Article: CORRELATION OF MEDODHATU IN MODERN PHYSIOLOGY: A REVIEW

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.16257

Pages: 134-137

Author: Admaja Prabhakaran *

Abstract: In Ayurveda, medodhatu is the fourth among the fundamental tissues of the body. It is the sneha dhatu of the body which resembles sandra sarpi. It is having ap- prithvi predominance. Kapha dosha and medodhatu have ashraya- ashrayi bhava. The most important function of medodhatu is snehana (unctousness). Dridhatva and asthipushti are the other functions of medodhatu which provide structural stability and firmness to the body. It also nourishes the succeeding asthidhatu. Medodhatu is formed from the metabolic transformation of mamsadhatu with the help of agni which yields the sukshmabhaga, the poshaka medodhatu. The dhatvagni converts it to poshya medodhatu as the sthulabhaga, sweda as the malabhaga and poshaka asthidhatu as the sukshmabhaga. Medovahasrotas are the channels for internal metabolic pathways of physiological, pathological and pharmacological action of medodhatu. In modern physiology, this aligns with the role of body- lipid system. It includes the adipose tissue and the circulating lipids. The poshaka medodhatu is correlated to cholesterol and lipids present in the circulating blood. Poshya medodhatu is gativivarjita. So it can be correlated to the body’s fat depot. It functions as an energy reserve and provides protection and support to the body. The fat cells regulate insulin resistance and lipid metabolism by secreting hormones. The applied aspect of this phenomenon extends to various metabolic and lifestyle disorders. This paper explores the correlation between medodhatu and fat tissue and lipids, examining their role in health, disease and metabolism, and thus draws the comparison between traditional Ayurvedic knowledge and contemporary physiology.

Keyword: Medodhatu, Adipose Tissue, Lipid, Snehana