Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Yoga

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has been accumulated in different parts in the body mainly in the subcutaneous tissues. It has an adverse effect on health and leads to reduced life expectancy as well as increased health problems. The world Health Organization has identified obesity as a global epidemic. The term “Sthaulya” is described in Ayurveda for “Over weight and Obesity”. This study was undertaken to identify the efficacy of Navaka Guggulu and Amritadya Guggulu which are mentioned in Bhaishajya Ratnawali in the treatment of Medoroga. Thirty overweight and obese patients were selected from Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka and randomly divided into two groups. Group A was treated with Navaka Guggulu and Group B with Amritadya Guggulu, 1g twice a day for a period of two months. Navaka Guggulu reduced mean body weight, abdomen circumference, mid-thigh circumference and mid arm circumference and mean BMI in statistically highly significant manner (p<0.001).  Amritadya Guggulu reduced mean body weight, abdomen circumference, mid-thigh circumference and mid arm circumference and mean BMI in statistically highly significant manner (p<0.001).  The improvement in excessive thirst, drowsiness, digestive capacity were statically highly significant (p<0.001). Finally, it could be concluded that both the drugs have more or less similar effect in improving some subjective and objective parameters of overweight and obesity.

Key words: Sthaulya; Navaka guggulu; Amritadya guggulu; Obesity.

There are many drug doses forms for drug delivery systems are available in Ayurvedic classics, Snehapaka is one among these pharmaceutical process. It is a method of preparation of medicated sneha (ghee or oil) and depending on stage of preparation, it is of three types. Among these the madhyama paka sneha are used to administer orally. When this snehapaka is done repeatedly with drava dravya (decoction, milk etc.) and kalka (paste) the process is called Avartana. Depending on the number of process the formulations named as shatapaki and sahsrapaki. This avartana process was generated to potentiate the formulation which was used from Samhita period to minimize dose, for easy consumption and assimilation of the medicine. This article aims to review on unique method of sneha preparation (Avartana) in different contexts of Ayurveda. 

Keywords: Snehapaka; Avartana; Shatapaki; Sahasrapaki. 

Management of the wound probably would have been the first medico-surgical problem faced by physicians. Around 235 research works have been carried out at the different institutions throughout India till date on Vranaropan (wound healing) which is an integral part of the tissue healing. Major works are carried out at Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Bangalore followed by Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and Institute for Post Graduate Teaching & Research in Ayurveda at Jamnagar. Around 87 single drug and 139 compound preparations have been studied. 203 exclusive clinical works were done, 24 experimental studies and only 07 clinico-experimental studies were reported. Compound preparations with Ghrita (Ghee based preparations) and Taila (Oil based preparations) were preferred among different formulations used. Maximum works were conducted on Dushtavrana (Infected/Chronic wound) as it implies more problems to achieve the goal of healing. Apart from many works done in this regard, still there is a lot of scope felt by the scholars to find out and establish a suitable wound healer from the treasure of the ancient literatures. This review works have been carried out to give the glimpses of works done at different institutions of India most of them are unpublished. 

Keywords: Vranaropan; Dushtavrana; Shuddhavrana; Wound; Healing. 

Aphrodisiac is aspecialized branch considered to be one among 8 branches of Ayurveda gaining more popularity in present days. A huge information regarding various concepts of Aphrodisiacs & its utility was found well scattered in the Ayurvedic classics like Bruhatrayis, Laghutrayis, Rasa literatures. Bhavamisra was the author of Bhavaprakash nighantu (Lexicon) which is one of the Laghutrayis (Sharanghadara, Madhavanidana and Bhavaprakash). This text considered as karmapradhanagrantha (practical medicine) & drug index of Ayurveda. A variety of drugs with many actions obtained from different origins like herbal, minerals & animals for various sexual disorders have been mentioned in this text. Sexual disorders is one of the leading cause for more than 53 diseases and in India around 30 million people are suffering with sexual disorders. Individual habits with stressful life, wrong dietary habits, and sedentary life are the main cause of disease and no satisfactory treatment is available in conventional system. Hence there is need to explore alternative system of Indian medicines like Ayurveda for the benefits of sufferers.Thus present study was designed to screen the drugs with different vajikarana properties from bhavaprakasha which were well thought-out in the treatment of sexual disorders. Out of 426 drugs, 248 drugs were utilized in the management of various sexual disorders which includes herb, mineral as well as animal origin These screened drugs were the handy reference for the treatment of sexual disorders which provides great information for the researchers in the field.

Keywords: Ayurveda; Aphrodisiacs; klaibya; Sexual disorders; Vajikarana. 

Wheat grass (Triticum aestivum) is one of the so-called green foods that are valued by health-conscious individuals as a great natural source of nutrients. This can be consumed in juice form and in powdered form. Considering its nutritional completeness and possible health implications of being blood builder, antioxidant, antiager, cell rejuvenator, cancer inhibitor, immune system supporter the study was undertaken to estimate nutritional composition and qualitative phytochemical analysis of wheat grass powder. About 100gm wheat grass powder was obtained from 1 kg of fresh wheat grass. Nutrient composition of wheat grass powder (WGP) was found to be impressive with protein content 25g per cent, fiber 30g per cent. Values of mineral ash, carbohydrate, moisture and fat were recorded as 4.8g, 33.7g, 6.3g and 0.2g respectively. Preliminary phytochemicals screening indicated the presence of Terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and sterols. The chlorophyll estimation indicated wheat grass powder contains 525 mg of chlorophyll in 100 g of T. aestivum powder .Thus it can be concluded that plant based wheat grass is an ideal supplement for general health and well being with therapeutic uses. It has an immense potential in the main stream of food processing industries as a health benefactor which proves to be beneficial for the society in prevention from life threatening diseases.

Keywords: Triticum aestivum; Green food; Nutritional composition; Phytochemicals; Wheat grass powder ( WGP). 

Context: Gridhrasi (Sciatica), disorder apparently seems to be non-serious but cripples the patient and

results in apprehension of social responsibilities. Ayurveda has explained various therapies for treatment

of Gridhrasi. According to Charaka, Agnikarma should be performed in between the Kandara and Gulpha

(Medial part of ankle joint). Whereas Chakrapani mentioned that should be done in between the Kandara

and Anguli (first inter digital cleft). Aims: To locate the exact site for Agnikarma in Gridhrasi by doing

Agnikarma in patients at region mentioned in Charak Samhita as well as Chakrapani. Settings and

Design: Comparative, retrospective, clinical study. Methods and Material: 100 patients selected by simple

randomized sample method divided into 2 groups i.e. Group ‘A’ & Group ‘B’. Each group contained 50

already diagnosed patient of Gridhrasi having age Group 30-60 years from Govt. Ayurveda hospital

irrespective of their sex, cast & religion. In Group ‘A’ Agnikarma was done on Ankle joint medially between medial malleolus and Achillies Tendon and in Group ‘B’ it was done at inter-digital cleft between the first two digits of foot on dorsal aspect. The Agnikarma was performed at the interval of 15 days. Total three sittings were given. Follow up was taken after every 7 days. The total course was completed in 6 weeks. The improvement in the patients was assessed mainly on the basis of relief in the pain and SLR (Straight Leg Raised) test. Statistical Analysis Used: Two tailed z test was used for calculating the z value. Results: In Agni Karma Group-A highly significant result was found on Ruka, SLR test, Toda, Spandana, and Stambha, like cardinal symptoms. Overall effect of Agni Karma in group-A in term of cure rate – 32% and markedly improvement in 64% shows its better efficacy. In Group-B insignificant result was found in all the cardinal symptoms of Gridhrasi. Overall effect of Agnikarma in Group-B in term of cure rate 0%, with only 6% improvement in Gridhrasi shows its inefficiency in Gridhrasi. Conclusions: Comparative analysis of result in both the groups reveals that Agnikarma offers significant result on Gridhrasi at “Antara-Kandara Gulpha” i.e. at ankle region medially between medial malleolus and achillis tendon in term of overall effect as well on the basis of relief in percentage. Agni Karma on the site mentioned by Acharya Charaka has better result than the site mentioned by commentator Chakrapani.

Key-words: Agnikarma; Antara-kandara gulph; Antara-kandara angulyo; Gridhrasi; Rachana-sharir; Sciatica.