Sankhya Sharir: A Comprehensive Review of Ayurvedic and Modern Medical Perspectives
Abstract
Background: Ayurveda (Charak Samhita), has described detailed embryology and anatomy of the human being as Sharir Rachna. Sankhya philosophy regards the universe as an evolution of two things. This comprehensive accounting offers a quantitative perspective on the structural and functional complexity of the body, although it is little honoured by modern science. An integrative study based on scientific and traditional knowledge is imperative to articulate the Ayurvedic concepts with contemporary science.
Objective: The present review intends to systematically collate and critically appraise the classical understanding of Sankhya Sharir (classical) by different text forms referred to in Ayurveda and propose their correlation with concurrent anatomy and physiology.
Methods: A systematic search of the literature was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted on electronic databases (pubmed, scopus, AYUSH research portal, DHARA, Google scholar) from inception to October 2023. The key words used were "Sankhya Sharir," "Ayurvedic anatomy," "Ayurvedic embryology," and the combinations with the topic like body parts enumeration. The classical works, Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya were reviewed. Publications and papers related to comparative anatomy from Ayurvedic view point were selected.
Results: The review presents a long list of enumerations in Ayurvedic texts, like six layers of skin, 7 Dhatus (tissues),13 Srotas (canals), etc., 300 bones count, including cartilages and 700 Siras. So it was not by chance that the relation of 6 (of skin) also had modern counterparts - 300 bones to be found in man, finding reflection only after they are 'born' as a baby, who has 270, and over time becomes 206. The theory of Marma points (107) appears to have interesting similarities and correlations with neuromuscular junction areas and trigger points in Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
Conclusion: Sankhya Sharir is an advanced system of numerical anatomy which, based on a different epistemological approach, gives concern vision. These enumerations are not only literal counts but often symbolic of systemic operations and taxonomies. This is a significant gap covered by this review which has the potential to apply Sankhya Sharir as a good platform for future research and clinical applications of integrative anatomy techniques especially in the field of regenerative medicine, neurology, musculoskeletal conditions etc.
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