To get a thorough idea of what Madhumeha is, we should have an understanding of the meaning and role of all the 3 doshas since, according to Ayurveda, Madhumeha or Diabetes mellitus is a Tridosha vyadhi involving the imbalance of all the 3 doshas in varying degrees.
Ayurveda and the 3 doshas
Ayurveda, the ancient science of healing not only takes into consideration the pathological aspect of the disease in determining the cause, symptom, and treatment but also takes into account the physical and psychological aspects of the ailment, making it a holistic healing approach as compared to the modern methodologies.
According to Ayurveda, the health or well-being of an individual is governed by the balance among the 3 doshas or energies. These 3 doshas not only determine the physical health of an individual but also the mental and physiological health.
It is believed that every individual has all the 3 doshas but his physical appearance, physiological processes, mental health along with the state of having a disease or living with no disease are determined by the dominance of one among the 3 doshas within the body.
What are the 3 doshas?
The 3 Ayurvedic doshas are classified on the basis of the balance between the 5 elements- air, earth, space, water, and fire.
Let us understand the characteristics of each dosha through their classification:
| Feature | Vata | Pitta | Kapha |
| Representative elements | Space and Air | Fire and Water | Water and Earth |
| Season | Autumn | Summer | Spring |
| Expressed characters in individuals | Slim & EnergeticAnxiousProne to digestive and gas issues | Athletic and motivatedProne to conflict and impatienceGood metabolism with clear skin and good hair | Prone to weight gainCalm & HappyHealthy bones & Joints along with a strong immune system |
| Recommended diet | Fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy | Cold and energizing foods | Spicy and filling foods |
| Exercise | Constant movement should be practiced. Yoga is recommended | Team sports are recommended as an activity for those with Pitta dosha | Any type of movement is recommended |
Madhumeha-
Diabetes mellitus or Madhumeha according to Ayurveda is a Tridosha Vyadhi involving an imbalance of all the 3 doshas- Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Although Madhumeha is a disease associated with all the 3 doshas, it is commonly found to be due to Vata and Kapha dosha predominance.
Let us look at Madhumeha to understand the disease from the perspective of doshas and Ayurveda.
| Madhumeha when associated with | Indication |
| Kapha Dosha | Heaviness Dullness Coldness Immobility |
| Vata Dosha | Lightness Coldness Roughness |
Causes
- Chinta – physical or mental stress
- Shokha – grief
- Bhaya – fear
- Alasya – laziness
- Kapha Krut cha sarvam – Having food and lifestyle habits that increase Kapha
- Swapnasukham – oversleeping
- Asyasukham – comfortable seating indicating sedentary lifestyle
Risk factors
- > 45 years of age
- Obese
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes runs in the family
- High BP
- High carbohydrate and fat diet
- History of gestational diabetes
- History of hormonal disorders
Symptoms
- Atimutrata – frequent urination
- Avila mutrata – turbid urine
- Madhutulya – honey urine
- Rukhsata – Dryness
- Dourbalya – debility
- Dourgandhya – foul body odour
- Fatigue
- Sudden weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Numbness in extremities of the body
- Delayed wound healing
- Recurring infections
- Lowered immunity
Madhumeha can primarily be characterized by the 3 P’s
- Polyuria – frequent urination
- Polydipsia – increased thirst
- Polyphagia – increased hunger
Complications
- Hridroga – heart ailments
- Loulya – increased appetite
- Anidra – sleeplessness
- Stambha – stiffness
- Kampha – shiver
- Shoola – body pain
- Badda purishtata – constipation
- Shwasa – Dyspnea
Treatment –
Depending on the constitution or composition and the type of body, Ayurveda recommends the following treatments for Madhumeha-
| Dosha and Body type | Treatment | Description of treatment |
| Kapha – Obese | Apatarpana | De-nourishment treatment |
| Vata or Pitta – Lean | Santarpana | Nourishment treatment |
- In Apatarpana or De-nourishment, cleansing or Shodhana is recommended for those who are heavy weight through
- Exercise
- Juice or water fasting
- Panchakarma cleansing including practices like enema
- In Santarpana or Nourishment treatment, Brumhana or body bulk promotion is done through
- Anuvasana Basti or oil enema
- Navarakizhi or oil massage
- Apart from these treatments, patients with Madhumeha are also administered with herbs like Ashwagandha, Vidari, Shatavari and Aloe Vera.
If you are a diabetic patient looking for Ayurvedic treatment options, consult an Ayurveda practitioner or a diabetes specialist to know the right kind of treatment that caters to the dosha for your body type and lifestyle.
