Changes

The term ‘artava’ has many meanings like ovum, menstruation and menstrual fluid or blood. It refers to normal physiological process of periodic per vaginal uterine bleeding, symbolizing the forthcoming fertile period. The term is also used to denote ‘ovum’ and functions of female reproductive hormones. [SAT-B.453]

The term ‘artava’ has many meanings like ovum, menstruation and menstrual fluid or blood. It refers to normal physiological process of periodic per vaginal uterine bleeding, symbolizing the forthcoming fertile period. The term is also used to denote ‘ovum’ and functions of female reproductive hormones. [SAT-B.453] <ref>Available from http://namstp.ayush.gov.in/#/sat</ref>

This article describes normal physiological process of menstruation in Ayurveda and contemporary medical texts.The pathological morbidities related to menstruation are described in detail in a separate article on [[menstrual disorders]].  

This article describes normal physiological process of menstruation in Ayurveda and contemporary medical texts.The pathological morbidities related to menstruation are described in detail in a separate article on [[menstrual disorders]].  

== Etymology, derivation and synonyms==

== Etymology, derivation and synonyms==

The term ‘‘artava’ literally means pertaining to/ dependent on/ accompanying the seasons or some particular period (ritu).  The synonyms like artava, shonita, asrik, raja, rakta, lohita, rudhira, pushpa are used to denote menstruation and ovum. The references of each term denoting either menstrual blood or ovum are given in appendix 1.

The term ‘‘artava’ literally means pertaining to/ dependent on/ accompanying the seasons or some particular period (ritu).<ref>http://spokensanskrit.org/index.php?tran_input=Artava&direct=se&script=hk&link=yes&mode=3</ref> The synonyms like artava, shonita, asrik, raja, rakta, lohita, rudhira, pushpa are used to denote menstruation and ovum. The references of each term denoting either menstrual blood or ovum are given in appendix 1.

== Contextual meanings and importance==

== Contextual meanings and importance==

*It is also considered in the category of ‘dhatu’.[B.P.29/223]

*It is also considered in the category of ‘dhatu’.[B.P.29/223]

*The term artava is applied to denote the feminine genetic character.  At the time of conception, if the artava is dominant, it leads to female progeny. [Cha Sa [[Sharira Sthana]]  2/12-13] As per the recent researches, the sex of a baby is determined by its chromosome make-up at conception. The X chromosome dominance at conception determines female gender. An embryo with two X chromosomes becomes a girl. Further, the researchers have identified enhancers or regulators called SOX9 on DNA. The level of SOX9 determines development of sex organs in embryo.     

*The term artava is applied to denote the feminine genetic character.  At the time of conception, if the artava is dominant, it leads to female progeny. [Cha Sa [[Sharira Sthana]]  2/12-13] As per the recent researches, the sex of a baby is determined by its chromosome make-up at conception. The X chromosome dominance at conception determines female gender. An embryo with two X chromosomes becomes a girl. Further, the researchers have identified enhancers or regulators called SOX9 on DNA. The level of SOX9 determines development of sex organs in embryo.<ref>Brittany Croft, Thomas Ohnesorg, Jacky Hewitt, Josephine Bowles, Alexander Quinn, Jacqueline Tan, Vincent Corbin, Emanuele Pelosi, Jocelyn van den Bergen, Rajini Sreenivasan, Ingrid Knarston, Gorjana Robevska, Dung Chi Vu, John Hutson, Vincent Harley, Katie Ayers, Peter Koopman, Andrew Sinclair. Human sex reversal is caused by duplication or deletion of core enhancers upstream of SOX9. Nature Communications, 2018; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07784-9 available from niversity of Melbourne. "Geneticists make new discovery about how a baby's sex is determined." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 December 2018. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181215141333.htm cited on 17/01/2021 </ref>    

Ayurveda texts describe clinical observations during pregnancy that indicate female progeny are as mentioned below:  

Ayurveda texts describe clinical observations during pregnancy that indicate female progeny are as mentioned below:  

The quantity of normal artava is four Anjali or 35 ml. [A. Hr. sharira sthana 3/81]

The quantity of normal artava is four Anjali or 35 ml. [A. Hr. sharira sthana 3/81]

One anjali is equal to the quantity that can be filled in a space formed from joining one’s palms together. This measurement is person specific.  As per current understanding, the average volume of menstrual fluid during a monthly menstrual period is 35 ml with 10–80 ml considered typical.   

One anjali is equal to the quantity that can be filled in a space formed from joining one’s palms together. This measurement is person specific.  As per current understanding, the average volume of menstrual fluid during a monthly menstrual period is 35 ml with 10–80 ml considered typical.<ref>Carlson KJ, Eisenstat SA, Ziporyn TD (2004). The new Harvard guide to women's health. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-01343-3 available from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstruation#cite_note-isbn_0674013433-11 accessed on 12/01/2021 </ref>  

==Female reproductive system (artava vaha srotas)==

==Female reproductive system (artava vaha srotas)==

==Current researches ==

==Current researches ==

*The endometrium functions as a complex multicellular structure that involves interactions of immune, endocrine and vascular systems. The strict regulation of this tissue to allow cyclical ‘injury’ and ‘repair’ at menstruation results in a remarkable physiological response that allows pregnancy to occur.  

*The endometrium functions as a complex multicellular structure that involves interactions of immune, endocrine and vascular systems. The strict regulation of this tissue to allow cyclical ‘injury’ and ‘repair’ at menstruation results in a remarkable physiological response that allows pregnancy to occur.<ref>Maybin JA, Critchley HO. Menstrual physiology: implications for endometrial pathology and beyond. Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(6):748‐761. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv038</ref>

*Overall, 1753 genes were differentially expressed in one or more comparisons related to menstrual breakdown and repair. Significant canonical pathways, gene clusters and upstream regulators enriched during menstrual bleeding included those associated with immune cell trafficking, inflammation, cell cycle regulation, extracellular remodeling and the complement and coagulation cascade.  

*Overall, 1753 genes were differentially expressed in one or more comparisons related to menstrual breakdown and repair. Significant canonical pathways, gene clusters and upstream regulators enriched during menstrual bleeding included those associated with immune cell trafficking, inflammation, cell cycle regulation, extracellular remodeling and the complement and coagulation cascade.<ref>Paiva P, Lockhart MG, Girling JE, et al. Identification of genes differentially expressed in menstrual breakdown and repair. Mol Hum Reprod. 2016;22(12):898‐912. doi:10.1093/molehr/gaw060</ref>

*A non-invasive sampling method is developed by collecting menstrual blood and filtering endometrial tissue. In combination with advanced experimental technology, the sample of menstrual endometrium is studied further for researches on endometriosis, endometrial lesions or other menstruation-related diseases.  

*A non-invasive sampling method is developed by collecting menstrual blood and filtering endometrial tissue. In combination with advanced experimental technology, the sample of menstrual endometrium is studied further for researches on endometriosis, endometrial lesions or other menstruation-related diseases.<ref>Shu S et al, Investigation on endometrium from menstrual blood as a source of non-invasive tissue, Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi. 2019;54(8):527‐533. doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0529-567x.2019.08.005.</ref>

*A study investigated the effects of donor age and passage number on the biological characteristics of menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) by comparing MenSCs derived from donors with three different age ranges and after different passage times. Continuous passage, flat cloning, cell proliferation assays, flow cytometric phenotyping and whole human genome microarray were performed to systematically analyse the relationship between the self-renewal ability of MenSCs as well as their potential to maintain their stem cell characteristics and to resist aging. The results demonstrated that the immune phenotypes and in vitro cultural characteristics of MenSCs did not change significantly with the progression of aging.  

*A study investigated the effects of donor age and passage number on the biological characteristics of menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) by comparing MenSCs derived from donors with three different age ranges and after different passage times. Continuous passage, flat cloning, cell proliferation assays, flow cytometric phenotyping and whole human genome microarray were performed to systematically analyse the relationship between the self-renewal ability of MenSCs as well as their potential to maintain their stem cell characteristics and to resist aging. The results demonstrated that the immune phenotypes and in vitro cultural characteristics of MenSCs did not change significantly with the progression of aging.<ref>Chen J, Du X, Chen Q, Xiang C. Effects of donors' age and passage number on the biological characteristics of menstrual blood-derived stem cells. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015;8(11):14584‐14595. Published 2015 Nov 1.</ref>

*Some studies have shown the evidences regarding the feeling like craving for certain type of food articles like chocolate in women during the menstrual phase.  

*Some studies have shown the evidences regarding the feeling like craving for certain type of food articles like chocolate in women during the menstrual phase.<ref>Hormes JM, Niemiec MA. Does culture create craving? Evidence from the case of menstrual chocolate craving. PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0181445. Published 2017 Jul 19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181445</ref>

*Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of diet and life-style for maintaining the proper menstrual health. Dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and menstrual irregularities are directly associated with dietary habits and physical activities. Diet, characterized by a high consumption of sugars, salty snacks, sweets and desserts, tea and coffee, salt, fruit juices and added fat (labeled as “snacks” pattern), is associated with an increased risk of dysmenorrhea among young women.  

*Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of diet and life-style for maintaining the proper menstrual health. Dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and menstrual irregularities are directly associated with dietary habits and physical activities. Diet, characterized by a high consumption of sugars, salty snacks, sweets and desserts, tea and coffee, salt, fruit juices and added fat (labeled as “snacks” pattern), is associated with an increased risk of dysmenorrhea among young women.<ref>Najafi, N., Khalkhali, H., Moghaddam Tabrizi, F. et al. Major dietary patterns in relation to menstrual pain: a nested case control study. BMC Women's Health 18, 69 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0558-4</ref>

*In a study, it is observed that smoking is associated with increased risk of reporting psychological and behavioral symptoms in premenstrual syndrome. High calorie/fat/sugar/salt foods intake is associated with increased risk of reporting physical symptoms. Fruit consumption shows decreased risk of reporting behavioral symptoms.  

*In a study, it is observed that smoking is associated with increased risk of reporting psychological and behavioral symptoms in premenstrual syndrome. High calorie/fat/sugar/salt foods intake is associated with increased risk of reporting physical symptoms. Fruit consumption shows decreased risk of reporting behavioral symptoms.<ref>Hashim MS, Obaideen AA, Jahrami HA, et al. Premenstrual Syndrome Is Associated with Dietary and Lifestyle Behaviors among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Sharjah, UAE. Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1939. Published 2019 Aug 17. doi:10.3390/nu11081939</ref>

===List of thesis done===

===List of thesis done===