TYPES OF UDARA VYADHI

TYPES OF UDARAROGA

INTRODUCTION

• "Udara" refers to the abnormal enlargement of the abdomen.

• It is one of the Ashta Mahagadas (eight grave disorders) described in Ayurveda.

• It involves vitiation of doshas and accumulation of ama and mala, leading to different forms of udararoga.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

उदरं तु प्रवक्ष्यामि महागदमुदाहृतम्।
दोषैरपि तथामेभिर्दोषमूत्रपुरीषजैः॥
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana 13/3

SAMANYA NIDANA (GENERAL ETIOLOGY)

• Mithya ahara vihara (improper diet and lifestyle)

• Mandagni (weak digestive fire)

• Kshaya of dhatus

• Obstruction of channels by doshas and malas

SAMANYA PURVARUPA (GENERAL PRODROMAL SYMPTOMS)

• Dourbalya (weakness)

• Agnimandya (loss of appetite)

• Gurgling sounds in abdomen

• Trishna (excessive thirst)

VATODARA

• Due to vitiated Vata dosha accumulating in the abdomen.

• Causes distension with pain, flatulence, dryness, and weight loss.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

वायुरुद्धरुधिरश्लेष्मा दोषा वा तमुपेयिवान्।
वातोदरं तदुद्दिष्टं सशूलं वातजं भवेत्॥
— Ashtanga Hridaya, Chikitsa Sthana 13/14

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Can be compared to intestinal obstruction, IBS, or ascites due to liver cirrhosis with dominance of flatulence.

PITTODARA

• Dominance of Pitta dosha leading to burning sensation, yellow discoloration, thirst, diarrhea.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

पित्तेनाभिहतोऽत्यर्थं दह्यते स यदा पचेत्।
पित्तं पचति पित्तं च शुष्कामाशयं सृजेत्॥
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana 13/32

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Resembles inflammatory bowel disease, peritonitis, or acute hepatitis.

KAPHODARA

• Accumulation of Kapha dosha leads to heaviness, coldness, mucous stools, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

गुरुः स्थूलो भृशं शीतो विलम्भी च स भोजनम्।
कफेन चोदरं स्फीतं कफोदरमिहोच्यते॥
— Ashtanga Hridaya, Chikitsa Sthana 13/23

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Can be related to mucocolic disorders, tubercular abdomen, or GI neoplasm with mucinous ascites.

DUSHYODARA

• Chronic form involving the vitiation of Rasa to Majja dhatu.

• Due to long-standing doshic imbalance and involvement of deeper dhatus.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

रसादिभिर्दुष्टधातुभिः संश्रितं चिरसंस्थितम्।
दुष्टं भवेदुदरं तद्धि दुष्योदरमिहोच्यते॥
— Ashtanga Hridaya, Chikitsa Sthana 13/33

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Can be considered as malignant ascites, advanced abdominal tuberculosis, or chronic liver failure.

YAKRITODARA

• Enlargement of Yakrit (Liver) due to dosha dushti.

• Associated with pain, hepatomegaly, jaundice, loss of appetite.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

वातेन पित्तेन च यकृत्पीडिता विवर्धते।
शूलार्ता दाहशीतार्ता यकृदोदरमिष्यते॥
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana 13/35

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Correlates with hepatomegaly due to cirrhosis, fatty liver, or liver cancer.

PLEEHODARA

• Enlargement of Pleeha (Spleen) due to dosha imbalance.

• Features include left upper quadrant pain, anemia, distension, and lassitude.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

प्लीहा चोर्ध्वमधो वा स्याच्छूलार्तो दारुणैस्तथा।
प्लीहोदरं तदित्याहुः प्लीहातो वृद्धिमास्थितः॥
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana 13/37

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Related to splenomegaly due to portal hypertension, chronic malaria, leukemia, or lymphoma.

CHHIDRODARA

• Condition where perforation occurs in abdominal viscera.

• Features: sudden pain, rigid abdomen, signs of peritonitis, distension.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

छिद्रोदरं तु तद्विद्धि यत्र छिद्रं विशीर्यते।
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana 13/40

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Can be associated with perforation peritonitis, perforated peptic ulcer, or traumatic bowel perforation.

BADDHA GUDODARA

• Involves obstruction of anal passage, leading to constipation, abdominal pain, distension, and vomiting.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE:

गुदमार्गं निरुध्याथ बद्धगुदोदरं भवेत्।
— Ashtanga Hridaya, Chikitsa Sthana 13/41

MODERN CORRELATION:

• Resembles intestinal obstruction, strictures, or colonic tumors causing bowel obstruction.

SAMANYA CHIKITSA SIDDHANTA (GENERAL TREATMENT PRINCIPLES)

• Deepana (appetizers) and Pachana (digestives)

• Virechana (purgation) in Pitta types

• Niruha and Anuvasana basti in Vataja types

• Lekhana basti in Sthoulya and Kaphaja types

• Ahara and Vihara management

• Rasayana for dhatu kshaya

• Surgical interventions in Chhidrodara and obstructive cases

MODERN MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

• Ascites: Salt restriction, diuretics (Spironolactone, Furosemide), paracentesis

• Hepatosplenomegaly: Treat underlying cause (e.g., malaria, cirrhosis)

• Intestinal Obstruction: Nasogastric decompression, IV fluids, surgery

• Peritonitis: Broad-spectrum antibiotics, emergency laparotomy

• Malignancy: Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical excision depending on site and stage

• Nutritional support: Essential in chronic or cachectic patients

PROGNOSIS (SATYASATYATA)

• Depends on doshic dominance, dhatu involvement, chronicity, and presence of complications.

• Vatodara and Dushyodara have poor prognosis.

• Yakritodara and Pleehodara prognosis depends on the stage of underlying disease.