Sharira Rachana (Anatomy) is a vast subject area in Ayurveda and the Marma Sharira is considered half of the Shalya Tantra (Surgery). Acupuncture is one of the non- pharmacological complementary systems of medicine which originated foremost in China as a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Sadyah Pranahara Marma are the vital points of the human body that bring sudden death to individuals if injured or traumatized. Also, some acupoints are mentioned in TCM as prohibited and dangerous points related to acupuncture which is relatively equal to Sadyah Pranahara Marma mentioned in Ayurveda. Although separate studies were carried out in these two subject areas but a comparative study was not done up to date. Therefore the present study aims to review and collate the data regarding these vulnerable anatomical areas of the body, compare and summarize the findings and develop a correlation between Marma points and Acupuncture points in the frame of their similarities and differences. Research work was done by referring to the textbooks; Acupuncture The Fourteen Channels, Gray’s Anatomy, BD Chaurasia’s Human Anatomy: Regional and Applied Dissection and Clinical with Shareerasthana of Sushruta Samhita as a comparative literature review. Also using search terms such as Marma, Sadyah Pranahara, Ayurveda, dangerous points, prohibited points, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Acupunture, the review was done by studying and compiling the findings of online research articles on databases such as PubMed®, GoogleScholar, JSTOR and ResearchGate. The study revealed that out of nineteen (19) Sadyah Pranahara Marma, comparatively ten (10) specific dangerous points (except in the chest area) and five (5) prohibited areas in acupuncture correlate with Marma such as Adipathi (Du. 20., Ex. 6.), Sira Matrika (LI. 18., SI. 17.) Shankha (SJ. 22.), Hridaya (St. 18 / Left side), Guda (Du. 2.), Vasti (Ren. 3., Ren. 4., Ren. 5.), Nabhi (Ren. 8.). Apart from these points, nipples (St. 17.), points situated in external genital and orbital areas, lung fields, St. 21. in the right side can be considered as dangerous points. Deep insertion of needles into these areas can cause severe injuries to the patient. Though these latter points cannot be correlated with any Marma points mentioned in classical Ayurveda texts but highly vulnerable to injuries due to underlying vital anatomical structures. In conclusion, most of the anatomical regions were similar to both acupuncture and Ayurveda Marma points but their exact anatomical locations and clinical significance should be evaluated further. Therefore, a systematic review of this research work is recommended.
W. K. T. Dushmantha
BAMS Scholar, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo
tharindudush7@gmail.com
Keywords: Marma, Acupuncture, TCM, Ayurveda, Anatomy