Definition

Pronunciation: SROH-tus

Also spelled: Srota, Srotamsi

Channels; systems of circulation

About Srotas

Srotas are the channels or systems of circulation through which substances flow in the body. Everything that moves - nutrients, waste, information, breath - moves through specific srotas. These include both gross physical channels (like blood vessels and intestines) and subtle pathways.

Ayurveda identifies thirteen main srotas: three intake channels (breath, water, food), seven tissue-nourishing channels (one for each dhatu), and three elimination channels (feces, urine, sweat). Each srotas has a root (*mula*), pathway (*marga*), and opening (*mukha*).

Disease often involves disruption of srotas function. Channels can become: excessive (*atipravritti*), deficient (*sanga*), flowing in wrong direction (*vimargagamana*), or develop abnormal growths (*siragranthi*). Treatment addresses both the dosha imbalance and the channel dysfunction, often through clearing ama that blocks proper flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Srotas mean?

Channels; systems of circulation

Which tradition does Srotas come from?

Srotas is a key term in ayurveda.

How is Srotas used in practice?

Srotas are the channels or systems of circulation through which substances flow in the body. Everything that moves - nutrients, waste, information, breath - moves through specific srotas. These include both gross physical channels (like blood vessels and intestines) and subtle pathways.