E-ISSN:2456-3110

Research Article

Skin Color

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2022 Volume 7 Number 3 April
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Relation of Prakriti and Skin Color - An Observational Study

Vantagodi R.1*
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.7.3.4

1* Rajeshwari Vantagodi, Assistant Professor, Department of Shareer Rachana, BVV’S Ayurved Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India.

Prakriti is one of the most important concepts in Ayurveda which is of 7 types i.e., Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, three Dwandaja and one Sannipataja. Prakriti is first Pariksha mentioned in Charaka Samhita among Dashavidhapariksha. Assessment of Prakriti is done based on Anatomical, Physiological, Psychological, and Behavioural factors. Twak Shareera is one of the important anatomical features used in the assessment of Prakriti. In this article, an attempt is made to understand the color of Twak and its relationship with Prakriti. An observational study of 150 healthy subjects was conducted to assess the Prakriti of individual and its relationship with Twak Shareera. We used Von Luschan's chromatic scale (VLS) and The Fitzpatrick scale for classifying skin color. The more the VLS Score, the darker the skin color is. The present study showed that VLS Score increases wherever there is involvement of Vata and Fitzpatrick scale showed that Vataja Prakriti are more of Dark brown in color compared to Pitta. Thus, it can be said that skin color is Genetic in nature and correlated with our theory of Prakriti.

Keywords: Prakriti, Skin color, Von Luschan's chromatic scale, Fitzpatrick scale, Ayurveda

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Rajeshwari Vantagodi, Assistant Professor, Department of Shareer Rachana, BVV’S Ayurved Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India.
Email: 		Rajeshwari Vantagodi, Relation of Prakriti and Skin Color - An Observational Study. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2022;7(3):23-26.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/1776

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2022-02-28 2022-03-01 2022-03-08 2022-03-15 2022-03-22
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
Nil Nil Yes 19%

© 2022by Rajeshwari Vantagodiand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Vantagodi R: Relation of Prakriti and Skin Color An Observational Study

Introduction

Prakriti one of the most important concepts in Ayurveda is a state which is formed at the time of fertilization due to dominance of Dosha. It remains unchanged from fertilization till death. Prakriti of an individual is determined on the basis of the dominant Doshas when they initially unite in the form of fetus. Therefore, Prakriti of some people is dominated by Kapha, some others by Pitta, some others by Vata and some others by the combination of two Doshas.

In some other cases, however, the combination of all the Doshas is  found,  thus  making it to 7 types of Prakriti. i.e., Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, three Dwandaj and one Sannipataja.[1,2,3]

Prakriti is first Pariksha mentioned in Charaka Samhita among Dashavidha Pariksha[5] for investigating the patients. Assessment of Prakriti is done based on Anatomical, Physiological, Psychological, and Behavioral factors.[6]

Twak Shareera is one of the important anatomical features used in the assessment of Prakriti. The parameters for assessment of morphological features in skin are its colour, consistency, tactile features such as dryness/oiliness of skin and body temperature.

Charaka has explained 4 normal colors of the skin - 1) Krishna - Black, 2) Shyama - Dark, 3) Shyamaavadata - Mixture of dark and pale, 4) Avadata - also called as Gaura (White or pale red).[7]

Ayurveda explains the factors responsible for the formation of the particular skin complexion right from the time of the union of the Shukra and Shonita. Normal persons with different Prakriti have different skin color presentation i.e., individual color variation. Such individual variation has been broadly, categorized in accordance to Prakriti in Ayurveda such as Vata Prakriti individuals show lusterless skin and dusky skin color, while the Pittaja Prakriti person’s body is yellowish and their eyes, lips, palms and soles are coppery color. The complexion of Kapha Prakriti person is Shweta (Whitish) or Avadatgatra (fair complexion).

In the present study, an attempt was made to assess the Prakriti of individual using a special proforma and to understand the color of Twak and its relationship with Prakriti.

Methodology

An observational study was conducted to assess the Prakriti of individual using a special proforma and to understand the structure of Twak Shareera and its relationship with Prakriti. Eligible subjects were screened for Prakriti using a special proforma of Prakriti Assessment. Detailed Twak Shareera of the subjects total 150 healthy volunteers were studied and database of their skin color and texture was prepared.

150 Healthy volunteers between 18-60 years of age were recruited for the present study irrespective of their sex, caste and socio-economic status. The subjects were examined in detail as per Prakriti proforma for the study. Subjects with any known condition known to hamper the skin color and texture and with known systemic illness were excluded from the study.

Assessment Criteria

The healthy volunteers were assessed with the following parameters.

1. Von Luschan's chromatic scale (VLS) - VLS is a method of classifying skin color. It is also called the von Luschan scale or von Luschan's scale. It is named after its inventor, Felix von Luschan. The equipment consists of 36 opaque glass tiles which is compared to the subject's skin, ideally in a place which would not be exposed to the sun.

2. The Fitzpatrick scale (also Fitzpatrick skin typing test; or Fitzpatrick photo-typing scale) is a numerical classification schema for human skin color. Developed in 1975, the system classifies skin type according to the amount of pigment skin has and skin's reaction to sun exposure.

Results

Table 1: Prakriti wise distribution of 150 subjects

Prakriti No of subjects %
Vataja 25 16.67
Pittaja 38 25.33
Kaphaja 10 6.67
VataPittaja 44 29.33
VataKaphaja 7 4.67
Pittakaphaja 25 16.67
VataPittaKaphaja 1 0.67

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Vantagodi R: Relation of Prakriti and Skin Color An Observational Study

Table 2: Showing the mean values of Von Luschan's chromatic scale (VLS) Score in difference Prakriti.

Prakriti VLS Score (Mean + Stdev)
Vataja 31 + 4.5
Pittaja 17 + 7.0
Kaphaja 16 + 2.6
VataPittaja 25 + 7.7
VataKaphaja 27 + 7.2
PittaKaphaja 18 + 7.6

Table 3: Showing One Way Analysis of Variance of VLS Score in different Prakriti

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)
P value < 0.0001
P value summary ***
Are means signif. different? (P < 0.05) Yes
Number of groups 6
F 17
R square 0.38

There was significant difference between the groups (p<0.05). The Mean VLS Score was highest in Vataja (31 + 4.5) followed by VataKaphaja (27 + 7.2) and VataPitta (25 + 7.7). The Mean VLS Score in Pittaja, Kaphaja and Pittakaphaja was 17 + 7.0, 16 + 2.6 and 18 + 7.6 respectively.

In Tuckey’s multiple comparison test, it was found that there is significant difference between all the groups except VataPitta vs VataKapha, VataKapha vs Vata, Pitta vs PittaKaphaja, Pitta vs Kapha and PittaKapha vs Kapha.

Table 4: showing the Fitzpatrick scale in different Prakriti.

Prakriti Light brown Medium brown Beige Dark brown White Black
Vataja 1 1 0 17 0 6
Pittaja 18 10 8 2 0 0
Kaphaja 3 0 7 0 0 0
VataPittaja 11 10 2 20 0 1
VataKaphaja 1 1 0 5 0 0
PittaKaphaja 11 4 7 2 1 0

Table 5: Showing the Chi-square analysis of Fitzpatrick scale in different Prakriti.

Chi-square  
Chi-square, df 111, 25
P value < 0.0001
P value summary ***
Statistically significant? (alpha<0.05) Yes

When analyzed, there is significant difference between the groups (p<0.0001). We found in our study, among 25 Vataja Prakriti subjects, 6 were black and 17 were dark brown color. Among 38 Pittaja Prakriti Individuals, 18 were light brown, 10 were medium brown, 8 Beige color and only 2 were of black color. Among 44 Vata Pittaja, 11 were light brown, 10 were medium brown, 2 were of light color and 20 were of dark color. On the contrast in Pitta Kaphaja, 11 were of light brown, 4 were of medium brown, 7 were of beige and only 2 were of dark brown.

Discussion

Our study showed that VLS Score increases wherever there is involvement of Vata. The more the VLS Score, the darker the skin color is, i.e., The Mean VLS Score was highest in Vataja (31 + 4.5) followed by Vata Kaphaja (27 + 7.2) and Vata Pitta (25 + 7.7). VLS Score does not make much difference between Pittaja and Kaphaja Prakriti and their combination. Even, the Fitzpatrick scale shows that Vataja Prakriti are more of Dark brown in color compared to Pitta and Kaphaja Prakriti are comparatively light brown and Medium brown and beige color.

Skin color is determined by a pigment called melanin, and while everyone has melanin (both fair and dark-skinned people), it comes in different forms and ratios. The two forms of melanin are called eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin comes in primarily brown and black hues, while pheomelanin appears as red and yellow hues. It is produced by a specialized group of cells called melanocytes. Melanin functions as a shield against ultraviolet radiation, thus protecting the cells from the many dangers of excess exposure. The expression of pigment is controlled by six main genes in the body, and this genetic makeup is largely determined by parents and the generations that came before. The majority of genes that control pigmentation have now been identified, and progression of skin color across the world and throughout history can be traced out. Thus it can be said that Skin color is Genetic in nature and correlated with our theory of Prakriti.

Reference

1. Agnivesha. Charak Samhita. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy. Sutrasthana,


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Vol 7, Vidyotini Hindi Commentry by Kashinath Shastri and Gorakhanath Chaturvedi; 1998;pp39–40.

2. Sushruta. Sushruta Samhita. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Samsthana. Sharirsthana, Vol 4, Ayurvedatatva Sandipika Hindi Commentry by Kaviraj Ambikadutt Shastri; 2001;p62.

3. Vagbhatt. Ashtang Hridya, Vidvanamanoranjini Hindi Commentry by Kashinath Shastri. In: Tripathi Indradev, Tripathi Shrikant, editors. Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy. Sutrasthan, Vol 1, 1194;pp9-10.

4. YT Acharya (Ed). Charaka Samhita of Agnivesha, Vimansthana; chapter 8, Verse 94. Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan, Varanasi, 2011, reprint 2011.

5. Harish Rotti, Ritu Raval, Suchitra Anchan, Bellampalli, Sameer Bhale, Ramachandra Bharadwaj, et al. Determinants of Prakriti, the Human Constitution Types of Indian Traditional Medicine and its Correlation with Contemporary Science. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014 Jul-Sep; 5(3): 167–175.

6. Agnivesha. Charak Samhita. Indriyasthana. Varnasvariyamindriyam, 8th Quote accessed from http://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/ecaraka/(e-Samhita Designed and Developed by National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad) accessed on 18th March 2018

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