Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 Chronic stomach pain The stomach pain is a very common complaint which an ayurvedic healer encounters. While modern science has an array of complex tests available for easy dignosis of an ailment, the native system practitioner has only his hands and senses as his tools. Darshan (visual checks), Sparshan (touch checks) and Prashnottari (questions to patient, mostly on symptoms, their frequiency/acuity, lifestyle, food habits etc) is a natural sequence a practitioner uses to sharpen the diagnosis. Though ancient texts mension tests on urine, stool, sweat etc, the tests are seldom followed in the same way in todays ayurvedic practice. In old days, vaidya was pathologist also. This preamble is given here to describe one case from practitioners diary. Though stomach pain is very simple to describe, the pain can lead to at least sixty different disease conditions. Indian vaidyas resort to "Prashnottari" as a last resort to diagnosis. Their mastery is assessed by their patients by the ability of a vaidya to find out the patient's complaint without a single word about it from the patient. One day a patient walked in. Pulse indicated Vata vitiation and a little kapha unbalance. During abdominal examination, he felt pain when the pancrea region was pressed. A hardness in the region was felt together with local coldness. No other areas on stomach or pelvic region had any pain. Author told him that the reason for his pain is some enlargement/swelling/growth on pancreas. They are not functioning properly. The pulse also indicates hypoglycemic condition. The patient was surprised with acccuracy of the diagnosis and told the history, in his own words: " I am suffering from this pain for last six months. Whenever pain started and continued for few days, I could not even do my professional work satisfactorily. When I went to nearby hospital as out-patient, I was subjected to various tests to diagnose the disease. The urine and stool tests revealed the presence of pin worms. One month medication for worms relieved the pain somewhat, but it continued, almost five days a week. Further tests revealed stomach acidity, but no ulceration. I was prescribed anti-acidity medications for a month, but pain continued without any reduction. I was tested for gall bladder stones but nothing was detected. Full colonoscopy was also carried out but indicated that colon does not have any problem. Finally, a senior aged doctor suggested taking a CT/MRI scan of pancreas. This revealed a cyst/benign tumor. One group of doctors believed that pain will not reduce unless the cyst is removed, while another group felt surgical removal is difficult, and if something goes wrong, I may have to live with insulin shots for rest of my life. Being from a economic middle class, I can not afford expensive surgey and especially when it is not known whether it will succeede. Now I have come to find if ayurvedic system has something to offer me. If my pain is relieved, I do not want to undergo any surgery even if some charity institution funds the expenditure." Ayurvedic term for pancreas is `Agnashaya'. It means the place of `Agni'. Since it is a ductless gland, it releases digestive agni, meaning insulin. Though ayurveda did not have chemical laboratory, nor knew the word insulin, it has termed it as the fountain of digestive juice, `Agnashaya'. If this Agni increases, blood sugar decreases causing hypoglycemia, while if the agni reduces, a situation termed `agnimandya' in ayurveda, blood sugar increases, causing diabetis mellitus. When this Agnashaya is affected by tumors/cysts, several symptoms are indicated. Lack of hunger, constant fatigue, reduction of Ojas/Tejas, vomitting, pains etc. There are not many cases involving pancreatic cysts/tumors. Which makes, as suggested by most senior doctor of allopathic hospital, the diagnosis very difficult even in ayurveda. When Agnashaya is excited by food habits, excess insulin, coupled with insulin intolerance by body can cause Polycystic Ovaries, a leading cause of infertility. This serious disease (POCS) is now spreading from western countries to oriental countries, a curse of adopted lifestyle. >From ayurvedic angle, there are eight different types of pains originating from vitiation of Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Aama accumulation etc. Most ailments causing pains arise from Vatic disorders. Hence vata treatment helps. When tumors are involved, Kapha vitiation dominates. Even if a vaidya does not know the name of a disease, the percentages of Vata, Pitta, Kapha vitiation can be assessed by pulse diagnosis, symptoms, prakruti etc. Darshan and Sparshan (Visual examination, pulse, touch) help in assessing this. This may also reveal why diagnosis in ayurveda is difficult online. Ayurveda offers herbs which can activate Aganashaya/Agni. Ginger, black pepper, peeper longum, Chitrakmul, Peeparamul etc increase digestive juices/hormones. Pearl, Licorice, Praval aid digestion and metabolism. There are herbs which cause increase of dhatus. Vaidya should select appropriate combinations depending on percentages of doshas. After starting personalized treatment, the patient started feeling increased hunger and vigor by end of the first week. Within three weeks, the pain gradually reduced as also local hardness. In next four months, the pain came only twice, only for a day each time, which could be linked to slight indigestion due to inappropriate food served in a celebration party. Now patient was unwilling to go for Scans to check if cysts/tumors were still existing. That is the spirit. Due to medical insurance cover, nowadays everyone wants to have regular checks such as ECG, mamograms, lipid profile, pap smear, ultra sounds, etc. Since reference ranges are variables themselves, the tests often confuse. Though one gets confused when dignosing stomach pain, there are benefits of getting it treated in ayurveda, homeopathy or naturopathy, whatever be the cause. When various agnis such as that of stomach, liver, gall bladder(pittashaya), agnashaya, when they become unbalanced, they cause disease. In all such ailments, it is necessary to follow the diet restrictions. Oils, ghee, sour items, fats should be stopped. Alcohol to be avoided at all costs. Cooling, shamanic, deepak and pachak (herbs aiding appetite and digestion) should be combined in treatment. Isabgol, cardamom, grapes, cummin seeds, crystal sugar, petals of rose and lotus, indian sarsaparila, giloy, aamalaki, Nagkesar are various herbs which can be combined to improve intestinal tone or functioning of all organs causing agni. When agni is properly balanced, it causes removal of aamvisha (accumulated toxins). Formulations such as Sutshekhar Ras, Shankhavati, Chitrakvati are very useful to restore complete metabolism. When disturbed metabolism exists, obessity, hypoglycemia, POCS are the likely diseases. The Agni together with balanced Apana Vata aids the fertility, regular and adequate painless menses. Hence most of the herbs aimed at treating dismenorrhea balance liver function and Apan Vata. If the disease is correctly diagnosed, it does not require much time to heal. Thousands of medicinal herbs exists in India. Even if disease is not correctly diagnosed, the following of balanced food, lifestyle and some simple herbs will cause adequate relief, though disease may not get eliminated. To this end, author now gives few home preparations, which can be easily followed everywhere, whenever stomach pain starts on a reglular basis. Related complaints such as gas, acidity, bloating, low hunger can also be tackled to some extent by these remedies. Take mint leaves 10 grams, ajwain, cloves and cardamom each 5 gms. Soak them in 250 ml water overnight. Make a distillate nexty day using pressure cooker and a glass tube to cool down the steam coming out. This distillate can be preserved and taken one teaspoon thrice a day whenever there is stomach pain. Helps in Gas, indigestion, low hunger, anorexia. Very useful in cholera epidemic. Prevents one being a cholera victim. This distillate is very digestive also. Asfoetida, Ajwain and black salt, take each 5 gms, grind them together, add in a pearl of garlic and bind into small pea sized tablets. Two tablets when taken thrice a day is an adult dose to cure indigestion, stomach pain, bloating. They are digestion aids also. A simple remedy known to almost every second grand-ma in India is the mixture of Haritaki, ginger powder (half by weight of Haritaki) and jaggery as a binder to make tablets the size of moth balls, These three to four tablets, when taken at bedtime, cure old constipation. Abhayabhaskar churna or mixture of Haritaki and Lavan Bhaskar Churna also serve the same purpose. If suffering from semi loose motions due to ama, bloating, pain are common symptoms. In such cases these churnas have prooved useful, harmless. Imagine returning from a weekend party and getting up with stomach pain in the midnight. Though round-the-clock treatment is available in cities, the tension and worries can be imagined. All churnas aimed at restoring stomach unease should be taken with a little warm water, whereby they become more and fast active. In the conclusion, though stomach pain can be treated with simple ayurvedic herbs/powders, avoiding such a situation by limiting the type and quantity of food suitable to ones prakruti is the best remedy. Simple and effective water therapy is known to eliminate half of digestive system problems. That this therapy overloads the kidney is a myth. On the other hand, it simplifies kidney's job! Kidney is another wonderful doctor provided to us by Almighty. Dr Bhate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiranmaye reddicherla Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hi, I have been suffering with PCOS from several yrs .. I am 26 and suffering badly due to weight gain .. Hello , I am under treatment for Hypothyroidism , PCOS. from 6 yrs .. I have been put on 1)metformin 1500mg per day 2)Diane 35 3)Thyronorm 75mg I have high tendency of putting on weight .. I have been to a Ayurvedic doctor who just prescribed panchasav tonic to me .. I am not satisifed with his prescription .. I was checking out the net and the products of Himalaya .. 1) trikatu 2) Shatavari 3)guggulu Their description seem to be apt for my case ... I do not get a doctor who can suggest me about the above .. None of them respond properly .. Please help ... Can people on allopathic drugs ,take the above tablets ... Will there be any complexities later .. what do you suggest .. if possible please let me know a reference in india whom i can contact for the sam e.. Please please please help .. i ahve turned helpless , none of the docotrs suggest me properly .. I am put on lots of weight .. Please respond .. Thankyou, Regards, Kiran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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