Clinical efficacy of ayurveda treatment modalities in the management of garbhashosh (intrauterine growth restriction): a systematic review

Abstract

Concept of fetal well-being has gained importance in conventional science in recent era, but this concept of ‘supraja janana’ was a prime concern of Ayurveda since old era. Apart from prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major public health problem in most of the developing countries. While going through ayurved classics it is revealed that garbhashosh is one of the disease, which is comparable to intrauterine growth restriction in modern medicine. In Ayurveda various drugs and preparations have been described for treatment of garbhashosh. These drugs are comparatively safe without any unwanted side effects. Aim of this work was to review and meta-analyze the effictiveness of various ayurvedic treatment modalities for garbhashosh with respect to (w.r.t.) IUGR. An attempt to expand the concept of IUGR according to Ayurveda and to yield a flourishing result to this world-wide problem through Ayurveda, this topic has been selected for the study. Going through pathology and main clinical signs and symptoms, garbhashosh can be correlated with IUGR. It is observed that, total 5 clinical studies and 1 case study have been reported on management of IUGR by using classical formulations of Ayurveda. The results and observations obtained through demographical data, effect of therapy observed on the ultrasound parameters as well clinical parameters of garbhashosh w.r.t. IUGR were statistically significant. Results were obtained in favour of most of the ayurvedic formulations. Through this review it can be stated that bruhaniya gana sidha kshirbasti and kshirpan, shatavari kshirbasti, shatavaryadi kshirbasti, yashtimadhu vidari siddha kshirbasti, shatavari ashwagandha phalaghruta kshirbasti, can be given to a pregnant women with IUGR after completion of 28th weeks of gestation, without any complication either in mother or in child. It is cost effective as compared to modern drug.