Monday, 26 December 2016

Pandu Roga: Causes, Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Treatment

Pandu Roga is generally considered as anemia as per Ayurveda.

When the pitta predominant doshas get aggravated in the tissues, the tissues undergo inflammation and get weak and lax. Heaviness also develops in the tissues of the body. This pathological process leads to deterioration of varna (colour), bala (strength and immunity), sneha (unctuousness of the body, the protective fat buffer) and other qualities of ojas (ojas is the essence of all the tissues and hence represents immunity).
The qualities of ojas go on deteriorating due to the complicated amalgamation of doshas and tissues (dhatus) in a disease complex. The person in whom this pathology sets in will be left out with less blood tissue in the body (anaemia), less fat (less insulation and protection to the body), less tissue essence and will suffer from weakness of the sense organs. The person ultimately gets vaivarnya (discoloured, mainly pallor) and such a condition is called Pandu Roga.-Cha. Chi. 16

Causes and pathogenesis of Pandu Roga
Kshaara amla lavana ati ushna viruddha asaatmya bhojanaat
Nishpaava maasha pinyaaka tila taila nishevanaat
Vidagdhe anne diva swapnaad vyaayaamaat maithunaat tathaa
Pratikarma rutu vaishamyaat vegaanaam cha vidhaaranat
Kaama chintaa bhaya krodha shoka upahata chetasaha
Samudeernam yadaa pittam hrudayae samanvitam
Vaayunaa balinaa kshiptam sampraapya dhamaneehi dasha
Prapanne kevalam deham twak maamsaantara samaashritam
Pradooshya kapha vaata asruk twak maamsaani karoti tat
Paandu haaridra haritaan varnaan bahu vidhaam twachi
Sa paandu roga ityuktaha……… (Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 16/7-11)
Below mentioned are the causative factors of Pandu Roga –
Kshaara – excessive consumption of alkalis
Amla – excessive consumption of sour things
Lavana – excessive consumption of salt or salty stuff
Ati ushna – excessive consumption of hot substances / foods
Viruddha ahara – mutually incompatible foods
Asaatmya aahara – incompatible foods
Nishpaava – Flat bean
Maasha – black grams
Pinyaka – paste of sesame
Tila taila – sesame oil
Vidagdha anna – corrosive foods
Diwa swapna – sleeping during day time
Vyaayaam – excessive physical exercise
Maithuna – excessive indulgence in sex
Pratikarma – doing any activities out of proportions
Rutu vaishamya – seasonal incompatibility
Vega dhaaranam – forcible suppression of natural body urges / reflexes
Kaama – keeping attached to things
Chinta upahata cheatas – mind afflicted by worries
Bhaya upahata cheatas – mind afflicted by fear, panic,
Krodha upahata cheatas – mind afflicted by anger
Shoka upahata cheatas – mind afflicted by grief
Due to the above said factors, the pitta located in the Hrudaya (Sadhaka) gets vitiated. This pitt which has got aggravated is thrown into the circulation through the 10 dhamanis (main arteries) by the vitiated vata. This pitta being propelled by vata reaches all the corners of the body. It finally gets lodged between skin and muscles and further contaminates kapha, vata, rakta (blood), twacha (skin) and mamsa (muscles). The pitta imparts turmeric, pale (earthen) and green colours on the skin and causes pandu roga.

The above said aetiological factors are those which cause vitiation of pitta, which leads to the manifestation of inflammation in all parts of the body which come into contact with the vitiated pitta in circulation. The immunity deteriorates henceforth and causes autoimmune response. Since these causes afflicts the liver mainly and damage it, the inflammatory process first begins in the liver causing autoimmune hepatitis. Thus it can be said that the causes and pathogenesis of pandu roga and the symptoms (mentioned ahead) point towards autoimmune hepatitis or an autoimmune inflammatory process taking place in the liver, anaemia and jaundice being the chief by-products and chief manifestations of this process.

Symptoms of Pandu Roga
Sambhoote asmin bhavet sarvaM karna kshwedee hata analaha
Durbalaha sadano anna dwit shrama bhrama nipeeditaha
Gaatra shoola jwara shwaasa gourava aruchimaan naraha
Mruditaihi iva gaatraihi cha peedita unmathitaihi iva
Shoona akshi kooto haritaha sheerna lomaa hata prabhaha
Kopanaha shishira dweshee nidraaluhu shteevano alpa vaak
Pindika udweshtana kati ooru paada ruk sadanaani cha
Bhavanti aarohana aayasaihi visheshaha cha asya vakshyate (Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 16/13-16)

Karna kshweda – sounds in the ears, tinnitus
Hata analaha – low metabolism, indigestion
Durbala – weakness, fatigue
Sadana – laxity of the body, lethargy
Anna dwesha – aversion towards the food
Shrama – tiredness
Bhrama – giddiness
Gaatra shula – body pains
Jwara – fever
Shwasa – dyspnoea, shortness of breath
Gourava – heaviness of the body
Aruchi – tastelessness
Mruditaihi iva gaatra – the patient feels as if he has been beaten up
Peedita – feels as if the body has been compressed
Unmathita – feeling as if the body has been churned
Shuna akshi kuta – swelling around the eye sockets (orbit)
Sheerna lomaha – falling or shedding of body hairs
Hata prabhaha – lack lustre
Kopanaha – feeling angry for simple causes, irritable nature
Shishira dweshi – aversion towards cold
Nidraaluhu – sleepiness
Shteevana – excessive expectoration, spitting
Alpa vaak – speaks less
Pindika udweshtana – painful cramps in the calf muscles
Kati ruk, sadana – low back pain and weakness
Uru ruk, sadana – thigh pain, weakness
Pada ruk, sadana – foot pain, weakness
Arohana ayasa – feels breathless while climbing steps or going uphill.
Types of Pandu Roga –

Pandu Roga again is of 5 types

Vataja Pandu Roga (Pandu Roga caused due to predominant vitiation of Vata) –

Causes – caused due to vata aggravating food and activities

The vitiated Vata produces black and pale / blackish brown or whitish yellow colour in the skin, dryness and redness in the body parts and organs, liver in this condition.

Symptoms –

Angamarda – body pains
Jwara – fever
Toda – pricking pain
Kampa – tremors
Parshwa ruja – pain in flanks
Shiro ruja – headache
Varcha shosha – dryness of faeces
Asya vairasya – manifestation of odd and abnormal tastes in the mouth
Shopha swelling
Anaha – distension of abdomen, flatulence
Bala kshaya – deterioration of strength
Pittaja Pandu Roga –
Causes – The pitta vitiating food and activities lead to excess vitiation and accumulation of pitta in the system which on contaminating rakta etc tissues causes pittaja pandu.

Symptoms –

Peeta haritabha – body colour becomes yellow or green
Jwara – fever
Daha – burning sensation
Trushna – thirst
Murcha – fainting
Pipasa – excessive thirst, depletion of water
Peeta mutra – yellow discolouration of urine
Peeta shakrut – yellow discolouration of faeces
Swedana – excessive sweating
Sheeta kama – liking towards cold things (food, comforts etc)
Na annam abhinandati – dislike or aversion towards food
Katuka asya – pungent taste in the mouth
Ushna anupashaya – discomfort towards heat
Amla anupashaya – discomfort towards sour foods
Amla udgara – sour belching (due to incomplete digestion)
Vidaha – severe burning sensation all through the body
Dourgandhyam – foul smell from the body
Bhinna varchastwam – diarrhoea
Dourbalyam – weakness
Tama – feeling of darkness before the eyes
Kaphaja Pandu Roga (Pandu Roga caused due to predominant vitiation of Kapha) –

Causes – The kapha vitiating food and activities lead to excess vitiation and accumulation of kapha in the system which on contaminating rakta etc tissues causes kaphaja pandu.

Symptoms –

Gouravam – heaviness of the body
Tandra – sleapiness
Chardi – vomiting
Shwetavabhasata – feeling as if the body has become white in colour
Prasekam – excessive salivation, nausea
Lomaharsham – horripulation
Saadam – lethargy, slowing down of body activities, lack of interest in doing any type of activities
Murcha – fainting, loss of consciousness
Bhrama – giddiness
Klama – fatigue
Shwasam – dyspnoea, shortness of breath
Alasya – lethargy, laziness
Aruchi – tastelessness
Vak graham – obstruction of speech
Swara graham – obstruction of voice
Shukla mutra – whitish discolouration of urine
Shukla aksha – whitish discolouration of eyes
Shukla varchastwam – whitish discolouration of stools
Katu-ruksha-ushna-kamatam – liking towards pungent taste, dry and hot foods, drinks and comforts
Shwayathu – swelling, inflammation
Madhura asya – feeling of sweet taste in the mouth
Tridoshaja Pandu –

Tridoshaja Pandu is caused by the simultaneous vitiation of all the 3 doshas due to the consumption or exposure of food and lifestyle activities which aggravate all the doshas. The symptoms of tridoshaja pandu will be a mixture of the symptoms said in the types of pandu manifested due to vitiation of individual doshas. This is said to be a complicated type of pandu, difficult to treat.

Mrittikajanya Pandu –
This is a peculiar type of Pandu caused due to the consumption of mud.

Causes – Consumption of mud in excess leads to the vitiation of all the 3 doshas, which further vitiate the rakta etc tissues and cause Mrid bhakshanajanya Pandu or Mrittika janya Pandu. The mud doesn’t get digested by the metabolic fire. This mud which is not metabolised will fill up the channels of circulation in the body and deplete the cells and organs from nutrition, causes dryness and damage of the system.

Symptoms –

Indriya bala nasha – destruction of strength of sense organs
Tejo nasha – destruction of the heat element of the body or destruction of metabolic fire
Veerya nasha – destruction of the potency of the body
Ojo nasha – destruction of the essence of tissues
Bala nasha – destruction of strength
Varna nasha – destruction of colour
Agni nashanam – destruction of digestion capacity
Ganda shuna – swelling of cheeks
Akshi shuna – swelling around eyes
Bhru Shuna – swelling around the eyebrow
Pada Shuna – swelling of the feet
Nabhi Shuna – swelling of the navel region
Mehana Shuna – swelling of penis
Krimi koshta – worms in the gut
Atisara – diarrhoea
Sakapha mala – stools with phlegm
Sa rakta mala – blood mixed stools
Signs of bad prognosis in Pandu –

Chirotpanna Pandu – chronic pandu
Kharibhuta – deep rooted disease which has caused extreme dryness of all the tissues of the body
Shuna, peetani pashyati – swelling all over the body due to chronicity and the patient sees everything around him or her yellow
Baddha vit – constipation
Alpa vit – less faeces
Sakapha vit – stools with phlegm
Harita atisara – diarrhoea with green coloured stools
Shwetatwa – whiteness of the body due to excessive blood loss


Principles of treatment for Pandu
Vamana (therapeutic emesis) and Virechana (therapeutic purgation) are ideal choices

Classical medicines and home remedies for Pandu

Loha Bhasma (ash of iron) – with honey and ghee
Shunti churna (ginger powder) with Loha Bhasma
Loha bhasma with Gomutra (urine of cow)
Powders of Ela (cardamom), Jeeraka (cumin seeds), Bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri) and Sita (sugar) – taken in equal quantities and mixed with ghee should be taken early in the morning
Haridra churnam (turmeric powder) with curds early in the morning
Best medicines for Pandu and Shotha

Guluchyadi Kashayam
Drakshadi Kashayam
Ardhavilwam Kashayam
Patolakaturohinyadi Kashayam
Punarnavadi Kashayam
Mahatiktakam Kashayam
Vasaguluchyadi Kashayam
Lohasavam
Lodhrasavam
Drakshasavam
Draksharishtam
Rohitakarishtam
Mridwikasavam
Punarnavasavam
Pippalyasavam
Parthadyarishtam
Dantyarishtam
Chavikasavam
Kumaryasavam
Ayaskrity
Loha bhasma
Mandura Bhasma
Punarnava Mandura
Loha Mandura
Shotari Mandura
Madhu mandura
Yakritpleehari Lauha
Navayasa Lauham
Svarnamakshika bhasma
Rasasindhoora
Mandura Vataka
Arogyavardhini Vati
Trailokyanatha Rasa
Chandraprabha Vati
Giloy Satwa
Chinchadi leham
Danti haritaki leham
Drakshadi leham etc
Herbs beneficial for Pandu and Shotha:

Bhumyamalaki – Phyllanthus niruri
Amalaki – Emblica officinalis
Sharapunka – Tephrosia purpurea
Katuki – Picrorrhiza kurroa
Punarnava – Boerhavia diffusa
Kakamachi – Solanum nigrum
Kalamegha – Andrographis paniculata
Loha – Iron
Kumari – Aloe vera
Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia
Yashtimadhu – Glycyrrhiza glabra
Haridra – Curcuma longa
Bhringaraja – Eclipta alba
Vasa – Adhatoda vasica
Kiratatikta – Swertia chirayata
Daruharidra – Berberis aristata etc

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