CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF PLIHA (SPLEEN) IN VIEW OF RAKTAVAHA SROTOMULA AND HEMATOLOGICAL ASPECTS

*Dr. Pradnya Ravindra Deshpande and Dr. Prasad Prabhakar Pande

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is the ancient science of health and medicine based on maintenance of homeostasis via five basic elements (earth, fire, air, water and space). These five elements in turn give rise to three different forms of physiological units- Tridosha, Saptadhatu and Trimala. Synthesis, transformation, conduction and excretion of these derivatives occur in and through channel like structures along with basic organ forming particular organ system. Ayurveda mentioned Sharir (body) as the constitution of various organ systems nomenclated as „Srotasa ‟. As per modern science, system performing hemodynamic and blood circulation is closed type circulatory system involving heart and vessels. In Ayurveda Rakta (blood) belongs to Dhatu (entity of body) and derived from previous Rasadhatu. The phenomenon occurs in Raktavaha srotas where there is no involvement of heart. Instead, Pliha (spleen) is considered as one of the chief organ. Pliha also act as storehouse of blood. Though vascularity is important aspect of each organ, there are special features mentioned in Ayurveda in Pliha related to hematology. In this review article, efforts are made to describe Ayurvedic anatomico-physiological aspects of spleen related to blood.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Pleeha, Rktawaha srotas, Spleen.