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Overlooked contributions of Ayurveda literature to the history of physiology of digestion and metabolism

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Abstract

Ayurveda is a traditional system of healthcare that is native to India and has a rich documented literature of its own. Most of the historians agree that the documentation of core Ayurveda literature took place approximately in between 400 BCE and 200 CE, while acknowledging that the roots of its theoretical framework can be traced back to a much earlier period. For multiple reasons many significant contributions of Ayurveda literature to various streams of biological and medical sciences have remained under-recognized while recounting the historical milestones of development. This is true in the context of the physiology of digestion and metabolism too. In this communication we try to reconstruct a picture of the processes of digestion and metabolism as had been understood by ancient Ayurveda scholars. Though this understanding was primitive and insufficient in many ways, we argue that this deserves to be documented and acknowledged. To help with grasping the importance of these contributions, we juxtapose them with the corresponding insights pertaining to this subject reported by prominent western scientists. The major contributions of Ayurveda that have been recounted in this paper are those related to the description of three distinct phases of digestion (Avasthapaka), multiple sets of transformative entities acting at different levels of metabolism (Agni), and the roles ascribed to various internal and external factors in executing these physiological functions.

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Notes

  1. Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 5/7–8.

  2. Charaka Samhita Vimanasthana 2/17.

  3. Charak Samhita Sharirasthana 7/10.

  4. Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 13/65.

  5. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 28/6.

  6. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/56–57.

  7. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 28/10–11.

  8. Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 6/12.

  9. Agni located in the gut.

  10. Five types of Agni corresponding to five basic elements known as Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Space.

  11. Seven types of Agni corresponding to seven bodily tissues—Rasa (nutritive fluid), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (flesh), Meda (fat), Asthi (Bone), Majja (Marrow) and Shukra (Semen).

  12. Stages of transformation of the ingested food leading to a change in the state or form in the gut during the digestive process.

  13. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/9–11.

  14. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/13–15.

  15. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 8/39.

  16. An organ which contains undigested food, mainly the stomach.

  17. Tubes/vessels that pulsate.

  18. Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 2/18.

  19. Charaka Samhita, Sharirasthana 6/14–15.

  20. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, 15/8.

  21. Charak Samhita, Vimanasthana 2/9.

  22. Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 1/21.

  23. Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 1/24.

  24. Charak Samhita, Chikitsasthana 20.

  25. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 22/16.

  26. Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 46/471–473.

  27. Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 46/468–470.

  28. Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 46/465.

  29. Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 21/9.

  30. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 12/8.

  31. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sharirasthana 3/73.

  32. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 11/34.

  33. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 11/34.

  34. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana, 9/20.

  35. Sharngadhara Samhita, Purvakhanda 6/9.

  36. Chakrapani on Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/3–4.

  37. Chakrapani on Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 5/3.

  38. Chakrapani on Charak Samhita Sutrasthana 6/33.

  39. Chakrapani on Charak Samhita Sutrasthana 28/4.

  40. Charaka Samhita Chikitsasthana 15/16.

  41. Chakrapani on Charak Samhita Chikitsasthana 16/124.

  42. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsathana 15/4.

  43. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 28/6.

  44. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 12/16.

  45. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 12/16.

  46. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/6–8.

  47. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/9–11.

  48. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/9.

  49. Chakrapani on Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/10.

  50. Portion of the gut that contains the completely formed stools, Colon.

  51. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/11.

  52. Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 28/4.

  53. Sharngadhara Samhita, Purvakhanda 6/9.

  54. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/36.

  55. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/13–14.

  56. Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 9/20.

  57. Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana15/15.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the support we received from the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India under ‘Ayurgyan’ central sector scheme.

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  1. Department of Kriya Sharir, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India

    Aparna Singh, Sonam Agrawal, Kishor Patwardhan & Sangeeta Gehlot

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Singh, A., Agrawal, S., Patwardhan, K. et al. Overlooked contributions of Ayurveda literature to the history of physiology of digestion and metabolism. HPLS 45, 13 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40656-023-00559-6

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