Kashtarthava: a single case study

Summary of article contents:

Dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation is the most common problem faced by adolescent girls and women Dysmenorrhoea (Kashtartava) is found to have a profound impact on daily activities. Most adolescents experience primary dysmenorrhea, defined as painful menstruation in the absence of pelvic pathology. Secondary dysmenorrhea is normally considered to be menstruation associated pain occurring in the presence of pelvic pathology 1 This can be corelated as Kashtartava. Kashtartava is a vata kapha pradhanavyadhi and is mainly predominant of vata dosha . Due to kapha prakopa, kapha obstructs the srotas which leads to vata prakopa along with pratiloma gati of apana vayu leading to raja krichratha 2 Here is a case report of women aged 30 years with a chief complaint of painful and irregular menstruation for one and half years and k/c/o uterine fibroid for one year and mild degree polycystic ovaries since 4 months. Patient is suffering from secondary dysmenorrhea (with an underlying pathology). USG scanning revealed uterine fibroids and mild degree polycystic ovaries. She was presented in June 2021. After taking her consent, lekhana basti was given in yoga basti 3 pattern followed by gomutra haritiki orally for a total of the 3-month cycle. Result found was pain during menstruation reduced drastically and irregularity in menstruation was also corrected. There was no significant decrease in the size of the fibroid. In this single case study concept of Kashtartava w.s.r to secondary dysmenorrhea along with treatment course is explained. This case study proves that ayurvedic management plays a vital role in reducing the major symptoms. Keywords: Kashta arthava, secondary dysmenorrhea, lekhana basti, gomutra Haritaki INTERNATIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICAL JOURNAL Namitha S