GENETICS IN AYURVEDA: A REVIEW

Dr. Rashi Jaiswal* and Prof. Rakesh Sharma

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is an age-old science of life. Apart from being old, we can also say that it is complex with the surplus knowledge of its texts given by our Acharyas Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbhatta whose meaning and interpretations we humans are exploring till date. Today’s genetic science has achieved great heights but I can assertively say that somewhere its foundations have already been laid in Ayurveda. Although the technical terms like genome, genetics, hereditary etc does not feature in Ayurveda but the theme is vibrantly mentioned in various samhitas. Acharya Charaka has described genetics in three genetic units in form of beeja (germinal cell), beejabhaaga (chromosome) and beejabhaagavyava (gene). Acharya Sushruta has classified hereditary and congenital types of diseases that occurs due to defect in genes like sthaulya, klaibya, prameha, arsha, kushta etc. Various other concepts like atulyagotriya, fertilization, sex determination, punsavana karma are measures to prevent birth of physically and mentally handicapped child, concept of prakriti and its clinical applications, all come under the shed of topic-Genetics. The review focuses on the literary concepts of genetics described in Ayurveda and their interpretation.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Genome, Genetics, Prakriti, Acharya Charaka, Acharya Sushruta.