Ayurvedic Management and Treatment Protocol for Adnexal Tumors

Introduction

Adnexal tumors are growths arising from the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or surrounding tissues. They can be benign or malignant, presenting with symptoms like abdominal pain, pelvic mass, bloating, menstrual irregularities, or infertility. From an Ayurvedic perspective, these can be correlated with conditions such as Gulma (abdominal mass), Granthi (localized growths), or Arbuda (tumors), depending on the presentation.

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Ayurvedic Understanding

• Doṣa Involvement:

  • Vāta: Responsible for abnormal cell division, irregular growth, pain.

  • Kapha: Contributes to mass formation, heaviness, cystic nature.

  • Pitta: Involved in inflammatory changes, malignancy, and associated burning symptoms.

• Samprāpti (Pathogenesis):
  Improper diet and lifestyle → Agnimandya (weak digestion) → Āma formation → Doṣa duṣṭi (esp. Kapha + Vāta) → Sthānasamśraya in Yoni/Arbuda-prone tissues → Granthi/Gulma formation.

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Treatment Protocol

1. Nidāna Parivarjana (Avoidance of Causative Factors)

• Avoid heavy, oily, cold, fast foods.

• Correct lifestyle: avoid stress, sedentary habits, irregular sleep.

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2. Śamana Cikitsā (Palliative Therapy)

Focus: reduce mass, improve Agni, balance doṣas, and clear Āma.

• Kaṣāya (Decoctions):

  • Kāñcanāra Guggulu – for Granthi/Arbuda.

  • Trikaṭu + Triphalā + Guggulu combinations – for āma-pācana, śothahara, granthighna.

  • Varuṇādi Kaṣāya – effective in Gulma, pelvic masses.

  • Daśamūla Kaṣāya – for pain and inflammation.

• Guṭikā (Tablets):

  • Arogyavardhinī vaṭi – for metabolism correction.

  • Kāñcanāra Guggulu – prime medicine for adnexal growths.

• Cūrṇa (Powders):

  • Triphala cūrṇa – for detoxification.

  • Hingvāṣṭaka cūrṇa – for vāta anulomana, abdominal pain, bloating.

• Taila/Ghṛta (Medicated oils/ghee):

  • Kumāryāsava – improves female reproductive health, regulates menses.

  • Aśokāriṣṭa – balances Pitta and controls abnormal bleeding.

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3. Śodhana Cikitsā (Purification Therapies)

If patient is fit (bala-anurūpa), śodhana helps to prevent recurrence.

• Vamana / Virecana – to remove Kapha-Pitta doṣa vitiation.

• Basti karma (enema therapy) – especially Kṣāra basti / Yoga basti to balance vāta and reduce pelvic masses.

• Uttarabasti (medicated oil/ghee intrauterine therapy, under strict supervision) – with Kṣīrabala taila, Kañcanārādi taila, or Phala ghṛta.

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4. Kṣāra Karma & Lekhana

• Internal use of Apāmārga Kṣāra (under supervision) for its lekhanīya (scraping) effect.

• Use of Lekhana basti for reducing size of mass.

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5. Rasāyana Therapy

To prevent recurrence and improve reproductive tissue health:

• Aśvagandhā

• Śatāvarī

• Guḍūcī

• Bala

• Amṛtāriṣṭa

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Supportive Protocol

• Diet (Āhāra):

  • Light, easily digestible, warm food.

  • Avoid excessive dairy, fried food, meat, and alcohol.

  • Use turmeric, ginger, garlic, and cumin regularly.

• Lifestyle (Vihāra):

  • Regular exercise, yoga (esp. Vajrāsana, Bhadraāsana, Suptabaddhakoṇāsana).

  • Stress management with meditation and prāṇāyāma.

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Modern-Ayurvedic Integrative Approach

• Monitor mass with ultrasound / MRI to assess progress.

• Benign tumors often regress with proper Ayurvedic management.

• Malignant or suspicious adnexal tumors require integrative approach (surgery, chemotherapy) along with Ayurveda for immunity and recovery.

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✅ Summary:
Adnexal tumors in Ayurveda are managed under Granthi/Gulma/Arbuda cikitsā, focusing on āma-pācana, kapha-vāta śamana, lekhana, and rasāyana therapies. Kāñcanāra Guggulu, Varuṇādi kaṣāya, Trikaṭu, Triphala, śodhana therapies (basti, uttarabasti), and rasāyana drugs are the mainstay, supported by diet and lifestyle regulation.