A CASE STUDY OF AGNI KARMA IN STANYA GRANTHI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO GYNECOMASTIA

Abstract

Gynecomastia is the benign enlargement of male breast glandular tissue and is the most common breast condition in males. It is usually caused by increased estrogen activity, decreased testosterone activity, or the use of numerous medications. Granthi is a pathological condition of vitiated Doshas in Mamsa, Rakta, Meda, and other structures, resulting in a knot like elevated abnormal growth. In Granthi doshas (vata, pitta, kapha), the mamsa and asruk, meda and sira cause an elevated swelling which is rounded and knotted. Granthi, as explained by Acharya Sushruta, is of 5 types, and by Acharya Vagbhata, is of 9 types. Agnikarma acts on multiple levels in the body. It is mainly done in Vata-Kapha diseases because it has vikasi, tikshna and ushna properties by which it removes strotorodha. A 26-year-old male patient presented with complaints of enlargement of the left breast associated with pain. There was no history of direct trauma or use of any hormonal pills. Based on clinical examination, the patient was diagnosed with a case of Stanya Granthi (gynecomastia). After careful review, the patient was treated with Agnikarma (Once weekly for five weeks) and Samshamana chikitsa. After five weeks of treatment patient’s breast lump was softened, mildly reduced in size, and there was a significant improvement in pain. It was concluded that Agnikarma could be done in Stanya Granthi (Gynecomastia) along with Samshamana chikitsa as an effective treatment modality.