Abstract

LITERARY REVIEW OF DYSMENORRHEA W.S.R TO KASHTARTAVA & ITS AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

*Suruchi Rawat, Dr. Hem Prakash and Dr. Anjali Verma

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Abstract

The word Dysmenorrhea is a Greek term for painful menstrual bleeding. Dys(Difficult) Men(monthly) and orrohea(flow).The prevalence of Primary dysmenorrhea varies from 45 % to 95% with severe pain observed in 2% to 29%. Dysmenorrhea is the leading cause of gynecological morbidity in women of reproductive age regardless of age, nationality and economic status. Symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea includes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, indigestion, lower backache, irritability and dizziness causing discomfort in their daily activities. In Ayurveda Kashtartava is not defined as an independent disease rather as a symptom in many of the gynecological disorders described in a separate chapter in Charak Samhita Chikitsa Sthan Yonivyapada Chikitsa Adhyaya. Modern medicine is limited to pain management in dysmenorrhea by NSAID'S, OCP, Antispasmodics, Analgesics but long term of these medicine can cause various side effects like hepatotoxicity, Nephrotoxicity, headache, vertigo etc, While Ayurvedic drugs containing Vatahara, Shothahara, and Vednasthapan properties are completely safe, which are helpful in relieving the pain as well as prevents further complication of the disease like endometriosis which can further lead to pelvic adhesions, fertility issues etc. Aggrevation of Vata can lead to obstruction in its natural flow by causing Pratilom Gati of Apana vayu, Thus Ayurveda recommends normalizing Vata with the help of Panchkarma, Vatanulomak drugs, Yoga and Garbhashaya Balya Aushadhi to ease the discomfort caused by dysmenorrhea effectively without causing any side effects.

Keywords: Kashtartava, Dysmenorrhea, Apana Vayu, Ayurveda, Yoga.