Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Yoga

Tonsillitis is one of the most common diseases of upper respiratory tract, which affects the children and young adults. It is an infection of tonsils, which are glands on either side of the back of throat. Tonsils are part of the immune system, which protects and helps the body to fight infections. Thus become more prone to recurrent infections. When this happens, they lose their effectiveness in helping the immune system and actually become a source of recurrent infection. The recurrent attack of tonsillitis makes the disease chronic and vulnerable for infectious diseases. Hence, timely treatment is most essential. Though disease is managed by antibiotic regimen, but the frequent episodes of infection are justifiable for Tonsillectomy, however surgical management is also having its own merits and demerits with limitations. In classics of Ayurveda this ailment is described as Tundikeri under the heading of throat diseases which is characterized by Kathina Shotha (hard swelling) resembling Karpasa Phala in throat. Sushruta recommended ksharapratisarana(application of alkali)in the treatment of shotha. Clinical observation has shown its effectiveness in the management of Tundikeri. A case report of 18year old female who presented with complaints of sore throat on/off, chronic irritation of throat with cough and changes in voice since from 45 years has been presented here.

Keywords: Apamargakshara; Chronic tonsillitis; Pratisarana; Tundikeri.

Brainstem glioma is taken as difficultly curable rather incurable being a disease of very poor prognosis. In a case study (Male, 52 years, 20 August, 2010 till date) of Brainstem Glioma patient, a herbomineral formulation consisting many metals, minerals and vegetable drugs was given orally. The formula being developed by Lavanya Ayurveda (Las01) has already being proved effective in human beings’ Cancers of different organs and on MCF7 and Hela Celllines (Breast and Cervical Cancer) in an invitro studies. The relief obtained after the application of Las01 was highly noticeable symptomatically and hematologically, biochemically as well as radiologically which could not be obtained after use of other modern medicines. The life span is increased markedly higher than reported in medical literature. 

Keywords: Ayurveda; Brainstem Glioma; Herbomineral; Las01.

A 45 year old male patient came to the Panchakarma OPD, KLE Ayurveda Hospital, Belgaum with complaints of rashes and discoloration of the skin in both the feet since 6 years. The case was diagnosed as “Vicharchika”. Shamanaushadi with Kaishora Guggulu, Arogyavardhini Vati and Rasna Erandadi Kashaya were advised along with Parisheka. The complaints reduced after 2 followups after a period 75 days. No complications were reported after the procedure.

Keywords: Arogyavardhini vati; Kaishora guggulu; Parisheka; Rasna Erandadi Kashaya; Vicharcika.

Background: Samsarjana krama is a strict sequential graduated dietary regimen in paschat karma of vamana,virechana.[1] The resulting mandaagni following virechana hampers metabolism and assimilation of normal food resulting in illness.[2] Thereby agni is stimulated by giving lighter diet to start with gradually bringing the person to normal diet in the form of Peyadi/Tarpanaadi krama.[3] Agni is the invariable agent in the process of paka (digestion, transformation). Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is unavoidable for the maintenance of life, and is performed by the Agni. This starts with introduction of simple carbohydrates to inclusion of multinutrient dietary formulation and finally the normal diet. Adaptation of this diet is specific to quantity, nutritive value and digestive power of the individual. The diet administered during samsarjana krama essentially consists of nutritive and easily assimable preparations such as peya, vilepi, akrtayusa, krtayusa, akrtamamsa rasa, krtamamsa rasa.[4] Classified depending on frequency of intake and based on shuddhiprakara’s as – pravara, madhyama, avara administered in tri annakala, dvi annakala, eka annakala respectively..[5] It promotes the absorptive power and maintains vitality of dhatu. This is imperative for better bioavailability and upliftment of the biological system.

Keywords: Samsarjana krama; Panchakarma; Shodhana karma; Ayurveda.

Knowledge about sexual and reproductive health has a critical impact on male sexual dysfunction. Myths like Loss of semen, less sexual desire, masturbation are the main causes for mental disorders.[1] With industrialization and urbanization, the anxiety about semen loss in the West diminished, and the same is likely to happen in southern Asia as well.[2] Hence in the present globalization scenario to know the prevalence of myths and misconceptions of sexual health, we undertook a survey in and around Belgaum, Karnataka, India. We performed a community based, crosssectional survey of 515 male students of randomly selected undergraduate colleges. We administered a pretested, structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitude towards sexual and reproductive health. We generated knowledge and attitude scores from student responses and used chisquare to study the association of these scores with select predictor variable – rural and urban. Majority of the students (88.75% rural and 88.36% urban students) in our study sample had misconceptions about semen loss by masturbation and night emissions. We did not find any significant difference between urban and rural population. The lack in the knowledge of sexual and reproductive health in urban and rural students suggests the need for sexual health education and awareness. 

Keywords: Masturbation; Night emissions; Semen

Background: Pranayama is the integral part of yoga which utilizes voluntary controlled breathing also termed as Yogic breathing. Objective: The objective of this review paper was to describe the role of pranayama in prevention and treatment of disease through its effects on various bodily systems. Methods: Systematic independent literature search of PubMed was done using keywords pranayama AND yogic breathing IN title by two testers. Consensus was achieved in presence of the third tester. The suitable citations were identified and selected studies were grouped under prevention and treatment of diseases for each bodily system. Results: The final list of 33 selected studies19 studies on its effects on various systems in healthy subjects (cardiovascular=8, metabolic=1, autonomic nervous system=4, central nervous system=5, psychological=1), and 14 studies on its efficacy in patients with various disorders (cardiovascular=2, immunological=1, metabolic=2, pulmonary=3, neurological=2, psychological=3, adverse events=1) which unanimously showed both shortterm and longterm benefits for pranayama and yogic breathing on all body systems in healthy and diseased subjects. Conclusion: From the reviewed evidence, it is recommended that Pranayama is effective in treatment of most disease conditions and could thus be a viable and affordable treatment option for both patients with diseases and for normal individuals towards health promotion and fitness. However, future large scale populationbased pragmatic clinical trials are needed to provide strong recommendations on its effectiveness. 

Key-words:Yoga; Pranayama; Alternate nostril breathing; Voluntary controlled breathing. 

Ageing is a natural phenomenon, which had been accepted since long in Ayurveda, but being realized by modern gerontologists only since recent past. 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 aims of the present study was to evaluate the classical formulation Amalakayas Rasayana on selected subjective as well as objective parameters and to assess overall out come on quality of life in premature ageing patients. Results showed that AR improved physical capacity in premature ageing to a significant level. AR improves most of the health parameters. The improvement in walking time, hand grip power, foot pressure, short term memory, long term memory and breathholding time and skin wrinkling time are highly significant (p<0.001). AR reduced mean systolic B.P (5.39%) in statistically significant manner (p<0.01), whereas decreased diastolic B.P (11.46%), pulse rate (14.7%), mean pressure (7.16%), and rate pressure (6.54%) in highly significant manner (p<0.001). Most haematological and biochemical parameters are changed with in physiological range. AR increased PCV (1.15%), hemoglobin (1.09%) and Neutrophil (5.03%) in statistically significant manner (p<0.01), while decreased ESR (5.61%) in significant manner (p<0.01). AR increases the parameters of liver function tests mentioned bellow, they were within physiological limit. The increase of total protein (3.45%), albumin (3.22%) and globulin (3.83%) is statistically highly significant (p<0.001), Therefore, AR is rasayana in the true sense and may be an effective medicine in improving physical activity in ageing patients.

Keywords: Amalakayas rasayana; Health parameters; Physical exertion test; Liver function test.

The herbal market in this era is growing very fast and many commercial manufacturers produce either classical or patent Ayurvedic formulations by using the raw drugs available in the market. To maintain the quality standards they have to use only genuine drug which should not be adulterated or substituted. Complete phytochemical investigation of medicinal herbs helps in identification of genuine drug; with this aim this study is planned. Clerodendrum serratum (Linn.) Moon, (Bharangi) belongs to family Verbenaceae, is being used for the treatment of respiratory disorders since long time. Nowadays many drugs are available in market with the name of Bharangi and there are also some controversial views about the identification of Bharangi. Here an attempt is made to study the plant Pharmacognostically; the part taken for study is the root. Diagnostic features of root and root powder were also worked out and the details were presented. This is an important step towards the standardization of this drug. 

Key words: Clerodendrum; Genuine drug; Root; Adulterated.