Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Yoga

Nutritional status of a person has prime importance in treatment of disease and its prognosis. In Ayurveda there are so many tools explained to assess the nutritional status by a different authors in different texts. Some of the important assessment criteria’s are discussed in the context like dashavidhapariksha, ashtavidhapariksha and other criteria’s which will help the physician to decide the treatment plan.

Keywords: Ayurveda; Dashavidhapariksha; Ashtavidhapariksha; Nutrition; Diet. 

The major disturbances among the menstrual disorders are seen in the form of irregular cycles which has been emphasized by many medical interviews ranging from 5-16 %.[1] Most of the adolescents presenting with irregular cycles are associated with PCOS whose incidence is estimated to be between 11 & 26 % [2] and about 50% are overweight. These problems improperly addressed during adolescence may result as cause for infertility in the married women. Hence this study was carried out to investigate the awareness on current issue in college going adolescent girls. A cross sectional study was conducted on 209 girls. A self-administered questionnaire consists of the questions on awareness, knowledge on menstruation & PCOS is used for data collection. The mean age of respondents was 17.5 yrs and the mean age attained at menarche was 13.5 yrs. Data revealed that there is general lack of awareness about knowledge on menstrual cycles in 48-50% of the adolescents. Most of them (60%) are not aware of the condition Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome though they are presenting with its clinical features. Hence there is need to educate the adolescents about the normal menstruation and the most prevalent disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Keywords: Irregular Menstrual cycles; Adolescent girls; Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. 

Background: Prakriti (constitution) of a man has genetic and acquired aspect; the genetic aspect depends pon sperm and ovum, while acquired constitution develops in relation to environmental factors such as limate, season, time factor, age, race, familial inheritance. New approaches and development in modern cience improve and accelerate the concept of Prakriti. This short discourse gives us a clue to fundamentals of Prakriti as met with in Ayurveda and evidence based scientific supporting data validating and approving it. Aim and Objectives: To revalidate the Ayurvedic genetic concept of Prakriti in light of evidence based studies. Materials and Methods: Information extracted from various classics such as Brihattrayi (Charaka, Sushruta, Ashtanga Hridaya and Ashtanga Sangraha Samhita) and published information on recent research developments of Prakriti including original articles in Pubmed, Scopemed, Pubmed Central Databades, Dhara online database and other allied databases were taken into study for the review. Reported data was analyzed and represented for current review. Conclusion: Contemporary evidences confirm and establish Prakriti as genetic theory of modern science. The current work appears to be the first of its kind and can be considered as reference standards for future studies.

Keywords: Ayurveda; Personalized medicine; Prakriti; Genetics. 

Terminalia arjuna Wight & Arn (Arjuna) ,family Combretacecae , a large deciduous tree commonly found through out country is widely used in folks and Ayurvedic system of medicine. Its stem bark and leaves contains glycosides, flavones, tannins and large amount of Calcium salts. Various properties of T. arjuna, described in folks and Ayurveda like Hridrognasak, Kapha-medo vishoshan, Vrana ropak, Bhagn sandhankar, Pramehghan, Stambhak, Kantida, Rakt-pittahar, Balya etc. are acquiring scientific validity through modern researches. Scientific studies shows that its bark containing ionotropic , hypotensive effect, increasing coronary artery flow, hypolipidemic ,anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-diarrhoeal, wound heeling and osteoblastic properties. In this review an attempt has been made to discuss various aspects of Arjuna like ethnobotanical, pharmacognostical, phytochemical, pharmacological and its clinical relevance in various ailments.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Terminalia arjuna , glycosides , ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, therapeutics. 

Dandruff is very common in population. It causes hair fall or hair loss, itching in scalp, acne, pimples and recurrent infection of facial skin, more over it also causes social embracement. Ayurveda has recommended many herbal formulations and remedies are mentioned for dandruff like Nilikadham taila,Khas-khasbeejadi lepa,Amrabeejadi lepa etc., in which Amrabeejadi lepa formulation is one of them which is indicated even in severe dandruff. This lepa contains Amra beeja majja, Haritaki and Dugdha. This dosage form has very short shelf life and low patient compliance. So to increase its shelf-life and also for better patient compliance amrabeejadi lepa modified into cream in house. The study is intended to evaluation of Amrabeejadi antidandruff cream. The Amrabeejadi antidandruff cream tested with standards parameters pH (3-4), viscosity (32640 cpc) spreadability (8-80 gmcm/sec) and extrudability (good). The lotion shows good consistency and good appearance. So we can develop the classical formulation in convenient dosage form, consumer friendly, highly potent and longer shelf life without disturbing basic concepts of Ayurveda.

Keywords: Lepa; Modified cream; Evaluation.

Kupeelu (Strychnousnuxvomica Linn)is a spinal poison of vegetable origin which comes under Upavisha (semi-poisonous group).[1,2,3,4] Even though it is a poisonous drug; it possesses abundant therapeutic values, it’s seeds are highly toxic but after adopting proper shodhana (purificatory) procedures it attains medicinal values and can be used in the treatment of many diseases.[5] Accidentally or homicidal or because of misuse of drugs during medication, may lead into so many complications like convulsions, coma etc. and eventually death occurs.[6] In the present study kupeelu seeds were subjected to shodhana using Gomutra, Godugda and Goghrita and to evaluate its effect of shodhana on convulsive property of kupeelu by comparing the toxic effects produced by ashodhita (unpurified) kupeelu seeds with shodhita (purified) kupeelu seeds in wistar rats. Animals were grouped and one group received ashodhita kupeelu seed powder and another group received shodhita kupeelu seed powder. And they were dosed in a single oral dose of 666 mg/kg body weight, following by 24 hrs observations for toxic signs and symptoms pertaining to convulsions. An observation reveals that all the animals of ashodhita group got convulsions followed by death of all animals, whereas there is no occurrence of convulsions in all the animals of shodhita group. So shodhita group shows 100% protection against convulsions in albino rats. Hence the present study concludes that by adopting proper shodhana procedure, it reduced the effect of toxicity when compared with ashodhita group.

Keywords: Gomutra; Godugda; Goghrita; Ashodhita; Shodhita; Convulsions.  

The disease Sandhigatavata is first described by Acharya Charaka in the name of Sandhigataanila with the symptoms of Shotha which on palpation feels as bag filled with air and Shula on prasarana and Akunchana(on flexion and extension). The disease can be compared in modern paralance with oesteoarthritis, a degenrative joint disease, the symptoms of which are same as Sandhigatavata and usually occurs after the age of 40 years. In the present study total 42 patients with classical signs and symptoms of sandhigatavata were screened from the O.P.D and I.P.D of Kayachikitsa department, IPGT &RA Hospital, Jamnagar, out of which 6 patients left did not enrolled for the study, remaining 36 patients were divided into 3 groups- 1. Group –R- Only Rasnadi Guggulu – dose- 4 pills three times a day (one pill approx 250 mg) (n=12) 2. Group –GR- Guduchyadi Kashaya(dose- 20 gms twice a day) along with Rasnadi Guggulu (n=12) 3. Group- BR- Bala churna( 3 gram three times a day) along with Rasnadi Guggulu (n=12) Anupana - Warm water The duration of treatment for all the three groups was 8 weeks.It was concluded that “GR”therapy group shows 74.15% effect on total cardinal signs and symptoms, whereas “BR” and “R” therapy provided 71.60% and 64.11% improvement respectively on total cardinal signs and symptoms of Sandhigatavata. 

Keywords: Sandhivata; Oesteoarthritis; Rasnadi Guggulu; Guduchyadi kashaya; Bala churna.