A QUADRANGULAR APPROACH TOWARDS PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS (NIDDM) THROUGH AYURVEDA

Abstract

Over the last century human life style and food habits have drastically changed which lead to various diseases. Sedentary life style and stress, in today’s life, is the reason for development of metabolic disorders like diabetes mellitus. In Ayurveda, Diabetes mellitus can be correlated with Madhumeha which is described under the heading of vataja Prameha. Ayurveda literatures vividly describe about the etiology, pathogenesis, prognosis, complications, and its management and also scientifically attributed the causal relationship of dietary, lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors. The present review, provides an insight about the description of disease Madhumeha (diabetes mellitus); Samprapti (pathogenesis); Upadrava (compilactions) and then its management. Nidanaparivarjana; Pathyaaahara i.e katu (spicy), tikta (bitter), kashaya (astringent) rasa, ushna (hot), laghu (light), ruksha (dry) guna pradhana aahara dravyas; Vihara (Exercise, Yoga, Mediation); Aushadhi (Medicinal herbs) have been described for the prevention and management of Madhumeha. Fifteen medicinal plants, described in different Ayurvedic classical texts for their efficacy in the management of Madhumeha are screened for antidiabetic activity on different animal experimental models and through clinical studies were presented in a comprehensive way. The observed result may be helpful in planning further scientific studies through quadrangular approach about the efficacy of these plants on prevention as well as management of diabetes.