Anatomical and Conceptual Study of Purishvaha Srotas With Special Reference to Ulcerative Colitis

Srotas are important structural and functional pathways described in Ayurveda for the transport, transformation and elimination of bodily substances. Acharya Caraka describes thirteen major internal Srotas, including Purishvaha Srotas, which is concerned with the processing, transportation and elimination of Purish. Its functional domain may be correlated with the colorectal region, although it should not be considered identical to any single modern anatomical structure. To examine the anatomical and conceptual features of Purishvaha Srotas and explore their possible correlation with ulcerative colitis. A conceptual review was undertaken using the Caraka Samhita and Susruta Samhita, along with contemporary literature concerning gross anatomy, histology, endoscopy and ulcerative colitis. The concepts of Srotas, Purishvaha Srotas, Srotodusti, Kha-vaigunya and Dosa-dusya sammurchana were examined in relation to contemporary anatomical and pathological findings. The large intestine, comprising the caecum, colon and rectum, performs important functions including water and electrolyte absorption, storage, propulsion and elimination of intestinal contents. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized predominantly by continuous mucosal inflammation of the colon, usually beginning in the rectum and extending proximally. Endoscopic and histopathological findings include erythema, loss of vascular pattern, friability, bleeding, ulceration, crypt architectural abnormalities, cryptitis, crypt abscesses and chronic inflammatory infiltration. These alterations may be conceptually interpreted through Srotodusti, Kha-vaigunya and Dosa-dusya sammurchana.