Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Yoga

Kshara are alkaline substances obtained from the water soluble ash of the drugs of plant origin. They are hygroscopic in nature, possessing piercing and scraping properties, and are mainly used in the treatment of diseases such as fistula- in- ano, hemorrhoids, dysuria, renal stones, oedema, and tumours etc. There are a number of Kshara plants referred in classics of Ayurveda and are indicated in variety of disease conditions. However the number of Kshara used and their therapeutic area appears to be very minimal in the current Ayurvedic practice. An attempt has been made in this review to carefully compile various therapeutic administrations of different Kshara and their formulations mentioned in Astanga Hrudayam which is a revise concise and comprehensive classic of Ayurveda and being considered as a practical guide by Ayurvedic clinicians. There are 39 different Kshara plants found in A.H and 25 contexts where Kshara is used as an independent medicine. Among the formulations of Kshara, 5 compound Kshara formulations, 3 kshara predominant formulations along with other 12 Churna (powders), 3 Vati (tablets), 24 ghrita (medicated ghee), 3 lehya (medicated candies) used in various ailments like cough, asthama, abdominal tumors, irritable bowel syndrome, anaemia, goiter, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, hernia, skin diseases, certain diseases of ear, nose, oral cavity; pterigium and obesity etc. The exercise would give a comprehensive view on Kshara in Ayurvedic therapeutics as described in A.H.

Key words: Kshara; Alkali; Yava; Swarjika; Ayurveda. 

Pain around lumbosacral region is the most common problem in these days. It may be due adaptation of western life style. A majority of population are suffering from this common ailment. Pain starting from gluteal region and spreading down the back of the lower limb and radiating up to the foot, is the main symptom of Gridhrasi. Sakthiutkshepanigraha is mentioned as a cardinal sign by acharya Sushruta & Maharshi Vagbhata. Gridhrasi is described under Nanatmaja Vyadhi in Ayurveda texts. The entire study was conducted in three groups of 45 patients. Group-A patients were treated with  Rasnadi Guggulu as a Shamana Chikitsa, group-B patients were treated with Katibasti as a Panchakarma Chikitsa while Group-C patients were treated with both therapy i.e. Rasnadi Guggulu as a Shamana Chikitsa and Kati-Basti as a Panchakarma Chikitsa for a period of 21 days. The trial groups have clearly shown the effectiveness in symptomatic & radiological findings of the disease. The sign & symptoms of Gridhrasi can be compared with Sciatica in modern medical science. In this era, Auyrvedic authors correlate Gridhrasi with Sciatica.

Keywords: Gridhrasi; Sciatica; Rasnadi Guggulu; Dashmool taila Katibasti; Panchakarma. 

Premature Ejaculation (PE) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Anxiety & stress are the main triggering factors for PE. In modern science, many researches had been carried out to overcome thisproblem but still there is no any established line of therapy. In Institute for Post Graduate Training & Reaserch in Ayurveda, Jamangar various works had been carried out on different formulation to treat this condition. The present study deals with systemic review and critical analysis of such 14 research studies.

Keywords: Premature Ejaculation; Shukragat Vata; Anxiety, Vajikarana. 

Rate of ageing is determined by one’s biological, social, life style and psychological conditions and adversity of which leads to accelerated form of ageing, which is termed as Akalaja jara in Ayurveda. The aim of this study was to evaluate combination of unequal quantity of ghee and honey on some selected subjective as well as objective parameters. Results showed that combination of ghee and honey improved certain symptoms of premature ageing including chief complaints, associated symptoms to a significant level. It improved symptoms related to increased vata, pitta and kapha (p<0.001) in highly significant manner. The improvement of rasa-kshaya and rasavaha sroto dushti is highly significant (p<0.001). Increase in HDL and decrease in triglycerides (17.03%), SGOT (11.66%) is highly significant (p<0.001). The DHEAS level increased (42.68%) only in female patients aged 30-40, but statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Having observed above results, it may be concluded that combination of ghee and honey has positive effect in improving certain subjective as well as objective parameters of premature ageing.  

Key words: Dhatu; DHEA-S; Dosha; Ghee, Honey; Srotas.  

The syndrome of Diabetes Mellitus is largely covered under the broad heading of Prameha. Ayurveda clearly mentioned role of unhealthy diet and unhealthy behavioral pattern in the pathophysiology of the disease Madhumeha. The diseases mainly related with the metabolic imbalance associated with the main dhatus like Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda causing unwanted accumulation of undigested matter i.e., Ama in the whole body with extra deranged quality Meda, so close resemblance between Madhumeha and Medoroga. The present study has been designed with the objectives to evaluate the role of shodhana therapy in the treatment modalities of DM. As already stated that the shodhana is needed for such patients and after shodhana, shaman therapy should be prescribed along with medohara drugs to have an effective control on this disease. For this purpose in Group 1; Madhumehahara yoga (Tejapatra, Mam ejaka, Jambu seeds, Avartaki pushpa each in equal part with three bhavanas of Karavellaka swarasa), Vidangadi Lauha (Vidanga, Nagara, Yavakshara, Tikshna Lauha Bhasma, Yava, Amalaki each in equal part) (Ch. Su. 1/23) and virechana (Virechana Yoga: Aragvadha Majja-15 gm, Haritaki churna-15 gm, katuki churna-5 gm in 160 ml water & boiled to get 40 ml of decoction. To this decoction 20 ml of castor oil along with 250 mg of Ichchabhedi rasa was added.) were selected. These drugs therapy were tried on 16 patients and effect was assessed on various parameters. The patients treated with Madhumehahara yoga and Vidangadi Lauha had shown highly significant relief in fasting, 1st hour blood sugar level & significant relief in 2nd hour blood sugar level whereas virechana has shown significant decrease in fasting, 1st hour & 2nd hour blood sugar level. Along with above pathophysiology and involved factors, classics mentioned the role of Vata mainly in Madhumeha, so a genuine attempt is made to rule out the role of Vata in pathophysiology and in prevalence of the disease. For this purpose in Group 2; Pramehaghna vati: (Vijaya sara, Jambu beeja, Arjuna, Vitkhadira, Amalaki, Methibeeja, Tejapatra each in equal part) and Pramehaghna Basti: (kwatha dravyas: Vijaya sara, Jambu beeja, Arjuna, Vitkhadira ; kalka dravya: Amalaki, Methibeeja, Tejapatra; sneha: boiled & then cooled Tila taila; honey, rock salt) were selected. The patients treated with Pramehaghna ghanavati had shown highly significant reduction in fasting blood sugar level while Basti group had shown significant reduction. Both the subgroups had shown highly significant reduction in postprandial blood sugar level but percentage reduction was more in Basti group.  

Key words: Prameha; Shodhana; Diabetes Mellitus; Basti; Virechana. 

Cow Urine Distillate (CUD), is a modern pharmaceutical product with five US patents for use in cancer treatment and for other ailments. Many published papers in medical literature, including those in MEDLINE, document many therapeutic properties of CUD. Unfortunately, none of these papers have any information on minimum quality standards for CUD manufacturing: for use in pharmaceutical products for human health care. There also does not seem to exist any published paper discussing pharmaceutical quality standards for manufacturing CUD. Some possible pharmaceutical manufacturing quality standards have been suggested in this paper to start a discussion. 

Keywords: Cow urine distillate; CUD; Therapeutic properties of Cow Urine Distillate; Cow Urine Distillate utility in cancer treatment; Bio enhancement of antibiotics; Pharmaceutical manufacturing standards for Cow Urine Distillate.