Friday, 19 August 2011

Treatment of Irritable bowel syndrome (sangrehni) in Ayurveda

                                        Treatment of  IBS (Grahni )in Ayurveda
                                                                                                       Dr Gagan Sharma                                                           09465343479                                                        
In today’s world of fast food , there is change and irregularity in diet and diet timings. Fast growing world has given desk jobs and sedentary life style. In addition to change in diet and lifestyle, one is always under tremendous stress. body and mind are interdependent to each other. All these causes disturbances to the digestive system, which results into many disease, among which digestion and absorption diseases are most common.  Irritable BowelSyndrome (IBS) is a psychosomatic disease condition where motility of intestine is disturbed with altered bowel habit, lower abdominal pain with distention relieved by passes of flatus. There is no detectable organic pathology in this disease. The symptoms are markedly influenced by psychological factors with stressful life style. A careful review of the clinical picture of various GIT diseases, described in Ayurveda reveals that some of the disorders definitely have some clinical symptoms observed in the patients of IBS.   
In Ayurveda , functionally weak Agni/Digestive fire causes improper digestion of ingested food ,which leads to Aam dosha . Aam is the root cause of most of the diseases. It is well established that the circular and longitudinal muscles of the small bowel and sigmoid are highly susceptible to motor abnormalities. As a result, many factors can influence their contraction rates and lead to the excessive activity of their function which is at the basis of irritable bowel syndrome. Ayurveda evaluation searches for the various root causes of excessive GI motility through a determination of the imbalances in the functioning modes of the body.
Signs and symptoms
·         Cramping pain in lower abdomen
·         Changes in  bowel habits
·         Diarrhea or constipation, or both alternately
·         Relief of pain after bowel movements
·         Feeling of incomplete emptying after bowel movements
·         Mucus in stool
·         Abnormal movements of the colon, whether too fast or too slow, are seen in some, but not all, people who have IBS.

Treatment

Ayurveda has emphasized the use of Buttermilk ( takra) for the treatmentof IBS. The patient has to be kept on the diet of buttermilk, which is the treatment and nutrition in IBS.Buttermilk is digestive, astringent, and light to digest and helps in improving the consistency of the stool. Buttermilk is given along with asafetida, cumin, and rock-salt powder to control the bowel movements. It contains a good amount of lactobacillus bacteria, which helps restore the normal flora of the intestines. . Trikatu, a compound containing black pepper, long pepper, and ginger, is specific for low enzyme and high enterotoxin.  Pungent, bitter, and astringent tasting foods are best. Musta ( Cyperus rotundus) improves intestinal absorption and stops diarrhea.
There are several time tested classical  ayurvedic formulations mentioned by our ancient Acharays  eg   Brhat gangadhara curna ,Dadimastaka curna ,Jatiphaladi curna , Hingvastaka churna , Bilvadi lehyam ,Chitrakadi vati ,Shankha vati,Dashmuladi ghrita, Panchamrut parpati ,Kutaj parpati,Rasa-parpati .These medicines should be taken under the guidance of an ayurvedic physician .
IBS is a psychosomatic disease .Stress management can help prevent or ease IBS symptoms. Use relaxation techniques: deep breathing, visualization, yoga , meditation can help the patient . Bhramari pranayaam  will help to alleviate stress and anxiety .Pavan multa asana will help to reduce gaseous trouble and bloating. Kapal bhatti  can be helpful for those suffering with constipation.
Diet Regime for IBS
Preferred food items are Eat old rice, ginger, jawar, coriander leaves, lentil, green grams soup, black pepper, nutmeg, skimmed milk, buttermilk, hot water. Foods rich in monounsaturated fats, such as olives and olive or canola oil, are more healthy as well as easily digestible. Herbs like ginger, fennel, and cumin that stimulate enzyme secretions will improve digestion, absorption, and clear Aam(undigested material) from the digestive tract. When treating IBS, a light diet is advised.
Avoid indigestible foods such as bread; cheese; red meat; and cold, hard, and raw.Because it is hard to digest, saturated fat can be colon irritants. Foods rich in saturated or trans fats include stick butter and margarine, shortening, fried foods, beef fat, full-fat dairy products and commercially prepared cookies, crackers, coffee cakes and snack foods.Limit foods that contain ingredients that can stimulate the intestines and cause diarrhea, such as caffeine (tea,coffee), Alcohol , Foods high in sugar ,Artificial sweeteners (sorbitol).Some vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts) and legumes (beans) may worsen bloati

To sum up, Our health depends a lot on the food we eat. So to remain healthy we must think before we eat. Balanced diet , exercise ,yoga and meditation all are key to good health. Ayurveda  is not only focused to cure the patient but also emphasis on the  proper life style to keep our selves healthy.



Tuesday, 2 August 2011

blog by Dr Himanshu Sharma...: Drug Standardisation

blog by Dr Himanshu Sharma...: Drug Standardisation: " Use Herb as a whole ..."

Drug Standardisation

                               Use Herb as a whole
                                                                                        Dr.Himanshu Sharma
                                                                                       Ayurvedic Consultant
                                                                                         NIAPR,Patiala
INTRODUCTION
Widely regarded as the oldest form of healthcare in the world, Ayurveda is a time tested  medical system that originated in India thousands of years ago.. The aim of the system is to prevent illness, heal the sick and preserve life. This can be summed up as follows: To protect health and prolong life ("Swasthyas swasthya rakshanam") ,To eliminate diseases and disfunctions of the body ("Aturasya vikar prashamanamcha  ).
Ayurveda  has several single and polyherbal   formulations .Today there has been a great demand for plant derived herbal  products. World has accepted the concept of drug standardization   for scientific validation of these  herbs.  The  standard extract(active principle) of a herb help us  to understand its phytochemistry, drug interactions, bioequivalence, pharmacovigilance  study.
OBJECT
Inspite of using the active principle of drug, use of crude drug is more scientific as per ayurvedic  principles.  It is believed that  the  standardised extracts are more effective than crude drug.In my view, If we are working on Ayurvedic principles, we must consider the importance of the views of our ancient Acharyas.
DISCUSSION
·         The concept of using whole herb by our ancient acharyas was based on the principle of   Ras panchak.  The action of a drug is based on  Ras, ,Virya ,  Guna,   Vipaak and Prabaav. In Ayurveda it is not the dead line that the action of herb lies only in its active principle. According to the principle of Ayurveda, one herb  works on the basis of its ras, another on the basis of its veerya, another on the basis of its vipaak.
·         A drug has major and minor constituents. The concept of using the major constituents as active principle does not solve the purpose. It is possible that those other minor   constituents may also be essential in a polyherbal formulations . How one herb interact with other herbs in a polyherbal formulations is yet to be carried out.
·         In Ayurveda , each and every patient is a individual entity and the treatment also differs from patient to patient. Rogi Nidaan has its different parameters. It’s not as simple as in modern medicines. Prakriti parikshan, Saar, Sahanan, vyayam shakti, agni all these parameters are  studied by an ayurvedist.An ayurvedist makes a clear picture of tha individual by understanding a patient as awhole and also  decides what kind of mode of  preparation to be used for the individual.  Panch Kashay Kalpana  (SWARAS,CHURNA,KALK,HIM,PHANT,)  is based on this principle. But if we are using only the extract of the herb , it  may not serve the purpose.

·         Concept of Bhashajya Kalpana in Ayurveda is highly scientific.In a polyherbal formulations our Acharayas has shown their creadibility . Tribhuvakirti ras ,Sanjivani vati many other jwarhar yog contains  vatsnaabh as a main content. Vatsnaabh is poisonos.Even after its shobdhan while prearing he formulation tankan,which is an anti dote of vatsnaabh is also added.This is one of the reason why ayurvedic formulation has less side efects.
·         Moreover, What is the difference between a "Standardized Herbal Extract" and a "Herbal Extract"? There is a lot of confusion between the two terms "standardized herbal extracts" and "herbal extracts". An "herbal extract" is sometimes also referred to as a tincture, or liquid herbal extract. This is a preparation where a whole herb is steeped in alcohol, water or a combination. A "standardized herbal extract" is a measurable marker substance that is extracted from the herb. This marker may be an active ingredient, or just one that is easily determined, but often, it is a compound that has been used in scientific research. Sometimes the wrong marker chemical is identified and used as the "active" ingredients. For example, St Johns Wart is usually measured for hypericin, though it is now thought that hyperforin is the more active substance.
·         These products have generated both controversy and confusion among consumers and Ayurvedic  professionals. In fact standardization means different things to different people. The word "extract" is also confusing, since this term traditionally is associated with fluid extracts, which are highly concentrated tinctures made from the whole plant.
·         One well-known manufacturer tells us in its consumer literature that in standardized extracts "active compounds are natural compounds found in an herb that is proven to be responsible for its healthy benefits." Morphine is from opium, but it is not a herb! Citric acid is not an orange, and isoflavones are not a soy bean! An active compound is in fact an isolated chemical, and no longer belongs to the plant kingdom, but to the molecular world. Unfortunately, cheaper brands, like those routinely available now in pharmacies, corner stores and even airports, are usually standardized, yet do not contains whole herbs.
·         Many herbal supplements contain "standardized herbal extracts" which is the chemical market that has been extracted using solvents such as acetone. These chemical derived compounds may contain residues which themselves could act as toxins on the body. "Standardized herbal extracts" are normally listed as : Blueberry Leaf Extract, Green Tea Extract, Bilberry Extract or Grape Seed Extract.


CONCLUSION
·         I believe that it  is best to use the whole herb. There are several (major and minor) active ingredients in the whole herb that have benefits researchers still do not fully understand. A herbal extract is an isolated component of only one of these compounds present in the whole herb.Use of crude drug in Ayurveda has its scientific  view.  Due to which  Ayurveda  has negligible side effects.  Inspite of using the active principle of drug, use of crude drug is more scientific as per ayurvedic  principles.  I believe that follow principles of ayurveda  as mentioned in our Classical text.
·         I invite your views on the topic.

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Agastya Haritaki Rasayan- Preparation procedure

AGASTYA HARITAKI RASAYANA
Here I' writting the procedure of preparing Agastya haritaki Rasayan.Our Ancient Acharays has mentioned about the therapeutic importance of this rasayan.In Charak samhita,chikitsa sthan, Kaas chikitsa (18/57-62),it is mentioned thet one should take take two haritaki fruits regularly from this promotive linctus.
Uses Of Agastya Haritaki Rasayana
It alleviates all five typse of Kaas(cough),shvaas(dyspnoea),Hikka(hiccups),Visham jvar(intermittent fever),coryza.
It also removes wrinkles and greying of hairs and promotes complexion,life span and strenght.
                                                                                                                                                 
                                                              PROCEDURE AS FOLLOWS


Ingredients of AGASTY HARITAKI RASAYANA
·        

S.No.
Name of ingredients
Quantity taken
1
Bilva
48g.
2
Syonaka
48g.
3
Gambhari
48g.
4
Patala
48g.
5
Agnimantha
48g.
6
Salaparni
48g.
7
Prsniparni
48g.
8
Brhati
48g.
9
Kantakari
48g.
10
Goksura
48g.
11
Svayamgupta(atmgupta)
48g.
12
Sankhpushpi
48g.
13
Satgu(sati)
48g.
14
Bala
48g.
15
Hastipippati(gajapippali)
48g.
16
Apamarga
48g.
17
Pippali mula
48g.
18
Citraka
48g.
19
Bharngi
48g.
20
Puskara mula (puskara)
48g.
21
Yava
1.536kg
22
Haritaki
1.00kg
23
Water for decoction
7.680 lit
Reduced to
1.920 lit
24
Guda
2.400kg
25
Ghrta
96gm
26
Taila(tila)
96gm
27
Pippali-curna
96gm
28
Maksika (madhu)
96gm




  • Take all ingredients of pharmacopoeial quality. Wash and dry  the ingredients number 1 to 22 and 27 of the formulation composition.              
  • Powder the ingredients numbered 1 to 20 (Kwatha Dravya )  and pass through sieve number 44 to obtain coarse powder.Powder ingredient number 27 of the formulation composition and pass through sieve number 85to obtain fine powder.
  • Add required amount of water to the Kvatha dravyas. Haritaki and Yava were bundled in a piece of cloth and immersed by suspension in dolayantra, heatit in moderate fire, reduce to one forthof the volume of water and haritakibecome soft. Remove boiled haritaki from bundle.Dry it ,and filter through muslin cloth. powder and pass through sieve number  85 to obtain fine powder.
  • Add jaggery, boil to dissolve in kwatha  and filter through a muslin cloth.
  • Reduce the filterate  kvatha to a thicker consistency by boiling with moderate fire. Continue heating till the preparation reaches the required consistency confirmed by the formation of a soft mass that settled down in water.Add  Haritaki churna ,ghruta , taila and pippali churna accordingly to the above mixture and mix well. Add honey and again mix well by continuous stir to  make a homogeneous  mixture.
  • Pack it in tightly closed containers to protect from light and moisture.   Keep it in air tight container.