Changes

<div style="text-align:justify;">

<div style="text-align:justify;">

The word ''gulma'' is derived from the Sanskrit root ''gud'', literal meaning encircling or surrounding. Therefore the word ''gulma'' stands for an entity that encircles, envelops or covers something. According to mythological concepts described in this text, people fleeing from the wrath of Lord Shiva, when he was dismantling Daksha’s holy sacrifice, were afflicted with this disease. This legend is symbolic, since situations such as panic, stress, or grief, usually accompanying such a chaotic, cataclysmic event would lead to vitiation of ''vata'' causing the appearance of ''vata''-dominant diseases like ''gulma'', etc. In Ayurveda, ''gulma'' has been defined as large palpable, rounded, intra- abdominal swellings between ''hridaya'' (upper abdomen) and the ''basti'' (bladder) regions, which develop due to accumulation of ''doshas'' with predominance of ''vata''. Such swellings are either transitory or static, and display the properties of spontaneous regression and reappearance. ''Gulmas'' are usually non-suppurative and are separate entities from other intra-abdominal swellings such as ''antar vidradhi'' (internal abscesses) where suppuration is often found.  

The word ''gulma'' is derived from the Sanskrit root ''gud'', literal meaning encircling or surrounding. Therefore the word ''gulma'' stands for an entity that encircles, envelops or covers something. According to mythological concepts described in this text, people fleeing from the wrath of Lord Shiva, when he was dismantling Daksha’s holy sacrifice, were afflicted with this disease. This legend is symbolic, since situations such as panic, stress, or grief, usually accompanying such a chaotic, cataclysmic event would lead to vitiation of ''vata'' causing the appearance of ''vata''-dominant diseases like ''gulma'', etc. In [[Ayurveda]], ''gulma'' has been defined as large palpable, rounded, intra- abdominal swellings between ''hridaya'' (upper abdomen) and the ''basti'' (bladder) regions, which develop due to accumulation of ''doshas'' with predominance of ''vata''. Such swellings are either transitory or static, and display the properties of spontaneous regression and reappearance. ''Gulmas'' are usually non-suppurative and are separate entities from other intra-abdominal swellings such as ''antar vidradhi'' (internal abscesses) where suppuration is often found.  

The vitiated ''vata'', in conjunction with other ''doshas'', gets into the ''mahasrotas'' and get lodged either in the ''amashaya'' (stomach), ''pittashaya'' (gallbladder), ''pakwashaya'' (cecum) or in other regions like ''hridaya'' (epigastric), ''basti'' (bladder) and ''nabhi'' (umblicus) leading to formation of deep-rooted shrub-like mass. Here a new term has been introduced i,e, ''mahasrotas'', that could be explained as viscera including organs of the gastrointestinal tract. However, commentators have suggested that it stands for all of abdominal viscera, including the kidneys. Thus it is evident that under the definition of ''mahasrotas'' all the organs in abdomen are included. 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:

The vitiated ''vata'', in conjunction with other ''doshas'', gets into the ''mahasrotas'' and get lodged either in the ''amashaya'' (stomach), ''pittashaya'' (gallbladder), ''pakwashaya'' (cecum) or in other regions like ''hridaya'' (epigastric), ''basti'' (bladder) and ''nabhi'' (umblicus) leading to formation of deep-rooted shrub-like mass. Here a new term has been introduced i,e, ''mahasrotas'', that could be explained as viscera including organs of the gastrointestinal tract. However, commentators have suggested that it stands for all of abdominal viscera, including the kidneys. Thus it is evident that under the definition of ''mahasrotas'' all the organs in abdomen are included. 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:

=== ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' / Applied Inferences ===

=== ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' / Applied Inferences ===

A comprehensive effort has been made in Ayurveda to describe different types of swellings occurring in the body e.g. ''gulma, udara roga, vriddhi roga, granthi, arbuddha, shopha,'' and ''vidradhi'', etc. They can be distinguished from each other according to their specific characteristics as written in different classics of Ayurveda. Generalized abdominal swellings have been described under the heading of ''udara roga'' (abdominal diseases including ascitis), while localized, non-suppurated swellings are ''gulmas''. Other localized swellings, such as ''vriddhi roga'' (hernia and hydrocele), have also been described by ancient authors but such swellings are in regions other than the gastro-intestinal region, or in parts of the body such as the scrotal and inguinoscrotal region.  

A comprehensive effort has been made in [[Ayurveda]] to describe different types of swellings occurring in the body e.g. ''gulma, udara roga, vriddhi roga, granthi, arbuddha, shopha,'' and ''vidradhi'', etc. They can be distinguished from each other according to their specific characteristics as written in different classics of [[Ayurveda]]. Generalized abdominal swellings have been described under the heading of ''udara roga'' (abdominal diseases including ascitis), while localized, non-suppurated swellings are ''gulmas''. Other localized swellings, such as ''vriddhi roga'' (hernia and hydrocele), have also been described by ancient authors but such swellings are in regions other than the gastro-intestinal region, or in parts of the body such as the scrotal and inguinoscrotal region.  

''Shopha'' is a localized inflammatory swelling. ''Vidradhi'' (abscess) are also localized  but large suppurative lesions and are deep - rooted that may develop either from external  surfaces or  internal body cavities.  ''Granthi'' (cyst) and ''arbuda'' (tumor) are also localized, progressively increasing knotty lesions and are primarily non suppurative in nature. Such swellings may arise in any part of the body and  are commonly known as neoplastic lesions.  

''Shopha'' is a localized inflammatory swelling. ''Vidradhi'' (abscess) are also localized  but large suppurative lesions and are deep - rooted that may develop either from external  surfaces or  internal body cavities.  ''Granthi'' (cyst) and ''arbuda'' (tumor) are also localized, progressively increasing knotty lesions and are primarily non suppurative in nature. Such swellings may arise in any part of the body and  are commonly known as neoplastic lesions.