Rajavashisth Tripathi
Banaras Hindu University, India
Title: Shotha and the Unified Theory of Inflammatory Diseases
Biography
Biography: Rajavashisth Tripathi
Abstract
Shotha is a term that was used in Charaka Saṃhita (1000-400 BCE) to explain the inflammatory immune response to either internal causes within the body due to endogenous factors or external causes such as infection and injury due to exogenous factors. Resolution of shotha or inflammation critically contributes to the maintenance of human health by overcoming adverse conditions presented throughout life including communicable and non-communicable diseases. Blood cells (among them mononuclear phagocytes, T cells, B cells, natural killer cells and mast cells), all thought to originate from circulating hematopoietic and immune precursors and key resident cells of the tissues orchestrate aspects of the acute and chronic shotha that underlie diseases of many organs. Inflammatory diseases are accompanied by a coordinated series of common mechanisms that is initiated by expression of cytokines, growth factors, mitogens and morphogens leading to a disturbance in homeostatic balance causing oxidative stress, tissue injury, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis and fibrosis in diverse target tissues. Careful resolution of shotha formed one of the central themes in treating pathological conditions through drugs, diet or life style modifications in Ayurvedic System of Medicine which emphasized precautions not to overwhelm and aggravate the immune system more than what is needed. Our recent studies on the regulation of macrophage-mediated inflammation by food substances and Ayurvedic rasayanas strongly suggest the involvement of pro and anti- inflammatory macrophages in maintaining homeostatic balance. Results of these studies strongly favor the conclusion that shotha or inflammation may contribute to a number of degenerative conditions in modern humans.