Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2025 Volume 10 Number 7 JULY
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Scientific Overview of Raktapitta: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Hemorrhagic Disorders

Ankit1*, Manju2, Vats S3
DOI:10.21760/jaims.10.7.25

1* Ankit, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Rachna Sharir, Institute for Ayurvedic Studies and Research, Shri Krishna AYUSH University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.

2 Manju, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Rachna Sharir, Institute for Ayurvedic Studies and Research, Shri Krishna AYUSH University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.

3 Satish Vats, HOD, Department of Rachna Sharir, Institute for Ayurvedic Studies and Research, Shri Krishna AYUSH University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.

Raktapitta, as delineated in Ayurvedic texts, is a hemorrhagic disorder characterized by the spontaneous outflow of blood from natural orifices without any apparent trauma. The condition is primarily attributed to the vitiation of Pitta Dosha, which, when aggravated, contaminates the Rakta (blood) Dhatu, leading to its abnormal flow. This disorder manifests through various clinical presentations, including epistaxis (nosebleeds), hematemesis (vomiting of blood), and hemoptysis (coughing up blood), and is often exacerbated by factors such as excessive heat exposure, physical exertion, emotional stress, and consumption of pungent, sour, salty, and hot foods. The pathophysiology of Raktapitta involves the upward movement of vitiated blood, a phenomenon termed Urdhvaga Raktapitta, which predominantly affects the nasal passages. Ayurvedic management emphasizes a holistic approach, integrating dietary modifications, lifestyle adjustments, and specific therapeutic interventions. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Raktapitta, correlating its Ayurvedic understanding with contemporary medical perspectives, and highlighting effective Ayurvedic treatments for managing epistaxis.

Keywords: Raktapitta, Epistaxis, Doshas Dinacharya, Ritucharya

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Ankit, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Rachna Sharir, Institute for Ayurvedic Studies and Research, Shri Krishna AYUSH University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.
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Ankit, Manju, Vats S, Scientific Overview of Raktapitta: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Hemorrhagic Disorders. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2025;10(7):169-173.
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https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/4502/

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2025-05-21 2025-05-29 2025-06-06 2025-06-14 2025-06-26
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© 2025 by Ankit, Manju, Vats S and 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].

Download PDFBack To ArticleIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionReferences

Introduction

Raktapitta is recognized in Ayurveda as a severe & acute disorder, where vitiated Pitta contaminates Rakta, leading to abnormal bleeding from the body's natural orifices without trauma. Ancient texts highli-ght its rapid progression & life-threatening potential, classifying it as Mahagada (major disease).

Modern medicine, in contrast, attributes haemorrhagic disorders to specific deficiencies such as clotting factor defects (e.g., hemophilia), platelet dysfunction, or vessel wall abnormalities, resulting in conditions like epistaxis, hematuria, and gastrointestinal bleeding. While the pathophysiological frameworks differ, both systems emphasize early recognition and prompt intervention to prevent severe outcomes.

Raktpitta Overview

Definition

संसर्गाल्लोहितप्रदूषणाल्लोहितगन्धवर्णानुविधानाच्चपित्तं लोहितपित्तमित्याचक्षते | (च.नि.2/5)

संयोगाद्दूषणात्तत्तु सामान्याद्गन्धवर्णयोः|

रक्तस्य पित्तमाख्यातं रक्तपित्तं मनीषिभिः|| (च.चि.4/9)

Etiopathogenesis

Raktpitta is a serious and it afflicts the patient with a great speed like fire, it manifests itself and affects instantaneously­­­­­.[1] Because of the causative factor taken by the patient, Pitta gets excited and reaches Rakta (blood). Pitta takes origin from the Rakta. Therefore, when it reaches Rakta and vitiate the latter Pitta got further aggravated. Because of the heating of Pitta, the liquid fraction of Rakta pervades one of the Dhatu.[2]

Location

प्लीहानं च यकृच्चैव तदधिष्ठाय वर्तते |

स्रोतांसि रक्तवाहीनि तन्मूलानि हि देहिनाम् || (च.चि.4/10)

Being located in the Plihan and Yakrit spread to different part of the body. In living beings, the channel of circulation of blood are controlled by these two viscera.

Classification[3]

  • On the basis of the Marga (tracks/channels)

The disease manifests itself in two ways either in upper tracks and lower tracks.

kapha Upper tracks disease dominance of and lower tracks the dominance of the vata doshas respectively.

  • On the basis of the Dosha (etiological factors)

Vata: It become the Syava, Arun foamy, thin, and unctuous (resemble with haematemesis)

Pitta: It becomes Kasya (pink red), like the color of the Patala flower, black, like cow urine, Mechak (black collyrium), Agardhuma, and the Anjana (resemble with dark color blood, melena)

Kapha: When associated with the Kapha, it becomes dense, Pandu, unctuous and slime (resemble with haemoptysis)

Sansarga: When it is associated with more than one Dosha then the symptom with all the Doshas (infectious state of blood).

Sannipata: when it is associated with all the Dosha then symptom arise from all the Doshas (infectious state of blood).

Prognosis[4]

If patient is associated with only single Dosha and the upper tracks disease then it is curable.

If associated with any of two Dosha and lower tracks disease then it is palliable.

Patient is incurable in following condition i.e., it is associated with all the three Doshas, both the tracks were involved, having Madnagni (Power of digestion and the metabolism), patient is old, and if patient is emaciated by diseases.

As we discussed above, these symptoms are closely related with the external haemorraghic condition of the body i.e. epistaxis, haematemesis, haematptysis etc. all of these the epistaxis attack is more common to the other.

Treatment[5]

This acute disease which spreads like forest fire should be treated immediately and carefully keeping in view the locality and time with such diet as are nourishing or depleting: soft, sweet cold, bitter, bath, and also with such therapies like an ointment, affusion, bath, touch, or emesis

Epistaxis

Bleeding from the nasal opening termed as the epistaxis.


Anatomy of the nasal cavity shown that the there is a large number of plexuses that are more prone to the external bleed.

Factors

Trauma, age, sex, season dietry habit and the lack of proper exercise.

Anatomy of nasal area[6]

Kiesselbach plexus also called as the littles area present anterior

Littles area are 5 vessels

Anterior ethmoidal artery

Greater palatine artery

Superior labial artery

Posterior ethmoidal artery

Sphenopalatine artery

These different arteries are branches of major artery as follows-

Anterior and Posterior Ethmoid arteries (branches of the Internal Carotid artery)

The Superior Labial, Sphenopalatine, and Nasopalatine arteries (External Carotid artery branches).

A second plexus called woodruff plexus present posteriorly.

All these the minutes channel and easily dry moisture less that induce the frequent attack of the epistaxis.

Materials and Methods

By reviewing literature, Brihttrayi (Charaka Samhita, Shushruta Samhita, Astanga Hrdiyam, Laghutrayi (Madhava Nidana, Sharangdhar Samhita, and Bhavprakash) many commentaries it is found that Raktpitta cause serious illness of the patient and can be cured by simply following the regime discussed by the authors in their respective Samhitas.

Also, in contemporary science of medicine the bleeding from the external opening are mention very briefly

1. On the basis of nature of bleeding i.e., external and internal bleeding.

2. On the basis of source of bleeding i.e., artery, vein, and capillary.
3. On the basis of the amount of bleeding i.e., mild, moderate, and severe.
4. On the basis of the reactionary tie i.e., primary, secondary, and the reactionary.

Many research journals, and dissertation had been published on various scientific platform Shodhaganga, Shodhagangotri, JAIMS.

Results

The study of Raktapitta reveals two primary forms: pathological and physiological. Pathological form is extensively detailed across Ayurvedic texts, while physiological aspect is less explicitly defined, nece-ssitating comprehensive understanding from various sources. Key factors influencing Raktapitta include:

There are mainly four main factor that affect the physiology of the Raktpitta.

1. Grishma Ritu

A) Ushnata (This high temperature causes the dilation of vessels, and with high temp the Pitta get excites too, because the Pitta takes the origin from the Rakta it will vitiates the Rakta on latter stage of prognosis and finally the Rakta spread in minutes channels which is latter pervade into

B) Vata Sanchaya (As we know that the Vayu having qualities of the movement so as the Vata increase the movement also increase through the channels.

C) Hinbala (In the high temperature state all the Ayurvedic authors quoted that in Ritucharya Bala is minimum at that particular Ritu, this minimum Bala shown that the mucous membrane of that particular region is shad off.

D) Mandagni (Digestive fire & metabolism of the body is decreased)

2. Balyakaal

A) Hinbala (Naturally the kid having the minimum Bala)

B) Sukumarta (fragile/prone)

C) Krida Karma (causes Vata Kopa)

3. Vridhakaal

A) Hinbala (naturally body is weak)


B) Vata Vridhi (Vayu Antahe)

C) Rukshata (dryness in the body, shad off the mucous membrane of the little’s area)

4. Rukshata

As the winter month approach, dryness becomes more prominent so it will shed off the mucous membrane in old age the Raktapitta is seen less frequently than that of the kids because in the old age the person Dhatu also decreased to their minimal value (so the Rakta also at their minimal value) other than this some factors also play an important role in Raktapitta.

  • Seasonal Variations: Extreme temperatures, particularly heat, can exacerbate Pitta Dosha, leading to vitiation of
  • Dietary Habits: Consumption of hot, spicy, sour, salty, and pungent foods can aggravate Pitta, thereby affecting
  • Lifestyle Factors: Excessive physical exertion, stress, and lack of proper rest can contribute to the development of Raktapitta.

These factors lead to the vitiation of Pitta, which in turn affects Rakta, resulting in bleeding disorders manifesting through various orifices of the body.

Discussion

Understanding Raktapitta from an Ayurvedic pers-pective provides holistic approach to hemorrhagic disorders. Correlation between lifestyle, diet, & seasonal changes with onset of bleeding disorders underscores importance of preventive measures. Ayurvedic treatments focus on balancing doshas, particularly Pitta, & restoring harmony within body. Interventions such as dietary modifications, stress management, & specific herbal formulations play crucial role in managing Raktapitta.

Conclusion

Raktapitta offers valuable insights into Ayurvedic understanding of hemorrhagic disorders. By integra-ting Ayurvedic principles with modern medical practices, more comprehensive appr. to treatment can be achieved. Further research & clinical studies are essential to validate Ayurvedic treatments & their efficacy in managing bleeding disorders.

Acknowledgement

We extend our gratitude to authors & researchers whose work has contributed to understanding of Raktapitta. Their dedication to preserving & advancing Ayurvedic knowledge is commendable.

jaims_4502_01.JPG
Figure 1: Raktapitta relation with the Desha (place), age, sex, prognosis

jaims_4502_02.JPG
Figure 2: Rakpitta association with the fever


jaims_4502_03.JPG
Figure 3: Grishma Ritu (temp) relation with Raktapiita

References

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