Can Virechana nasya and Vairechanika dhoomapana manage chronic sinusitis? An experience

Abstract

Chronic sinusitis is a highly prevalent disease with a large social and economic burden. The pathophysiology of sinusitis is multifactorial. Environmental pollutants play a role in the inflammatory component of the disease process. When sinusitis persists for more than 12 weeks that can be considered chronic sinusitis. The main symptoms include nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, heaviness of the head, and dull headache. The symptoms of chronic sinusitis have proximity to that of Dushta pratishyaya in Ayurveda. A 32-year-old male patient has approached the outpatient department of Shalakya tantra with chief complaints of severe headache associated with heaviness of the head, postnasal dripping, nasal obstruction more toward evening, and mild hyposmia in the past 2 weeks. The symptoms were recurring for the past 3 years. He was managed with internal medicines, Shirovirechana nasya (~medication through the nose for cleansing), and Dhoomapana (~therapeutic smoking). After the treatment of 1 month, he got significant relief. Follow-up was done after 3 months and there was no recurrence of the symptoms inferring that Ayurveda treatment modalities are useful in the management of chronic sinusitis.