Management of polycystic ovarian syndrome by Yoga basti and Mustadi ghanavati: An experience through Ayurvedic approaches

Abstract

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent and rapidly growing metabolic and endocrinological condition among women of reproductive age. Lifestyle factors such as sedentary habits, pollution, and excessive junk food consumption contribute to the escalating incidences of PCOS. Globally, it is estimated to affect 6%–10% of women, with a higher prevalence of 3.7% to 22.5% among Indian women. It is characterized by delayed menstruation, oligomenorrhea, acne, hirsutism, thinning of hair, infertility, and obesity. In Ayurveda, PCOS is not a direct term coined, but the conditions like Vandhya yoni vyapad (~primary infertility), Artava sroto vidhha lakshana (~symptoms due to vitiation of channels carrying menstrual blood), Nashtartava (~amenorrhoea), and Artava kshaya (~oligomenorrhea) as well as Pushpaghni jataharini (~clinical resemblance to PCOS) and Vikuta jataharini (~irregular menstrual and ovulatory cycle) may be strongly related to PCOS in terms of their characteristics. The presented case involves a 26-year-old female with irregular and painful menstruation, acne, hirsutism, and weight gain visited the outpatient department with a diagnosis of bilateral PCOS, confirmed through ultrasonography, revealing enlarged ovaries with a right ovary of volume 15 cc and a left ovary of volume 16 cc. After having a thorough examination, the patient underwent customized Ayurvedic treatment protocol, including oral medications, Yoga basti (~course of eight therapeutic enemas), dietary modifications, and practice of Suryanamaskara (~sun salutation). After three months, the patient reported symptomatic relief, and improved Quality of Life (QoL), as measured by the QoL-Short-Form-36 scale, and an ultrasound report without any abnormality. The observations infer that the Ayurvedic approaches are safe and effective in managing the conditions with hormonal imbalances like that of PCOS.