REVIEW ARTICLE ON GUDARSHA (HAEMORRHOIDS) AND ITS MANAGEMENT

In the Ayurvedic Samhitas, Gudarsha is listed among Ashtamahagada known for cause severe pain and discomfort, troubling mankind since the vedic era. It is considered troublesome because it manifests in the area of the body known as Guda Pradesh which is considered as the Moola of Sharir. Guda Arsha could be traced in the vedic literature as the disease has been described as Durnama in Atharveda. Acc. to john goliger, incidence of piles increases with advancing age, however this condition is not restricted to older adults and may occur at any age. The faulty dietary patterns and lifestyle, anatomical deformities and hereditary factors are important etiological factors of this disease. In modern medicine, although both invasive & non invasive treatment modalities exist, only natural and Synthetic phlebotonics are prescribed for oral intake. In Ayurveda, four major approaches for management of Gudarsha are described Bheshaja Chikitsa, kshara Karma, Agnikarma, and shastra karma chosen according to chronicity & severity of disease. The use of kshara karma is praised so much that it can replace Shastra Kаrма by its chedana, Bhedana & lekhana karma.