Ayurvedic Management of Twenty Types of Prameha: A Comprehensive Review of Classical Protocols and their Modern Pharmacological Correlations
Keywords:
Ayurvedic management, Diabetes mellitus, Metabolic syndrome, Prameha, Vimshati pramehaAbstract
Prameha, a broad spectrum of urinary disorders described in classical Ayurvedic texts, encompasses 20 distinct subtypes classified under three doshic categories – Kaphaja, Paittika, and Vatika – each associated with specific clinical presentations and therapeutic approaches. The present review aims to systematically analyse the classical management protocols described in Sushruta Samhita and allied texts, with particular emphasis on the specific herbal decoctions (Kashayas) recommended for each subtype, alongside their modern pharmacological and clinical correlations. Kaphaja Prameha, considered curable, is correlated with early-stage metabolic syndrome and various forms of glycosuria and sedimenturia; Paittika Prameha, manageable through palliative care, correlates with inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract; and Vatika Prameha, classified as Asadhya (incurable), corresponds to advanced Diabetes Mellitus and end-stage renal disease. The global burden of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus has reached epidemic proportions, with an estimated 537 million adults affected as of 2021, projected to rise to 783 million by 2045. Modern pharmacological studies support the anti-hyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and nephroprotective activities of key classical formulations including Nimba, Khadira, Haridra, Guduchi, and Aragvadha. This review bridges classical Ayurvedic therapeutics with contemporary biomedical understanding, providing a foundation for evidence-based integration of traditional formulations in metabolic disease management.
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