Madhumeha
Diabetes is correlated with the Sanskirt term Madhumeha is composed of Madhu and Meha. The Madhumeha means sweet Or sweetness and Meha means excessive urination (Atipravrutti).
In shabdakalpadruma, meha Or prameha is defined as follows,
Prakrshena Mehati kshrati viryyadirane neti prameha:
The Sanskrit term meha means to micturate. The verbal noun mehanam signifies urination as well as an act of passing any morbid urethral secretion. Hence the disease in which excessive sweet urination takes place is called Madhumeha.
In Madukosh the Nirukti of prameha is like that,
The state in which quantity, as well as the frequency of micturition, has increased is known as Prameha.
In Ayurvedic texts, the given characteristic features of Madhumeha show marked similarity with the syndrome of Type 2 diabetes. It is Tridoshaj in origin with the predominance of Kapha. According to Charaka major causative factors of Madhumeha are Madhura, Amla, and Lavana Rasa dominant diet mentioned as ‘ Gramya Udaka Anupa Rasa Payansi Dadhini, and lifestyles such as ‘Aasya Sukham Swana Sukham ‘ are similar to the causes quoted as, overeating, eating rich substances, dairy products, practicing sedentary lifestyle, overweight in modern medicine.
Acharya Sushruta has mentioned the Sahaj and Apathya Nimittaja varieties of Madumeha.
In Modern, Type 2 diabetes is a multifaceted disease, that is manifested by hyperglycemia that results from several dysregulated biological mechanisms. The excessive heavy diet, excessive use of sugar and jaggery and their products, and Lack of physical exercise are considered to be predisposing factors to the disease.
Causative factors
| D | Diet and Dietary habits/Dadhi |
| I | Insulin insufficiency or resistance/Inheritance/Ikshu Vikar |
| A | Antibiotics and other medicines like statins/Advanced Glycation End-products/Asyasukham/Anupa rasa payamsi |
| B | BMI high/blood pressure high |
| E | Endocrine Disorders mainly PCOS |
| T | Thyroid problem (Hypo and Hyper) |
| E | Environmental factors |
| S | Sedentary life/stress/smoking/Swapna sukham |
Preclinical symptoms-
Acharya Sushruta explained typical symptomatology to evaluate prediabetes status. They are
- Gamanath Sthanam(tends to stay while walking)
- Sthanath Aasanam (tends to sit while walking)
- Asanath Sayanam(tends to lie down while sitting) and
- Sayanath Swapnam (tends to sleep while lying down)
Classical symptoms of diabetes mellitus are
3 “polys”-Polyuria, Polydipsia, Polyphagia
-Unexplained weight loss
Complications–
The complications resulting from the disease are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and are associated with the damage or failure of various organs such as the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are also at a significantly higher risk for coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke, and they have a greater likelihood of having hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity.
For Preventing Diabetes–
1) Daily exercise at least 30 min a day.
2) Take a healthy control sugar diet
3) Oral medications
4) In severe cases – Insulin medications
In the Ayurvedic way, certain home remedies by consumption of
1) Bitter Gourd
2) Amla
3) Tulsi and Neem leaves
4) fenugreek seeds with milk
About Author
Dr. Rajnandini Ingale
M.D. Physician ( Ayu)
ITRA, Jamnagar