Kerala Traditional Ayurvedic Practices in Children for Enhancing Immunity - A Systematic Review

Kerala is rich in its culture for the traditional Ayurveda practices in children from the time of birth onwards. These traditional practices are mainly immune boosters and also enhance overall nourishment and development in children. Commonly used traditional Ayurveda practices are Uramarunnu Prayoga, Prakara Yoga, Abhyanga, Rasanadi churna lepana, Snana etc. for enhancing immunity and providing overall development to children. Uramarunnu is a baby care practice comprising of a group of drugs administered to the child in the form of paste in breast milk, after 28 days till 2 years of age. Prakara Yogas are immunomodulatory recipes and procedures to be adopted right from the day after delivery. Abhyanga provides nourishment, health, protection, emotional well-being and improves skin tone. All these can be used for enhancing immunity and preventing recurrent infections thereby helps in the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases. This mentions the importance of Kerala traditional Ayurvedic practices in the field of primary child health care. So, the present study aims to compile Kerala’s traditional Ayurvedic practices in children, by reviewing regional textbooks like Arogyakalpadruma, Vaidya Tarakam, Parambarya Balachikitsa etc., and also interviewing Ayurveda pediatrician through telephone.

An Open Label Pre and Post Test Clinical Evaluation of Efficacy of Tila Taila Abhyanga and Massage of Yoni in Cystocele with Special Reference to Chyuta Avastha of Vasti

Prolapse or downward displacement of pelvic organs especially vagina, uterus and rectum is a common and disabling condition among women of menopausal age group. It affects their quality of life also. Displacement of vaginal anterior compartment results in cystocele. Quoting Acharya Susruta reference, the aim of this study is to find the efficacy of Tila taila yoni Abhya?ga in Cyuta avastha of Vasti with respect to first degree cystocele. 30 subjects were selected satisfying inclusion and exclusion criterias with the approval of Institutional ethical committee. Clinical evaluation is done with the help of relevant subjective and objective parameters. The subjective parameters were assessed before and after the treatment for a period of one month with UDI questionnaire and objective parameter with Baden-Walker system of grading Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Three months follow-up evaluation was also done with same parameters. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test is used to statically decompose the clinical data. Subjective parameters showed improvement of the condition viz frequency and urgency of urination, urine leakage with and without any activity, cough, sneeze, small amount of urine leakage, difficult and incomplete bladder emptying, bulging in vagina However, leakage not related to urgency, lower abdominal pressure, painful urination and lower abdomen or genital area, pelvic area heaviness or dullness, pelvic discomfort and burning micturition showed only a little reduction with the treatment. Objective parameter is also highly statistically significant at p value < 0.001.

A Comparative Study of Dashamooladi Nasya & Dashamooladi Ghana Vati in the Management of Vishvachi w.s.r to Cervical Spondylosis

The advent of civilization and overuse of life modifying gadgets like cell phones, computers, etc. leads to greater incidence of neck pain worldwide, of which Cervical spondylosis is the prime cause, which is a natural ageing process characterized by sequence of degenerative changes in the spinal structure. In Ayurveda, it can be closely correlated with Vishvachi, which is a Nanatmaja vatavyadhi, in which there is restriction of movement in arms associated with Ruk, Stambha, etc. features. Aims and Objectives: 1. To study etiopathogenesis, symptomatology, and progress of Vishvachi w.s.r. to cervical spondylosis. 2. To assess the efficacy of Dashamooladi taila nasya and Dashamooladi ghana vati individually and compare the effect of both schedules clinically. Materials and Methods: After proper identification, the selected raw herbs are used for Taila (oil) preparation according to Taila paka vidhi for Nasya and Kwatha was made for oral medication. The study was carried out in two parts- a). Literary- Textual references from various books, journal and papers on Internet were studied. b). Clinical- After considering the selection criteria, a total of 60 patients were treated in two groups- i) Group A: 30 patients were treated with Dashamooladi taila nasya for consecutive 21 days preceded by Abhyanga (oleation) & Svedana (fomentation). ii) Group B: 30 patients were treated with Dashamooladi Ghana vati consecutively for 21 days. Scoring was done on the basis of 09 parameters and statistical analysis was done. Result: Group A patients showed marked effect on Avamotana, Sanchari, Spandana, Aruchi & moderate effect on Ruk, Toda, Stambha & Tandra. Group B showed marked effect on Toda, Stambha, Spandana; and moderate effect on Ruk, Avamotana, Sanchar. Conclusion: Dashamooladi yoga (Dashamoola, Bala, Masha) is used both for shamana and Nasya medicine. These are effective in Vata-kaphaja ailments, Sotha, Shula, etc., and possess Balya, Brimhana, Rasayana, Vrishya etc., qualities.

Ayurvedic Management of Vatik Kasa in Era of Covid 19- A Case Series

Majority of the patients having cough (Kasa) is the presentation of respiratory disease. In general, air pollution; smoking and improper food habits are the triggering factors, which enhance this disease. Since the time 2nd wave of COVID 19 has gone the patients these days are coming with the major complaints of severe itching in the throat along with dry cough. Kasa is Kapha-Vata dominant disorder having 5 types, among which the pattern of cough relates to most of the symptoms of Vatik Kasa. The drugs like Vasavaleha and Chandramruta rasa helps to alleviate the vitiated Kapha Vata Dosha along with Haritaki as Anulomna and Abhyanga with Sarshapa taila mixed with Saindhava lavan, and Vashpa swedana on Uraha Pradesh. The major symptoms of Vatika Kasa subsided within 3 days and rest of the symptoms got cured in 10 days. Aim: Management of Vatik Kasa by Ayurvedic treatment modalities. Methodology: The study was conducted on three patients having symptoms of Vatik Kasa. In this case series, 3 patients were treated with local Abhayanga and Swedana, Haritiki, Vasavaleha and Chandramruta rasa and for 10 days. Conclusion: The use of Vasavaleha and Chandramruta rasa Muhurmuha along with local Abhyanga and Swedana showed significant improvement in the symptoms of the patients. Improvement was quite quick and highly significant on the symptoms of Vatika Kasa.

Management Of Gridhrasi W.s.r To Acute Sciatica Through Panchakarma Treatment

Gridhrasi or sciatica in modern language is one the common condition of loco motor system disorder; it is a pain dominant disease and reduces human activity. In Ayurveda texts it comes under Vatavyadhi. Aim: To successfully manage acute case of sciatica through Panchakarma treatment. Materials and Methods- An acute case of sciatica was taken under consideration and was given Panchakarma therapies like Kati Basti, Abhyanga, Matra Basti for 23 days. Results and conclusion: The patient got 83.3% improvement in SLR test and nerve discomfort. It was noted that Panchakarma therapy is highly effective in treating acute cases of sciatica.

Classical Ashtavaidyan Ayurvedic Therapy In The Functional Improvement Of Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Case Study

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic auto immune connective tissue disease that can affect any part of the body. The disease has no direct reference in Ayurvedic texts. Considering the symptomatology, it can be compared with Upadrava of Vatarakta. Methodology: In this study, 3 patients (age group between 15– 60 yrs) diagnosed SLE with the help of ACR criteria after assessing both objective and subjective parameters have undergone the prescribed classical Ayurvedic treatments, in both IP and OP level to evaluate its effect in the functional improvement. The study period was totally 57 days which included 21 days each at inpatient and outpatient basis and 15 days of follow up. Initially Sathaila Shastika Pinda Sweda was done for first 7 days followed by Takradhara for another 7 days. Consecutively Abhyanga with Pinda taila and Thalam with Amalaki were done for next 7 days. Then treatment was done on OP basis with internal medicines. Result: Results shows that the prescribed Ayurvedic treatments helped to control the progressive signs and symptoms. The quality of life and range of movements of the affected joints improved. Major difference showing a good improvement in carrying out the day today life activities was noted. Conclusion: Traditional Ashtavaidyan Ayurveda therapy is found effective in controlling the progressive symptoms of patients and improvement in functional ability of the patients with SLE. More over there was no adverse drug reaction recorded during as well there was significant change observed in liver and renal function tests. This indicates that the therapy is safe without producing any complication or side effects.

A holistic approach to the management of Erb’s palsy.

A 4.5-month-old female baby, presenting with complete paralysis of right upper limb with typical waiter’s tip deformity, diagnosed as Erb’s palsy was brought to Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Hospital. Patient was treated with an integrated approach of physiotherapy and Ayurvedic treatment with an intention of aiding faster recovery of the patient to lead a near normal life. As per Ayurvedic classics, this condition can be correlated to Ekangavata (Vata effecting any one part of the body), which is Apatarpana in nature (diseases with deprived growth of body tissue). Hence, the choice of treatment is Santarpana Chikitsa (nourishing treatment). Santarpana Bahyopakramas (nourishing external treatment modalities) such as Ashwagandhabalalakshadi Taila (Ayurvedic medicated oil) Abhyanga (oleation therapy) and Shastikashali Anna Lepa (application of processed rice paste) were administered along with electrical stimulation (physiotherapy modality), both galvanic and faradic current in three sessions. Appreciable results were observed in the form of reduction of disparity in length and mid-arm circumference of right upper limb compared to unaffected left upper limb and the muscle power too improved from zero to four, facilitating patient to near normal movement.