Ayurvedic Management of Garbhashayamukha Shotha: A Case Report

Reproductive age of women is crucial involving complications of labor, infections during puerperium, hormonal imbalances etc., predisposing to different kinds of pathology, where cervical pathology being common, limits the day to day activities of women. Cervical pathology includes the clinical conditions like cervical hypertrophy, cervical hyperplasia, Cervicitis, cervical erosion wherein a part or whole thickness of squamous epithelium of the ectocervix is replaced by columnar epithelium of the endocervix. Excessive vaginal discharge with itching, burning sensation and dyspareunia are the most common findings. As per Ayurveda, these preclinical conditions can be considered as Garbhashayamukha shotha/vrana. Cervical cancers are usually preceded by a long latent phase which is characterized by events progressing from atypia of cells to different grades of dysplasia or CIN, among which the prevalence of cervical erosion is more than 50%. At the present moment, there is no modern medicine available for infections like HPV and only prevention is possible through vaccines. The treatment methods in Ayurveda aims at reverting the dosa dooshya sammurchana occurring in the yoni as a result of infection, and thereby restore the normal pH, cervical cytology and thus maintain a healthy vagina. The modern surgical treatment options are cryosurgery and diathermy which are used to destruct the columnar epithelium and facilitate the growth of new healthy stratified squamous epithelium. But it has got its own limitations, since chances of recurrence is more. The present case study is of a woman aged 50 years who came to the OPD of Prasutitantra evum Streeroga Department of P.N.N.M Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital, Cheruthuruthy with complaints of white discharge per vagina and itching in the vulval region. She was screened with Pap smear for cervical pathology and was found to have inflammatory smear. Internal medicines, Bhandira kalka lepana and Tankana kshara application on Garbhashayamukha was administered for a period of 7 consecutive days. Marked improvement was observed in relieving the symptoms