Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)
Sudden pain occurring in the abdomen is called Shula. The person suffering from Shula feels as if pierced or torn apart by a sharp weapon of the like of a trident.
Table of Contents
शूल रोपणवत् पीडा यस्य आकस्मात् प्रजायते।
त्रिशूल संभवं च एनं शूलं आहुः पुराविदः॥(यो.र.शूल निदानम्.३)
शङ्ख स्फोटनवत् तस्य यस्मात् तीव्रा च वेदना।
शूलासक्तस्य भवति तस्मात् शूलम् इह उच्यते॥(यो.र.शूल निदानम्.४)
Shankha sphotanavat tasya yasmaat teevraa cha vedanaa
Shoolaasaktasya bhavati tasmaat shoolam iha uchyate (Ref – Yoga Ratnakara Shula Nidaanam 4)
Pain in the abdomen resembling ‘Shankha Sphotana’ i.e. ‘blasting pain in the temples’ is called Shoola
Shula is of 8 types. They are:
Parinama Shoola and Annadrava Shoola are special types of shula and its variants. They have not been included under the 8 types of shool because of the unique way of their presentation. Both these type of shoolas closely resemble with peptic ulcers and have a strong relationship with the food intake.
Parinama Shula – closely resembles duodenal ulcers
Annadrava Shula – closely resembles gastric ulcers
General principles of treating shoola include skilful administration of the below said (depending on dosha involvement and nature of the disease):
External measures:
Tila Sweda – Sesame fomentation – Sesame should be grinded in Kanji (sour fermented herbal liquid or rice wash water kept until it gets sour and formented) and made into paste. This paste is tied in a bolus using sterile cloth. This bolus should be made hot on a pan. This bolus is rubbed all over the abdomen especially in the painful area.
Bilwadi sweda – Powder of bark of Bilwa (Aegle marmelos), powder of root bark of erandamula (root of castor plant) and tila (sesame) should all be grinded in Kanji, tied in a bolus, made hot and rubbed gently over the abdomen
Madana lepa – Madana phala (fruit of Randia dumetorum) should be grinded in Kanji and made into paste. This paste is applied around the navel region.
Hingwadi kalka – hingu (asafoetida), tila taila (sesame oil) and saindhava lavana (rock salt) made into paste with urine of cow should be applied around the navel region
Sarshapadi lepa – Sarshapa (mustard) and shigru twak (bark of drumstick) tree made into paste by grinding them in buttermilk should be applied all over the abdomen
Useful formulations:
Vamana (therapeutic emesis) – with decoction of Patola patra (leaves of pointed gourd) and ikshu rasa (sugarcane juice)
Virechana – should be administered after Vamana
Useful formulations:
Triphala-Aragwadhadi Kwatha – decoction of Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) and Aragwadha (Cassia fistula) mixed with honey and sugarShatavari rasa – Juice of Asparagus racemosus or its decoction mixed with honey should be given early in the morning
Amalaki swarasa – juice of Amla mixed with sugar should be given early in the morning on empty
stomach
Gudadi yoga – payasa or sweetened preparation with guda (old jaggery), shali (rice), yava (barley) and ksheera (milk)
Ksheera-sarpi – milk mixed with ghee
Jangala mamsa rasa – meat soup of animals living in desert areas
The below said are highly beneficial in Kaphaja Shoola –
Other useful formulations –
As per Chakradatta,
For Vata aggravation, oils and fats along with horse gram soup, mixed with rock salt, Trikatu, asafoetida, black salt and pomegranate is beneficial.
For Pitta aggravation, jaggery,barley, rice, milk, ghee are suitable
For Kapha aggravation, rock salt, table salt, black salt, ginger, long pepper, asafoetida, hot wáter are suitable.
Pathya-Apathya (wholesome and unwholesome things) in Shula
The below said are said to be wholesome and beneficial (pathya) in shula:
The below said are the unwholesome things in shula:
Best Ayurvedic medicines for Peptic Ulcers and shoola:
Bhasma (calx) etc:
Shankha Bhasma
Shukti bhasma
Mukta shukti bhasma
Shambuka bhasma
Kapardika bhasma
Abhraka bhasma
Mandura bhasma
Giloy satva
Pravala pishti etc
Avaleha / Rasayana (confections):
Kushmanda Rasayana
Chyavanprash
Vilwadi leham
Gudardrakam etc
Ghrita (medicated ghee):
Sukumara ghritam
Indukantam ghritam
Triktakam ghritam
Shatavari ghritam etc
Proprietary Medicines
Vati / Gulika (tablets):
Chitrakadi Vati
Shanka vati
Mahashanka vati
Kamadugha ras
Shula gajakesari ras
Chandrakala ras
Leelavilasa ras
Amlapittantak loha
Punarnavadi mandura
Dhatri loha etc
Churnas (herbal powders for internal consumption):
Hingwashtaka Churna
Yashtimadhu churna
Higuvachadi churna
Avipattikara churna
Yava kshara churna
Narikela lavana churna
Single herbs useful in Peptic ulcers
Effective decoctions for Pains and Colic from Sahasrayogam
1. Soolahara Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakaranam, 44, 57
a. Nirgundyadi Kashayam
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Nirgundi | Vitex negundo | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh with alkali of barley, asafetida and rock salt. | 1. All kinds of colic and pains |
| Castor | Ricinus communis | ||
| Sahachara | Strobilanthes heynianus | ||
| Gokshura | Tribulus terrestris | ||
| Dwi Punarnava | White and red varieties of Boerhavia diffusa | ||
| Panchakola | Piper longum, Roots of Piper longum Piper retrofractum Plumbago zeylanica Zingiber officinale | ||
| Haritaki | Terminalia chebula | ||
| Drumstick | Moringa oleifera | ||
| Horse gram | Dolichos biflorus |
b. Palasha Twak Kashayam
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Palasha Twak | Bark of Butea monosperma | The decoction should be administered with coconut milk. | 1. Bleeding disorders |
c. Erandadi Kashayam
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Castor | Ricinus communis | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh with rock salt, sugar and honey. | Cures pain in – 1.Cardiac region 2.Flanks 3.Urinary bladder 4.Sacral region 5.Back |
| Sahachara | Strobilanthes heynianus | ||
| Bala | Sida cordifolia | ||
| Guduchi | Tinospora cordifolia | ||
| Shatavari | Asparagus racemosus | ||
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale |
d. Erandadi Kashayam 2
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Castor | Ricinus communis | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh. | Cures pain in – 1.Cardiac region 2.Abdomen 3.Navel 4.Scrotum and testes 5.Thigh |
| Sahachara | Strobilanthes heynianus | ||
| Kantakari | Solanum xanthocarpum | ||
| Devadaru | Cedrus deodara | ||
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale | ||
| Garlic | Allium sativum |
2. Shleshmajwarahara Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakaranam, 4
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Haritaki | Terminalia chebula | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh mixed with honey and powder of asafetida | 1.Cures fever of kapha origin associated with colic, weak digestion power, tastelessness and dryness of mouth |
| Katphala | Myrica esculenta | ||
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale | ||
| Musta | Cyperus rotundus | ||
| Vacha | Acorus calamus | ||
| Bhunimba | Andrographis paniculata | ||
| Coriander | Coriandrum sativum | ||
| Bharangi | Clerodendron serratum | ||
| Parpataka | Fumaria officinalis |
3. Satavaryadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakaranam, 19
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Shatavari | Asparagus racemosus | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh | 1.Bleeding disorders 2.Colic |
| Bala | Sida cordifolia | ||
| Rasna | Pluchea lanceolata | ||
| Kashmarya | Gmelina arborea | ||
| Parushaka | Grewia asiatica |
4. Bilwambudadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakaranam, 47
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Bilwa | Aegle marmelos | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh with (rock) salt | 1.Diarrhea associated with blood and kapha 2.Ama dosha – disorders caused due to ama 3.Colic and pains |
| Musta | Cyperus rotundus | ||
| Ativisha | Aconitum heterophyllum | ||
| Kutaja | Holarrhena antidysenterica | ||
| Chavya | Piper retrofractum | ||
| Pippali | Piper longum | ||
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale | ||
| Pippali mula | Roots of Piper longum | ||
| Hrivera | Pavonia odorata | ||
| Prishniparni | Uraria picta |
5. Dhanyabalakadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakaranam, 48
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Coriander | Coriandrum sativum | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh | 1.Colic caused by ama 2.Diarrhea 3.Digests ama 4.Enhances digestive fire, cures weak digestion |
| Balaka | Pavonia odorata | ||
| Bilwa | Aegle marmelos | ||
| Musta | Cyperus rotundus | ||
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale |
6. Vidalin Veradi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakaranam, 67
| Ingredients | Botanical Name | Method of using | Indications |
| Vidanga mula | Roots of Embelia ribes | The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be administered with asafetida, long pepper, rock salt and alkali of barley | 1.Colic 2.Destroys worms |
| Kadaladi | Roots of Achyranthes aspera | ||
| Palasa | Butea monosperma | ||
| Ginger | Zingiber officinalis | ||
| Garlic | Allium sativum | ||
| Horsegram | Dolichos biflorus | ||
| Bilwa | Aegle marmelos | ||
| Agnimantha | Clerodendron phlomidis | ||
| Prisniparni | Uraria picta | ||
| Eranda mula | Roots of Ricinus communis | ||
| Ajamoda | Trachyspermum ammi | ||
| Sesame | Sesamum indicum | ||
| Sphotya | Euphorbia prostrate | ||
| Motaka | Fagraea ceilanica |
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patola is pointed gourd or bitter gourd?
Pointed.