INTRODUCTION:

Ayurveda is the world’s existing health care system and scientific discipline believing in ‘Swastasya swasthya rakshanam aturasya vikara prasamanam’. It is a record of experience justified by all new studies and proved by repeated administration by generations.

Now a day’s females are coming forward in each and every field. Health of women is an indicator of development of nation. According to Maharshi charak, women are the base of human race.

The word Leucorrhoea has not appeared in Charaka, Sushrut & Vagbhat samhitas. Commentator Chakrapani & books Sharangdhara samhita, Bhavprakasha & Yogaratnakara have used the word for white vaginal discharge. Leucorrhoea is not a disease but symptom of so many diseases like kaphaj yonivyapad, Tridoshaj and Upapluta yonivyapad etc.

COMMON CAUSES OF VAGINITIS & EXCESS VAGINAL DISCHARGE:

Infective -
Trichonomas vaginitis
Monilial vaginitis
Bacterial vaginitis
Cervicitis

Atropic -
Postmenopausal

Foreign Body -
Forgotten Pessary
Mechanical irritation

Chemical -
Chemical irritation or allergy

Excretions -
Contamination with urine or faeces producing secondary vaginitis

Neoplasms -
Fibroid polyp or genital malignancy

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF NORMAL VAGINAL SECRETION:

Endogenous oestrogen Secretary activity of endocervical glands
Conversion of Glycogen into Lactic acid
Mucus secretion

ETIOLOGY OF LEUCORRHOEA:

1. Physiological – Puberty
Pregnancy
Sexual excitement
Menstrual cycle:
Around ovulation
Premenstrual congestion

2. Cervical – Cervical erosion
Chronic Cervicitis

3. Vaginal – Uterine prolapsed
Chronic pelvic inflammation

SAMPRAPTI OF LEUCORRHEA:

Consumption of kaphakara ahara & vihara along with vata vitiating factors causes vitiation of kapha and vata. The vitiated Kapha causes agnimandya alongwith Rasadushti further resulting in Aam formation .This aam- dhatu increases amount of kleda in Yoni,which results in Leucorrhoea. And shows symptoms like picchilata, srava, kandu etc . in yoni,similar to leucorrhoea explained in the modern texts.

RELATED SYMPTOMS IN LEUCORRHOEA:

Charaka has explained Rasadushti lakshane in sutrasthan which are seen in Leucorrhoea such as –

1. Anorexia
2. Indigestion
3. Heaviness
4. Body ache.
5. Other related symptoms according to modern science include-backache, dysuria, Dyspareunia, itching etc.

TREATMENT ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA:

Leucorrhoea being the common symptom during day to day life should not be neglected as it leads to more worst condition.According to Ayurveda both Abhyantar and Sthanik chikitsa given.

1. Abhyantar chikitsa –

As Leucorrhoea is due to Agnimandya, the drugs used are mainly Deepan-pachniya. Charaka explained in sutrastan 4th chapter about the Shoshagna,Krumighna and Kandughna gana. The drugs having Kashaya rasa should be used mainly, as kashaya rasa has sthambhak property with shoshaghna guna. Kashaya rasa is mainly Kaphashamak which is the main causative factor for Leucorrhoea. Kashaya rasatmak drugs include Ashok, Lodhra etc. In Leucorrhoea drava guna is raised so drugs with Ruksha,laghu guna are used which decreases the dravatva. The Kalpas used include Pradarantak Rasa, Pushyanug churna etc.

2. Sthanik chikitsa –

It includes mainly Yonidhawan. Sushruta explained about Yonidhawan in Chikitsasthan 28/31 that “Dhavati shuddhyati eti Dhawanam “, it is used for Yonishuddhi.Charak in sutrasthan 13/15 also explained about Yonidhawan.In Yonidhawan the kwath is taken and the vagina is washed out. For Yonidhawan Triphala kwath,Nimb kwath, Panchvalkal kwath etc. are used which acts locally. For Yonidhawan also the drugs leading to sampraptibhang are used.