A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF RASA DHATU IN PRODUCING HEALTHY PROGENY.

Abstract

Each year in India, there are approximately 28 million pregnancies, in which 26 million live births, a million neonatal deaths & congenital deformities is occurring due to malnutrition of mother and fetus. The classics of Ayurveda detail the crucial role of Rasa dhatu in the production of healthy progeny. During gametogenesis, Rasa dhatu is the foremost requirement for normal, healthy sperm and oocytes (Shukra & Artava). Malformed paternal Rasa dhatu leads to malnourished and malformed gametocytes through mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetics and defects in meiosis cause Bija dosha, which in turn lead to Garbhshrava (miscarriage), deformed Garbha formation or congenital deformities like Suchi Mukh uterus in female fetus and sterile progeny. After fertilization, the ceased Artava (accumulated nutritional substance in the fluid of decidual cells) acts as a storage nutrition for the developing embryo in the embryonic phase. During organogenesis the Artava which is the Upadhatu of Rasa dhatu forms the maternal part of placenta. After formation of placenta & umbilical cord the Maternal Rasa dhatu provides directly nutrition to growing fetus. The malformed Rasa dhatu or the blocked Rasavaha channels of mother may cause different levels of intra uterine growth retardation such as Nagdhadara, Upavistaka, Lina garbha, Garbhashaya or Mritgarbha (IUD).