| Ayurveda is the science of life. It believes that health and wellbeing depends on a balance between the three Doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha which are the physiologic basis of human body, when there is imbalance in these three doshas than these causes illness. Vatarakta is one such disease. It was first described as an independent disease in Charak Samhita. It is a disease of Madhyam Roga Marga as it affects mainly Sandhis. In Ayurveda, Vatarakta is said to be caused by adhyashana, virudhasana (which can be correlated with faulty and irregular dietary habits), krodh (mental stress), divaswapna and prajagarana (irregular sleep habits), misthansukhbhojinam, achankramanshila (sedentary life style) etc. due to these Nidanas Vata and Rakta gets vitiated. Aggravated Vata is blocked by vitiated Rakta which in turn leads to further aggravation of Vata. This aggravated Vata again causes vitiation of whole Rakta. these vitiated Vata along with deranged Rakta circulates very fast all over the body due to the Sukshma (Minuteness) and Drava (Liquid state) Guna (characters) of Vata and Rakta respectively and undergo Dosha-Dushya Sammurchana (Pathogenesis) in Sandhi sthana (Joints), specifically Kar, Pada and Angula sandhi (Metacarpo and Metatarso-phalangeal joint). The characteristics of Vatarakta resemble with those of Gout therefore it can better be correlated with Gouty arthritis in modern medical science. Gout is the disease of middle aged group in which an abnormality of Uric acid metabolism that causes Hyperuricemia and deposition of Mono- sodium urate crystal in joints causes Acute Gouty Arthritis, in soft tissue causing tophi and tenosynovitis, in renal tubules causing urate stones and urate nephropathy. The general prevalence of gout is 1–4% of the general population. It occurs in men 2–6 folds more than women. Worldwide incidence of gout increases gradually due to poor dietary habits such as fast foods, lack of exercises, increased incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Conventional drugs used in the management of gout like NSAIDS, glucocorticoids, xanthine oxidase inhibitors and uricosuric drugs; have potential side effects and a possibility of drug interaction with other prescribed drug which restricts their use; because in modern medical science, its management aspect still remains symptomatic with troublesome side effects. With these recurrence and short term benefits in modern system ofmedicine, Ayurveda can provide a very good holistic treatment option. Today there is need to find the drug which gives long term relief without any side effects, is easily available, no recurrence and easy to follow. Bhaishajya Ratnawali has described the efficacy of Aatarushadi Kwath in management of Vatarakta. Aatarushadi kwath includes Aatarush (Vasa), Amrita (Guduchi), Erand , Avalguja (Bakuchi), Haritaki. Aatarush act as blood purifier. Amrita act as tridoshshamak , rasayan , vedna sthapan. Erand has property of kapha-vata shamak, shoth har, used in rakta vikar. Avalguja has balya effect on nervous system, shoth nashak and promotes rakta samvahan. Haritaki has property of rasayan, shonit sthapan, mutral & shoth har. These five drugs show antagonistic action on prakupit Vata doshas and Rakta dhatu involved in Vatarakta. In previous study Kaishore Guggul was found to be significant in the management of Vatarakta therefore for the present study Kaishore Guggul will be taken as a control group. |