Understanding Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Ayurvedic perspective

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is rising to an alarming epidemic level especially in India and more than the Diabetes itself the complications caused by the long-term suffering of Diabetes are creating a great havoc. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one among the complications of Diabetes that accounts for more hospitalizations than all other diabetic complications combined. It is a nerve damaging disorder and is a result of diabetic microvascular injury involving small blood vessels that supply to nerves. Prameha is a disease described in the ancient ayurvedic scriptures, mostly correlated with Diabetes mellitus. Its inclusion in the astamahagadas by the three bruhattrayeekaras itself reflects its significance. May be the disease was considered important because of its incurability and the different upadravas (complications) caused by the long-term suffering from Prameha like daha (burning sensation), dourbalya (weakness), sula (pricking pain), suptata (numbness) etc. The symptoms of DPN can be found mentioned under the headings of upadrava as well as poorva rupa of Prameha. The main aim of this article is to review the concept of Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and to understand it in ayurvedic aspect.