Classical Review on Asthikshaya and Its Chikitsa

Ayurveda has emphasized on samata and vishamata of dhatu while mentioning the definition of health as well as disease. Here, dhatu means rasadi dhatu, vatadi dosha as well as mala. Hence, a state of equilibrium of all dhatu is health and vaishyam i.e. disturbance in this equilibrium is called disease. Vaishamya can occur in two ways- (i) Vriddhi - increase (ii) Kshaya - decrease. Asthikshaya is the condition where there is a decrease of Asthidhatu. Asthikshaya is occur due to Abhava of poshana bhava by Dhatvagimandya vypara. Asthikshaya lakshana was explained in almost all the Ayurvedic classical text book. Asthikshaya is one of the lakshana of Majjakshaya. Asthikshaya lakshana like Asthibheda, dhanta, kesha, nakha vikara and Patana etc. Acharya Charaka has explained Asthikshaya while explaining 18types of Kshaya. According to Dalhana Commentatator the meaning of kshaya is "Swapramana haani". In classical text book there is no separate Nidana panchaka mentioned for Asthikhaya. According to Ashraya and Ashrayi bhava, Vata and Asthi are inversely proportional to each other. The Bhaava which increases the vata dosha also decrease the Asthidhatu. Hence the vataprakopaka nidana may considerd as Asthikshaya nidana. In Asthikshaya there will be qualitatative and quantitative decrease of Asthidhatu. The Chikitsa mention for Asthikshaya is Panchakarma Tikta Ksheera Basti and Swyonidravya.