Role of Indra Vati in the management of Type II Diabetes mellitus (Madhumeha) - A Review Article

Abstract

Diabetes is a disease of global concern. With  increased modernisation and materialism its incidence is  increasing day by day. This might be because of the  adaptation of more sedentary lifestyle by the people.  Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which there is either  complete lack of insulin or there is resistance to the action of  insulin disturbing the metabolism of carbohydrate, fats and  proteins. According to Aetiological factor, pathogenesis and  clinical features Diabetes mellitus correlated with  Madhumeha in Ayurveda. Madhumeha is a type of Vataja Prameha in which patient passes honey like sweet urine  (Raised level of sugar in urine & Hyperglycemia). It is one  of the Santarpanottha Vyadhi. Guru, Snigdha, Pichhila Ahara, Pishtanna, excessive milk and milk products, lack of exercises are mentioned as the  cause of Madhumeha. In today’s context excessive intake of all the fast food like pizza, burger  etc which are Guru as well as made of refined wheat flour (Pishtanna), Paneer, cheese (milk  products), and sweets made of jaggery or other substances comes under the Aharaj Nidana of  Prameha/Madhumeha. Similarly, sedentary lifestyle comes under the Viharaja Nidana. Modern  science also recognises these factors as a cause of diabetes mellitus. Though Type 2 DM was  earlier common in middle aged population but nowadays even a younger group of people are  found to have Type 2 DM. Due to wide spectrum of disease, lack of effective medicine, need of  time is to go for cost effective, safe and efficient treatment of Madhumeha. Keeping all above  points in mind the Indra vati has been selected to know the effect in treating Madhumeha  (Diabetes Mellitus). Indra vati consists of 4 main contents, which are Rasa sindoora, Vanga  Bhasma, Arjun and Shalmali.