Sroto Dushti
Disorders of the bodily channels, classified into four types: excess flow, obstruction, overflow, and abnormal diversion.
Sroto Dushti: Four Types of Channel Disorders
When a srotas flows normally, it is in a state of health. Disease begins when a srotas becomes imbalanced. While disease is often classified as inflammatory (pitta), infectious (pitta), congestive (kapha), anabolic (kapha), or catabolic/degenerative (vata), Ayurveda also categorizes disease according to four types of imbalance in the channels.
The four types of sroto dushti are: Atipravritti (excess flow or overflow, as in diarrhea and vomiting), Sanga (stagnation or accumulation, as in constipation, blood clots, lymphatic congestion, arteriosclerosis, and enlarged lymph nodes), Sira Granthi (dilation, growth, or swelling, as in tumors and diverticulosis), and Vimarga Gamanam (false passage, where contents flow the wrong way, as in edema, bleeding gums, hematoma, pleurisy, fistula, and perforation).
A defective space called khavaigunya primarily affects the dhatu or srotas depending on whether it is a structural or functional defect, and often affects both. Diet, lifestyle, relationships, and emotions that provoke vata, pitta, and kapha are bound to disturb the function of srotamsi. Happiness (sukha) means healthy, clean srotamsi; unhappiness (duhkha) means disturbed channels clogged with grief, sadness, or fear.
Source: Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles, Chapter Seven: Srotamsi, The Bodily Channels and Systems
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.