Article: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR VATA-PRATHILOMATHA IN KOSHTA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ARSAH

Article Category: Original Research articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.130349

Pages: 13-16

Author: Soumya P. Viswan *

Abstract: The body’s normal physiological state is maintained by the proper association of dosas and dushyas in koshta and sakha. Abnormal sakhagati of dosas & dushyas will leads to the origin of diseases. The word anulomatha(normal state) is mentioned in Vaidyaka Sabda Sindhu as “malaadi dhatunam yadhaamargam gamanipaye”. Here malaadi is dosa, dhatu and malas, marga is srotas (channels). Hence, the normal movement of malaadi dhatus in its pathway is anulomatha. The anulomana state of vata in koshta helps in proper absorption, digestion, metabolism & movements. This study is done in Arsah, as it is the most critical disorder, exhibiting vataprathiloma lakshanas & with vata anulomana as the treatment principle. Ayurveda mentions the only subjective description of vataprathilomatha without quantifying the samprapti. The main aim of this study is to develop an assessment tool for vataprathilomatha in koshta and find out the severity of the disease in Arsah patients. The study is an observational study with two parts. The first part is a conceptual study, the literal review and the second part is a clinical study conducted on 130 diagnosed Arsah patients at Govt. Ayurveda College, Kannur, Kerala. An assessment tool is developed in the form of a questionnaire based on vataprathilomatha symptoms from Ayurvedic treatises after following the steps for developing assessment criteria like Item generation, Item selection, Suitable response format, Face validity, Pilot study, Finalization of the instrument and Final administration, following appropriate statistical methods. Finally, an assessment tool for vataprathilomatha in koshta has been developed, with 100% sensitivity and 93.7% specificity.

Keyword: Arsah, vataprathilomatha, dosa gati, koshta, diagnostic tool