AYURVEDIC INTERVENTION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MISSED ABORTION: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Missed abortion is a condition where the fetus is dead and retained inside the uterus for a variable period. Ayurveda explains Garbhapatana Dravyas [abortifacient drugs] for the management of the dead fetus. It not only expels the products of conceptus efficiently but also safely; especially in early pregnancy, without undue harm to the pregnant lady or her uterus. A female patient with 11 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy complaining of vaginal spotting with mild pain in lower abdomen was treated initially considering it as threatened abortion then with correlation with USG, it was diagnosed as missed abortion and managed accordingly with Ayurvedic treatment protocol with combination of Tankana 500 mg, Arogyavardhini 500 mg, Hingwashtaka Churna 3g, Triphala Churna 3g and Kashaya of Dashamoola & Erandamoola 10 ml each twice a day. With 2 doses of the medicines taken 12 hours apart, the patient developed pain in abdomen and p/v bleeding. Looking into the condition, patient was advised to repeat the medicines again after 2 hours of the last dose to induce further contraction of the uterus. Within next 5 hours, there was complete expulsion of the products of conception with complete cessation of bleeding and pain, without any complications. Missed abortion can be managed effectively by Ayurvedic drug combinations besides the modern management of missed abortion involving misoprostol and other surgical interventions. Ayurvedic drugs having abortifacient properties can be used safely as an efficient alternative in regular gynecological practices in the management of missed abortion.