Significance of Sara Pariksha in Ayurveda: A Critical Review

Abstract

In Ayurveda, Sara Pariksha is one among the ten types of methods to examine a patient, stated as Dashvidha Aatura Pariksha. Sara Pariksha primarily determines the strength of a person. Acharya Chakrapani illustrated Sara as ‘Vishudhataro Dhatu’, which means the essence of all Dhatu. Eight types are explained by Acharya Charaka, each one characterized by both physical as well as psychological parameters. These contribute to the physician in deciding the Bala of a person. This review study mainly focuses on material available on Dhatu Sara in Ayurvedic literature, Brihat Samhita, text related to astrology. Various research papers and studies have been reviewed and referred in the present study that establishes its significance in Ayurveda. Studies so far conducted on Asthi Sara, Majja Sara, Rakta Sara and overall Dhatu Sara have been reported in this article. It can be concluded that Sara is one of the parameters for the assessment of strength of an individual. Further, more studies can be carried out to find out its relation with recent laboratory parameters. Development of some standardized tools or parameters for the assessment of Dhatu Sara may be an important contribution to clinical research. This can be of great help to physicians in maintaining the uniformity in assessing the qualities of each Dhatu Sara. The Sara Pariksha is significant in analyzing the Bala Pramana of a patient. On the basis of Bala, the physician decides the type of medicine and its dose to be given in Samshodhana or Samshamana Chikitsa.

Keywords: Sara Pariksha, Bala, Dhatu Sara, Majja Sara, Rakta Sara

Cite this Article

Pragya Sharma, Mahesh Vyas, Bhojani Meera K et al. Significance of Sara Pariksha in Ayurveda: A Critical Review. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Ayurvedic Science, Yoga and Naturopathy. 2018; 5(3): 1–6p.