Journal of Ayurveda Case Reports

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Scleritis is a systemic manifestation of sclera. Topical eye drops frequently are ineffective in this condition and systemic therapies can have serious adverse effects. No satisfactory treatment modalities are available in modern medicine for this condition. A case of 24 years old male, having severe red eye, conjunctival congestion extending from nasally and temporally towards cornea was attended successfully in this case. The patient was diagnosed to be suffering from Sirajala (~scleritis) and was treated with a combination of Lekhana anjana (~a type of collyrium) with oral Ayurvedic medicines for a month. Mridu virechana was done to eliminate Doshas of systemic level before starting the main treatment. After 15 days of treatment; redness and discomfort were disappeared. Pain, headache, discomfort were decreased, with slight redness around the nodule in the right eye, while left eye was normal after a month of treatment.

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, which pursues a protracted relapsing and remitting course. Inflammation invariably involves the rectum (proctitis) and may spread proximally to involve sigmoid colon (procto-sigmoiditis) and in some cases, it involves whole colon (pancolitis). The major symptom of ulcerative colitis is blood in stools. Currently there is no medical cure and Ayurveda treatment approaches are helpful in such diseases. A male patient of 27 years old complaining of bleeding per rectum and colicky pain in abdomen visited the OPD. Earlier medical examinations diagnosed him to be suffering from UC. He was on allopathic medicines since three years with remissions and exacerbations in the condition. Due to resemblance of the signs and symptoms; it was compared with Raktatisara and accordingly the case was treated. Nilotpaladi yoga with Goat milk along with Piccha basti was administered for a month, which resulted in complete remission of signs and symptoms. The report of sigmoidoscopy also showed positive findings. This reveals that Ayurveda treatment modalities can play a significant role in such conditions where successful treatment facilities are minimal in other medical systems.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is an important complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Currently available conventional treatments for DR have certain limitations; considering which options from alternative resources are being searched. In Ayurveda, DR can be compared with Madhumehajanya timira, for which treatment modalities have been mentioned elaborately. In this current case of Madhumehajanya timira, Ayurvedic treatment was done along with conventional treatment. A male patient of 61 years visited the OPD complaining of defective distant and near vision since six months. Based upon the history and clinical features, he was diagnosed to be suffering from Non Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) with maculopathy in both eyes. He underwent one sitting of Intra Vitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide injection in both eyes before starting Ayurvedic treatment. Deepana (~stomachic) and Pachana (~digestant), Mridu virechana (~mild therapeutic purgation), Shiro virechana (~eliminative nasal medication) and three sittings of Pratimarsha nasya (~nasal medication of mild dose) with Durvadi ghrita and Takradhara (~pouring medicated buttermilk over the scalp) were the treatment procedures adopted in this case. He was prescribed with Rasayana yoga and Pratimarsha nasya with Durvadi ghrita for three months. At the end of the treatment; there was improvement in near vision and visual acuity in both eyes. Ophthalmoscopy revealed reduction in exudates and hemorrhages. HbA1C was reduced to 7.4 from 10.3 after treatment. The observations reveal that Ayurvedic approaches are helpful in managing Diabetic Retinopathy successfully.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), the third most common cause of death in developing countries, is the term used to describe episodes of focal brain dysfunction due to focal ischemia or hemorrhage. Acute stroke is characterized most commonly by hemiplegia with or without signs of focal higher cerebral dysfunction that has posed a great problem as far as its management is concerned. Ayurveda can help in such conditions. A 54 years old male patient diagnosed with non-hemorrhagic infarct presented with right side hemiplegia and difficulty in speech was admitted in IPD. This manifestation was compared with Kaphavrita dakshina pakshaghata. Panchakarma procedures including Rookshana, Snehana and Virechana were adopted along with other internal medicines. Assessments were made using National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIH-SS), Barthel Index (BI) and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS). At the end of the treatment, there was considerable improvement in the subjective and objective clinical features. The observations reveal that, Panchakarma procedures can play a key role in the management of conditions like CVA. The treatment strategies followed in this study can be safely adopted under the supervision of a trained Ayurveda specialist.

Bicytopenia is a disorder of hematopoietic system and is reflected by lowering of any two of hemoglobin (below 10 g/dL), white cells (3.5-10.5 billion cells/L) and platelets (below 100 × 10⁹/L) in peripheral blood. It is usually treated using corticosteroids, growth factors, immune-suppressants, nutritional supplements, periodical blood transfusion and bone marrow transplantation. However, these treatments have limited effects and may cause moderate to severe side-effects. A young Non Resident Indian male of 28 years old opted for Ayurvedic treatment for Bicytopenia as first choice of treatment, with the consent of a leading oncologist. The patient was prescribed a combination of Herbo-Mineral Formulations (HMFs) along with a regulated diet and lifestyle. Patient has completed fourteen months of Ayurvedic treatment and now leads a normal life. No adverse effects were noticed during the treatment and follow-up period too. Further controlled pilot studies are required to establish proof of efficacy in a systematic way.

Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) involves a process of progressive destruction and regeneration of liver parenchyma leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis. About 30% adult Indians use alcohol of which 4 - 13% are daily users. The commonest cause of ALD is use of excess alcohol in terms of quantity, duration and patterns of drinking. A 38 years old male visited OPD complaining of anorexia, distended abdomen after food, yellowish discoloration of eyes and yellow urine since five months. He developed distention of abdomen since three months and pedal edema since one month. Bilirubin, SGOT and Alkaline Phosphatase were elevated. USG showed hepatomegaly with fatty changes suggestive of chronic liver disease, moderate ascites and right sided minimal pleural effusion. Based on the history and clinical examination, the condition was diagnosed as Jalodara manifested due to Yakrddalyudara. The choice of treatment in this condition is Nitya virechana that eliminate accumulated Dosha from Koshtha and help in Agni deepana. Considering this, Virechana with Haritaki churna and Go-mootra arka and Shamana medications were administered in this case. At the end of the treatment; improvement was noticed in appetite, pedal edema and abdominal girth was reduced. Total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and SGOT were reduced and urine color became normal. These observations infer that Ayurveda treatment approaches are beneficial in cases where hepatic functions are altered and manifest in complications like ascites.

Online since 28^th May 2020