The Integral Role of Strotas in Therapeutics

Background- Saptadhatus are the seven basic supportive tissues of the body. In addition, body comprises few updhatus (secondary tissues) also. Each dhatu is composed of innumerable minute paramanus (cells) and each paramanu contains a number of sukshma strotas (pores or channels) through which it receives nutrient materials and expels waste products. Dhatus are thus replete with such pores and in this respect the entire human body is strotomaya (full of strotas).1The strotas means pores or channel and mainly they are classified into two kinds as bahya and abhyantar strotas. According to Acharya Charaka, chikista is classified mainly into 3 types: Daivavyapashraya, yuktivyapashraya and satvavajaya.2 In yuktivyapashraya chikitsa some shamana dravyas are there which directly act on strotas similarly in shodhana we aim at strotas shodhana means clearing channels or pores or detoxification. In satvavajaya chikitsa manovaha strotas plays an important role.Purpose- This conceptual study mainly focuses on therapeutic perspective of strotas.Materials and Methods- Ayurvedic samhitas and their commentaries and modern literature. Result and Conclusion- For treatment of diseases we should know the proper diagnosis of that particular disease and for diagnosis we have to know their lakshans which can be accurately understood only through knowledge about strotas. Also strotas play important role in panchakarma therapy, kriya kalpa etc. In present era most of the diseases are strotorodha janya so clinical significance of strotas is must to know for all the vaidyas.