A concept of stri-shukra: An ayurvedic perspective

Abstract

Ayurveda has described three basic physiological constituents of human body, viz., dosha, dhatu and mala. Human body is made up of seven dhatus (seven categories of tissues). Shukra is seventh dhatu. It is present in whole body. It becomes active after the age of sixteen years, even though it is present from birth. Concept of stri-shukra is discussed in classics because Sushruta has mentioned that when sexual activities happens in two sexually excited women, they secrete shukra within each other, due to which there is formation of foetus without bones. Vagbhata has clarified that even though woman secrete shukra through coitus, it is useless for fertilization. All dhatus have their definite locations in the body; they are present in every cell in subtle form. Every cell possesses capacity to divide or reproduce itself. Thus, one has to interpret the garbhotpadana (reproduction) function of shukra dhatu. It future, it may be achievable that with the development of the facts; we will discover any content in the cell which possesses definite role in cell division. Sperms along with spermatic fluid and male sex hormones are also one part of shukra, parallel to which females possess artava. Stri-shukra excreted during coitus is nothing but the secretions of bartholins, cervical and endometrial glands emergence at the end of orgasm.