Swellings, ayurvedic perspective

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Swelling (Shoth) is one of the most difficult condition to locate

root cause and and treat. Swelling involves enlargement of organs,

skin, or other body parts. It is caused by excessive buildup

of fluid in the tissues. This buildup can lead to a rapid

increase in weight over a short period of time (days to weeks).

 

When swelling is seen on some part of body and remains there for a

few days, it is certain that a disease or disorder has set in.

Swelling can indicate a chronic and progressive illness. Swellings

can result simply by a mosquito or honey bee sting. Such swelling

looks reddish and brownish after some time, due to storage of blood

under the skin. Such swellings can disappear by simple application of

some cold pack, mud pack or strapping by a cloth. But some swellings

remain for days together and then the person becomes worried. The

swelling needs to be properly diagnosed then. Swelling can occur

throughout the body (generalized) or it may be limited to a specific

part of the body (localized). Pressing by a finger for some time

during medical check up can leave a brownish spot for a few days.

This occurs due to rupturing of blood vessel, an indication of

reduced platellates in blood. Immuno deficiency needs to be rediced

by rakta shuddhi medicines.

 

Vaidyas estimate the region of disorder depending on the area of

swelling. Some swellings appear under the eye, while swellings on

feet are more common. Swelling near knee cap generally appears due to

arthritis. The swellings arising from sting of a poisonous reptile or

bee need to be treated immediately. The swelling near ankle bone

indicates congestive pumping failure of the heart, especially when

patient is woman and in peri-menopause years. The swelling near the

arm joint, wrist or in fingers indicate rheumatism/gout. These areas

exhibit swellings in case of diabetis also. The swelling in the

region of armpit, neck, under the jaws and chin, behind the ears or

back of the head can indicate the swelling of certain glands as a

result of infection or even cancer. Those on stomach area indicate

improper functioning of liver, pancreas, spleen etc. The swellings on

cheek were seen in case of brain tumors or clots in caratoid

arteries, which carry blood supply to brain. The swelling in genitals

area, discoloration. can often be seen during first month of

pregnancy. The swellings on feet and legs are very common in first

trimester of pregnancy. In this period, some women get swellings on

breast outer areas also as a result of hormonal changes. Such

swelling is also common during peri-menopause days and they disappear

after full menopause. Pre-menstrual swellings typically peak just

before each menstrual period and improve immediately after or during

the menstrual period. Breast tissue may have dense,

rough, "cobblestone" feel to the fingers -- usually more marked in

the outer areas. There may also be an intermittent or persistent

sense of breast fullness with dull, heavy pain, and tenderness.

 

Thus swellings are indicative of presence of some other disease (or

pregnancy/menstrual period), and not disease itself.

 

Heaviness feeling, anxiety, ballooning of the skin, retention of the

finger marks on the skin when pressed, are primary indications of the

swelling. Fluid retention due to vitiation of doshas is the main

reason when swellings develop slowly. The fluid may be seen

accumulated under the skin, or it may be trapped in the flesh, when

flesh alone balloons in a local region. Many diseases are notorious

for showing up swelling as one of their symptoms. However, each case

must be evaluated properly. For instance, swellings on the feet is

often a prominent symptom in the first two months of pregnancy. The

weakness, fatigue also produce swellings sometimes. Sour, hot, spicy

foods play an important role in increasing the swellings. Excess

sweats and fats, soft carbohydrates, curd, excess ama, sedantary life

style, excess of vegetables, excess laxative use, abortion, improper

childbirth, Vaman, Virechan, Nasya, Shirovirechana of Panch karma if

done in excess quantity are various reasons for swellings, but other

causes can also be there. Elephnatitis for instance.

 

The swelling on feet is generally connected with heart, while under

eye swelling is related to kidney. Slight swelling of the lower legs

commonly occurs in warm summer months, especially if a person has

been standing or walking a lot. Generalized swelling, is a common

sign in severely ill people. Although slight swelling may be

difficult to detect, especially in an obesse person, massive

swelling is very obvious.

 

Those in pelvic region are generally connected with reproductive

system or loosening of ligaments due to hernia. Swelling on hands

and legs can sometimes be due to blood clot formed in respective

arteries which suplly blood. Some get swellings in morning while

some get them in evening, after tiresome routine work. Swellings in

morning are often indicative of heart pumping inadequacy. The

swelling as a result of fluid retention, especially on the part of

body below navel is quite common in peri and postmenopausal women. Of

course, under such cases, insomnia, anxiety, mood swings, crashing

fatigue are also commonly present symptoms. Modern science drugs such

as androgenic and anabolic steroids, antihypertensives,

corticosteroids such as prednisone (causes sodium retention),

synthetic estrogens and non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs have

been reported to be causes of swellings in many cases. Swelling can

also indicate presence of fibromyalgia :

http://www.fibromyalgia-support.org/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-

treatment-ayurvedic.html

 

When swelling is attendant with decreased urine output, the reason

can be traced to weak functioning of kidney, Naturopaths prefer to

treat kidney first when swellings are seen in any part of the body.

Modern science often recommends diuretics when swellings occur on

feet, as heart is often involved and most preferred anti-

hypertensives are diuretics. Question arises when some diuretics are

contraindicated when kidney is not functioning well (e.g. brands

Lasix, Lasolactin)

 

It is highly desirable that a healer be consulted when swellings do

not vanish by themselves in few days. If healer is not available

nearby, then one must resort to simple home remedies. Author gives

here general guideline, bust does not assure that this will always

work. What follows is not intended to substitute the consultation of

an experienced Vaidya.

 

First step is giving some rest to digestive system according to

patient's body strength and try to strengthen digestive system,

which often helps. Vaman, Virechan, if undertaken, must be done under

expert guidance only. Green gram dhal, green gram soup, rice stored

for more than six months, tender coconut water, barley water, warm

water (Ushnodaka) etc can be given. If there is no excess Kapha, one

can take skimmed milk of cow or goat. Rest is also a best medicine.

Avoid heavy to digest legumes, cold drinks, non vegetarian items, oil

massage, salty farsan, oil massage, hot spicy food containing

chilies, fried items, bakery items, sour and fermented items are

contraindicated under any swelling. Most swellings originate in

digestive system, and hence food restriction makes sense. Excess

exercise, sex, food indulgence make the disorder more complex and

pushes beyond cure.

 

Some common medication under swellings is given here, but cannot

substitute advise of an expert.

 

1. Decoction of Punarnava quath: Take 25 gms of Punarnava quath

in 400 ml water and boil slowly till 100 ml remains. Strain and take

with Aarogyavardhini Ras 2 Tabs and Punarnava Mandur 2 Tabs. Take

twice a day, morning and night.

 

2. If Swelling is on or near some joint, 2 tablets each of

Punarnava Guggulu and Rasnadi Guggulu, twice a day often give

encouraging results.

 

3. Taking Punarnavasava can reduce swellings accompanied by

Vatic pains or Punarnavarishta (15ml) together with Dasmularishta(15

ml) and small quantity of Castor Oil mixed therein. Take twice a

day, with equal water. How much castor oil to be taken can be decided

by Vaidya or by experience. Go on slowly increasing till slight

stomach pain, or loose motions start.

 

4. For extremely difficult stubborn swellings, Brihat Vat

Chintamani Ras can be used only under expert guidance. This is very

costly medicine. But does not cause any damage to bladder or kidney.

 

5. For swellings produced by rheumatism (Vata+Pitta), a pack

made from Multani mitti (Fuller's earth), neem, tulsi, camphor etc.

gives a temporary relief by sucking toxins from blood, and causing

increased blood flow to joint.

 

6. When swelling is produced by micro fracture in bone, or

twisting of ankle, joint, strained ligament, a poultice made from

Rice floor (4 tsp), turmeric powder (1 tsp), Milk (about 4 tsp), mix

well, heat till cooks to a sticky paste and apply in look warm

condition. Wash after paste dries up. This treatment helps when

swelling is due to bite by a poisonous insect also.

 

7. Tide boiled neem, basil, tamarind leaves or apply salt or

turmeric or paste of black salt and mustard on swelling. Have 2-2 gm

of mixture of Kadu Chirait and dry ginger with water.

 

8. If there is a swelling in throat, gargle with a decoction of

rose water and tamarind.

 

9. Arthritis swelling is often relieved by heating

mustard/sesame oil with ajwain and massage by this oil

 

10. Dhatura leaves paste, when rubbed on swellings, cures most of

the types of swellings. This method is popular amongst tribals, due

to easy availability of Dhatura leaves.

 

11. A decoction of ginger powder (1/2 tsp), turmeric (1/4 tsp),

can be taken with a tsp of honey.

 

12 Lastly, reduce salt content in the food and substitute iodized

salt with sea salt or other natural salts. There is an intimate

connection between swellings and minerals, which author prefers to

discuss in a separate post.

 

Dr Bhate