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| BOOK REVIEW |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 34
| Issue : 4 | Page : 245-246 |
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Consultations in Ayurvedic dermatology
Sandeep V Binorkar
Department of Agadatantra, Government Ayurveda College, Vazirabad, Nanded - 431 601, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Web Publication | 15-Jul-2015 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Sandeep V Binorkar
Department of Agadatantra, Government Ayurveda College, Vazirabad, Nanded - 431 601, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
How to cite this article:
Binorkar SV. Consultations in Ayurvedic dermatology. Ancient Sci Life 2015;34:245-6 |
Editor: P. M. Madhu
Year of Publication: 2015
ISBN: 978-81-920172-9-7
Pages: 160
Price: INR 180/-
Binding: Paperbound
Published by:
Kunnath Mana Ayurveda Books, Kunnath Mana Buildings, Shornur Road, Thiruvambady P.O., Thrissur - 680 022, Kerala, India
Diseases of the skin account for a great deal of miseries, suffering, incapacity, and economic loss. Beside this, person suffering from skin disease suffer from social stigma. Ayurveda has its own unique principles of diagnosis and treatment of various skin diseases under the head of Kuṣṭha. [1],[2],[3] When we consider the prevalence of various diseases, every year, worldwide near about 20% of the total number patients seeking medical advice suffer from skin diseases. [4]
Dr. Madhu is well positioned to author the present work given that he is an Assistant Professor in Government Ayurveda College, Kannur, Kerala. He has been trained in the V.P.S.V. Ayurveda College, Kottakkal and got his M.D. Roganidāna degree from the Government Ayurveda College, Kannur. He has been conferred with the P.S. Varier All India Thesis Award Instituted by Aryavaidyasala, Kottakkal. The present book is his fifth; the previous ones include two Malayalam publications and two English ones. In this book, the author has shared his clinical experiences by focusing on 32 cases of skin complaints. This book has been peer reviewed by the team of Dr. K. Muraleedharan, Dr. K. Murali, Dr. A. K. Manojkumar, Dr. P.K.V. Anand, Dr. M. Prasad, and Dr. Dinesh K.S., all erudite scholars of this field.
The Book begins with a tribute to the legendary physician from Kerala Dr. K. Rajagopalan and renowned academician Dr. C. R. Agnivesh who were also the gurus of the author. The foreword for the book is written by Dr. P.K. Warrier, Managing Trustee and Chief Physician of Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal.
The book comprises of two parts spanning thirty-seven chapters. The first part is titled "Before the Consultations" is introductory and gives a brief account of the anatomy, patho-physiology and basic information about the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. This part also deals elaborately with the role of doṣa dhātu and mala with the description of various srotas. It also comprises the description of commonly used medicines and their actions while treating skin lesions. Limitations of Śamana cikitsā and benefits of Śodhana treatment, especially Raktamokṣaṇa in skin diseases are also presented well.
The second part titled "Consultations" incorporates 32 cases presented in systematic manner with description of clinical features observed in the patients on first visit with duration and therapeutic approach after arriving at a rational diagnosis of the lesions in the individual cases. In this section, the author has discussed a variety of challenging skin diseases such as: Atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, alopecia, psoriasis, keratoderma, contact dermatitis, scabies, boils, genital herpes, lichen planus, tenia alba, fungal infections etc. The management of these diseases is discussed in different phases with duration required according to the severity. Concluding this part, the author admits that the present book is not the one and only model in the diagnosis and management of skin diseases and encourages the readers to implement their own experiences and formulate new methods in the management of such conditions. The spirit being that one has to keep one's mind open to as many options as possible.
Appendix of the book includes a list of diagnostic clinical features of cutaneous manifestations wherein there is a summary of predominant signs and symptoms appearing in the patients. This is designed to arrive at a specific diagnosis of skin lesion with probable correlation with the biomedical diagnosis.
One of the drawbacks of this book is the use of Malayalam words such as Kadukkathodu, Muthangaakkizhangu, Vizhalari etc. while explaining the treatment given to the patients. Sanskrit and Latin names for these could have benefited readers who don't know Malayalam. Pathya-apathya kalpanā in skin ailments explained in the book needs to be further expanded taking into consideration prakṛti and also with reference to contemporary food habits. But this is something, which can be amended in the next edition of the book. There is also a need for providing consistent Sanskrit spellings and glossary of Sanskrit terms and English translations of the words (signs and symptoms) described in the book.
The other notable omission is the absence of color plates of the individual cases. The author could have, with advantage, provided readers the complete case elucidated in the book with the exact presentation before and after the completion of the treatment applying precise scientific grades. In the present era, this is one of the essential criteria for evidence-based clinical practice. Such an exercise seems necessary to rationalize the Ayurvedic concepts and principles of disease management through scientific studies. [5]
An expert physician knows not only what the medicines can offer to the patient, but also knows its limitations and even its possible adverse effects. The author has taken an unbiased and dedicated effort to achieve the task of listing the favorable and unfavorable effects of medicines. "Consultations in Ayurvedic Dermatology" is in all, a dedicated effort of the author with a scientific zeal to bring to the Ayurveda practitioners, an impartial, and sustainable record of the therapeutic approach toward skin diseases in tune with the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda.
The Book, "Consultations in Ayurvedic Dermatology" by Dr. P.M. Madhu has much to offer to the medical students, physicians, and other paramedical staff working in the field of Ayurveda dermatology to get (re) acquainted with the knowledge and wisdom of the tradition.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Acharya VD. Charaka Samhita, Chakrapani Tika. Kushtha Chikitsa. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Surbharati Publication; 2014. p. 450-9.  |
| 2. | Sharma P. Sushruta Samhita, Dalhana Tika, Kushtha Chikitsa. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Visvabharti Publications; 2005. p. 358-74. |
| 3. | Mitra J. Ashtanga Sangraha, Indu Tika, Kushtha Chikitsa. Chaukhambha Sanskrit Series Office, Varanasi; 2006. p. 546-59. |
| 4. | Binorkar SV. Skin Diseases - Principles of Diagnosis and Treatment in Ayurveda. Saarbrücken, Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing; 2014. p. i-ii. |
| 5. | Rastogi S. Evidence-based practice in complementary and alternative medicine perspective, protocols, problems and potential in Ayurveda. Dordrecht, London. New York: Springer, Heidelberg; 2012. p. 16. |
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