Ancient Embryological Wisdom - A Scientific Explanation in the Light of Epigenetics

Abstract

Abstract: Ayurveda primarily deals with both healthy and diseased human conditions, from conception to death. Suprajanan (Healthy Progeny) is the primary goal of Garbhasharir (embryology) as described in Ayurvedic texts. Modern embryology describes in detail the formation, development, and structural teratogenesity of our body's organs, whereas Ayurveda describes the foetus' structural, physical, and mental status. There are numerous references to Garbhasharir that are quoted in Brihattrayee (the three major Ayurvedic compendia) and their commentaries that need to be elucidated in an appropriate way to make them relevant for the modern era. The current critical appraisal is based on Grabhasharir concepts mentioned in Ayurvedic lexicons in relation to embryological concepts, to interpret and analyze processes related to progeny genesis using current scientific knowledge. Brihattrayee and other relevant literature were critically reviewed to uncover the hidden core of embryology described in Garbhasharir chapters. The fundamentals of Ayurvedic embryology are 'Tridosha' (three bodily humours), 'Triguna' (three psychological humours), and 'Panchamahabhoota', among others. Ayurvedic compendia roughly depict two types of processes (dependent & independent) related to progeny genesis. Dependent processes are those that can be modified, whereas independent processes are those that cannot be modified by parental effort. Even though the embryology concepts described in Ayurveda date back centuries, they are still relevant in today's scientific world if proper insight is used to interpret them