Study of Raktasarata and haemoglobin percentage

– Sara parikshana is explained to determine the strength of person. It is necessary to add modern parameter to ancient subjective parameter. 80 healthy students between the ages of 18 to 25 years were selected for study. Sarata parikshan was done with the help of questionare designed. Haemoglobin percentage was estimated by Sahli’s haemoglobinometer method. Statastical analysis shows that ‘there is a relation between Raktasarata and haemoglobin percentage.


INTRODUCTION -
Character of a person is collectively mirror of his/her physical and Psychological status. In Ayurvedic literature Charaka describes sarata mainly on the basis of physical and mental signs and characteristics. But Sushruta was practical thinker and mostly describes physical signs. Characters of raktasara person described by Charaka and Sushruta belongs to rakta pravara sara persons.
Also person having features opposite to Uttam dhatu-sara, is called as Asara dhatu. 1 Person having moderate no of features of dhatusara then such dhatu is called as Madhyam sara dhatu. 2 Characters of raktasara as described by Charaka are as follows : In persons having Rakta Sarata, raktadhatu plays significant role which means that the raktadhatu is sarwan in such persons and raktadhatu does the functions of vishudhatara (purest) 3 , sarvotkrista (excellent) 4 , balwana (having good strength) 5 , and jivana (giving life) predominantly.
Part of the body where the skin is very thin, seems to be Aarakta Varniya (Reddish in colour). Karna Pali (ear lobules), Akshi (sclera of eye), Mukha (face), Nasa (nose), Jeevha (tongue), Ostha (lips), Hastatala (palms of hands), Padatala (sole of legs), Nakha (nails), Kapala (forehead), Mehana (genitals) are Araktavarniya. (reddish in colour). 6 Generally it is observed that some parts of the body like lips, tongue are basically redish in colour but in raktasara persons inspite of parts like lips and ostha other parts are also arakta verniya like karnapali, hastatala, padtala, kapala etc. and in such persons predominance of raktadhatu can be seen. That is why maximum parts are arakta varniya and shreematbhrajishnu.
Raktasara individuals are happy, delicate and they can not tolerate heat and physical strain. They don't possess more strength.
Raktasarata is very important and could be assessed on the pathological investigatory criteria such as haemoglobin percentage. Raktasarata directly shows condition of 'rakta dhatu' in the body. Rakta is the easily accessible element. That is why haemoglobin percentage is considered as primary criteria to access Raktasarata.
This study could be helpful in establishment of objective parameters for rakta sarata. These objective criteria could be used to elaborate ancient scientific experimental based knowledge of sarata parikshan.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE -
To assess the Co-relation between 'Rakta sarata' and 'haemoglobin percentage.

OBJECTIVES -
 Calculate the percentage of rakta sarata with the help of proforma prepared.  To estimate haemoglobin percentage in volunteers.  To study relation between Raktasarata and haemoglobin percentage.

RESULTS -
After observing the data calculations, statistics were carried out.
In order to determine the relation between Hb% and raktasarata, the Pearson's correlation coefficient was used.

Moderate positive
This means that there is positive corelation between Hb% and raktasarata.

OBSERVATIONS-
The total individuals examined were 80. Various characters are noted and observations recorded as follows; Part of the body where the skin is very thin, seems to be araktavarniya (reddish in colour). As circulating blood functions for nourishing Dhatawah. It also brings colour to skin. 8 Karnapali (ear lobules) -Pinna of the ear is made up of tarunasthi and skin, penetrated by siras. So reddish colour of pinna as described in Raktasara Person indicates proper nourishment of Rakta, Mansa and Asthidhatu.

1) CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SEX
Eyes -The intrastructures of eyes are nourished by the vascular layer and hence it appears mostly arakta in Raktasara person.
Face -Varna is predominantly reflected on face rather than other parts of body due to good quality of raktadhatu face of raktasara person is oily, redish and have lustre.
Tongue -Proper colour of tongue gives idea of proper functioning of GIT, so tongue of raktasara person is clear, red shiny and oily.
Nails -Reddish and lusterous nails are the signs of good health.
Forehead, Nose -Red colour shows proper nourishment of mansa and rakta dhatu.
Lips -Lips are nothing but thin muscular layer. As they are thin, colour of rakta can be observed easily on these structures and shiny, oily, red colour of external features of the body indicates good nourishment of other body parts by rakta.
Planter region of palms and soles -Siras are present beneath the skin of palm which nourishes the structure present in the palm, so red colour of palm can be observed easily.
The percentage of uttamsarata is less in female compare to the male. The reason behind this can be the less nourishing and less amount of diet during the menstruating age, that the female consume as compared to male.
A good and healthy nourishing diet helps in the production of good rasa and raktadhatu, which in turn shows the signs of raktasarata in that individual. In the lakshnas of vishuddha rakta purusha good digestive capacity is the main characteristic explained. And hence a good digestive capacity had got direct relation with the production of excellent dhatus. 10 Hence when the agni is in healthy state, along with dhatwagnis, it digests the aahar properly and this aaharrasa helps in production of vishudhatara rakta dhatu and this vishudhatara rakta dhatu shows the signs of raktasarata.
The average Hb percentage found in male volunteers were 13.47% and In female were 12.16%.
It is because, according to modern science, average man has about 700,000 more red blood cells per cubic millimeter than the average woman. However, this difference may be due to testorone, which increases metabolic rate, rather than direct effect on red blood cell production. 11 In this study group most of these female volunteers were staying in hostels, hence they might not get nutritionally rich diet.