Digestion is essential for good health and proper body function. In Ayurveda, the body is described as a system of interconnected channels called Srotas, which facilitate the transport and transformation of bodily elements (Sharirbhava and Dhatus). Annavaha Srotas plays a vital role in the digestion, absorption, and movement of food. Charaka identifies their Moolasthana (root sites) as the Amashaya (stomach) and Vamparshwa (left flank), while Sushruta mentions the Amashaya and Annavahini Dhamani (food-carrying vessels). Modern lifestyle factors such as irregular eating habits, excessive junk food intake, sedentary routines, and stress disrupt digestion and contribute to conditions like gallstone disease (cholelithiasis). Cholelithiasis involves the biliary tree, a network of ducts that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, and is mainly caused by imbalances in bile components like cholesterol, bile pigments, and calcium salts. Its related disorders tend to become more prevalent with age and are seen more often in women. Surgery is the primary treatment for gallstones, but may cause metabolic issues post-cholecystectomy. While Ayurveda doesn't explicitly mention the gallbladder, its functions and bile secretion are associated with Accha Pitta. Impairment of Annavaha Srotas can disturb Pitta flow and digestion, suggesting a link between Annavaha Srotas Dushti and the pathogenesis of gallstones. Cholelithiasis and post-cholecystectomy issues, associated with disrupted digestion and bile metabolism, may indicate vitiation of these channels. Thus, assessing and maintaining the health of Annavaha Srotas may be key in understanding and preventing gallstone disease through an Ayurvedic lens. This article explores Annavaha Srotas and its potential connection to gallstones, drawing insights from classical Ayurvedic texts and contemporary scientific studies.
Sudharseni et al. (Tue,) studied this question.