ROLE OF LEKHANA BASTI IN THE MANAGEMENT OF METABOLIC SYNDROME – A REVIEW

Abstract

Metabolic Syndrome is a complex metabolic disorder and an emerging clinical challenge in society as 11% - 41% Indians and around 1 out of 4 adults worldwide are suffering from this syndrome. It is associated with the development of CVD, Type 2 DM and other life threatening problems. It arises due to fatty rich diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress, excessive alcohol, overweight, age etc. It is clinically recognized when at least 3 out of 5 biochemical and physiological abnormalities like visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, raised blood sugar, insulin resistance etc are found in the body. Acharya Charaka has mentioned a group of diseases namely santarpana nimittaj vikara (diseases due to over nutrition) which can be symptomatically co-related with Metabolic Syndrome.Treatment offered by modern science does not deal with the removal of harmful metabolites created in the body during the development of diseases. Ayurvedic treatment like lekhana basti (medicated enema) emphasize mainly in the removal of vitiated doshas (three humours-vata,pitta,kapha)and cleansing congested srotas (channels) helping in removing harmful metabolites from the body which not only prevents but also uproots the cause which may further manifest into more complicated conditions.