A clinical case report

ABSTRACT

PCOS, Fallopian Tubal Blockage, Repeated Spontaneous Abortions are some of the causes of female infertility.  Hormonal treatment or drilling of ovaries, micro-surgery of fallopian tubes, IVF are some of the treatment. In Ayurveda it is named as Vandhyatva. Garbhasrava, Beeja Dushti and Mithya Ahara Vihara are some of the causes mentioned by our Acharyas. We are reporting a case of infertility due to PCOS with a surgical history of emergency laparoscopic right sided salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy. And medical history of tab methotrixate for left side ectopic pregnancy, consequently for second time & left sided hydrosalpinx. As per the classical reference treatment was planned for four- karma (virechana karma, kala basthi and marsha nasya karma, and Uttara basthi karma) along with music therapy and yoga chikitsa, accompanied by rasayana chikitsa, to achieve shuddha garbha sambhava samagri (pure factors of fertilization & conception). Treatment plan was successful with intra uterine pregnancy and she has delivered a healthy female baby through caesarian section.

 INTRODUCTION

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility can be described as the inability to become pregnant, maintain a pregnancy, or carry a pregnancy to live birth.⁽¹⁾ A clinical definition of infertility by the WHO and ICMART is “a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.” ⁽²⁾ Infertility can further be broken down into primary and secondary infertility. Primary infertility refers to the inability to give birth either because of not being able to become pregnant, or carry a child to live birth, which may include miscarriage or a stillborn child. ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾

PCOS – Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is a set of symptoms due to elevated androgens (male hormones) in females.⁽⁵⁾⁽⁶⁾ Signs and symptoms of PCOS include irregular or no  menstrual periods, heavy periods, excess body and facial hair, acne, pelvic pain, difficulty getting pregnant, and patches of thick, darker, mood disorders, velvety skin.⁽⁷⁾

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among women between the ages of 18 and 44.⁽⁸⁾ It affects approximately 2% to 20% of this age group depending on how it is defined.^(9)(10) When someone is infertile due to lack of ovulation, PCOS is the most common cause.⁽⁵⁾

PCOS is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors .^(11)(12)(13) Risk factors include obesity, a lack of physical exercise, and a family history of someone with the condition.⁽¹⁴⁾ Diagnosis is based on two of the following three findings: no ovulation, high androgen levels, and ovarian cysts.⁽¹⁵⁾ Cysts may be detectable by ultrasound.⁽¹⁶⁾

 Figure of pcod

PCOS has no cure.⁽¹⁷⁾ Treatment may involve lifestyle changes such as weight loss and exercise.^(18)(19) Birth control pills may help with improving the regularity of periods, excess hair growth, and acne.⁽²⁰⁾ Metformin and anti-androgens may also help.⁽²⁰⁾ Other typical acne treatments and hair removal techniques may be used.⁽²⁰⁾ Efforts to improve fertility include weight loss, clomiphene, or metformin.⁽²¹⁾ In vitro fertilization is used by some in whom other measures are not effective.⁽²¹⁾

Ectopic pregnancy is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus.⁽²²⁾.

Causes of tubal pregnancy

Any sexually active woman of childbearing age is at risk of an ectopic pregnancy and often the reason for the ectopic pregnancy will never be determined. Tubal pregnancy is when the egg is implanted in the fallopian tubes. Hair-like cilia located on the internal surface of the fallopian tubes carry the fertilized egg to the uterus. Fallopian cilia are sometimes seen in reduced numbers subsequent to an ectopic pregnancy, leading to a hypothesis that cilia damage in the fallopian tubes is likely to lead to an ectopic pregnancy.⁽²³⁾ Women who smoke have a higher chance of an ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tubes. Smoking leads to risk factors of damaging and killing cilia.⁽²³⁾ As cilia degenerate, the amount of time it takes for the fertilized egg to reach the uterus will increase. The fertilized egg, if it doesn’t reach the uterus in time, will hatch from the non-adhesive zona pellucida and implant itself inside the fallopian tube, thus causing the pregnancy.⁽²³⁾ Women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) have a high occurrence of ectopic pregnancy.⁽²⁴⁾ This results from the build-up of scar tissue in the fallopian tubes, causing damage to cilia ⁽²⁵⁾.  If however both tubes were completely blocked, so that sperm and egg were physically unable to meet, then fertilization of the egg would naturally be impossible, and neither normal pregnancy nor ectopic pregnancy could occur.⁽²⁵⁾

A history of a tubal pregnancy increases the risk of future occurrences to about 10%.⁽²⁵⁾ This risk is not reduced by removing the affected tube, even if the other tube appears normal.  Fertility following ectopic pregnancy depends upon several factors, the most important of which is a prior history of infertility.

CASE PRESENTATION

A lady with married life of 6yrs from Bidadi in Banglore, presented with amenorrhoea -1 & ½ month, with history of irregular, scanty, painful menstruation. Her past medical history revealed twice tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Timeline

Lady had developed irregular, scanty, painful menstruation after undergoing IVF (In-Vitro-Fertilization) in one of the Hospital at Banglore in 2017. However, IVF was not successful. Ultra-sonography of the abdomen & pelvis revealed bilateral PCOD (Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease). She was treated with oral hormonal pills for 6moths. During the course of oral hormonal treatment she had regular but painful menstruation. But she did not conceive. Later she visited Ayurveda clinic in Mysore for her problems. Later in June 2018 she consulted our hospital. She underwent ultra-sonography of abdomen & pelvis (August 2018). This report also revealed as bilateral PCOD.

In 2013, she had undergone emergency laparoscopic right sided salpingectomy under spinal anaesthesia, as she was diagnosed very late with right sided ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy.

In 2015, she had conceived second time, however, again it was left tubal pregnancy, as it was diagnosed early at 5wks, it was terminated by oral pills & was treated with medicine Methotrixate.

After that she underwent HSG (Hystero-Salpingography) & the report showed,

Left tube –hydrosalpinx in ampullary region, fimbrial end clumped. However, free spill was seen.

After this event she did not conceive.

In 2017, once she underwent IVF (In-Vitro-Fertilization) in Milan Hospital Banglore. However, it was not successful. Since then she developed irregular menstruation & diagnosed with PCOD (Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease) in ultrasonography report.

In June 2018, she came to SDM Institute of Ayurveda & Hospital Banglore. From august 2018 she was regular in taking medicine and councelling.

Menstruation was found to be irregular (50- 90 days usually gets after taking hormonal pills she used to get her menstruation), scanty, painful, 3 – 4 days -dark blackish red, more clots than liquid bleeding & required 1 pad/day, but she changed 2pads/day to maintain hygiene. Her inner garment used to get stained during menstruation.

 Diagnostic focus and Assessment

Per Vaginal Examination revealed – Uterus- AVNS, vagina was bathed in yellowish – white discharge.

Per Speculum Examination revealed – Cervical erosions all over the cervix with severe yellowish- white discharge adhered to the cervix & vagina.

HSG (Hystero-Salpingography) in 2015 – Left tube –hydrosalpinx in ampullary region, fimbrial end clumped. However, free spill was seen.

After analyzing, with the ayurvedic principles, it was diagnosed as,

‘Vandhyatva’ ‘Secondary Infertility’ due to PCOS ( PCOD, Pimples, Hair loss)

In this case, the six causative factors (Ashuddha garbha sambhava samagri (impure factors of fertilization & conception) & manasika shalyas ) for vandhyatva are explained as follows,

• Beeja dushti – Anovulation due to PCOD,
• Rutu dushti – Irregular menstrual cycle,
• Kshetra dushti – Hydrosalpinx in the ampullary region of the left fallopian tube, right sided – salpingectomy done, cervical erosion.
• Arthava dushti (Arthavakshaya,Athyarthava,Kashtarthava) – irregular menstruation, sometimes amenorhoea and other time meno-metrorrhgia/oligomenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea.
• Ambu dushti – Body fluids -All the doshas vitiated (in bhedhavastha of shad kriyakala) and ama (free radicals) produced also vitiates body fluids. Her vyadhi kshamatva (immunity) decreased (often she gets rhinitis, cough). Homeostasis was disturbed in the body.
•  Shalyas – Stressful factors (manaha shareera bhadhakarani iti shalyani.) were present in her. As she was, physically, mentally, emotionally & socially stressed out, due to medical history. This leads to disturbance in homeostasis. Lady had entered into flight mode due to stress.

Therapeutic focus and Assessment

Chikitsa was aimed at objectives ‘A’ and ‘B’

Objectives ‘A’

1. Ashuddh garbha sambhava samagri – impure factors of fertilization & conception-rutu (ovulation & menstruation), kshetra (female reproductive system), ambu (body fluids), beeja (ovum, sperm & zygote), in order to achieve shuddha garbha sambhava samagri (pure factors of fertilization & conception).
2.  Arthava dushti irregular menstruation, sometimes amenorhoea and other time meno-metrorrhgia/oligomenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, in order to achieve shuddha arthava (purity & alignment in menstrual cycle & endocrinal co-ordination).
3. Shalyas -Physical, Mental, Emotional & social Stressful factors, in order to attain prassannatmendriya mana (satiation of body, mind & spiritual).

 Objectives ‘B’

1.  To attain health in mother at all levels (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social).
2. To obtain healthy progeny.

The chikitsa (treatment) schedule planned as below,

Deepana Pachana chikitsa – digestive & assimilative medicine-is given prior to shodhana chikitsa.

Shodhana chikitsa – detoxification treatment

Virechana karma (detoxification- Medical purgation treatment),

Sarvanga Abhyanga & Swedana (medicated oil massage & steam).

Kala basthi karma (medicated enema),

Nasya karma (medicated nasal drops),

Uttara basthi (medicated intra-uterine treatment),

Music therapy councelling and yoga – mohana raga, surya namaskara, chinmudra pranayama & meditation, omkara recitation

Oral medicines

For cervical erosion –

Sthanika chikitsa per-vaginal treatment as follows,

Yoni prakshalana- medicated vaginal wash (vaginal douch)

Yoni dhoopana – medicated vaginal fumigation  

Yoni pichchu dharana- medicted vaginal tampoon

Regular councelling was planned as per the changes & feedback from the lady and her husband.

The treatments were carried out as scheduled in the Table 1,2,3,4.

 TREATMENT SCHEDULED.

From August 2018 to October 2018

Deepana – Pachana was done with Tablet Trikatu 1-1-1 continuously for 6months.

Councelling was done daily 1hour for 10 days, then once in week for 1month- 1hr, followed by once in a week for 1month-15min.

Yoga –Surya namaskara 6times 5days in a week, Chinmudra pranayam, Meditation & Omkara recitation for 15min twice daily.

Music therapy – Mohan raga music was done for 2hours, once in a week for 3months.

Prayer –Universal Prayer shloka was given in writing & advised to recite twice daily accompanied by her husband.

 Table 1 Oral medicine

 From last week of October 2018 to first week of November 2018

Table 2 Virechana karma  Sthanika chikitsa Sarvadaihika chikitsa

SP-Sneha Pana, SAAS-Sarvanga abhyanga and swedana, VK-Virechana karma, YP-Yoni prakshalana, YD – Yoni dhoopana, YPD – Yoni pichchu dharana, C – Councelling, Music therapy.

 From last week of November 2018 to first week of December 2018

Table 3 Kala Basthi karma Sarvadaihika chikitsa

ABK – Anuvasana Basthi Karma, NBK – Niruha Basthi Karma, SAAS-Sarvanga abhyanga and swedana, SN – Surya Namaskara, CM – Chin Mudra, MT – Music Therapy, C – Councelling.

 In first week of January 2019

Table 4 Nasya karma chikitsa

MNK – Marsha Nasya Karma, C – Councelling, MT – Music Therapy

 RESULTS

 After the virechana karma followed by kala basthi, she had her menstruation on 28/12/2018 (after 6 months of amenorrhoea). Menstruation was uneventful, that is she did not suffer with any pains and liquid part was more than the clots in menstrual bleeding. Color of menstrual bleeding was light blackish red. Her inner garments were not stained.  5 Days bleeding with less small clots was observed by the patient.  Her weight also increased by 2kg after the kala basthi (from 58kg to 60kg). By this time, pimples had reduced completely. She was happy as her face was clear & chubby cheeks.

After the sthanika chikitsa (local per-vaginal treatment) through vaginal route, cervical erosion healed and healthy cervix noted.

The two follow up examination showed- P/V- uterus –AVNS, no white discharge was seen. P/S- Cx –healthy.

She missed her menstruation on 28^thJanuary 2019. On 22^nd February 2019 urine test for pregnancy was positive.

It was confirmed as intra-uterine pregnancy with gestation sac & yolk sac, in ultra-sonography of abdomen & pelvis.

Repeat scan was done on 14/03/19 which showed CRL-1.95cm, yolk sac was seen, fetal heart pulsation seen 178beats/min. Intra-uterine pregnancy of 8wks 4days.

 Discussion:

Discussion is a detailed treatment of a topic in speech or writing, in order to reach a decision or to exchange ideas. Herewith I have tried to analyse the ayurvedic samprapthi & treatments for the infertility due to PCOS & ectopic pregnancy, with the help of our proud Acharya’s principles.

It has been explained in our samhitas, the purity of arthava (menstrual flow) is the primary unit for garbhotpatti (fertilization & conception). Our acharyas have highlighted that the menstrual blood does not leave any stain on the cloth. ⁽²⁶⁾ This is the sign of purity in menstrual blood & indicates the forthcoming ovulation.

It was noted that, after course of deepana, pachana,virechana karma & kala basthi karma, menstruation was uneventful, that is she did not suffer with any pains and liquid part was more than the clots in menstrual bleeding. Color of menstrual bleeding was light blackish red. Her inner garments were not stained.  5 Days bleeding with less small clots was observed by the patient.  This indicates the purity of the arthava menstrual bleeding.

Her weight also increased by 2kg after the kala basthi (from 58kg to 60kg). By this time, pimples had reduced completely. She was happy as her face was clear & chubby cheeks.

In Charaka Samhita Shareera Sthana 4^th chapter named Mahati garbhavakranthi, commentator of Charaka Samhitha, Acharya Chakrapani has explained that, garbha gradually enters garbhashaya. However, if there is vikara in garbha, by the time it reaches kukshi or garbhashaya, it may get destroyed (kukshau jayamana; kukshau vinasham prapnoti) & brings in death (katsnyernavinashyan iti marana gachchan) ⁽²⁷⁾.

Our Acharyas have written in sutra form. While explaining the early growth of fertilized ovum, Acharya Charaka has used the term kheta bhuta which means shleshma sadrashya- slippery in nature⁽²⁸⁾, which is quiet similar to Zona pellucida-outer layer of the zygote. This layer helps the zygote, to slide down with its slippery nature, from fallopian tube to the intra-uterine cavity of the uterus for the implantation. One of the etiological factors for the tubal pregnancy is pre-mature loss of the layer zona-pellucida, loss of kheta bhuta can be compared to sthanika shleshma ksheena, when the fertilized ovum is in the ampulla part of the fallopian tube, as the fertilization occurs in the ampulla. Thus the zygote gets fixed to the fallopian tube, leading to rupture of the tube & destruction of the zygote if goes unnoticed by the medical faculty. Thus tubal pregnancy gets destroyed & increases the mortality rate of the mother.

Subserosa layer of the fallopian tube is composed of loose adventitious tissue, blood vessels, lymphatics, an outer longitudinal and inner circular smooth muscle coats. This layer is responsible for the peristaltic action of the fallopian tubes. In turn this peristaltic movement helps in the gliding movements of zygote towards the intra-uterine cavity of the uterus. These movements can be compared to apana-vata, which is present in shroni pradesh & is responsible for all the movements in the shroni. There is apana vata vigunata (improper function of apana vata). This is exhibited in the form of, irregular menstruation, sometimes meno-metrorragia other time oligomenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea.

The inner layer of fallopian tube is a single layer of simple columnar epithelium. The columnar cells have microscopic hair-like filaments (cilia) predominantly throughout the tube, but are most numerous in the infundibulum and ampulla. Estrogen increases the production of cilia on these cells. Between the ciliated cells are peg cells, which contain apical granules and produce the tubular fluid. This fluid contains nutrients for spermatozoa, oocytes, and zygotes. This can be compared to shleshma, rasadhatu. Tubal fluid flows against the action of the cilia, toward the fimbrial end. The fertilized ovum, now a zygote, travels towards the uterus aided by activity of tubal cilia and activity of the tubal muscle. Again these movements are responsibility of apana-vata.

The early embryo requires critical development in the fallopian tube. After about five days the new embryo enters the uterine cavity and on about the sixth day implants on the wall of the uterus, which is again co-ordinate activity of vata-kapha-pitta in shroni & minute srotas in shroni.

Fallopian tube obstruction is associated with infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include: pelvic inflammatory disease, often due to chlamydia infection, tobacco smoking, prior tubal surgery, a history of infertility, and the use of assisted reproductive technology. Those who have previously had an ectopic pregnancy are at much higher risk of having another one. Most ectopic pregnancies (90%) occur in the fallopian tube, which are known as tubal pregnancies (29).

Presence of multiple pimples, heavy perspiration in palms and soles, often suffering from cold, constipation, irregular menstruation (more often amenorrhoea), anxiety and depression indicates the reduced immunity, accumulation of free-radicals in the body, disturbances at mental, emotional, spiritual and social levels due to loss of zygote in twice ectopic tubal pregnancies and unsuccessful IVF.

Our acharyas have highlighted the importance of shuddh garbha sambhava samagri (pure sperm, ovum, uterus and bod fluids) to obtain a healthy garbha. And shuddhata of shareera & manas (pure body & mind) is also equally important.

Acharya Sushruta while explaining swastha laxana, has given equal importance to equilibrium at physical level-shareera (samadhosha, samagni, samadhatu, sama mala & kriyas of dosha-agni-dhatu-mala), spiritual level -prasannata of atma (satiation or brahmananda), mental level -prasannata of mana (happiness in all situations), emotional level -prasannata of indriyas (liveliness jnyanendriyas & karmendriyas).

In jathaharini adhyaya, it has been mentioned that, to get a healthy progeny, the couple have to follow ‘Dharma palana ( Dharanath dharmaha)’that is good conduct to maintain health at physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social levels.

By considering the above mentioned etiological factors, the exclusive treatment schedule was planned to target health at physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social level. The plan is shown in the following table 5.

Table 5 Treatment plan

      After the Deepana Pachana for 2months, virechana karma was done after the samyak snigdha laxana with trivruth leha & gandharva hasthadi taila respectively on 9^th & 10^th day.

On 15^th day follow up after the virechana karma, her pimples had subsided. Sweating in palms and soles had reduced completely. Sneezing, running nose, cold had been subsided completely. Up to 1month same health was maintained.

In second course, kala basthi karma as follows,

Anuvasana basthi- was done with Phala ghrita 75ml- for 9 days. On 6^th 12^th day of kala basthi karma, Gandharva hasthadi taila 50 ml- for 2days was used for Anuvasana basthi karma.

Niruha basthi- was done with Honey 50ml+ Saindhava lavana10gms+ Shatapushpa churna10gms+ Phala ghrita75ml+ Eranda mula churna kashaya-300ml-for 5days.

After the completion of kala basthi karma, lady had her menstruation (after 6months of amenorrhoea) on 28^th December 2018.  Lady reported that, her menstruation was uneventful, without any pains. Consistency wise liquid part was more than the clots in menstrual bleeding. The colour of menstrual bleeding was light blackish red. 5 Days bleeding with less small clots was observed by the patient. 3pads/day changed by the lady. Arthava (menstrual bleeding) highlights about homeostasis in the body, as arthava is the upadhatu (sub-part) of rasa dhatu. Homeostasis was attained. It also indicates the forthcoming ovulation.

Activeness, good healthy raport with family and friends, involvement in her daily chores and smiling face throughout the day in lady (observed by her husband, friend and in follow up check-up). This indicates the stress free body, mind, emotions, spiritual and social well being in lady. Music therapy, surya namaskara, chinmudra pranayama are the parts of rasayana chikitsa. They have succeeded in returning her regular dinacharya. Music and yoga are the part and parcel of our daily work. For manasika shalya harsha chikitsa is indicated.

From 8^th day of menstruation that is on 5^th January 2019, marsha nasya karma was started with anu-taila. The nasya treatment was done up to 11^th January 2019. Councelling and music therapy were carried out on 5^th and 11^th January 2019.

She missed her menstruation in January 2019. On 22^nd February 2019 urine test for pregnancy was done at home by patient herself, which was positive for pregnancy. It was confirmed as intra-uterine pregnancy with gestation sac & yolk sac, in ultra-sonography of abdomen & pelvis.

Repeat scan was done on 14/03/19 which showed CRL-1.95cm, yolk sac was seen, fetal heart pulsation seen 178beats/min. Intra-uterine pregnancy of 8wks 4days.

 Patient consent:

 Informed consent regarding documentation and publication of the case study was obtained from the lady & her husband. Her husband has written about this case in review column in SDMIAH.   

Conclusion:

Quality of life was hampered in lady due to irregularity in consuming food, sleep pattern, stress in day today life.

Emotional stress had taken over her completely. Hampered quality life had negative effect on shuddha garbha sambhava samagri, leading to ashuddha garbha sambhava samagri (impure factors of fertilization), irregular menstrual cycles & irregular flow, scanty flow.

She was unable to conceive child. She had history of bilateral ectopic tubal pregnancy & losing one tube in salpingectomy and the other tube with hydrosalpinx.

Ayuveda has played very impotant role through dinacharya, virechana karma, kala basthi and marsha nasya karma, music therapy, yoga and pranayama, in obtaining shuddha garbha sambhava samagri (pure factors of fertilization) in the form of delivering a healthy female child through elective caesarian section. The aim and objects which was planned before starting the treatment, has been reached successfully.

So, the term has been used as ‘tapas by the couple’ to get a healthy child.

So the saying ‘Child by choice & not by chance’ should be taught to our people.

Aviruddhe Dhruvam Daive Kale Yukthasya Karmanaha.

 Financial support & sponsorship

Lady and her husband have taken care of financial situation. No other support or sponsorship was given for this case throughout the treatment courses.

Conflicts of Interest

Author has no competing interest, as this case study was done with exclusive interest to make the lady to conceive naturally and healthy progeny.

 SARVESHAM AROGYAM BHAVATU

Dr. Bharathi D. Anvekar BAMS, MS, PhD
Professor and Consultant,
Dept of Shalya tantra, Prasuthi Tantra & Stree-Roga
S. D. M. Institute of Ayurveda & Hospital,
Banglore-74 Ph:080-22718025 Mob:98864 10690 

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23. Lyons RA, Saridogan E, Djahanbakhch O (2006). “The reproductive significance of human Fallopian tube cilia”. Human Reproduction Update. 12 (4): 363–72. doi:10.1093/humupd/dml012. PMID 16565155.
24. Tay JI, Moore J, Walker JJ (2000). “Ectopic pregnancy”. Western Journal of Medicine. 173 (2): 131–4. doi:10.1136/ewjm.173.2.131. PMC 1071024. PMID 10924442.
25. ^ Jump up to:^a b c d Speroff L, Glass RH, Kase NG (1999). Clinical Gynecological Endocrinology and Infertility, 6th Ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (1999). p. 1149ff. ISBN 978-0-683-30379-7.
26. शुक्रशोणितशुद्धिशारीरं तत्र शुक्रशोणितयोः शुद्धयोरेव शुद्धिर्दुष्टदोषासम्पर्कता||१-२|| यदार्तवं वासः- स्थितं शुष्कमुदकप्रक्षालितं वासो न विरञ्जयेत् रागोपेतं वस्त्रं न कुर्यात् तत् प्रशंसन्ति, ‘गर्भजननाय’ इति शेषः||१७||
27. शारीरस्थानम् – २. शुक्रशोणितशुद्धिशारीरम् निबन्धसङ्ग्रह व्याख्या (डल्हण कृत )
28. Charaka samhitha shareera sthana 4^th chapter kukshau jayamana; kukshau vinasham prapnoti) & brings in death (katsnyernavinashyan iti marana gachchan) यतश्च जायमानःकुक्षौ विनाशं प्राप्नोति, यतश्च कार्त्स्न्येनाविनश्यन् विकृतिमापद्यते, तदनुव्याख्यास्यामः||३|| 
29. स सर्वगुणवान् गर्भत्वमापन्नः प्रथमे मासि सम्मूर्च्छितः सर्वधातुकलुषीकृतः  खेटभूतो भवत्यव्यक्तविग्रहः सदसद्भूताङ्गावयवः||९|| खेटः श्लेष्मा; तेन खेटभूत इति श्लेष्मसदृश इत्यर्थः
30. Cecchino GN, Araujo Júnior E, Elito Júnior J (September 2014). “Methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy: when and how”. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 290 (3): 417–23. doi:10.1007/s00404-014-3266-9. PMID 24791968.

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We all live a super busy life. All of us race from one job to the other every day. A family chore could be tracked by crisis at office. We at all times try to mentally reshuffle our agenda to insert a new requisite popping ever minute. 24 hrs is no longer good and we are left with a feeling that there aren’t enough hours in a day. Leading a hectic life is a part of our chosen lifestyle and practically not much we can do about it. The flip side to this is stress, anxiety and a host of other mental and physical issues. If this is reality, how to heal ourselves naturally? Is there something that can help us to recoup from certain illnesses effortlessly? Well, there is an answer to all this in Music. Do you know that music is a natural healer? Modern science permits music as a therapy – to treat chronic and terminal diseases painlessly. Let’s delve a bit more into this and see if knowing this can help!

Music – what is it? Is music the same as talking or speaking? Would you classify a vehicle honk as noise or music – how are the two different? If noise is an irregular pattern of sound wave creating disturbance lending a painful experience, music is an organized combination of sound and silent moments that leaves us relaxed and rejuvenated. We are in concord with the way music interacts with us, the wait yanks us in strange ways – cultivates, calms commiserates, exhilarates and strengthens us against the dark. What would life be without it – appallingly icy and hushed! Moreover, music is not about any physical existence unlike a painting or a sculpture. It is about sound waves hitting our eardrums in a way to make us dance, laugh or cry. There has to be something about the impact of these sound waves that billions are spent annually in making music.

If I have to define music, it would be the net output obtained after mixing right proportions of melody, harmony, rhythm and cultural aspects, without which the heartfelt connect would be a miss.  If music is a global language, why is cultural sensitivity important? The cultural sensitivity of a habitation decides the type and style of music created and used. Music is a vibrant replication of sum totality of human behaviour. It is a chunk of a man’s ethnicity, civilisations and social heritage. Folk music particularly provides a stimulating knowledge of history, literature, and culture of a country evident in its lyrics and composition style. For instance, there would be specific compositions for a birth of a child, marriage or even funeral.

Music, more so Indian Classical is imperative to my life and I have my parents to thank for that. So why is Indian Classical so important to me and why am I writing all this? Music gives me immense joy and for some reason I feel great when in the company of Indian music. It is believed that music can have both healing and therapeutic effects, and it is 100 percent true. Music in India was greatly enriched when Europe was still hostile to recognise acoustics. Music was born in the Indian subcontinent with the advent of the Vedas – Samavedas to be specific. A creation so divine had to have more than a mere feel-good factor.  History has it that many sects in India chanted mantras in a typical way to alleviate certain physical ailments.

Haridas Swami – guru of Tansen helped recuperate one of Akbar’s queens with a particular raga. The musical trinity of India: Saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri brought a lifeless person back to life, healed stomach aches of many and music in the form of prayer is also helpful for better health of man. It was done through certain raga’s in Indian classical, all of which are formed with handpicked notes to work on certain neurons of the human body. These Ragas are curate to belong a particular time slot in a day and they work best when heard or sung then. There is much more to it than just this. Rudiments in parent raga’s control over hundred nerves in the body and their rising (aaroh) and sinking (avroh) notes rule moods and flexibility that play a significant role in therapeutic prowess of music.

Dr. Aggarwal, one of the practicing neurologist of a well-known hospital in Delhi expressed a deep desire to use Indian Classical in music therapy to cure psychiatric and other diseases prevalent amongst patients in the hospital. White chatting with me, he cited anecdotes of his experience in one of the medical institutes in USA where music plays an integral part of any treatment. It was fascinating to hear that Indian Classical is used to treat oncology. Other non-terminal diseases are by default treated with music along with other regular medications. It is indeed sad that we do not realise the power of our music in our own country. The American Music Therapy Association says, “Music therapy is often used to aid improvement in multiple areas of brain function deficit and to improve quality of life, as well as facilitating physical healing. Music therapy uses several methods to focus on different hitches. For instance, rhythmic auditory stimulation is thought to aid movement, musical improvisation is thought to help emotional expression, while singing, oral motor and respiratory exercises are thought to assist speech. Even simply listening to music is thought to be a potential tool in the control of pain, which is notoriously problematic to treat in some cases”.

I could go on writing on this topic, however for those interested; below is a list of raga’s that help cure ailments mentioned alongside. Please note – I have only picked up some ragas which are widely known and sung by people all over. There are many other ragas from the same parent and tertiary families which can be used to treat a host of other ailments.

For Hypertension

Raga Bageshri, Malkauns, Todi, Pooriya, Ahir Bhairav and Jaijayanti. Raga Malkauns is precisely used to treat low BP. Both Ahir Bhairavis and Raga Todi are phenomenon medicines for High Blood pleasure. It can be heard all time as a medication without restriction on frequency.

Mind: Anxiety and Stress and Intellectual Excellence

Raga Kaafi and Darbaari, for mental strength and stress, Raga Shiva Ranjani—for intellectual excellence, Raga Khamaj particularly for Hysteria and Raga Sahana for control over anger and inner violence. Raga Darbari aids to relieve stress if heard late night and during noon Raga Bhimpalasi is effective.

Overall stomach, Acidity, constipation, intestinal gas and fevery due to stomach infections

Raga Pooriya Dhanasri and Deepak for Acidity, Raga Jaunpuri and Gunkali for constipation, Malkauns for intestinal gas and fever. Basant Bahar cures Gall Stones. Raga Pooriyais also known to cure colitis and anaemia if heard in the evening.

Heart Problems

 Sarang family raga’s, Kalyani and Charukesi work amazingly well for heart blockages and other heart diseases.

Headaches

Raga Asaveri, and Poorvi are drugs to get rid of headaches. Raga Todi is needed for headache which is due to seasonal colds, whereas Raga Asavari also worthy for psychological illnesses. Raga Bhairavi helps cure headaches for Sinusitis

Insomnia

 Raga Bageshri cures insomnia if heard at night and Raga Kaafi and Khamaj also help a lot.

Diabetes

 Raga Bageshri and Raga Jaijayanti for diabetes whether you are at a borderline or on insulin.

Oncology

Raga Bhairavi and Raga Lalit are played particularly during chemotherapy sessions. Patients having music therapy are said to recover much sooner than those only on chemical drugs.

Asthma

 Raga Malhar, Mian ki Malhar and Darbari Kanada are known for their healing properties for chronic asthma.

Blood Purification and Skin Issues

Raga Hindol and Marwa not only purify blood and help maintain the best of skin possible, but also cure high fevers caused due to Malaria and Dengue.

Hormonal Problems and PCODs

Slow songs at a lower to medium octave as in Bhajans help in relaxation. They lead to favorable hormonal changes and cures PCODs.

Other than the ragas mentioned above, there have been several instances where Bhupali has helped wake up people from coma, Shiv Shambhu bhajans have helped cure back pain and slip disc, Ganpati bhajans have conjured assurance and derived out fear, depression and stress can be treated with the help of Krishna Bhajans, Raga Hanswadhani is useful to restore cells and bring back energy after a health break-down, Raga Kaafi has been used to treat  depression, Shiv Ranjani for sun stroke,  Basant for paralysis and Neelambari (Carnatic) for Kidney concerns. What more, music therapy is also used on deaf patients. The vibrations of music – its rhythm is good enough to treat the hearing impaired.

Leaving you with a tip:

Try listening to Raga Bhairavi when having a toothache, it does wonders. Also try playing this raga to T B patients, you will see the magic. This information is for general use and all of us can use it in our regular lives for healing. However, a formulated method is observed when used as a therapy. Just like any other medicine, music therapy has its dosage and duration to be followed which a certified therapist can help you with.

Mrs.Runki Goswami
Espale 46, Nirvana Country,
Sector – 50, Gurugram – 122018
goswami.runki@gmail.com

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