0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
avaram madhyam pravaram Frequency
Frequency
Of the 100 individuals 73 individuals had this variable with madhyama scoring, 22 had this as pravara scoring and only 5 had this with avara scoring.
Table 6. 100 Correlation between Hb and Excellence of rakta dhatu
Hb EXCELLENCE Hb Pearson Correlation 1.000 .845 Sig. (2-tailed) . .000 N 100 100 Excellence Pearson Correlation .845 1.000 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 . N 100 100
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Table 6. 101 Analysis of the significance between Hb and Excellance of raktha dhatu
Sum of Sq. df Mean Sq. F Sig.
Between Groups 7892.648 3 2630.883 110.320 .000 Within Groups 2289.392 96 23.848 Total 10182.040 99
Table 6. 102 Correlation between erythrocyte count and rakta dhatu
RBC EXCELLENCE RBC Pearson Correlation 1.000 .752 Sig. (2-tailed) . .000 N 100 100 Excellence Pearson Correlation .752 1.000 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 . N 100 100
** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Table 6. 103 Analysis of the significance between Erythrocyte count and excellance of raktha dhatu
Sum of Sq. df Mean Sq. F Sig.
Between Groups 6047.369 4 1511.842 34.737 .000 Within Groups 4134.671 95 43.523 Total 10182.040 99
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These Sara lakshanas were correlated with Hb% and RBC count. This was then tested with ANOVA test, and was found significant. So from the findings, it can be assumed that the Ranjaka pitta quality contributes to the excellence of raktha dhathu.
www.ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com Discussion on Literary review
Ranjaka pitta function in our body comes under the umbrella of pitta dosha. Health is directly proportional to the resultant products of digestion, absorption and assimilation of food and nutrients. Pitta plays a major role in the paka process. Of the five divisions of pitta, Ranjaka pitta plays a role in the formation of rakta dhatu.
Though the divisions of vata are mentioned by Acharyas in detail, it is not so in the case of Pitta. Vata divisions are explained with due importance by Acharya Susrutha, Acharya Charaka & Vagbada. But when it came to pitta, Susrutha attributed functions like ragakrit, pakakrit, tejokrit, ojokrit etc. He didn’t mention any specific names for the divisions. But it is in Ashtanga hridaya & Ashtanga Samgraha, detailed descriptions of divisions of pitta is given. This may be due to the fact that intense research programs were carried out to study Physiology of doshas in detail in the years following Charaka & Susrutha. But among the pitta, Pachaka pitta is given more importance.
From the physical properties mentioned, it feels that pitta in our body have a material outlook. But the gunas such as snigdha, ushna, tikshna, sara, laghu and visada, attributed to pitta doshas clarifies that wherever in the body,
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functions with the qualities mentioned above are seen and resultant reaction justifies an action of paka or transformation, the function of pitta at that particular body part should be assumed.
Ranjaka pitta function to impart red colour to the rasa to form raktha. So ranjaka pitta is pitta dosha/part of pitta dosha whose location is told as amasaya, yakrit, and pleeha, i.e, it is the pitta residing or having predominant areas of function is in amasaya, yakrit & pleeha. That division of pitta is given the term ranjaka pitta. The areas can be related to upper gastro intestinal tract, liver, spleen and the circulatory pathways connecting these and reticulo endothelial system.
Amasaya: - Food is broken down and is stored in stomach. Emptying of
stomach is slow so that the intestine has enough time for proper digestion & absorption of food substances. The function of stomach also include mixing of food to semisolid material-chyme. Any dhathu to be formed properly, basic necessities like proper functioning of Jataragni, time for action, nature of substrate to be acted etc should be perfect ie, if the amasaya functions are hampered the whole process of paka is adversely affected and thus formation of dhathus is also affected adversely. As a result the seat of ranjaka pitta is told by Ashtanga samgraha and Ashtanga hridaya as amasaya. But it will be improper to connect, amasaya with stomach. Better it is to be understood as
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upper GIT, where necessary preparations are done for effective absorption and subsequently dhathu formation, especially rasa & raktha dhathus.
From the rasa formed, it is in amasaya colour impregnation happens. Intrinsic factor of castle, present in gastric juice, necessary for the absorption of Vitamin B12 is important. Hemopoietic function of stomach also could be related as ranjaka pitta function. Again the concept will be narrow, if only this sole function alone is attributed to ranjaka pitta. So hemopoietic function and mechanical function of amasaya that is highly essential for the formation of raktha dhathu is to be considered as the areas of ranjaka pitta, explained by Samgraha & Hridaya.
Rakta vaha srothas have the moola as yakrit & pleeha. Synthetic function of liver include plasma proteins, blood group substances, clotting factors etc. In addition to this, metabolism of carbohydrates ,proteins, lipids & vitamins occur in liver. This is related to bhootagnipaka. It is to be noted that bhootagnipaka which occur prior to dhatvagnipaka is highly essential for dhathu formation. Other wise the process is hampered at the bhootagni level itself.
So for the raktha dhathu to be formed, metabolism in liver should take place without fail. Heat production is maximum in liver Since ushna guna is predominant guna of agni/pitta itself, it justifies the Acharya’s opinion to refer yakrit as the moola stana of raktha vaha srothas. Of the dhathus, it is raktha
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that comes under pitta, in it’s asraya -asrayi relationship. Hemopoietic function of liver is also a justifiable cause. So Yakrit as an area of bhootagnipaka performing hemopoietic function & metabolism is rightly termed by Acharyas as the sthana of rakta dhatu & raktha vaha srothas. Sarakta medas explained by Acharya susrutha, correspond with red bone marrow. When marrow is destroyed, blood cells are manufactured by liver and spleen-only area of extra medullary hemopoiesis.
It can be stated that nutrients formed from ahara rasa in essential for the formation of raktha dhatu. The necessary requisites for this include, Jataragnipaka, bhootagni paka, effective functioning of GIT & samana vayu. But when it comes to dhatu formation, synthetic functions happening in rasa and rakta vaha srothas, (which harbour hemopoietic factors), effective functions of dhatvagni (especially rasa & rakthadhatvagni) and vyana vayu play significant role. Pitta that is determinant in bringing about this raga to rasa to make it to raktha is ranjaka pitta.
It is difficult to detach pitta from the areas of upper GIT and all blood forming tissues. It is also difficult to detach ranjaka pitta from rakta dhatvagni completely. Both perform their function in union to bring about the raktha dhathu formation.
Colouring matter of red blood cell is hemoglobin. It is a chromo protein forming 95% of dry weight of RBC and 3O-34% of wet weights.
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There are two types of hemoglobin, hemoglobin A & hemoglobin F. Synthesis of Hb starts in Proerythoblastic stage. The production is continued till the stage of reticulocyte. The heme portion of Hb is synthesized in mitochondria.
Two molecules of succyinyl co A combine with 2 molecules of glycine to form pyrrole compound. Four pyrrole combine to form protoporphyrin. Only protoporphyrin IX forms heme molecule by combining with iron. Each heme combine with one globin molecule to form hemoglobin.
Substances necessary for hemoglobin synthesis 1. First class proteins
2. Metals like iron, copper, cobalt, nickel.
3. Vitamins - Vitamin C
Riboflavin
Nicotinic acid
Pyridoxine
Iron - is stored in body as ferritin & hemosiderine; which are reutilized for hemoglobin synthesis. Globin - is utilized for resynthesis of hemoglobin. Porphyrin is converted into a green pigment called biliverdin. In human being most of biliverdin is converted into a yellow pigment called bilirubin.
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When bile pigments enter liver, these are released from plasma protein and conjugated with glucuronic acid and then to gall bladder to form bile.
Iron is important for the formation of Hb, myoglobin and other substances. Iron is mainly absorbed from small intestine. For this bile is essential. Iron is transported in the form of transferrin. Iron is stored in large quantity in reticulo endothelial cells and hepatocytes. Absorption and excretion of iron are maintained almost equally under physiologic condition. When the iron storage is saturated in the body, it automatically reduces the absorption of iron from GIT by feed back mechanism.
So ranjaka pitta involves the activity of pitta necessary for the formation of Hb. The quality of rasa depends on the ahara that is -first class proteins, metals and vitamins. Iron and its metabolism should be specifically considered. Or in other words heat factor or ranjaka pitta function to absorb iron ie. in GIT (amasaya-intrinsic factor of castle), transport and storage of iron (liver & reticulo endothelial cells) The areas amasaya, yakrit and pleeha thus became predominant areas of activity of ranjaka pitta. Also a cellular level function which happens in mitochondria for the production of heme portion should not be excluded from the functions of ranjaka pitta.Thus ranjaka pitta function in macro as well as in micro levels
But when it comes to raktagni, formation of rakta dhathu occur, synthesizing cellular components other than what imparts red colour to blood.
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This includes formation of WBC’s, platelets, etc. All these don’t contribute to ‘ragatvam’ in raktha. They have dissimilar functions too. When raktha dhathu is considered ‘Jeevana’ is given as it’s important function. This function is solely attributed to RBC’s and to Hb. But WBC function includes protective and defensive function whereas in case of platelets it is clotting mechanism. So it is related more to bala, Vyadikshamatva, sthithi i.e. emergency mechanism to bring body back to homeostasis e.g. clotting mechanism.
It is raktha vaha srothas that aid in the functions of rakta dhatvagni. From raktha dhathu, pitta is formed as mala. So excreted bile pigments after the formation of bile could be related here. Or else heat released due to the formation of chemical reactions necessary for the formation of cellular components could be considered. The ‘mala’ or heat that is to be considered here is the mala that is to be excreted after it performed it’s specific activity.
Function of Raktha - Jeevanakarma.
Transport of O2 in combination with hemoglobin.
O2 combines with Hb in blood and is transported as oxyhemoglobin.
The transport of O2 in this form is important because, as much as 97% of O2
are transported by this method.
One gm of hemoglobin carries 1.34 ml of O2. This is called O2 carrying
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No oxidation reaction takes place. It is only oxygenation. This type of combination of oxygen with hemoglobin has advantages. O2 can be readily
released from Hb when it is needed. Hb accepts O2 readily whenever partial
pressure of O2 in the blood is more. One gm of Hb carries 1.34 ml of O2. The
normal hemoglobin content in blood is 15 gm%. Blood with 15 g% of hemoglobin carry only 19 ml% of O2, i.e. 19ml of O2 in 100 ml of blood.
This is known as O2 carrying capacity of blood. The O2 carrying capacity of
blood is only 19ml%., because the hemoglobin is not fully saturated with O2.
It is saturated only for about 95%.
So the rakta dhathu which is formed due to ranjaka pitta performs jeevana karma only if RBC, Hb & iron formation take place normally. So ranjaka pitta, to effectively perform its function, primarily need ahara which is having sufficient nutrient value. Erythropoiesis also need to be considered here. Factors influencing erythropoiesis could be put in 3 categories.
a) General factors.
b) Maturation factors.
c) Factors necessary for Hb formation.
Of the General factors major one is erythropoietin. Other factors include Vit B, Vit C & Vit D. Again maturation factor include cyanocobalamine, intrinsic factor of castle & folic acid. Factors for Hb
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formation are first class proteins, iron, copper, cobalt, nickel & Vitamins (Vitamin C, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine.)
So unlike WBC & Platelet, RBC and Hb having the jeevana karma are formed only by the effective performance of ranjaka pitta. So considering ranjaka pitta under the light of research & clinical work it can be stated that it is the pitta dosha division which is responsible for erythropoiesis, red blood cell maturation, iron metabolism & hemoglobin formation. Because of this it is rather difficult to pinpoint a single entity as ranjaka pitta; But it is possible to consider it as heat factor/paka which is responsible for erythropoiesis, Hb formation and iron metabolism.
Only possible way to assume ranjaka pitta quantitatively will be the Hb assessment and RBC assessment. Hb assessment and RBC count is not sufficient to get clear-cut view or pinpoint focus of ranjaka pitta function, as its activities include whole lot of other functions. but it surely give a general purview of ranjaka pitta status. In other words, ranjaka pitta status can be assumed by Hb % and RBC count. Since ranjaka pitta encompasses a wide range of bodily function, the factors that influence ranjaka pitta is also not single. It include nutrient food, effective digestive function, functional integrity of srotas and dhatvagni. Or in other words ritucharya, dinacharya, quality and quantity of our dietary regime and mental health play role in the effective functioning of ranjaka pitta.
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