EFFECTS OF SHILAJIT COMPOUND ON MADHUNMEHA (DIABETES MELLITUS)

-Dr. Chandra Raj Sapkota
Ast. Professor Ayurveda Cmapus

Introduction:
Medhumeha is the most common medical problem in the world. The prevalence of Madhumeha is increasing more in urban population of our country. It's a global problem affecting 2-6% population of the world. It was known to the Ayurvedic physician for more than 2500 years ago as can be seen from medical tests such as Charak and Sushruta Samhita (400 BC). Charak and Sushruta have described a condition Madhumeha in which a person passes urine resembling honey.

Historical Background:
400 BC Sushruta in Ayurveda described honey urine in Madhumeha. In 1674 AD Thomas Willes rediscovered sweet test of urine diabetic urine. In 1867 AD Paul Langherns described islets of langherhns in pancreas. In 1921 Fred Banting (surgoen) and Charles (medical student) best isolated insulin and got Nobel Prize. But very soon it was observed that many cases may be insensitive of resistant to insulin thereby. Further the introduction of oral hypoglycemic agent improved the condition of management of diabetes. But the recent studies have revealed newer facts that cell modulated immunity is disturber by treatment if insulin and insulin promoter (Mackaness, 1971, Fained etal 1973) which may lead to any new complication of diabetes. On the basis it is being inferred that the administration of insulin and insulin promoters is not the only approach to correct the hyperglycemia, the real and correct approach may be some thing other than this. Ayurvedic system of medicine sources provided the information that the Madhuneha (Diabetes) were long treated with various herbs (Jadibuti) and herb-mineral drugs.

Material and Method:
About 25 cases of Madhumeha (Diabetes Mellitus) patients were selected for studying Madhumeha at Sri Sundrial Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences BHU, india. All the patients were subjected to detailed history taking through clinical examination and biochemical investigation of the patient. Patients were both Male and female of 40-70 years age. A family history of diabetes was present in 5 patients. Other 15 patients were taken under medical diagnosis and another 5 patients were selected and were treated with the test drug and modern anti-diabetic drugs.

These patients were classified into three different groups.
Group I Patients belonging to this group were given Shilajit only.
Group II Patients were given a combined therapy of Shilajit and oral hypoglycemic drugs.
Group III patients were given a combined therapy of Shilajit along with insulin therapy

Drug and Administration (supervision for Direction of its uses):
The trial drugs were
1) Shilajit with Triphala purification
2) Shilajit with Shalsaradigan purification.
The drugs were given in a dose of 250mg to 500mg twice a day for 2-6 weeks. The patients with complains and associated diseases were given modern treatment side by side and patients were supplemented with oral hypoglycemic and insulin respectively.

Diet and Other Advice:
During the period of treatment the patients were advised to take 1800 calories diet for male and active female with optimum weight.

Food value:
Carbohydrate 250gm
Protein 75gm
Fats 50gm
-Sugar should be totally restricted.
-Rice and potato diet were also restricted.
-To reduce weight (obese patients) patients should reduce the amount of food and should take morning walk regularly.
- Regular physical exercise is beneficial.

Parameters of Assessment:
For the assessment of result symptomatic improvement of fasting blood sugar and past parricidal blood sugar was noted before and after 6 weeks treatment with these herbal drugs in all the 25 cases of diabetes and different has been statistically analysis to establish the efficiency.
Result and observation:
Genaral survey of the patients.
Tabel showing the data of clinical study.
Total number of cases 25
Age Group 40-70 yrs
Sexes m-20/f-5
Weight 40-80 kgs
Religion Hindu
Hereditary 5 +ve/20 –ve
Urban 20
Rural 5

Clinical improvement:
Symptomatic improvement was observed in all the cases. Frequency and quantity of urine was reduced general feeling of well being was reported ay all the patients. The tingling and numbness, burning of hands and feet was reduced considerably and generalized itching almost vanished. Similarly the improvement in other symptoms was also observed.

The detailed data
SN Symptoms Before Treatment After Treatment %Cured
1 tiredness 25 25 100
2 polyurea 25 22 88
3 digestive problem 18 15 88.33
4 Polydypsia (ext. thrust) 24 21 87.5
5 Tingling 18 10 55
6 Numbness 10 6 60
7 Sleep 12 9 75
8 Pain in lower limb 12 9 75
9 Itching 4 4 100
10 Abd. Distalion 5 5 100
11 Pain in chest 4 1 25
12 Visual Disturbance 5 1 20
13 Repeated absortion 1 1 100
14 Gynocological leucorhea 3 3 100

Biochemical Improvement:
For the purpose of statistical comparison of the results differences in mgs % before and after treatment in blood sugar readings have been calculated.
Showing the mean blood sugar reading in level in three group patients before and after treatment in table.

Drug Group Before Treatment After Treatment
F PP F PP
Shilajit 140mg 195mg 120mg 160mg
Shilajit + oral 150mg 235mg 130mg 190mg
Hypoglycemic + Shilajit + oral 300mg 350mg 130mg 210mg

All these patients who continued treatment for 1-2 week reported with improvement. Some patient reported with improvement for one month. The foremost complaint like tiredness, polyurea, tingling, polydypsia, polyphagia were well relieved. This was reported by more than 75% of the patients which encouraged them to continue the treatment further. All the treatment patients reported a seance of well-being.

Conclusion:
The problem of Madhumeha (Diabetes Mellitus) is as old as humanity. New discoveries pave the way for the newer adventures in the field of research and Insulin turned the course of the history of diabetes. The oral hypoglycemic drugs help the patient to forego needle and syringe while insulin is only a replacement therapy, the action of new oral hypoglycemic compound are still to be understood beyond doubt. Therefore a research to find out better oral hypoglycemic agent is continued where blood sugar level was observed low.
It is better marked in I group and the combined therapy of subjected. Those patients who received shilajit (with Shalsaradigan Dravya purified) along with oral hypoglycemic drug, including insulin therapy have the resistance power within. The Ayurvedic compound appeared to be a good oral hypoglycemic drug without any untoward action.

References:
Charak Samhita: commentary by Prof. Dr. G.N. Chaturvedi & Dr. K.N. Shastri. 1980
Sushruta Samhita: commentary by Dr. Ambika Dutta Shastri 1979
Astanga Hridaya: commentary by Dr. Adunandan Upadhya 1984
Dhanwanrari Nighantu: commentary by Prof. Dr. J. Ojha
Rasamirt: commentary by Prof. Dr. D. Joshi 1998
Ayurvedya Rasashastra: Prof. Dr. P.V. Sharma
Ayurvedya Aushadi Nirman Vigayan: Dr C.R. Sapkota 2057 BS
Ayurmedline-chief editor: Dr. Brahmanand Nayak 2000
Diabetes Mellitus Second edition By Prof. Dr. P.G. Raman 2000
Studies on Shilajit Paper present, BHU India : Dr. C.R. Sapkota, 1992.