EFFECT OF LASHUNA CHURNA AND SHATAPUSHPA GHANA VATI IN PCOS - AN OPEN LABEL RANDOMIZED COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the common health hazard amongst women of reproductive age. It is characterized by oligo-ovulation or anovulation, features of androgen excess and ultrasound appearance of polycystic ovary. The prevalence of PCOS, a common female endocrine condition has been found to range from 2.2% to 26% globally and from 3.7% to 22.5% in India, depends on the diagnostic criteria utilized. PCOS affects 30-40% of women with amenorrhea where as it affects 85-90% women with oligomenorrhea. PCOS affects more than 80% of women who report with signs of androgen excess.

PCOS is associated with weight gain, acne, hirsutism and impaired fertility due to chronic oligo-anovulation. In addition to androgen excess, insulin resistance is a central feature and women with PCOS have shown to be at increased risk of type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension and fatty liver disease. There are no curative options currentlyfor PCOS, therefore treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and prevent long-term complications, including cardiovascular events and endometrial cancer.

The treatment available in contemporary science  like Hormonal therapy, OC pills, Insulin therapy,  prolonged usage end up with other metabolic disturbances, weight gain, acne, skin discolouration (acanthosis nigricans) and serious complications like Pulmonary thrombosis, Genital carcinoma, renal failure.

In Ayurvedic classics there areno direct references of this disease rather, symptoms are found under various diseased conditions at various references, like menstrual irregularitiesdescribed under the Ashtaartavadushti ,Pushpaghni, Jataharini mentioned in Kashyapa Samhita. RevatiKalpa Adyaya10bears similar features of hyperandrogenism like Vruthapushpa(anovulation), Sthoola(obesity), Lomaganda(hirsutism). Sushrutha Samhita gives the referencein ShukrashonitashuddhiAdhyayaabout Nasthartava ( amenorrhea) due to aggravated Kapha, VattaDosha. In DoshadhatumalakshayavridhiAdhyaya there is reference about ArtavakshayaLakshanaslike YathochitakalaAdarshanamAlpadarshana(scanty flow). In Charak Samhita many scattered references are available in different chapters. In  GarbhavakrantiShareera, there is mention of Beejadushti which is characterised by Nashtartava(secondary amennorhea) and SantarpanaotthaVikarain the context of Sthoulya has been described. In AshtangaSangrahaPutarakameeeyaadhyaya there is description of Anartava. Bhavaprakash under NanatmajaVyadhi Nashtartava has been explained. It may understood on the basis of Doshadushtiinvolvement of Dushya, Shrotas, Ama, Agani, AdhishthanaandVyadhiLaxanas.  Metabolic process is correlated with Dhatuagnivikara. Therefore the drug selected for this study is Lashuna and Shatapushpa has been mentioned in Kashyapa Samhita. Both the drugs possess Katu Rasa, UsnaVirya, LaghuTikshnaGuna, KatuVipakaand Vatakapha  Hara, which acts as Artavapravartaka, Yonishodhana, Pradara, Vrushya, Garbhajanaka, Deepana, Pachana  Karma.