Efficacy of virechana karma in the management of obesity and hypothyroidism: A case study

Abstract

Overweight and obesity have become major health problems that can lead to or aggravate other medical problems such as Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus. Hypothyroidism is defined as failure of the thyroid gland to produce sufficient thyroid hormone to meet the metabolic demands of the body. A female patient aged 36 years and was a housewife reported to the Panchakarma O.P.D. of Rishikul campus, Haridwar with complaints of increase in weight, heaviness in the body, pain and stiffness in joints and sore throat with known case of hypothyroidism and was on medication of thyroxine 25μg OD for 2 months. She had earlier taken hormonal therapy (progesterone) for infertility. The patient had undergone Virecana Karma (medicated purgative therapy), in which dīpana–pācana (increasing digestive fire for digesting undigested material) with Pañcakola Phāṇṭa, snehapāna (internal oleation) with goghṛta (cow's butter fat), virecana (medicated purgative therapy) with Trivṛt Leham, Kuṭakī, Āragvadha, jaggery and Icchābhedī Rasa followed by anupāna ( drink taken with or after medicine) of Drākṣā was given. After saṃsarjana krama ( a diet regimen after Pañcakarma for improving digestion and regaining strength of patient), Ārogyavardhinī Vaṭi was introduced for 7 weeks in a dose of 2 tablets twice in a day (Each tab 250 mg) with lukewarm water. There was marked relief in the symptoms of heaviness, pain, stiffness, weight reduction from 76 kg to 72 kg with significant improvement in TSH level from 7.98 μg/dl to 2.07 μg/dl after completion of saṃsarjana krama (a diet regimen after Pañcakarma for improving digestion and regaining strength of patient). 18 days after it, TSH level become 3.83 μg/dl and weight reduced to 70 kg. Again after seven weeks TSH was 2.99 μg/dl and weight was 67 kg. Six weeks after discontinuation of Ārogyavardhinī Vaṭi TSH was 2.32 μg/dl and weight was 67 kg. Virecana (medicated purgative therapy) is effective in management of obesity and Thyroid level.