Importance of Satvawajaya Chikitsa in Shareerika Vyadhi

In Ayurveda, Satwavajaya Chikitsa is considered to be having the psychospiritual approach with a nonpharmacological treatment modality which solely deals on the mind and its related attributes. It consists five methodologies, two principles, three dimensions, three psychotherapeutic domains, and five techniques. Withdrawal of the bothered mind from unwholesome objects is the prime focus of Satwavajaya Chikitsa. Mainly focusing on the intelligence, consciousness, memory, and spiritual aspects of the affected individuals, Satwavajaya Chikitsa aims at stimulating consciousness, altering and discriminating the maladaptive thoughts or actions. Thus, it helps in managing psychiatric, psychological, and psychosomatic ailments. The present review article throws light on the detailed descriptions of basic doctrines of Satwavajaya Chikitsa concept and also offers a brief note on its contemporary relevance, recent insights and applied clinical facets. This paper reports the researches, reviews and studies on Satwavajaya Chikitsa encompassing nonpharmacological nootropic efficacy

A literary review on Vata Rakta

Vatarakta is one of the unique disorders among Vatavyadhi compared to other Vatavyadhis. In this illness, Vata and Rakta are afflicted by distinct etiological factors. There are 2 types of Vatarakta i.e. Uttanvatarakta and Gambhirvatarakta. Uttanvatarakta produces symptoms like itching, burning sensation pain blackish discolour skin. Gambhirvatarakta produces symptoms like swelling, hardness, tenderness, burning sensation, pain. Sometimes numbness is also present. It also produces deformities like bending of fingers. Sushruta has mentioned it in Vata Vyadhi chapter while Charaka dedicated a separate chapter for Vata Rakta. Vatarakta is a burning problem of the society. This may compromise the quality life of patients due to permanent inflammatory and degenerative changes in the joints

Efficacy of Ayurvedic medications over contemporary management in Dengue

Dengue is a fast emerging pandemic prone viral disease in many parts of the world. This mosquito borne viral infection, having a prevalence up to 50-100 milion annually among 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world’s population.The typical features of this fever includes sudden onset of fever, frontal headache, retro orbital pain, back pain, myalgia and transient macular rashes in first day. In a small number of cases, the disease develops into the life threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and plasma leakage or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs. In Ayurvedic perspective, Acharya Caraka has explained Abhishangaja Jwara, one among the Agantuja Jwara, in which Bhutas are told to be one of the cause. Acharya Madhavakara has mentioned Vishama Jwara is having Bhuthanubandha. Agantuja Jwara is mostly Dhatu Ashraya. Hence Koshtasrita Dosha Chikitsa alone cannot give success. In the case of dengue, Rasa and Rakta Dhatu are mainly affected. Also the signs and symptoms are more or less similar to these Dhatu Vikara. Hence the aim of the treatment is to restore the Prakrita Karma of these Dhatu

Role of Ayurvedic dietetics and lifestyle modifications in Diabetes Mellitus

Since a long time, Ayurveda has been emphasizing more on the importance of diet and lifestyle in the maintenance of health. It is also said that in both the conditions, viz. health and disease, the wholesomeness and the unwholesomeness is a prime factor to be thought about, as without proper diet, the use of any drug is futile. Centuries ago, Ayurveda laid the concepts of Dinacharya (daily regimen for healthy living), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen for healthy living), Sadvaritta (moral conducts) and Achara Rasayana (social conducts) as well established guidelines for healthy diet and lifestyle; but in current era, hardly anyone aptly follow it. As a result, there is tremendous rise in lifestyle disorders as pandemics, diabetes being the most menacing among them. The aim of this review is to bring into the limelight the Ayurvedic dietary and lifestyle guidelines for prevention of type 2 diabetes and available factual research evidence validating it

In Vitro Anticholinergic and Antihistaminic Activities of Acorus Calamus Linn. Leaves Extracts

The present investigation was aimed at determining the effects of hexane, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acorus calamus leaves (ACHE, ACAE, ACME and ACAQE) on cholinergic and histaminic system using isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and guinea pig ileum. A dose dependent potentiation of Ach response (anticholinesterase like effect) was found with ACAE and ACME at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/ml, but at higher dose of ACAE, ACME, ACAQE and ACHE (5, 20 mg/ml) inhibit the Ach response (antinicotinic effect). These results revealed biphasic effect of Acorus calamus leaves extracts on acetylcholine induced contractile response in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle preparation (i.e. potentiation effect at lower dose and inhibitory effect at higher dose). Studies on isolated guinea pig ileum demonstrated antihistaminic effect in a dose dependent manner (100-1000 μg/ml) with ACAE, ACME and ACAQE. In addition, the dose dependent inhibition of Ach response (antimuscarinic effect) was observed with ACAE and ACME. In conclusion, Acorus calamus leaves extracts exerts antinicotinic, anticholinesterase like activities in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and antihistaminic, antimuscarinic effect in guinea pig ileum. It has been suggested that these observed activities can be further studied for therapeutic potential of Acorus calamus leaves in the treatment of cognitive disorders and asthma

Novel insights into the cardio-protective effects of FGF21 in lean and obese rat hearts

Aims: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hepatic metabolic regulator with pleotropic actions. Its plasma concentrations are increased in obesity and diabetes; states associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. We therefore investigated the direct effect of FGF21 on cardio-protection in obese and lean hearts in response to ischemia. Methods and Results: FGF21, FGF21-receptor 1 (FGFR1) and beta-Klotho (βKlotho) were expressed in rodent, human hearts and primary rat cardiomyocytes. Cardiac FGF21 was expressed and secreted (real time RT-PCR/western blot and ELISA) in an autocrine-paracrine manner, in response to obesity and hypoxia, involving FGFR1-βKlotho components. Cardiac-FGF21 expression and secretion were increased in response to global ischemia. In contrast βKlotho was reduced in obese hearts. In isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes, FGF21 activated PI3K/Akt (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt), ERK1/2(extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) pathways. In Langendorff perfused rat [adult male wild-type wistar] hearts, FGF21 administration induced significant cardio-protection and restoration of function following global ischemia. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt, AMPK, ERK1/2 and ROR-α (retinoic-acid receptor alpha) pathway led to significant decrease of FGF21 induced cardio-protection and restoration of cardiac function in response to global ischemia. More importantly, this cardio-protective response induced by FGF21 was reduced in obesity, although the cardiac expression profiles and circulating FGF21 levels were increased. Conclusion: In an ex vivo Langendorff system, we show that FGF21 induced cardiac protection and restoration of cardiac function involving autocrine-paracrine pathways, with reduced effect in obesity. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into FGF21-induced cardiac effects in obesity and ischemia

Potential role of differential medication use in explaining excess risk of cardiovascular events and death associated with chronic kidney disease: A cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are less likely to receive cardiovascular medications. It is unclear whether differential cardiovascular drug use explains, in part, the excess risk of cardiovascular events and death in patients with CKD and coronary heart disease (CHD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The ADVANCE Study enrolled patients with new onset CHD (2001-2003) who did (N = 159) or did not have (N = 1088) CKD at entry. The MDRD equation was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using calibrated serum creatinine measurements. Patient characteristics, medication use, cardiovascular events and death were ascertained from self-report and health plan electronic databases through December 2008.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Post-CHD event ACE inhibitor use was lower (medication possession ratio 0.50 vs. 0.58, P = 0.03) and calcium channel blocker use higher (0.47 vs. 0.38, P = 0.06) in CKD vs. non-CKD patients, respectively. Incidence of cardiovascular events and death was higher in CKD vs. non-CKD patients (13.9 vs. 11.5 per 100 person-years, P < 0.001, respectively). After adjustment for patient characteristics, the rate of cardiovascular events and death was increased for eGFR 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m²(hazard ratio [HR] 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.02) and eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m²(HR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.50). After further adjustment for statins, β-blocker, calcium channel blocker, ACE inhibitor/ARB use, the association was no longer significant for eGFR 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m²(HR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.25 to 2.66) or for eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m²(HR 1.19, 95% CI: 0.25 to 5.58).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In adults with CHD, differential use of cardiovascular medications may contribute to the higher risk of cardiovascular events and death in patients with CKD.</p

Renal function at the time of a myocardial infarction maintains prognostic value for more than 10 years

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Renal function is an important predictor of mortality in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), but changes in the impact over time have not been well described.</p> <p>We examined the importance of renal function by estimated GFR (eGFR) and se-creatinine as an independent long-term prognostic factor.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prospective follow-up of 6653 consecutive MI patients screened for entry in the Trandolapril Cardiac Evaluation (TRACE) study. The patients were analysed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, landmark analysis and Cox proportional hazard models. Outcome measure was all-cause mortality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An eGFR below 60 ml per minute per 1.73 m², consistent with chronic renal disease, was present in 42% of the patients. We divided the patients into 4 groups according to eGFR. Overall, Cox proportional-hazards models showed that eGFR was a significant prognostic factor in the two groups with the lowest eGFR, hazard ratio 1,72 (confidence interval (CI) 1,56-1,91) in the group with the lowest eGFR. Using the eGFR group with normal renal function as reference, we observed an incremental rise in hazard ratio. We divided the follow-up period in 2-year intervals. Landmark analysis showed that eGFR at the time of screening continued to show prognostic effect until 16 years of follow-up. By multivariable Cox regression analysis, the prognostic effect of eGFR persisted for 12 years and of se-creatinine for 10 years. When comparing the lowest group of eGFR with the group with normal eGFR, prognostic significance was present in the entire period of follow-up with a hazard ratio between 1,97 (CI 1,65-2,35) and 1,35 (CI 0,99-1,84) in the 2-year periods.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>One estimate of renal function is a strong and independent long-term prognostic factor for 10-12 years following a MI.</p