Cardiac diseases

Updates on management of cardiac diseases through Ayurveda

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts and Contemporary Practices -Nidana Chikitsa / Vyadhi / Cardiac diseases
Author	Dr. Sane Rohit 1
Reviewer	Basisht G.2
Editors	Deole Y.S.2, Aneesh E.G.2, Basisht G. 2
Affiliations	1 M.D. & C.E.O. at Madhavbaug, Vaidya Sane Ayurvedic Labs Pvt. Ltd. Thane, Maharashtra, India 2Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.& R.A., Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence email:	carakasamhita@gmail.com
Date of first publication:	June 26, 2021
DOI	Under process

(This article is based on lecture delivered by Dr. Rohit Sane in Prof.M.S.Baghel Memorial Lecture Series on June 09, 2021.)

The major chronic diseases prevailing in India are cardiovascular disorders (CVD), diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. Mortality due to cardiovascular disease is increasing substantially. In the year 1990, the mortality rate due to CVD in India was 15.2, which increased to 28.1 in 2016. Despite the advancements in modern medicine, especially in treating CVD like angioplasty, bypass surgery, etc., the disease burden is increasing. Ayurveda can play a significant role in treating CVD as a lifestyle disorder and a non-communicable disorder.

The risk factors of CVD are diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The burden of these lifestyle disorders is also high on the rise. As per the data available, 9.7% of the adult population in India has Diabetes. Hypertension is present in 25% of urban and 10% of rural subjects in India. Stage I hypertension carries significant cardiovascular risk. Therefore, it is essential to treat these comorbid conditions while treating CVD.

Importance of animal trials

In Ayurvedic classical texts, different treatment techniques and different drugs are mentioned for the treatment of heart disorders. This must be reproved per the current knowledge. Animal trials are necessary to understand the mode of action of the drug along with re-establishing its efficacy.

Antihypertensive herbs

Common Ayurvedic herbs used in the treatment of hypertension and their mechanism of action is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Herbs used in the management of hypertension

Herb	Latin Name	Mechanism of action
Bramhi	Bacopa monnieri	Calcium channel antagonist
Shunthi	Zingiber officinale	Calcium channel antagonist
Vacha	Acorus calamus	ACE inhibitor
Bibhitaki	Terminalia bellirica	ACE inhibitor
Pippali	Piper longum	ACE inhibitor
Kalaajaji	Nigella sativa	Diuretic
Punarnava	Boerhaviadiffusa	Diuretic

Since Bramhi and Shunthi are calcium channel antagonists they can be used for patients with systolic hypertension. Vacha, Bibhitaki and Pippali can be used in diastolic hypertension as they are ACE inhibitors. Kalaajaji and Punarnava are excellent diuretics to be used very effectively in the early phase of hypertension.

Anti-diabeti cherbs

Some of the Ayurvedic herbs used in diabetes management and their mechanism of action are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Herbs used in the management of diabetes

Herb	Latin Name	Mechanism of action
Daruharidra	Berberis aristata	Hypolipidemic, insulin resistance
Amalaki	Phyllanthus emblica	Beta cell-protective & beta cell regenerative
Haridra	Curcuma longa	Hypolipidemic & Beta cell protective
Vishanika /Gudmar*	Gymnema sylvestre	Insulin secretogogues
Banaba/ Jarul	Lagerstroemia speciosa	Insulin secretogogues

*Gudmar also has the capacity to produce a coat over the intestine so that the carbohydrate absorption through the gut gets reduced.