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→Etiology of swelling
The exogenous factors produce sudden swellings most of the time while endogenous swellings mostly occur gradually. Any type of trauma, direct or indirect, will produce a swelling first. Some plants contain allergens which may cause allergic reactions such as severe itching. Scorpion, wasp, honey bee, spider stings or their touch can cause inflammatory reaction including edema. Excessive cold air or prolonged contact with ice may cause frostbite like symptoms and swelling causes weakness of the affected organ resembling a paralytic disorder. [4]
The exogenous factors produce sudden swellings most of the time while endogenous swellings mostly occur gradually. Any type of trauma, direct or indirect, will produce a swelling first. Some plants contain allergens which may cause allergic reactions such as severe itching. Scorpion, wasp, honey bee, spider stings or their touch can cause inflammatory reaction including edema. Excessive cold air or prolonged contact with ice may cause frostbite like symptoms and swelling causes weakness of the affected organ resembling a paralytic disorder. [4]
In [[Chikitsa Sthana]], few other causes, such as the people who never do any physical activity, neither they adopt internal purification e.g. ''vamana, virechana'' etc., nor they take external purification by means of bath; may develop ''shotha''. [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 12/6] Some other etiological factors e.g. intake of ''kata-sharkara'' i.e. burned sugar and lime, practice of sexual intercourse during indigestion or travelling by vehicles with jerky movements may also produce ''shotha''. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/4]<ref name=Susruta/> Few other causes of ''nija shotha'' described are sleeping during the day and working at night, and intake of dry and domestic animal meat in diet. [A.H. Nidana Sthana 13/26]<ref name=Hridaya/> During bio-purification procedures there is a loss of some body contents. When procedures are optimally performed then only unwanted materials are lost, but if the procedures are improperly administered, then certain amount of necessary body contents may also get removed which may result in many diseases. Besides, some nutrients may not get absorbed or metabolized properly. Due to these reasons deficiency of proteins, iron and other nutrients may occur causing edema in the long term. Similar pathology is found in many chronic disorders due to malnutrition, few of which are mentioned here. Violation of dietary rules is responsible for many ''shotha'' disorders. Eating of clay and pieces of earthen pots may cause worm infestations, thereby causing anemia or malnutrition, and in due course of time will result in edema. [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 16/27-30] Excessive use of salt will result in sodium retention and edema<ref> Pathology by Harsh mohan; chapter-5 page (66-67), 3rd edition </ref>. Lastly, recurrent abortions, miscarriages, intra-uterine death, and ante-natal problems may cause anemia and hypo-proteinaemia resulting in edema.
In [[Chikitsa Sthana]], few other causes, such as the people who never do any physical activity, neither they adopt internal purification e.g. [[vamana]], [[virechana]] etc., nor they take external purification by means of bath; may develop ''shotha''. [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 12/6] Some other etiological factors e.g. intake of ''kata-sharkara'' i.e. burned sugar and lime, practice of sexual intercourse during indigestion or travelling by vehicles with jerky movements may also produce ''shotha''. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/4]<ref name=Susruta/> Few other causes of ''nija shotha'' described are sleeping during the day and working at night, and intake of dry and domestic animal meat in diet. [A.H. Nidana Sthana 13/26]<ref name=Hridaya/> During bio-purification procedures there is a loss of some body contents. When procedures are optimally performed then only unwanted materials are lost, but if the procedures are improperly administered, then certain amount of necessary body contents may also get removed which may result in many diseases. Besides, some nutrients may not get absorbed or metabolized properly. Due to these reasons deficiency of proteins, iron and other nutrients may occur causing edema in the long term. Similar pathology is found in many chronic disorders due to malnutrition, few of which are mentioned here. Violation of dietary rules is responsible for many ''shotha'' disorders. Eating of clay and pieces of earthen pots may cause worm infestations, thereby causing anemia or malnutrition, and in due course of time will result in edema. [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 16/27-30] Excessive use of salt will result in sodium retention and edema<ref> Pathology by Harsh mohan; chapter-5 page (66-67), 3rd edition </ref>. Lastly, recurrent abortions, miscarriages, intra-uterine death, and ante-natal problems may cause anemia and hypo-proteinaemia resulting in edema.
In conventional medicine many mechanisms have been described to explain edema. Among these, increased capillary hydrostatic pressure, decreased plasma oncotic pressure, increased capillary permeability, sodium and water retention, and lymphatic obstruction<ref> Pathology by Harsh mohan; chapter-5 page (64-70), 3rd edition.</ref> are important. Above mechanisms can be studied in context of [[vata]]ja, [[pitta]]ja and [[kapha]]ja types of shotha. [6]
In conventional medicine many mechanisms have been described to explain edema. Among these, increased capillary hydrostatic pressure, decreased plasma oncotic pressure, increased capillary permeability, sodium and water retention, and lymphatic obstruction<ref> Pathology by Harsh mohan; chapter-5 page (64-70), 3rd edition.</ref> are important. Above mechanisms can be studied in context of [[vata]]ja, [[pitta]]ja and [[kapha]]ja types of shotha. [6]