Role of Bhesaja and Shalya Chikitsa in Arsha Roga W.S.R. to Haemorrhoids

Arsha (Hemorrhoids) is an age-old problem involving ano rectal region. It is notorious for its chroniocity recurrences & frequent acute exacerbations. It has been described virtually from the beginning of medical history. Sushruta, the pioneer of ancient Indian Surgery has described Arsha (Hemorrhoids) in detail. Apart from its causes, types, signs and symptoms, he has also described its many folds treatment from which the importance of and prevalence of this disease in the past can be inferred. In today’s modernized world, shift duties, stressful life, eating of unhealthy foods makes people more prone to the ano-rectal diseases such as fissure and haemorrhoid. The dilation of the veins of the internal rectal plexus constitutes the condition of the internal haemorrhoids which are covered by the mucous membrane. Haemorrhoids are commonly occurring in the fourth to sixth decades, however may affect patients of all ages. In India, 1 million new cases are reported annually, 47 per 1000 and increases with age, and it is estimated that in the age group of 45-65 years, 50-85% of people around the world have haemorrhoids. Also, males are more prone to develop haemorrhoids compare to females. Furthermore, due to site of disease, many of the patients hesitate to go to doctor and they delay the examination and treatment which ultimately leads to worsen condition of the disease. According to Modern Surgery, Haemorrhoids is varicosity and dilatation of haemorrhoidal veins of anal-canal. Hemorrhoid is commonly seen in human being due to valve- less structure of haemorrhoidal veins. Hemorrhoid is a disease, which is very specific to human race only due to its erect posture. In the management of haemorrhoids, the procedures, which are in practice at present in modern surgery, are rubber band legation, cryo- surgery, dilatation, infra-red coagulation and haemorrhoidectomy. But not all of them have been uniformly successful. In modern medical science most popular management of haemorrhoids is haemorrhoidectomy, sometimes there is a chance to reoccurring the same disease from the excision area. In Ayurveda the management of Arsha is done as fourfold treatment like- Bhesaja, Kshar Karma, Agnikarma and Shastra Karma according to the clinical manifestation of the disease. In this present review article is an attempt to review the different approach of ayurvedic treatment for the management of Arsha (Haemorrhoids).