Key words: Secondary amenorrhoea, Arthava kshaya,Pattra banga,Pattu karuppu,Trikatu and Asoka
Abstract
Amenorrhoea is the absence of a menstrual cycle in a woman of reproductive age possessing symptoms with many potential causes. Secondary amenorrhoea is often caused by hormonal disturbances from the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland and from premature menopause or intrauterine scar formation. It is defined as the absence of menses for three months in a woman with normal menstruation previously or nine months for women with a history of oligomenorrhoea. Diminished pituitary release of Luteinizing hormone(LH) and Follicle –stimulating hormone (FSH), hormones that maintain normal ovulation and Poly cystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS) are the major and common causative factors for secondary amenorrhoea. Ayurveda refers this as Artava kshaya. Ayurvedic classics give importance to Shuddha Artava and mentions that Artavadushti is one of the causative factors for Artava kshaya and infertility. Classical and traditional Ayurvedic medicines and therapies play a significant role to delineate the disease. Ayurveda emphasizes both Shodhana and Shamana therapy for Artava dushti . Since Vata plays a key role in this disease Vasti and Uttaravasti, being Vata shamana, are the choice of sodhana treatment. As Shamana therapy along with Artava doshahara kwathas, administration of a traditional preparation was found to have curative effect. The active ingredients of the preparations included; Pattra banga, Trikatu, Hingu, Asoka and Pattu karuppu. In this study, 38 cases of Amenorrhoea were tried with traditional Ayurvedic preparation. Of the 38 cases studied, 31 patients had significant relief, with subsequent menstrual cycles, 5 patients had marked improvement while the other 2 patients did not respond to the treatment. The clinical efficacy of the trial drugs could be attributed to their theekshna,ushna and Artava sodhaka properties.
Corresponding Author: Special Grade Asst. Medical officer, Govt.Ayurveda Dispensary, Shengottai-627809 Phone;04633 234350. E-mail- drharisengottai@yahoo.com