Exploration of Ancient Wisdom of Clinical Genetics in Ayurvedic Classics

The current generation is concerned about lifestyle disorders and measures to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Individuals’ physical appearance, mental qualities, and illness creation are all influenced by genetic elements, according to modern science. Most diseases have a hereditary component, according to human genome studies. Genetic mutations can happen at random or as a result of an external cause. Genetic illnesses can be hereditary or not. According to WHO data, congenital abnormalities account between 17 percent to 43 percent of newborn mortality. Even while each person’s physical structure, appearance, and personality are unique, there are some common features passed down from parents to offspring that can be explained using genetics. If a parent’s genetic makeup makes them prone to certain diseases, their offspring and grandkids will be as well. In Ayurveda, the concept of genetics is veiled throughout the samhitas, especially in Shaareerasthaana. Ayurvedic academics believed that genetic components were passed down from generation to generation. The manifestation of these can be described in terms of prakriti. The prakriti determines an individual’s distinct bodily traits and psychological behaviour (phenotype) (genotype). In the mid- to late-nineteenth century, genetics became popular. Ancient Ayurvedic literature, however, documented the union of sukra and shonita (sperm and ovum), the notion of beeja, beejabhaga and beejabhagavayava, inheritance, congenital deformities, and genetic illnesses millennia before it was written. Ayurveda also valued tailored or individualised approaches to disease diagnosis and treatment. Ayurvedic concepts such as garbhasambhavasamagri (factors required for garbha formation) and garbhotpadaka bhava (six procreating factors), dinacharya, ritucharya, sadvritha, dharaneeya, adharaneeyavega, ritumaticharya, and garbhinicharya ensure the regulation of gene sequencing and gene expression, and thus can Ayurvedic science stresses not just morphological, physiological, and pathological elements of heredity, but also preventative approaches. Genetics is thus given a high priority in Ayurveda, as the incidence of genetic illnesses is on the rise. So, from the perspective of current genetics, an attempt is made to comprehend the notions outlined in old Ayurvedic texts.

Author(S) Details

Shyny Thankachan
Department of Rachana Shareera, Parul Institute of Ayurveda, Parul University, Vadodhara, Gujarath, India.

Bhagavan G. Kulkarni
Department of Rachana Shareera, Parul Institute of Ayurved & Research, Vadodhara, Gujarath, India.

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