Ayurveda evam Samagra Swasthya Shodhamala 2023;5(3):2
An Integrative Approach including Panchakarma Therapy, administered in a Spiritual Environment, for the Management of Symptoms Associated with Hyperacidity - A Case Study
(Case Study 9)
Alka Mishra1, Saurabh Mishra2,*
1Department of Ayurveda and Holistic Health, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India
2Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding Author: Saurabh Mishra - Email: sau.dsvv@gmail.com
Cite this research article as follows:
Mishra A, Mishra S. An Integrative Approach including Panchakarma Therapy, administered in a Spiritual Environment, for the Management of Symptoms Associated with Hyperacidity - A Case Study (Case Study 9). Ayurveda evam Samagra Swasthya Shodhamala. 2023;5(3):2.
[cited date]. Available from: https://sites.google.com/dsvv.ac.in/shodhamala-dahh/asssm53/asssm532
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Published by:
Department of Ayurveda and Holistic Health
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya
Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj, Haridwar - 249411
Uttarakhand, India
Email: dahh@dsvv.ac.in
Mobile: +91 9258360953, +91 8954890390
Website: https://www.dsvv.ac.in/dahh
Published online: 19 September 2023
Correspondence Details:
Alka Mishra - alka.mishra@dsvv.ac.in
Saurabh Mishra - sau.dsvv@gmail.com
Abstract
A case report about a female patient has been presented here, who was suffering from various symptoms associated with Hyperacidity, as well as some other ailments.
Based on the principles of Ayurveda, an integrative approach including Panchakarma Therapy, was administered to the patient, in a Spiritual Environment, over a period of 10 days (wherein no therapy was administered on the 4th day).
The patient experienced almost complete relief in the symptoms of Hyperacidity like acidic regurgitation and heaviness in abdomen, as well as complete relief in pain in bilateral (B/L) knee joints. Overall, the patient was feeling very good, light, relaxed, and fresh in the mind after the completion of the therapy.
Thus, integrative approach including Panchakarma Therapy, administered in a Spiritual Environment, showed encouraging results in the management of symptoms associated with Hyperacidity, as well as some other ailments, in a short duration of time.
Keywords: Hyperacidity, Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Herbal Medicine, Spiritual Environment, Gayatri Mantra
1. Introduction
This case report is about a female patient (age 52 years) who was a known case of Hyperacidity (since about 4 years), and was suffering from associated symptoms, and some other complaints including:
Patient was also suffering from Retinal detachment (right eye)
The patient had past history of Hemiplegia (right side) - about 30 years ago.
The patient had past history of Hysterectomy - about 4 years ago.
The patient had no past history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, hypothyroidism, allergy. The patient had no constipation, had normal appetite and normal sleep.
Based on the above mentioned medical history, and further discussion with the doctor, the diagnosis for the patient was Hyperacidity.
2. Methodology
Informed consent was obtained from the patient before the start of the therapy.
The prescribed therapeutic interventions were as follows:
2.1 Therapeutic Intervention
As mentioned above, the diagnosis of the patient was Hyperacidity. Furthermore, the patient had come to the Out Patient section, and had limited time to take the therapy; hence, the therapeutic intervention was planned accordingly.
Based on Ayurvedic principles, the therapeutic intervention included Panchakarma Therapy, which was administered to the patient, in a Spiritual Environment, over a period of 10 days (wherein no therapy was administered on the 4th day), as given in Table 1. Details about the method of administration of different therapeutic procedures, given in Table 1, can be found in these references [1-25]. Botanical names of medicinal plants used in the present study can be found in these references [9,11-19].
Some other associated methodologies that were administered, and the advice that was rendered along with the above therapeutic procedure, are as follows.
Dietary restrictions were prescribed. Other behavioral regimen were also prescribed, such as, do not indulge in fear, anxiety, stress, anger, and any other negative thought; do not roam around too much; do not obstruct your natural urges like hunger, thirst, sleep, yawning, tears, etc. Try to keep your mind calm and happy, try to be silent, go early to bed and wake up early in the morning.
The doctor regularly talked to the patient about her condition, and provided both clinical and motivational guidance, i.e. did regular counseling with positive thoughts. Gayatri Mantra was chanted before the start of each therapeutic procedure, as well as played continuously during the therapy. The therapy was administered within the spiritual environment of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar.
Table 1: Therapeutic intervention administered to the patient over a period of 10 days (wherein no therapy was administered on the 4th day). The letter 'Y' indicates that the therapeutic procedure mentioned in that row, was administered on that day.
Therapeutic Intervention | Days | ||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||
Deepan Pachan (Sanjeevani Vati + Avipattikar Churna) | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
Abhyangam (Sarvanga) (Full Body Massage) with Ksheerabala Taila + Dhanvantar Taila + Sahacharadi Taila | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
Abhyangam (Ekanga) (Local Massage) of the above oils | Y | ||||||||||
Vashpa Sweda (Sarvanga) (Full Body Steam) of kwath of Dashamoola + Erandamoola | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
Nadi Sweda (Local Steam) of kwath of Dashamoola + Erandamoola | Y | ||||||||||
Shashtikashali Pinda Swada (Sarvanga) (Full Body) with Sathi Chaval (rice) + Bala moola (roots) + Milk | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
Koshtha Shuddhi through Virechan Gulika + Avipattikara Churna (at night) | Y | ||||||||||
Basti - Anuvasana with Ksheerabala Taila | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
Basti - Asthapana with kwatha of Dashamoola + Erandamoola + Nirgundi + Rasna + Nagaramotha + Bala + Giloy + Ashvagandha + Daruharidra + Trifala | Y | Y | |||||||||
Nasya with Panchagavya Ghrit (numbers represent the number of drops in each nostril) | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | |||||
Udar Basti with Ksheerabala Taila + Dhanvantar Taila + Sahacharadi Taila | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
Shirodhara with Ksheerabala Taila + Karpooradi Taila + Til Taila | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
Lepa (on B/L knees) with paste made from Dashamoola + Eranda – moola (roots), patra (leaves) + Ksheerabala Taila | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
Kwatha of Dashamoola + Bala + Giloy + Nirgundi + Rasna + Nagaramotha + Trifala + Yashtimadhu + Daruharidra + Kalamegh + Ashvagandha | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
3. Results
In this case report, the outcomes were assessed in a qualitative (subjective) manner based on the doctor's pre and post examination, and patient's experiential feedback, as given in Table 2.
Table 2: Pre Therapy and Post Therapy Observations
Pre Therapy Observation | Post Therapy Observation |
Acidic regurgitation | Almost 100% relief |
Heaviness in abdomen | Almost 100% relief |
Pain in bilateral (B/L) knee joints | Almost 100% relief |
Overall, the patient was feeling very good, light, and fresh in the mind after the completion of the therapy.
4. Discussion
The present study illustrates the potential of an integrative approach including Panchakarma Therapy, administered in a Spiritual Environment, for the management of symptoms associated with Hyperacidity and knee joint pain.
According to Ayurveda, a healthy human body is supposed to have a relatively stable equilibrium (congenial homeostasis) of Dosha (psycho-biological rhythm - Vata, Pitta, Kapha), Dhatu (body tissues and their nourishing elements) and Mala (excreta) [9,26]; Acharya Sushruta defines health as an equilibrium of Dosha (psycho-biological rhythm), Agni (digestion and metabolism), Dhatu (body tissues), Malakriya (excretory function), as well as the well-being of soul, senses and mind [9,26]. Imbalance in this equilibrium leads to disease, and the aim of the therapy is to restore this balance [9-11]. In view of these Ayurvedic principles, clinical diagnosis of the patient was made, and the integrative approach including Panchakarma Therapy, was administered to the patient, in a Spiritual Environment.
The results given in Table 2 indicate that the integrative approach including Panchakarma Therapy, administered in a Spiritual Environment, gives encouraging outcomes, even in short duration. These results may be attributed to the therapeutic action of various Ayurvedic procedures administered to the patient, as well as the effect of Spiritual practices and environment. The mode of action of the Ayurvedic therapeutic procedures have been described in detail in the following references [1-25,27-30].
Each therapy was started with the chanting of Gayatri Mantra, which causes beneficial effects with regards to various physical and mental conditions like attention, concentration, etc. [31-36]. The patient must also have benefited from the spiritually charged environment (which induces constructive inspirations and immense enthusiasm within an individual [37-40]) of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar.
Almost daily the doctor talked to the patient about her condition, and provided both clinical and motivational guidance; the purpose was to instill confidence in the patient that her condition can be improved, and she has to herself take responsibility of bringing about this change by diligently following the prescribed treatment and guidelines.
During Panchakarma therapy, it is advised to avoid 'Ashta-Maha-Doshkar-Bhav' (eight types of behavioral and dietetic practices that cause obstructions in micro-channels, srotas, leading to aggravation of the diseases) so that better results can be observed. The following of these practices must also have contributed in providing the observed relief.
In place of using a single therapy, a combination of different therapeutic procedures, along with multiple herbs, were used, in order to achieve simultaneous management of the symptoms associated with multiple ailments. Based on Ayurvedic principles, the administered therapeutic procedures and medicinal herbs also had tissue nourishing (vrinhan), strengthening (balya), and rejuvenating (rasayan) effects [2-9,11-15], which must have caused the amount of relief experienced by the patient in such a short duration of therapy.
Although the results are qualitative in nature, yet the degree of benefit attained in addressing the chronic ailments is noteworthy, especially considering the fact that the patient was an Outdoor Patient, had genuine limitations in following the dietary restrictions, and the therapy was administered for quite short duration.
Further in-depth quantitative study would definitely be worthwhile to establish the mode of operation of the administered therapeutic procedure in the light of modern scientific understanding.
5. Conclusions
In the present study, an integrative approach including Panchakarma Therapy, was administered in a Spiritual Environment, for the management of symptoms associated with Hyperacidity, as well as some other ailments. A single case study involving female patient was presented. Various therapeutic procedures were administered to the Out Patient section patient over a period of 10 days (wherein no therapy was administered on the 4th day). Qualitative analysis showed encouraging results, with the patient experiencing notable relief in various symptoms associated with chronic complaints, in a short duration of time.
Acknowledgements
Authors would like to acknowledge the subtle guidance of their spiritual guide, Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya ( http://www.awgp.org/about_us/patron_founder ), who founded the organization - All World Gayatri Pariwar. The authors thank the faculty and staff of the Department of Ayurveda and Holistic Health, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar for their support in conducting this study
Compliance with ethical standards
Informed consent was obtained from the patient before the start of the therapy.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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