Ayurveda Codex›Srotas›Raktavaha

Last verified: April 2026

Raktavaha Srotas

रक्तवह श्रोतस् — Rakta (blood) + Vaha (carrying) + Srotas (channel)

Raktavaha Srotas are the channels of blood — carrying the Rakta Dhatu that gives colour, heat, and life to the body. The liver and spleen are their classical roots, reflecting the understanding that blood quality is determined by the organs that form and filter it.

Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 5.12
Yakrit pleeha cha moola Raktavaha Srotasam — The liver and spleen are the roots of the blood channels. Impairment produces skin conditions, jaundice, bleeding disorders, and spreading inflammatory conditions.

Classical documentation

Roots: Yakrit (liver) and Pleeha (spleen)

Primary Dosha: Pitta primarily — Ranjaka Pitta resides in the blood and liver; Rakta is the vehicle of Pitta

Classical conditions: Kushtha (skin conditions — excess Pitta-Rakta), Visarpa (spreading inflammations), Raktapitta (bleeding disorders from Pitta-vitiated blood), Gulma (abdominal masses from Rakta obstruction), Kamala (jaundice — impaired Ranjaka Pitta in Raktavaha Srotas)

How these channels are impaired

Excess pungent, sour, and hot foods; day-sleeping (increases Pitta and Kapha in blood channels); excessive anger (Krodha directly aggravates Pitta in Rakta); vigorous exercise in hot conditions; incompatible food combinations

Classical significance

Raktavaha Srotas maps to the vascular system and hepatic-splenic blood processing. The classical root in the liver and spleen precisely reflects modern haematology: the liver synthesises clotting factors and plasma proteins; the spleen filters aged red blood cells. The classical documentation of skin conditions as Raktavaha Srotas Dushti corresponds to modern dermatology's understanding of the liver-skin axis in inflammatory skin diseases.

Primary herbs for this Srotas
Manjistha (primary blood purifier), Kutki (liver/Ranjaka Pitta), Neem (Raktashoshana — blood detoxifier), Guduchi
The four types of Srotas impairment
Charaka Samhita documents four ways any Srotas can be impaired: Atipravritta (excessive flow — too much output); Sanga (obstruction — blockage stopping normal flow); Vimarga Gamana (flow in wrong direction — reflux, bleeding upward, etc.); Siragranthi (knotting/constriction — localised channel narrowing). These four apply to every Srotas — the specific disease produced depends on which channel is impaired and in which of these four ways.