Kaphaja Shotha – Edema Due To Kapha: Symptoms, Treatment

By Dr Raghuram YS MD(Ayu)
Kaphaja Shotha refers to inflammatory condition caused due to aggravated Kapha Dosha.

Characteristic features

The Kaphaja Shotha will be

  • Guru Sthira – Heavy and fixed
  • Pandu varna – pale in color
  • Associated with – Arochaka (tastelessness), praseka (salivation), nidra (sleep), vami (vomiting), vahnimandhya (sluggish digestion)
  • Kruchchra janma prashamana – Troubles while manifesting (develops slowly) and also while being treated (responds slowly to the medicines and treatment)
  • Nipeedito na cha unnamet – On pressing, it doesn’t rise to the surface in quick time (takes time to rise to the surface), pitting edema
  • Ratri bali – symptoms are predominant in the night time

गुरुः स्थिरः पाण्डुः अरोचकान्वितः प्रसेक निद्रा वमि वह्नि मान्ध्य कृत्।
स कृच्छ्र जन्म प्रशमो निपीडितो न च उन्नमेत् रात्रि बली कफात्मकः॥(भा.प्र.शोथाधिकार ४२/७)

Treatment principles

Principles of treatment of Kaphaja Shotha:

  • Nidana parivarjana – withdrawal of causative factors
  • Langhana and pachana – fasting and ama destroying medicines and treatments, when the kapha is unripe (morbidty is in unripe form)
  • Shodhana (cleanisng treatments) – Vamana (therapeutic emesis) and Virechana (therapeutic purgation), when the morbid kapha is ripened
  • Kshara – alkalis
  • Gomutra – or food stuffs mixed or prepared with gomutra (cow urine) admixed with herbs having katu (pungent) taste and ushna guna (hot potency)
  • Takra – or food stuffs mixed or prepared with takra (buttermilk) admixed with herbs having katu (pungent) taste and ushna guna (hot potency)

Formulations

Shuntyadi Kwatha – Decoction prepared with SHunti (ginger), Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), Erandamula (roots of Ricinus communis) and Panchamula (Greater 5 roots) should be used for drinking and for cooking

Patoladi Kwatha – Decoction of Patola (pointed gourd), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Bibhitaki (Terminalis bellirica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Nimba (neem) and Daruharidra (Berberis aristata) should be given mixed with Guggulu (Commiphora mukul)

Pathyadi Kwatha – Decoction prepared from Pathya or Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Haridra (Turmeric), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), Devadaru (Cedrus deodara) and Shunti (ginger) is highly effective

Phalatrika Kwatha – (particularly mentioned for Vrushana shotha or scrotal swelling) – Decoction prepared from Haritaki (Terminalis chebula), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis, Indian gooseberry) mixed with go mutra (urine of cow) is highly effective in relieving shotha and mutraja shotha vis-à-vis hydrocele

Guda Yogas – Guda or jaggery shall be consumed with ardraka (wet ginger), shunti (dry ginger), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) or Pippali (long pepper) for 15 days to 1 month

Shunti yoga – Equal quantities of Shunti (ginger) and Guda (jaggery) should be taken followed by drinking of Punarnava rasa (juice or decoction of Boerhavia diffusa).
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)

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