Clinical Importance of the knowledge of Ṣadkriyākāla w.s.r. to Kuṣṭha Samprāpti

Ayurveda believes that healthy person stay healthy by equalizing the Doṣas, Dhātus and Malas. The concept of Kriyākāla advocated by Suśruta Samhitā.  Kriyākāla refers to the recognition of the stage of a disease's progression. It is also referred as Cikitsā Avasara (opportunity to treat). Kriyā means Cikitsā (treatment) and Kāla refers to the stage of progression of a disease. The knowledge of Kriyākāla helps to determine appropriate therapy to correct the imbalance in Doṣas in early stage. In Ayurveda, most of the skin diseases have been described under the broad heading of Kuṣṭha. In the present study, concept of Kriyākāla is tried to elaborate with the special reference of Kuṣṭha Samprāpti.  Aim & Objective: To study the samprāpti of Kuṣṭha in accordance to concept of Kriyākāla. Material & Methods: Material has been collected from Suśruta Saṁhitā with various commentaries, Research articles, and electronic databases. Discussion: Early detection of diseases and its progress will help to cure the Disease with minute efforts. However if the Disease will progress it might be difficult to treat. And later on it become incurable. In the same way on young plant can be uprooted completely whereas the same plant is allowed to grow as a big tree cannot uproot easily. Kuṣṭha is Cirakālīna (chronic) Tridoṣaja Vyādhi manifested on Tvak (skin) if untreated later on it intrude to all Dhātus. Conclusion:  This article will help in to understand the journey of Kuṣṭha Vyādhi from its Nidānasevan to Samprāpti in accordance with the stage of Ṣadvidh Kriyākāla

Successful Ayurvedic management of Hepatic Cirrhosis Complex with Ascites - A Case Study

Hepatic cirrhosis of liver is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by various factors specially excessive alcohol consumption over an extended period of time. When alcohol gets processed in the liver, it produces highly toxic chemicals. These chemicals can fatally injure the liver cells. Normally the treatment is too much time consuming, difficult and inadequate Ayurvedic treatment serves as a promising different modality. In present study the case of alcoholic cirrhosis complicated with Ascites is presented. The patient was given Ayurvedic treatment with Vardhamana Pippali, Katuki Churna, Punarnavadi Kvatha, Bhrungaraja Panchanga Churna, Arogyavardhini Rasa, Mixture of Bhumyamalaki Panchanga Churna, Sharpunkha Mula Churna and Sveta Parpati. This treatment approach has improved condition of patient greatly by bringing hepatitis from Child-Pugh stage C to stage B with improvement in sign and symptoms as well as in ascetic condition

Nonrandomized, Uncontrolled, Single Group, Open-Label Observational Clinical Study

Hepatic cirrhosis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially if complicated by ascites. This chronic condition can be related to the classical disease entity jalodara in Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurveda). The present paper aims to evaluate the general potential of Ayurvedic therapy for overall clinical outcomes in hepatic cirrhosis complicated by ascites (HCcA). In form of a nonrandomized, uncontrolled, single group, open-label observational clinical study, 56 patients fulfilling standardized diagnostic criteria for HCcA were observed during their treatment at the P. D. Patel Ayurveda Hospital, Nadiad, India. Based on Ayurvedic tradition, a standardized treatment protocol was developed and implemented, consisting of oral administration of single and compound herbal preparations combined with purificatory measures as well as dietary and lifestyle regimens. The outcomes were assessed by measuring liver functions through specific clinical features and laboratory parameters and by evaluating the Child-Pugh prognostic grade score. After 6 weeks of treatment and a follow-up period of 18 weeks, the outcomes showed statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements. Further larger and randomized trials on effectiveness, safety, and quality of the Ayurvedic approach in the treatment of HCcA are warranted to support these preliminary findings

Understanding to Concept of Jarajanya Vyadhi (ageing related diseases) w.s.r. to Sandhigatavata (osteo arthritis)

As age advances Vata Dosha increases in an individual. This increasing Vata trigger and accelerates Dhatu Kshaya (depletion of tissues) and Bala Kshaya (diminished the body strength). Hence advancing age makes man prone to many diseases especially degenerative disorders. Asthis (bones) are the main seat of Vata Dosha and Sandhis (joints) is the main seat of Kapha Dosha. Vata Dosha is responsible for different body movements like Prasaarana and Akunchana of Sandhi (flexion and extension of joints), whereas Shleshaka Kapha located in Sandhi (joints) is provides nutrition, protection and to minimize the friction during the movement. Sandhigatavata is Vata pradhana vyadhi. It is quite similar to osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease stand in modern medical science. Sandhigatavata is Vata dominating disorder which result in inflammatory and degenerative changes in joints. Osteoarthritis is a disease of musculoskeletal system, affecting the joints mostly in elderly population and in weight bearing joints (particularly knee joint). The current standard modern medical pharmacological management of osteoarthritis includes the administration of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).  However, their use neither provides adequate and significant relief in symptoms nor deceleration in disease process. Therefore, Vata shamaka aushadhis along with local application e.g. Abhyanga, different form of Swedana are beneficial. As Sandhigatavata is ageing related heath condition, Rasayana chikitsa can also be helpful in the management of Sandhigatavata (Osteoarthritis). This article enlighten the knowledge about Jarajanya vyadhi especially Sandhigatavata

Effect of Ayurvedic management in 130 patients of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is a specific form of renal disease. It is a major cause of renal insufficiency and ultimately of death. The present study has been carried out to prove the efficacy of Ayurvedic drugs in the management of diabetic nephropathy, which can be helpful in reducing the need of dialysis and avoiding or delaying renal transplantation. A total of 130 patients of this disease were treated in IPD (Group A) and OPD (Group B). Ayurvedic formulations including Gokshuradi Guggulu, Bhumyamalaki, Vasa and Shilajatvadi Vati were given to all the patients for 2 months. Group A patients were given special planned food. Results were analyzed statistically using “t” test. In group A patients, highly significant reduction was found in the values of serum creatinine, blood urea and urinary excretion of albumin. Marked improvement was found in the patients’ general physical well-being, together with reduction in symptoms, in group A patients. This shows the importance of Pathyapathya in Ayurvedic management of the disease. This management may bring some new hope to the patients of diabetic nephropathy, which usually terminates to chronic renal failure and ultimately to death. Further studies are being carried out in this regard

Effects of Ayurvedic treatment on forty-three patients of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease with a relapsing nature. It is a very challenging disease affecting a patient during the most active period of his life i.e. 20 to 40 years of age. The main features are ano-rectal bleeding with increased frequency of bowel evacuation, general debility and with abnormal structural pathology in the descending colon, particularly sigmoid colon. In modern medical science, there is no permanent curative and safe treatment for this disease. This study can be helpful for reducing the need of steroids and surgical processes in the patients of ulcerative colitis. A clinical study of 43 patients of ulcerative colitis has been conducted at the O.P.D. (outdoor patient department) and I.P.D. (indoor patient department) of the P D Patel Ayurveda Hospital, Nadiad. They were given Udumbara kvatha basti with oral Ayurveda medicaments including Kutaj ghan vati, Udumbara kvatha, and combination of Musta, Nagakesara, Lodhra, Mukta panchamrut rasa for a one-month period. Results were analyzed statistically by using the ‘t’ test. In this study, it was observed that the symptoms and signs, daily dose of steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs were reduced by more than 75% with a highly significant result. The hemoglobin level was also increased

Effect of Nadi svedana with simultaneous passive stretching on correction of sandhijadya

Severe knee flexion contracture greater than 80° is rare and challenging to manage. It is a common complication which occurs after a prolonged course of the rheumatoid arthritis. The case was a 45 year old female patient of Ama vata (rheumatoid arthritis) with sandhijadya and sankoca (contracture deformity) who was hospitalized for 2 months. She was unable to walk since 1 year due to contracture of both knee joints. The patient came on a wheel chair and was unable to walk even with support. She was advised for contracture repair surgery which she refused. After hospitalization she was treated with Nadi svedana twice a day for 20 min each. Simultaneously, passive stretching for 45 s in every 5 min interval was done. She was treated for 2 months. The patient was instructed to continue other Ayurvedic remedies given as the Ama vata (rheumatoid arthritis) treatment. After Nadi svedana, goniometric assessment of the knees contracture was performed every week. She got satisfactory result in stiffness and pain and has been able to walk with support. Extension of both knee joints has improved up to 20° with increased range of motion. Her height has also been increased up to 1.5 cm due to improvement in the extension of the knee joints with better feeling in daily activities during 3 months of follow-up period. Keywords: Contracture, Nadi svedana, Passive stretching, Ama vata, Rheumatoid arthriti

Clinical evaluation of Vardhamana Pippali Rasayana in the management of Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Amavata is described as a difficult to cure (Krichhrasadhya) disease in Ayurveda. Pain in joints with swelling is a cardinal feature of this disease. It can be correlated with rheumatoid arthritis described in modern medical science. In conventional medical science, steroids and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for its management, but they cause certain dangerous side effects in the patients. Ayurveda promises an excellent therapy for it. The present clinical trial was conducted with the same objective to provide a safe, economical and effective therapy to the patients of Amavata. The present study was conducted in 73 patients having classical symptoms of Amavata. The patients were given Vardhamana Pippali Rasayana for 15 days. Patients with any other acute or chronic systemic illness or infection were excluded from the study. The observations and results obtained were analyzed statistically applying the “t” test. All the patients experienced up to 50% relief from the signs and symptoms of Amavata after the therapy. The drug might have produced its beneficial effects in the patients of Amavata due to its Agnideepana, Amapachana, Vatashamaka and Rasayana effects in the body. A significant decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in all the patients was also noticed. All the results obtained were highly significant statistically. Thus, it can be implicated that the Vardhamana Pippali Rasayana has a lot of beneficial effects in the patients of Amavata