Concept of Shukra Dhatu and Stree Shukra - A Review

Ayurveda has described three basic functional elements of human body, viz., Dosha, Dhatu and Mala. Human body is made up of seven Dhatus (Seven categories of tissue), viz., Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja & Shukra. Shukra is 7th 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 Stree-Shukra discussed in classics because Acharya Sushruta has mentioned that when sexual activities happen in two sexually excited women, they secrete Shukra within each other, due to which there is formation of foetus without bones. Acharya Vagbhatta has clarified that even though woman secrete Shukra during coitus, it is useless for fertilization. All Dhatus have their definite sites in the body; they are present in every cell in subtle form. Every cell retains capacity to divide or reproduce itself. Thus, one must interpret the Garbhotpadana (reproduction) function of Shukra Dhatu. In future, it may be possible that with the development of the facts; we will discover any content in the cell which possesses definite role in cell division. Sperms as well as spermatic fluid and male sex hormones are also one part of Shukra, parallel to which females retain Artava