Ashish Paul
Systematic Literature review of four Ayurvedic herbs affecting the metabolic pathways in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to review and evaluate four Ayurvedic herbs for treating the metabolic events - hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance, obesity and hyperlipidaemia/ dyslipidaemia in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). These metabolic events seem to lie at the core of pathogenesis of PCOS. The method selected for investigation is ‘systematic literature review’ of the previous studies on the four Ayurvedic herbs and critically evaluating their importance in PCOS. The four herbs thoroughly investigated are Gymnema sylvestris, Momordica charantia, Commiphora mukul, and Curcuma longa. This paper also gives the latest overview of the biomedical and Ayurvedic definition, signs, symptoms, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and complications of PCOS. The principles of Ayurveda are methodically detailed in the paper because Ayurvedic treatment be it herbs, diet, panchakarma, yoga or rasayana is based on these principles. These principles are panchbhutas, doshas, samprapati, dhatus, ojas, malas, agni, diagnosis, rasa, guna, virya, vipaka, prabhava, yoga, pancakarma and rasayana. The knowledge of these doctrines is also central in understanding PCOS from Ayurvedic perspective, where PCOS is shown to be mainly a Kapha-Vatta disorder. A thorough energetic and pharmacological evaluation of the herbs has been carried out with special reference to the mechanism of these herbs. The author has concluded that the four selected herbs can be used in treating the desired aspects of PCOS and can be prescribed similarly in the western herbal medicine (WHM) clinical practice. This paper recognizes the need for more research in the field of Ayurveda and suggests studies on rasayana herbs and compound formulations to treat PCOS.
