SHUKRA DHATU OF AYURVEDA AND ITS AFFILIATES IN MODERN PERSPECTIVE: A REVIEW

Abstract

Ayurveda has described three basic physiological constituents of human body, viz., dosha, dhatu and mala. Human physique is made up of seven dhatus (seven categories of tissues). Shukra is the seventh and last (ending) Dhatu in the Dhatus formation cycle. Shukra is white, pure, exquisite Dhatu, which is considered as best among all seven Dhatus. Sperm along with spermatic fluid and male sex hormones are also one part of Shukra dhatu. Anu Shukra dhatu (primordial germ cell) essential for the Shukra dhatu (Testosterone, Estrogen). It takes about one month to synthesize shukra dhatu from rasa dhatu. Acharya Charaka classified Shukra under pitruja bhava. Acharya Vagbhatt has considered Shukra as ashraya sthan of kapha dosha.The quantity of Shukra dhatu is half Anjali in our body. In this article we are intended to make a correlation of shukra dhatu with modern prospective to have a clearer view about the shukradhatu. For which the basic materials have been collected from the ayurvedic classics with the available commentaries, as well as text books of contemporary modern medical science have been referred for better understanding of the concept and its comparison with contemporary science.