A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON ARSHA (HAEMORRHOIDS) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AYURVEDA AND MODERN

Dr. Shivanand Fulaji Kawane

ABSTRACT

Arsha (Piles) is an extremely common problem and it has been reported since thousands of years and its prevalence
rate is highe st among all anorectal disorders. The faulty dietary pattern and lifestyle, anatomical deformities and
hereditary factors are the important etiological factors of this disease. Nearly half of the population generally
experience one hemorrhoidal episode at some point during their lives. Arsha (Hemorrhoids) is clinically an
engorged condition of hemorrhoidal venous plexus along with abnormally displaced enlarged anal cushion,
characterized by inflamed or prolapsed pile mass, bleeding per rectum and some disch arge from anus. In modern
medical science, many procedures are described for management of hemorrhoids, of which hemorrhoidectomy is
commonly preferred by surgeons, but after sometime of excision there is great possibility of reappearance of the
disease Li festyle related factors are mainly thought to be caused of increasing prevalence of haemorrhoids (Arsha).
Although haemorrhoids are not fatal, physical and psychological discomfort related with various symptoms.
Prevalence of haemorrhoids in routine OPD of institutional hospital which is located at eastern crowded side of
metropolitan city of Maharashtra is 30.10%, among these very few patients required surgical treatment. Other
patients were treated by conservative treatment methods, as described in Ayurve da. Dilated tortuous veins i.e.
varicosity of the vain of anal canal is known as haemorrhoids. Causes of haemorrhoids cirrhosis of liver,
thrombosis of portal vein, abdominal tumors, pregnancy, carcinoma of rectum etc. any organic condition leading to
po rtal hypertension, idiopathic causes, Heredity, Constipation, Diet etc. Clinical features of haemorrhoids are
bleeding per rectal, discharge, pain, anal irritation. The wide description of haemorrhoid (Arsha) including
treatment available in the classics, Shushrut and another Acharyas considered arsha as one among the
Ashtomahagadas because of its chronicity, site of origin, difficulty in management and its complications. It occurs
in Guda Pradesh, the seat of Sadya Pranharamarma which requires careful man agement.

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