ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the principles and conception of the human body. The reproductive elements unaffected by vitiated tridōṣa unite together to form an embryo, the sex of which remains undifferentiated for a month. During that period, measures can be adopted to beget a child of one’s choice. The pregnant mother consumes during pregnancy nourishing food, medicines and spends time with positive mental attitude. Physician and experienced midwives assist in child birth. The human body contains seven receptacles for holding blood, undigested and digested food, waste products and so on. It also contains many vessels, muscles, orifices and vital points. Ingested food gets acted upon by principles of transformation. The essence of digestion undergoes sequential transformation and finally gives rise to a principle known as ōjas, which circulates imparting vigor and vitality. Due to predominance of tridōṣa in reproductive elements, diet, behavior of pregnant mother and the season in which conception occurs, offspring of three basic constitution are born. These constitutional types can be identified by distinct physical, behavioral and emotional characteristics. They are important in diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
