Case Report International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

ROLE OF AGNIKARMA (CAUTERIZATION) IN XANTHELASMA

Kundu Debasis 1, Bhosgikar Anup 2, Kar Pulak Kanti 3
1.
P G Scholar: Dept Of Shareer Rachana, 2.Assistant Professor: Dept Of Shareer Ra-
chana, N .K. Jabshetty Ayurvedic Medical College And P G Centre (Karnatak).
3.
Lecturer Of Departant Of Panchakarma, J B Roy State Ayurvedic Medical College
And Hospital(W.B)

ABSTRACT
Xanthelasma is a type of xanthoma found in upper or lower eye lid as an irregular shaped
yellowish patch due to the deposition of cholesterol in the skin .It may be associated with hy-
percholesterolemia or diabetes mellitus, though in many cases it is found alone 1. In Ayurveda
there is no direct reference regarding xanthelasma, yet considering the skin lesion over the
eye lid .It may be interpreted, nearly similar to bisa vartma. Which is sannipatik but curable
disease 2? It may be treated with Agnikarma (cauterization) successfully .A case of xan-
thelasma treated by Agnikarma (cauterization) is the prime focus of the paper.
Keywords: Agnikarma (Cauterization), Xanthelasma, Visavartma.

INTRODUCTION: mandalgata rogas,patala gata rogas . Even

Indriyas are the important organ of the netras vyadis are classified of its cura-
human body .Among the jyanendriyas (sen- bility like shastra sadhya ,aushadha sadhya
sory organ ) netra has given prime im- etc.like bisa vartma (porous oedema of
portance which has been describe by our eyelid ) vartma arbuda ( papilloma of eye
ancient acharyas in the contest of its struc- lid). While treating the eye diseases some-
tural ,functional and applied aspects.All the times we have to take the help of para sur-
acharyas explained about netra and its ne- gical procedures like agnikarma (Cauteri-
cessity for the human body .Briefly our zation) which is explained by sushruta
acharyas explained the anatomy of the eye acharya and explained its importance on
and by naming the structures of eye like the treatment which will not cause any
mandala(circle of eye ball ),patalas (tu- harm and is easy without any complication
nics of eye ball ) ,sandhis (junctions of .3Among 21 vartma gata roga ,bisa vartma
eye ball ) etc. Whereas the structures in- one of them.4 The skin of the eye lid is in-
volved in eye by the three different coats flamed due to vitiation of tridoshas and
from outward to inwards are (fibrous tu- causes multiple holes and oozing of in-
nic,vascular tunic and retina) these struc- flammatory exudation through the
tures are visualise under the opthalmoscope vartma(eye lid) like a mrinal (lotus), so it is
easily. How the netra is important organ of known as bisa varthma. It is tridoshaja
human body .So its protection is also sadhya vyadhi.5 It is conglomeration of
needed from the different diseases. Acharya three doshas (vata ,pitta,kapha),& situated
susruta in his uttar tantra especially classi- outside the vartma(eye lid) having pores
fied the netra vyadis (eye diseases) based and watery substance, and it became looks
on the structure to which it will affects likes like a bisa or mrinal or stem of the lotus.so
 Kundu Debasis Et; Al: Role Of Agnikarma (Cauterization) In Xanthelasma

it known as bisa vartma6. So, to remove this Past medicinal history: No such
type of inflamed vartma, the agnikarma Past Surgical history: No such
(Cauterization) is used. A word xan- Family history: Nothing significant
thelasma is made up of xanth- from the On examination: No pain but slight swell-
Greek roots xanthos (yellow) and elasma ing in the both upper eyelids
(plate) = a yellow plate ,so called because Investigation:
there are yellow plauges (sharply demar- Blood report: Lipid profile shows hyper-
cated) deposit of fat underneath the skin cholesteromia.
,usually on or around the eyelids, while Diagnosis: Based on clinical presentation
they are neither harmful nor painfull. Only and blood report.
there are cosmetic problem. PROCEDURE OF AGNIKARMA
High LDL (bad) cholesterol or low HDL (CAUTERIZATION): First of all eyelids
("good") cholesterol with Inherited high are cleaned by Triphala kasaya,then wiped
cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia) with dry sterilized cotton gauze, after that
and also Liver disease called primary bili- red hot Panch Dhatu Shalaka(electro-cau-
ary cirrhosis, which can raise cholesterol tery having filament like tools) making
levels but it is not necessarily associated Bindu Dhahan .At last application of
with elevated cholesterol or lipids. It is Jatyadi Ghrita or rubbing of gritokumari
composed of lipid laden foam cells these patra (alo vera) for reducing the burning
cells termed histocytes, contain lipid mate- sensation.
rial in their cytoplasm. TREATMENT: Agnikarma (Cauteriza-
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To find out tion) was done two times in a month at an
the effective ayurvedic remedy for xan- interval of 15 days. After completion of 2nd
thelasma as because there is no effective sitting patient got complete relief from
remedy in allopathic medicine in spite of cosmetic problem. Also given some ayur-
cryo-therapy and TCA therapy. vedic oral medicine like Arogyabardhani
CASE STUDY: In this connection i studied 2pill tds with like warm water,Navak gug-
two cases of xanthelasma in different age gul-2 pill tds with Luke warm water and
group treated by me with agnikarma (cau- godhan arka -4tsf in empty stomach in the
terization). morning. No adverse effects were being ob-
Patient history: They are treated previously served throughout the entire sitting. To ob-
by contemporary allopathic medicine under serve any recurrence of symptoms patients
the surveillance of a private medicine doc- are followed up to 3 months but recurrence
tor before 8 to 10 years. The history also of symptoms were not observed. Patient
suggested that the patient had received oral was fully satisfied with Agnikarma (Cau-
ant cholesterol drug also. But there was no terization) therapy as compared to previous
satisfactory relief. Routine blood investiga- treatments done with modern modalities.
tion including lipid profile done where I DISCUSSION:
found hypercholesteromia. Patients are not Cauterization in Ayurveda is other-
wanted to take any laser or cryo surgery due wise known as Agni karma. Agni means
to fear and financial condition. Diagnosis: fire and karma means a process. Thus, Agni
After careful examination patients are diag- karma is a therapy, which involves fire and
nosed as bisa vartma (xanthelasma), and is known as cauterization in Ayurveda.
patient himself was willing for Agnikarma Again Agni karma can be termed as Dahan
(Cauterization) therapy. Karma and it is a process in which the
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 Kundu Debasis Et; Al: Role Of Agnikarma (Cauterization) In Xanthelasma

pathological body comes out or tissue is tion) therapy is an OPD procedure. Thus
cauterized or even damaged with a hot iron, from the above study it can be concluded
an electrical current. Among the number of that Agnikarma (Cauterization) procedure
netra roga,it is indicated in vartma gata proves to be an easy, safe, uncomplicated
rogas.Bisa vartma is one of them. Where and economical way to reduce the xan-
all three doshas get lodged in the vartmas thelasma.
and causes painless swelling which is com- REFFERENCE
pared with xanthelasma in modern where it 1. Hand book of ophthalmology by B.M.
is sharply demarcated, deposition of fat un- Chatrejee, edited by L.P.Agarwal, 6th
derneath the skin, usually all and around edition, pg 270.
eyelids with is harmless and painless in 2. Susrutaa samhita by Prof K.R. Srikan-
presentation. In modern therapy side effect tha Murthy Chaukhamba Orientalia vol-
of cryo therapy is fainting, high cost, heavy iii, 2 editions, 2005 chap 3, pg 17.
bleeding and side effect of TCA acid is 3. Susrutaa samhita by Ambika Dutta
burning sensation ,tenderness, swelling Sastri,Chaukhamba Orientalia,vol-1,
around the area, scarring/infection, persis- edition-2012,chap-12 (sutra sthana),
tent facial redness/erythema. It don’t have sloka -9 ,pg- 52. .
any medical emergency in ophthalmology, 4. Susrutaa samhita by Ambika Dutta
but can be removed by cauterization for Sastri,Chaukhamba Orientalia,vol-2,
cosmetic purpose. Mode of action of ag- edition-2012,chap3 ( uttar tantra) ,pg-
nikarma (Cauterization) normally, it is the 19 .
rule of the body that whenever a local tissue 5. Susrutaa Samhita by Prof K.R Srikantha
is burnt, the metabolic process in that place Murthy Chaukhamba Orientalia vol-iii,
improves. Therefore, a variety of metabolic 2 edition, 2005 chap 3, pg 17.
and regenerating alterations occurs at the 6. Yogaratnakar “vidyotini” hindi tika sa-
place, which consequently leads to im- hita,chaukhamba samskrita sam-
proved demand of oxygen and nutrition of sthana,Varanasi ,8 th edition 2004,
the tissues at the place, where the heat chapter -Netra Roga pg 355.
strikes. It also eliminates the undesirable
substances and poison. For these aforesaid CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
qualities, agnikarma (Cauterization) Dr. Kundu Debasis
thereby were chosen for this case and the 1st year PGT scholar,
result was really very encouraging. Department of shareera rachana
CONCLUSION: N.K.Jabshetty ayurvedic medical col-
Classical agnikarma (Cauterization) lege and P.G. centre,
therapy and internal medication were found Bidar Karnataka, India
highly effective to reduce almost all com- Email: [email protected]
plaints of xanthelasma (bisa vartma).After Source of support: Nil
reviewing and applying the agnikarma
Conflict of interest: None Declared
(Cauterization) in xanthelasma, it is noted
that it will not reoccur again, if it has been
cauterised properly. Agnikarma (Cauteriza-

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