Changes

=== Introduction ===

=== Introduction ===

The word ''gulma'' stands for an entity that encircles, envelops or covers something. Situations such as panic, stress, or grief, usually associated with chaotic, cataclysmic event would lead to vitiation of ''vata'' causing the appearance of vata-dominant diseases like ''gulma'', etc. The vitiated ''vata'', in conjunction with other ''doshas'', gets into the ''mahasrotas'' and get lodged either in the ''amashaya'' (stomach), ''pittashaya'' (gall bladder), ''pakwashaya'' (cecum) or in other regions like ''hridaya'' (epigastric), ''basti'' (bladder) and ''nabhi'' (umblicus) leading to formation of deep-rooted shrub-like mass. As mentioned earlier, ''gulma'' afflicts the gastrointestinal region between the heart and the bladder. Depending upon the region it afflicts, it can be classified into four general types common to males and females: ''vata gulma'', ''pitta gulma'', ''kapha gulma'', and ''sannipatik gulma''.

The word ''gulma'' stands for an entity that encircles, envelops or covers something. Situations such as panic, stress, or grief, usually associated with chaotic, cataclysmic event would lead to vitiation of ''vata'' causing the appearance of ''vata''-dominant diseases like ''gulma'', etc. The vitiated ''vata'', in conjunction with other ''doshas'', gets into the ''mahasrotas'' and get lodged either in the ''amashaya'' (stomach), ''pittashaya'' (gall bladder), ''pakwashaya'' (cecum) or in other regions like ''hridaya'' (epigastric), ''basti'' (bladder) and ''nabhi'' (umblicus) leading to formation of deep-rooted shrub-like mass. As mentioned earlier, ''gulma'' afflicts the gastrointestinal region between the heart and the bladder. Depending upon the region it afflicts, it can be classified into four general types common to males and females: ''vata gulma'', ''pitta gulma'', ''kapha gulma'', and ''sannipatik gulma''.

Since ''gulma'' can occur as complication of ''raktapitta'' (bleeding disorders) Charaka describes this chapter after the ''raktapitta'' chapter. ''Jwara'' is the disease of ''rasavah srotas'' whereas, ''raktapitta'' is a disease of ''raktavah srotas'', in that sequence ''gulma'' is a disease of ''mansavah srotas'' and further ''prameha'' is of ''medavah srotas''. However, this chapter seems to be designed with greater implication and term ''mahasrotasa'' has been used because manifestation of disease is in the viscera/ organs up to uterus. Even then the involvement of ''vata dosha'' and ''mansa dhatu'' is predominant in final manifestation of disease ''gulma''.

Since ''gulma'' can occur as complication of ''raktapitta'' (bleeding disorders) Charaka describes this chapter after the ''raktapitta'' chapter. ''Jwara'' is the disease of ''rasavah srotas'' whereas, ''raktapitta'' is a disease of ''raktavah srotas'', in that sequence ''gulma'' is a disease of ''mansavah srotas'' and further ''prameha'' is of ''medavah srotas''. However, this chapter seems to be designed with greater implication and term ''mahasrotasa'' has been used because manifestation of disease is in the viscera/ organs up to uterus. Even then the involvement of ''vata dosha'' and ''mansa dhatu'' is predominant in final manifestation of disease ''gulma''.