substances are known to vitiate blood, hence the patients with disorders due to vitiation of blood are advised to avoid sour substance. Instead, they are advised to consume bitter and astringent substances.  The substances with pungent taste can be used to prevent coagulation.

===Contemporary approach ===

In contemporary physiology, red coloured fraction of blood is considered as rakta dhatu. The colourless fluid (plasma) is considered as rasa dhatu. Thus, rasa and rakta together form “blood”. The red fraction orred blood corpuscles are referred as rakta dhatu in this article.  

Composition:  

Blood is a complex liquid tissue composed of different types of cells. The plasma which represents the matrix of this tissue constitutes over 55% of it. Formed elements which are suspended in the liquid matrix constitute over 45% of blood, these comprise of erythrocytes,leucocytes and platelets. The characteristic color of blood is due to the erythrocytes present in it. These cells are formed in the red born marrow and they survive for about 80 days in circulation and then disintegrate. Their debris are removed from the blood by liver and spleen. Ranjaka pitta which gives color to rakta may be considered as the ayurvedic analogue of the red cobalt linked enzyme B12 present in the liver.  

Color:  

 

The above factors are used in diagnosis as well as treatment.  

 

E.g. Sour substances are known to vitiate blood, hence the patients with disorders due to vitiation of blood are advised to avoid sour substance. Instead, they are advised to consume bitter and astringent substances.  The substances with pungent taste can be used to prevent coagulation.

 

==Contemporary approach ==

In contemporary physiology, red coloured fraction of blood is considered as rakta dhatu. The colourless fluid (plasma) is considered as rasa dhatu. Thus, rasa and rakta together form “blood”. The red fraction or red blood corpuscles are referred to as rakta dhatu in this article.  

===Composition:===

Blood is a complex liquid tissue composed of different types of cells. The plasma which represents the matrix of this tissue constitutes over 55% of it. Formed elements that are suspended in the liquid matrix constitute over 45% of blood, these comprise of erythrocytes,leukocytes, and platelets. The characteristic color of blood is due to the erythrocytes present in it. These cells are formed in the red born marrow and they survive for about 80 days in circulation and then disintegrate. Their debris is removed from the blood by liver and spleen. Ranjaka pitta which gives color to rakta may be considered as the ayurvedic analogue of the red cobalt linked enzyme B12 present in the liver.  

 

===Color: ===

The red color in blood is due to hemochrome present in the protein (hemoglobin). This is responsible for oxygen transport. Different groups of organisms use different proteins.

The red color in blood is due to hemochrome present in the protein (hemoglobin). This is responsible for oxygen transport. Different groups of organisms use different proteins.

Quantity:  

 

===Quantity:===

Blood accounts for 7% of the human body weight. The average adult has a blood volume of roughly 5 litres.  

Blood accounts for 7% of the human body weight. The average adult has a blood volume of roughly 5 litres.  

Functions:  

===Functions: ===

• The blood has important role in physiology of cardiovascular system andlymphatic system.  

The blood has an important role in the physiology of the cardiovascular system and lymphatic system.  

 

It carries important functions as below:  

It carries important functions as below:  

• Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin, which is carried in red cells)

 

• Supply of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins (e.g., blood lipids)

*Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin, which is carried in red cells)

• Removal of waste such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid

 

• Immunological functions, including circulation of white blood cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies

*Supply of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins (e.g., blood lipids)

• Coagulation, the response to a broken blood vessel, the conversion of blood from a liquid to a semisolid gel to stop bleeding

 

• Messenger functions, including the transport of hormones and the signaling of tissue damage

*Removal of waste such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid

• Regulation of core body temperature

 

• Hydraulic functions

*Immunological functions, including circulation of white blood cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies

 

*Coagulation, the response to a broken blood vessel, the conversion of blood from a liquid to a semisolid gel to stop bleeding

 

*Messenger functions, including the transport of hormones and the signaling of tissue damage

 

*Regulation of core body temperature

 

*Hydraulic functions

==Current researches ==

==Current researches ==