Digambar G. Dipankar’s scientific contributions

Psoriasis clinical trials have measured challenges in assessing disease severity and prognosis. Clinical trials require more objectively validated tools. To determine the severity of the skin disease, measurement systems should be objective, reproducible, easy to apply and practically useful. To maintain the objectivity of observations, different scoring systems have been developed. Scoring systems are essential to monitor the treatment response and evaluate the effectiveness of new drugs. The article reviews different scoring systems for assessing psoriasis and its strengths and weaknesses, as scores are useful for semi-objective assessment. A comprehensive literature search was performed using books, journals and websites. In this article, different scoring systems and their strengths and weaknesses have been summarized.

Gridhrasi is one among eighty diseases of Vata. Here Gridhra refers to vulture and typical walking style is acquired in Gridhrasi. Here typical gait refers to slight tilt towards the affected part of body. The clinical features of Gridhrasi is low back pain which is radiating to the hip, the back of thighs and down to leg. It can be correlated to Sciatica. Sciatica is the painful condition in which pain starts in the lumbar area and radiates along the course of the sciatic nerve. For present study, we have reported 38 years old male patient having symptoms since 15 days. Before treatment, patient was unable to walk even 4 to 5 steps, Visual Analogue Scale score was 10, range of motion was restricted and painful, his SLR test was positive at 150 of right side and 30°of left side. The aim of study is to evaluate the effect of Ayurvedic treatment protocol in Gridhrasi. Shamana (pacification), Shodhana (purification) was the main treatment modalities planned in this patient. Ksheera Basti was main line of treatment planned. After 52 days of treatment he was able to walk up to 500 meters without any difficulty, Visual Analogue Scale score changed to 2, was able to move the leg with minimal pain and SLR test was changed to 60° on both sides. Patient got 80% relief from pain. This article highlights a case study treated with simple Ayurvedic formulations and Ksheera Basti which is helpful in reducing the symptoms and stopping the recurrence of the disease. The results with rationality have been depicted in this article.

Vatarakta (gout) is a common metabolic disorder. It is a Vatapradhana Tridoshaj Vyadhi caused by both, Vata Dosha and Rakta Dushti is called Vatarakta. Vatarakta (Gout) is an inflammatory disorder, which causes swelling including burning pain in metatarso-phalangeal joints and other joints and eventually it leads to inability to walk. At first it settles in its root (initial involvement) in hands and feet and then spread all over the body. According to modern science Vatarakta can be correlated with Gouty arthritis. This leads to increase in blood and serological parameters like serum uric acid. Here is a single case report of patient who got better results with Ayurvedic medication like Guduchyadi Kashaya, Guduchi Ghana vati, Kaishora Guggul, Eranda tail (castor oil) and Panchkarma therapy such as Oleation therapy (Snehan), Sudation therapy (Swedan) and Enema therapy (Basti) Jalaukavacharana. Ayurvedic oral medicines and Panchkarma therapy alleviate Vata by bringing back its normal function and obstruction in Raktavaha Srotas by Kaphamedoghna action. After 35days of treatment patient got symptomatic relief and also decrease level of serum uric acid in blood.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of Ayurvedic herbal drug combination as a good and effective ability treatment on sperm production without any side effects on prolonged use. Materials & methods: It was a self-control clinical trial study. In this study, we enrolled 40 patients having complaints of infertility. of age 25-40 years married for not less than 3 years. All these participants were advised to take 30 g of Kushmand Pak after mid meals with a cup of warm milk for 3 months. Sperm count, semen color, viscosity, and state were recorded before starting the treatment and after 3 months of completion of treatment. Results: It was observed that ‘Kushmand Pak’ was accepted by all with no complaints about any side effects. Viable, active, and morphologically perfect sperm count was also increased to a significant level. Conclusion: Kushmand Pak can be used to improve sperm count without any side effects on prolonged use. Keywords: Male infertility, herbal drugs, Kushmand Pak

Psoriasis is an immune mediated, non infectious, chronic, inflammatory skin disease. It affects approximately 3% of the India’s population and the prevalence is much increasing. The exact cause of psoriasis is not known; however it’s believed both genetic and environmental factors including change in diet and lifestyle can be involved. Several factors are thought to aggravate flares of psoriasis. Psychological stress, physical injury, gut dysbiosis are the major triggering factors in the exacerbation of the disease. In Ayurved, all the skin diseases are described under the head ‘Kushta’. Psoriasis can be correlated with ‘Kitibha Kushta’ due to very much similarity in their symptoms. It is characterized by erythema or discoloration of skin, indurations, scaling and itching. Ayurved is a holistic science which not only aimed at prevention of disease but also cure of disease which is already manifested. Through proper diet and lifestyle prevention of the disease and treatment can be possible. It provides long lasting results and a better quality of life to the patients. In this article special emphasis should be given on the etiological factors of Psoriasis and role of diet in the Psoriasis management. According to Ayurved, incompatible diet and lifestyle (Virudhahara and vihara) is the most important cause of psoriasis. In this article various types of Virudhahara-vihara as per literature and in current era has been summarized. Objectives: 1. To estimate various etiological dietary factors in psoriasis. 2. To estimate role of diet in the management of psoriasis. Method: A comprehensive literature review was performed from modern as well as Ayurved literature, books, journals and website. Conclusion: Dietary modification is the most important treatment modality for preventing the onset of disease, reducing the disease severity and preventing the recurrence of psoriasis.

Mucormycosis is fungal disease caused by fungus Mucor. It has been seen as a life-threatening complication of disease Covid-19. It has 70 times higher prevalence rate in India as compared to the world, having only few but expensive treatment options. The triggers of Mucor infection in Covid-19 patients are immune deficiency and hyperglycaemia caused by the use of corticosteroid, which favours Mucorales tissue Penetration. Mucormycosis has mainly six different types viz pulmonary, rhino-orbital-cerebral, gastrointestinal, widely disseminated, cutaneous, & miscellaneous infection, the commonest clinical presentation is rhino-orbito-cerebral in Covid-19 pandemic. Ayurveda though an ancient science of healing, has strength to treat newer diseases from several decades. Mucormycosis disease is not mentioned in Ayurveda text directly, it is Un uttered disease (Anukta Vyadhi) but it can be treated with help of basic principles of Ayurveda. By understanding the pathogenesis, it can be stated that, it is an Abhishangaja Vyadhi (diseased caused by Virus/ Bacteria/ Parasite) and categorised as Raktapitta Pradhan Tridoshaja Vyadhi (disease caused by vitiation of all three humors with rakta pitta predominance). Prevention of Mucormycosis can be achieved by following daily (Dincharya) and seasonal (Ritucharya) regimens. The treatment protocol include Krimighna (Antimicrobial), Tridoshashamak (normalise all three humors) and Raktashodhaka /Pittashamak (blood purifier), Agnideepak (improve digestion) & Aampachak (improve metabolism), Pramehhar (treatment of diabetes/hyperglycaemia) and Rasayana (Rejuvenation) drugs. Key words- Abhishangaj vyadhi, Anukta Vyadhi, Mucormycosis , RaktaPitta Pradhan Tridoshaj Vyadhi

Psoriasis is one of the common skin diseases encountered in world population which is characterized by sharply demarcated erythematous papules and plaques. Prevalence of psoriasis is 0.1 to 3 per cent worldwide. Psoriasis occurs equally in both genders, most commonly in second to fourth decade of life. In this paper, a case report of patient with (Ekakushtha) Chronic Plaque Psoriasis is discussed with successful Ayurvedic treatment. A 25-year-old female patient came with complaints of reddish lesions over arms, forearms, legs, thighs and trunk region; itching and burning sensation over lesion and scalp; scaling over scalp region since five years. The condition was diagnosed as Ekakushtha according to Ayurved and the treatment was planned accordingly. The patient was treated with Ayurvedic oral medications, local applications and Pathya (wholesome diet) regimen without any Panchakarma therapy. Ayurvedic management has given her better results within 45 days from commencement of treatment.

Amavata is defined as the state in which simultaneously Vata and Ama gets aggravate and localizes in the Trik Sandhis and produces stiffness all over the body. Madhava emphasizes that it is a systemic disorder where digestive and metabolic mechanism are involved. In modern science, it is been correlated to Rheumatoid arthritis. It is the most common form of chronic inflammation potentially crippling with multisystem involvement affecting approximately 1 % of adult population. Onset is between 30 and 50 years but can occur at any age and females are more prone. In present case study, 42 years female came with the complaints of multiple joint pain especially in major joints, on and off swelling over ankle and wrist joint since a year, morning stiffness for 1 hour, loss of appetite and constipation since 6 months, able to walk with the help of walker since 1 month, difficulty in performing the daily routine activity. Assessment was done based on subjective parameters and the investigations. In the treatment intervention we advised oral medications and Panchakarma therapy for 21 days duration. After the treatment marked result were obtained in the symptoms and patient was able to walk without walker and can perform her routine activities. Before treatment, walking time with walker for 20 feet was 40 second which got reduced to 10 second without walker. Hence Ayurvedic intervention provided good results and enhanced the quality of life.

Hyperlipidaemia is one such lifestyle disorder which is identified as an impending risk factor for many diseases like hypertension, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). In Hyperlipidaemia levels of lipoproteins i.e. (cholesterol, triglycerides, or both) are raised in the plasma, which can be co-related to elevated Sneha or Meda Dhatu in the body. As drugs used in modern medicine viz. statins, fibrates etc. to treat hyperlipidaemia has several adverse effects such as myopathy, potential elevation in serum transaminase levels leading to hepatic damage, nausea or vomiting, bowel upset, multiple joint pain etc. Hence, it is very much necessary to have definite and harmless solution to this problem. Apatarpan is the treatment advocated in ayurved for Santarpanjanya Vyadhis and Hyperlipidaemia is one among this group of disease. Taking into consideration all the treatment modalities in Ayurveda, Rasarakta Pachak Ghanavati was given as a line of treatment in Hyperlipidaemia. Methods - 60 patients of Hyperlipidaemia as per the objective criteria of range for lipid profile mentioned in American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine were randomly selected from OPD and IPD of Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Ayurved and Research centre, Pimpri, Pune. Group A (n=30) patients were treated with Rasarakta Pachak Ghanavati (500mg) 2 tabs twice in a day after food for 30 days and Group B (n=30) patients were treated with Tab Atorvastatin (10mg) 1 tab once in a day after food for 30 days. Result- Rasarakta Pachak Ghanavati group showed marked improvement on Serum Total Cholesterol and Serum LDL – Cholesterol and moderate improvement on Serum Triglycerides and Serum HDL – Cholesterol parameters of lipid profile. While Tab Atorvastatin group showed marked improvement on almost all the parameters of lipid profile.