A Comparative Study Of Two Virechana Yoga In The Management Of Eka Kustha (Psoriasis)
P Shah
Keywords
eka kustha, ichhabhedi ras, kapha, pitta, trivritadi churna, virechana
Citation
P Shah. A Comparative Study Of Two Virechana Yoga In The Management Of Eka Kustha (Psoriasis). The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine. 2008 Volume 7 Number 2.
Abstract
Ayurveda is the only medical science which teaches ‘The understanding of life’. The word kushtha is a term as a broad spectrum entirely which covers almost all the skin diseases of modern science. Therefore only after finding origin, pathogenesis, dosh prominence and nature of disease treatment can be started. So, avoiding further controversy at present we are considering psoriasis as Ekakushtha. As nobody has done comparative study of virechan karma with two different yoga 20 patients under trial were subdivided into Group I & Group II (each 10 patients) to compare the effects of both Virechana yoga. Group I: Virechana karma with Ichhabhedi ras and Group II : Virechana karma with Trivritadi churna. Difference in results in both group were statistically significant with Effect on ASWEDAN in group I was 100%. In Group I Effect
Introduction
Ayurveda is the only medical science which teaches ‘The understanding of life’. Ayurveda has given some rules of life which every one should follow to be healthy - physically and mentally, but now a days life style is changed. People have changed their life style as per so called western life style and forgotten the importance of
Among all skin diseases, ‘
Ayurveda taxes provide no strait way references toward any diseases which can be totally termed as psoriasis. Because there are many contra verses for nomenclature of psoriasis according to ayurved. Only by comparative study of symptoms and ayurvedic principle many scholars had tried to compare with Ekakushtha/Kitibh/ charmdal etc,. in fect nothing could be concluded till date
The word kushtha is a term as a broad specterm entirely which covers almost all the skin diseases of modern science. Therefore only after finding origin , pathogenesis, dosh prominence and nature of disease treatment can be started. So, avoiding further controversy at present we are considering psoriasis as Ekakushtha.
Study says that Ekakushtha is a Kshudrakushtha, which have vata kapha dosha dominancy. Though it is a part of kushtha. We can say it is a tridoshaj vyadhi. In classics kushtha is also described as Raktapradoshaja vyadhi
In ayurvedic epics
In this subject of
Aims and objectives
To study the etiology, pathology, symptometology and the progress of the disease i.e. nidan panchak and dhosh vrudhhi, according to ayurvedic science as well as modern science.
To assess the efficacy of shodhn karma (virechan karma) in management of Psoriasis.
To compare the efficacy of both virechan yoga.
To find out a safe and complete better remedy in this diseases.
Material & Methods
Criteria of Patient Selection
Patients will be selected irrespective of Age, Sex, Caste, Religion & Profession from O.P.D. & I.P.D. of Govt. Akhandanand Ayurved College - Hospital, Ahmedabad. And Government Shrimati Maniben Ayurved Hospital, Ahmedabad. And then they will be randomly grouped for the Study.
Diagnostic Criteria
The parameters of diagnosis would be on the platform of Ayurveda as well as Allopathy.
History: An extensive temporal profile (Performa) compiled on the basis of Ayurveda and modern science with detailed clinical history & examination. It is prepared to assess the mode of onset & progress of disease.
Investigation: like Blood for Hb% , TLC ,DLC, ESR, Blood sugar, Serum Cholesterol, Stool – Routine and Microscopic, Urine - Routine and Microscopic, Skin Biopsy -( If necessary & possible )
Exclusion Criteria : The patients less than 16 years and above 70 years of age, Disease like Diabetes Mellitus, cancer, AIDS, Tuberculosis and other complicated or systemic disorders.
All the patients coming in the O.P.D. & I.P.D. of Govt. Akhandanand Ayurvedic Hospital were randomly divided into two groups. Prior to that the patients were subjected to various investigations. A detailed proforma specially prepared for this purpose was filled. 20 patients under trial were subdivided into Group I & Group II (each 10 patients) to compare the effects of both Virechana yoga. The management plan was as here in under.
In both the group virechana was done by classical panchkarma steps, i.e. Purvakarma followed by Pradhankarma and Paschat karma
Findings
Age: Higher incidence of Eka Kushtha was reported in the age group of 41-60 years, the reason may be due to exposure to external environment, gradual declining of the immunity, house hold tensions & irregular dietatic habits.
Sex: Higher incidence was found in males (60%) when compared to females, since they are more tense, contacts more with pollution, irritant substances.
Religion: In the study, 85% of Hindus were afflicted. The reason may be due to presence of more hindu population who had afflicted with Ekakushtha.
Education: Majority of the patients were completed primary education (50%) even post graduates were also afflicted (30%). Uneducated were 20% in the study. Hence cannot predict relation of disease with education.
Occupation: 65% were doing service, 25% of patients were engaged in house works, &10% of bussinussmaen. it can be said that those with outer side activities had more incidence since there may be contacts with causative factors.
Marital status: In present study 85% of the patients were belonging to married group. From this no specific cause can be interpreted.
Socio-economic status: 100% were belonging to middle class family. Since there was maintenance of hygienic condition, even then incidence of middle class people are more. It may have relation with stressful environment at workplace or in the family as well as due to poor nutrition with poor immunity
Habitat: Majority (86.66%) were belonged to urban area. This may be responsible for disturbance in healthy state of skin.
Dietary habits: 80% were vegetarians, even then there may be intake of more madhura rasa, amla ras & lavana rasa , possibility of viruddahara, apathy can be a taken as a reason. 90% of patients were following regular dietary habits & majority 76.66% were consuming excess of katu ahara which helps in rakta & pitta prakopa
Supplementary diet: 90% were taking tea only, which hampers the process of digestion.
Agni: Higher incidence of Visamagni (40%) was found, this will support the cause for disease
Kostha: Study shows 70% with madhyama kostha. No decisions can be drawn.
Prakriti: Higher incidence was found in patients with vata pitta prakriti. Hence these prakriti patients were more prone to the disease.
Manasika prakriti: Study predicted highest involvement of raja prakriti(70%) wherein it co-existed with shareerika prakriti in creating a disease.
Chronicity: The data of chronicity among 20 patients reveals that majority (50%) were suffering from the disease since <1 yrs. In Eka Kushtha, tiryak dosha gati was found, hence patients were afflicted for a long period & is said to be chirakari vyadhi. Since in due course the skin immunity was lost & even with little insult to the body, exacerbations & remission character was found leading to chronic persistant nature of the disease.
Precipitating factors according to season & other factors: Majority of the patients i.e.80% had aggravation during winter season & 20% in summer season. The disease has direct relation with the season, wherein the dry atmosphere aggravates cracking of the skin & reduces the immunity of skin. There will be predominance of kapha during winter again predisposes to the condition. Seasonal aggravation may be due to predominance of dosha
Effect Of Both Therapies On Symptomatology
Effect On Aswedan
Effect on ASWEDAN in group I was 100% which is statistically not significant at P>0.10.
Aswedan is caused by the Kapha by obstruction of Swedavahi strotas. Due to Virechanan Karma the Shodhan process begins, so every Sthoola & sukshma srotas were become purified
Effect On Matsyashakalopam (Twktdalan -Scalling)
In Group I Effect was giving 86.20% relief, statistically which is highly significant at P < 0.01, while in Group II effect of Virichan with Trivritadi churna was providing 87.5% relief which showed highly significant improvement at P < 0.001.
This symptoms is considered as prtyamata lakshnna of psoriasis. According to Ayurveda this symptoms arises due to pitta pradhana tridosha, while morden science says that scalling is caused due to accelerated proliferation of keratinocyte & disturbed epidermal maturation
In present study it is obsereved that better result were obtained in group II, because Trivritadi churna has major action on pitta- kapha dosha.
Effect On Varna
In Group I Effect on VARNA was 64%. which is statistically highly significant at P<0.001, while in Group II 65% relief obtained which is statistically highly significant at P<0.001.
The color of the skin is dependent chiefly on the bhrajaka pitta, rash and rakta dhatu. Vitiation of these dosha and dushya can causes twakvaivarna. Virechana is a treatment of choice for elimination of vitiated pitta
In present study 1% better result were obtained in group II, because Trivritadi churna has major action on pitta- kapha dosha.
Effect On Pidika
Group I patient Effect was 80%,which is statistically significant at P<0.05. In Group II 100% relief obsereved but it is statistically not significant at P<0.10.
Pidika is caused by vitiation of kapha dosha. In present study better result was observed in group II but resut is statistically not significant, while statistically significant result was observed in group I with icchabadi ras as it act on kapha dosha.
Effect On Kandu
In Group I Effect of Virechana with Icchabhedi ras on kandu shows relief of 83.33%, which is highly significant at P<0.01, while in Group II relief of 58.82% seen, which is statistically highly significant at P<0.01.
Kandu is caused by kapha prkopa and rasarakta dusti
In our study better result was observed in group I with Icchabhedi ras which shows effect of Icchabhedi ras on kapha as well as on vata in eak Kushtha which has vata-kapha dominance.
Effect On Dah
Therapy in Group I showed 92.85% relief with statistically significant result at P<0.05, while therapy in Group II giving relief of 100%, but it is statistically not significant at P<0.10.
Daha is caused by vitiation of pitta dosha. Virechana is specially indicated for elimination of vitiated pitta from the body and as Trivritadi churn
Effect On Vedana
Effect of Virechana with Icchabhedi ras showed a non significant ‘P’ value with improvement of 100%, while in Group II
Vedana is caused by vitiation of vata dosha. Virechana is not a choice of treatment for vata, though it eliminate vata as said in samyak Virechana laksan
Effect On Rukshta
Effect of Virechana with Icchbhedi ras was 95.65% which is statistically significant at P<0.01, while in other group 87.5% relief was seen with statistically highly significant result at P<0.05.
Rukshta is caused by vata vaigunya.In Virechana karma, snehpan karma (as a part of purva karma) with Tiktashatpala ghrita was done. Relief in this symptom was noted because of the snigdha guna of Tiktashatpala ghrita
In present study better result was observed in group I which is due to effect of Icchabhedi ras on vata dosh.
Effect On Dosha Dushti
Prior to the Virechana karma snehan with Tiktashatpala ghrita was given in increased dose. By the property of snigdha guna it deminises vitiated vata. Virechana process does the Anulomana of vata.
Virechana is a karma of choice for removal of pitta dosha of body and in this study better result was seen in group II with trivratadi churna which is heaving more effect on pitta than Icchabhedi ras
Virechana karma is indicated for pitta dosha, pitta samsrusta kapha and pitta sthangata kapha. Thus, Virechana helps to relive the kapha dusti lakshana. Virechana also checkes dhatu poshana process by increasing the dhatvagni
Effect On Srotodushti
Effect of therapy in both group were statistically highly significant at P<0.001.
In Group with Icchabhedi rash, In Rasvaha srotodushti there were 85.74% relief, while in group II relief of 42.22% was observed.
Same way in case of Raktavaha srotodushti 75% relief was seen and in other group 85.74% relief was achived. 68.18% relief in Mansavaha srotodushti was seen in group I and 81.74% relief was seen in Group II.
In case of Swedavaha srotodushti lakshanas 72.22% relief was obtained in group I and 68.38% relief in group II.
Virechana karma is indicated in the srotodushti of rasvaha, raktavaha, mansavaha as well as vyadhis of that dhatu. Virechana checkes improper jatharagni and dhatvagni vyapar so, after virechana jatharagni and dhatvagni increases.
EFFECT ON CLINICAL SIGNS:
Auspitz sign caused by dermal papillary dilatation. According to Ayurveda it is due to vitiliated pitta dosha and raktadushti. With the virtue of virachen this symptoms was relived.
According to Ayurveda the probable cause of candle grease sign is vata kapha dosha and raktadhatu. Virechana is chiefly indicated for pitta dosha but it also removes vitiated vata and kapha dosha.
Overall Effect Of Therapy
Overall result of both groups indicate that virechan is heaving promising result in case of eak Kushtha. Better result in group with Icchabhedi ras is because eak kusth is tridosh vyadhi with prominent vata kapha dosha and Icchabhedi ras is heaving effect on vata kapha dosha. If we see individual symptoms, patient in group two shows more improvement in symptoms due to kapha pitta dosha, as thTrivritadi churna is heving more effect on kapha pitta dosha.
Conclusion
Higher incidence of Eka Kushtha was reported in the age group of 41-60 years.
Higher incidence was found in males (60%) when compared to females.
Effect on ASWEDAN in group I was 100%.
In Group I Effect on MATSYASHAKALOPAM was giving 86.20% relief.
In VARNA Group II was giving 65% relief.
Effect on PIDIKA In Group II was 100% .
In Group I Effect on KANDU shows relief of 83.33%,
Effect in group I showed improvement of 100% on VEDANA,
Effect in group I on RUKSHTA was 95.65% .
In case of VATA dushti, group I showed relief of 90.32%, which is also highly significant at P<0.001.while In PITTA prakopa second Group showed
In Srotodushti group I on RASVAHA showed 85.74% relief and In case of SWEDAVAHA 72.22% relief was obtained in group I. Same way in case of RAKTAVAHA in group II 85.74% relief was achived.In MANSAVAHA 81.74% relief was seen in Group II.
Acknowledgment
I am very much thankful to my Dean,. My Guide and Co-Guide for constant help and guidance. I am also thankful to my all subjects without this study is not possible.
