A REVIEW ON INSIGHT TO ENDOMETRIOSIS AND ITS PREVENTION THROUGH AYURVEDA: THE HIDDEN SUFFERING OF MILLIONS OF WOMEN

Endometriosis is an underdiagnosed, underreported, and under research disease often labelled as the "missed disease". It is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside of their intrauterine location, most commonly in dependent part of pelvis. The only confirmatory method of its diagnosis is laparoscopy which is an invasive procedure. Medical therapies to it includes use of oral contraceptive pills, GNRH analogue, etc. which induce a hormonal steady state though having various side effects. Women suffering with extreme pain are offered laparoscopic removal of the implants. But the science of Ayurveda having a different perspective to diseases through Prakriti Parikshan, Dashvidha Pariksha, Tridosha Chikitsa Dhatusamyata, etc presents some possible screening method for ruling out the women which may develop endometriosis in future. Study of pathogenesis of endometriosis is done from the modern literature. After application of Ayurvedic principles, it is found that endometriosis is disease having Vat Dosha dominancy and risk of developing this disease is more in women suffering from Arsigadar, Udavartini Yonivyapad, Soochimukhi Yonivyapad and Antarmukhi Yonivyapad. In the present article, a screening method is developed to identify the women prone to endometriosis by the application of Dashvidha Parikshan. Various Ayurvedic drugs which can be used to prevent endometriosis are also described.