Case Study

Disease of Urinary System

Gita (name changed) aged 34 years developed a urinary disease, which troubled her for nearly one year.

In August 2006, she came down with Chikungunya fever. She was treated with allopathic medicines.

After this treatment, she vomited blood in small quantities. Chest x-ray and blood tests were done and nothing was detected. By mid-September 2006, she had a severe bout of diarrhoea and purged – in her own words – “nearly 50 times a day”. To treat diarrhoea, she used the allopathic medicines Lomotil and Electral.

Since September, Gita began to pass motion along with urine whenever she urinated. Urination process also was difficult. She had to use pressure and when she exerted, she also passed stools along with urine. This was the first time she noticed that she had a serious urinary problem. Initially a Gynaecologist diagnosed it as a gynaecological problem. She was treated for a pelvic infection. After this treatment, her urination became difficult. Urine came in spasms and she had to make an effort to expel the urine. As the urine did not get fully evacuated, she had to use the toilet more & more frequently.

At times, after urinating once, she would go back to the toilet within 5 minutes. The stream was thin and she would remain in the toilet for even up to ½ an hour, trying to expel the urine completely. She also noticed that while she was trying to expel the urine, a pressure started to shift from the abdomen to the anal region. She was administered several allopathic medicines to regulate her urine.

As this did not result in any improvement, she underwent a full stomach scan, urine test, blood test and the results were normal. She then consulted a urologist whose preliminary investigation did not yield any result. The specialist suggested a cystoscopy and at this point she decided to try Ayurvedic treatment.

By the time she reached Ayurvedic clinic, the urinary problem had become chronic, as she had been suffering for many months.

Ayurvedic Treatment:

Ayurvedic texts talk about 13 types of urinary problems called MUTRAGHATAM.

Causes for MUTRAGHATAM:

1.Suppression of the urge to urinate.

2.Consuming food which is totally dry (devoid of any oil/fat substance)

3.Excessive physical exercise.

4.Eating meals often before the completion of digestion of previously ingested food.

5.Indigestion

6.Intake of sharp, pungent and potent medicines.

7.Riding fast-moving vehicles often.

A common feature of all these diseases is that the flow of urine gets obstructed.

Diagnosis of Gita’s problem at Sanjeevani:

Gita suffered from a type of MUTRAGHATAM called MUTRAATEETA. In this disease, urine does not get eliminated at the normal speed. It takes long time to empty the bladder. Gita would use great effort to urinate and she found it difficult and frustrating to empty the bladder. Urine came out slowly, often in drops, over a long period of time, often taking up to half-an-hour.

Sodhana Chikitsa (Cleansing Treatment):

Gita was given the following Ayurvedic treatment at Sanjeevani Vaidyasala.

1. Sneha Paanam

2. Vasti

3. Uttara Vasti

4. Avagaaha Svedam

Gita was given a medicated ghee (Sneha Paanam) for 5 days. After Sneha Paanam, she underwent Snehasvedam (Oil application over the body followed by Fomentation) for 1 week. Then, She was treated with a series of 8 enemas (Oil and decoction enemas alternately). After this, Uttara vasti (THE treatment for all kinds of Urinary problems) also had to be used in Gita’s case since the disease had become chronic. Uttara Vasti involves injecting medicines through the urinary tract in order to cleanse the urinary bladder. Also, She was made to sit in a tub up to navel containing warm herbal decoction, which is called Avagaaha Svedam.

By the end of uttara vasti, her condition had steadily improved, and according to her, by the end of treatment, she was 80-90% all right. Her initial troubles were not there. She was given medication and was asked to continue the medication for 6 weeks.

Note:

MUTRA GHATAM, if attended early, can be cured with internal medicines itself. In this case, the disease had become chronic by the time she approached Ayurvedic help. Hence, cleansing treatments like vasti and uttara vasti had to be used.

Ayurveda Section at the Institute of Child Health (ICH), Egmore, Chennai

An Ayurvedic section has been functioning for the last 2 years at ICH, Egmore, Chennai. The Government of Tamilnadu started this. ICH is a premier institution of the Government of Tamilnadu, which treats nearly 1200 children per day. Many of them come from the poor areas (slums) of Chennai. It also gets patients from all over Tamilnadu as well as from neighboring states of Karnataka and Andhra.

The doctor is Vd. Radhika with 1 assistant. The clinic is open 7 days a week. Timing are 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM and then from 3 PM to 5 PM. The rush of patients is heavy in the mornings and low in evenings.

This section functions with the disadvantage of being located in a huge allopathic hospital. Also most of the patients are poor who cannot afford some of the relatively more expensive diets like milk. But with all this, this place has built up a very successful practice.

Many patients are regulars who come here as a first option, although they have the option of going the allopathic department. The majority of outpatients come with respiratory ailments like cough, cold and asthma. Patients also come with a range of complaints like fevers, skin problems etc.

A fairly good range of medicines is available. Medicines are supplied by the Government Anna Hospital in Chennai. There is an adequate supply of Ghrtams (medicinal ghee) and Thailams, which are widely used and are important.

Case Study

Disease of Urinary System

Gita (name changed) aged 34 years developed a urinary disease, which troubled her for nearly one year.

In August 2006, she came down with Chikungunya fever. She was treated with allopathic medicines.

After this treatment, she vomited blood in small quantities. Chest x-ray and blood tests were done and nothing was detected. By mid-September 2006, she had a severe bout of diarrhoea and purged – in her own words – “nearly 50 times a day”. To treat diarrhoea, she used the allopathic medicines Lomotil and Electral.

Since September, Gita began to pass motion along with urine whenever she urinated. Urination process also was difficult. She had to use pressure and when she exerted, she also passed stools along with urine. This was the first time she noticed that she had a serious urinary problem. Initially a Gynaecologist diagnosed it as a gynaecological problem. She was treated for a pelvic infection. After this treatment, her urination became difficult. Urine came in spasms and she had to make an effort to expel the urine. As the urine did not get fully evacuated, she had to use the toilet more & more frequently.

At times, after urinating once, she would go back to the toilet within 5 minutes. The stream was thin and she would remain in the toilet for even up to ½ an hour, trying to expel the urine completely. She also noticed that while she was trying to expel the urine, a pressure started to shift from the abdomen to the anal region. She was administered several allopathic medicines to regulate her urine.

As this did not result in any improvement, she underwent a full stomach scan, urine test, blood test and the results were normal. She then consulted a urologist whose preliminary investigation did not yield any result. The specialist suggested a cystoscopy and at this point she decided to try Ayurvedic treatment.

By the time she reached Ayurvedic clinic, the urinary problem had become chronic, as she had been suffering for many months.

Ayurvedic Treatment :

Gita was given the following Ayurvedic treatment at Sanjeevani Vaidyasala.

1. Sneha Paanam

2. Vasti

3. Uttara Vasti

4. Avagaaha Svedam

By the end of uttara vasti, her condition had steadily improved, and according to her, by the end of treatment, she was 80-90% all right. Her initial troubles were not there. She was given medication and asked to continue medication for 6 weeks.