Article 03

'OJOMEHA' as AIDS in Modern System of Medicine

Abstract: Though AIDS virus H.I.V. was first detected in 1970s but AIDS was known to Ayurvedists as OJOMEHA since 18th century. 'AIDS' can be prevented and cured following the preventive measures and treatment of OJOMEHA.

Introduction: In 18th century Govinda Dasa in 'Bhaisajya-Ratnawati', had explained a disease OJOMEHA which is in comparison with modem AIDS. To compare OJOMEHA with AIDS one will have to follow modern AIDS in Ayurvedic terms and vice-versa. AIDS is a disease causing profound suppression of immunity (i.e. oja-defects) said to be caused by virus H.I.V. Its pathology shows that blood corpuscles especially T-lymphocytes (i.e. asra-dosa) are affected with ultimate involvement of liver. spleen, (i.e., raktasroto mula dusith) bone marrow, thymus. lungs and other systems.'

Definition of OJOMEHA

OJOMEHA is a disease in which oja-(immunity mechanism) is defective, so death is impending because of decreased body resistance.

Above definition of OJOMEHA is in accordance with modern AIDS in which immunity is suppressed and patient dies before time with super added infections.

Etiology

There are two types of factors taking part in development of a disease One is germs creating the pathology and others is the 'helping factor.' e.g. our dietary habits and environmental factors. These 'helping ` factors' affect resistance of a particular organ or the whole body making it susceptible for germs to survive and multiply without any resistance If these factors are not present, no germ can survive in our body or can develop any disease. It is why, Ayurveda has always highlighted the helping factors only and germs / bacteria are ignored, taking them under a single category. 'suksham bhutas ie organism invisible with naked eye. This principle of 'helping factors is proved in case of AIDS also. According to one survey only in 67% of H.I.V. positive persons, 'AIDS' was developed while of 33% cases AIDS was not developed even after 10-years of receiving the H.I.V. infection. So, for developing AIDS there should be some other helping factors also which were present in those 67% and were absent in 33% lucky persons.

Persons who are suffering from rheumatism, trauma, anorexia, indigestion and other gastrointestinal disturbances, both local and or generalised oedema, intermittent fever, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, cold and sneezing, their RAKATSROTAS become effected with ASRA- DOSHA, some times whose both the kidneys are also effected, and or whose semen and urine is effected with pus, blood and or serum- in those persons; and whose mothers during pregnancy are use to much of curries, alkaline, astringent and other type of foods which are contra indicated during pregnancy, eat both quantitatively , qualitatively heavy and unhygenic putrid food, eat 'oja' producing sweet things often and in excess-in those Infants; apart from above factors, with eating meat of a specific HAMSA (a bird), ingestion of new grains like wheat, intake of and bathing in too much cold, impure, polluted water OJA is affected and the disease OJOMEHA develops.

AMVAATA (Rheumatism: Auto immune changes take place in Rheumatism which show that immunity system is already involved in this type of persons.

ABHIGATA (Trauma): Trauma can be a cause of hypopituatrism which in turn, in turn affect immunity system.

Gastrointestinal Involvement: Also reduces body resistance as a result of malabsorption.

Oedema: May be symptom of thyroid or pituatory gland involvement winch in turn affect immunity mechanism.

Intermittent Fever: Or its etiological factors can affect blood corpuscles and can ultimately affect body resistance.

Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis and T.B.: Show that in OJOMEHA there is involvement of lungs which synthesis some of immunoglobulins. It shows that body resistance and particularly at organic level lungs are involved. In modern AIDS two particular signs 'Kaposi's sarcoma' and Pneumonia caused by 'Pneumocystis carinii' show the major involvement of lungs at organic level. Persons of tubercular diathesis are generally involved it is also verified by modern studies. Histeocytes present in lymph nodes of some of AIDS patients show deposits of 'Acid fast bacilli. B.C.G. vaccine Is contra indicated in H.I.V. positive infants. And above all indication of antitubercular treatment in AIDS patients show that this is a major helping factor for H.I.V. organism survival and AIDS development.

RAKATASROTAS: In Ayurveda liver and spleen are 'MULAS of RAKATASROTAS. These MULAS also become affected along with / SROTAS. Involvement of liver and spleen in AIDS is also accepted by modem science.

ASRA-DOSHA: ASRA means 'blood' which indicates involveinent of T- lymphocytes in 'AIDS' as well as parenteral transmission of H.I.V.

VRIKKA (Kidneys): Involvement of kidneys in AIDS is indicated by urinary tract infections with other sexually transmitted diseases along with 'HIV transmission.

Pus, Blood and Serum: Pus, Blood and Serum detected in semen and urine show involvement of genital system in 'OJOMEHA' which show its sexual transmission as of HIV.

Curries etc. Diet of Pregnant Lady: Indicates that general health of mother during pregnancy can be a helping factor in development of AIDS in HIV positive infants. This also show perinatal transmission of OJOMEHA. OJA is developed by OJA increasing, heavy diet is contrary to the Ayurvedic principle that OJA controls immunity system and immunity should increase with increased OJA. No doubt OJA increases quantitatively but its quality is poor (i.e., OJOVISRAMSA and OJOVYAPAD defect of OJA). It is why immunity decreases inspite of increased quantity of OJA. OJOMEHA is the only disease in Ayurveda in which OJA is increased. This happens in AIDS also - 'Paradoxically, patient with AIDS typically have hypergammaglobulineamia' (Diseases of Immunity- Robin's Pathological Basis of Diseases').

Meat of a specific HAMSA (a specific bird): Can be a helping factor in development of AIDS is only the matter of question.

Ingestion of New Grains like Wheat: Can be a helping factor for AIDS development in H.I.V. positive persons is manifested by onset of diarrhoea and ultimately malabsorption syndrom with ingestion of new grains for longer period. This Malabsorption Syndrome also reduces body resistance and making it susceptible for HIV organism survival.

POLLUTED WATER: Can be a helping factor for AIDS, development in HIV positive persons, is indicated by early studies of AIDS, Though it is not a route of HIV transmission but in early days it was said that AIDS is transmitted by polluted water.' (Indian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 1, No. 5 Oct. 1990 'AIDS Conceptions and Misconceptions). And at present, presence of fungal inclusions in histeocytes present in lymph nodes of some of AIDS patients, also indicate that polluted water may act as a helping factor for AIDS development in H.I.V. positive persons.

Above studies show that etiological factors of OJOMEHA may act as Helping factors for AIDS development in H.I.V. positive persons. In modern science, three routes of H.I.V. transmission also act as helping factors in development of AIDS.

1. Sexual Transmission: Especially in multipartners show sexual over indulgence which, in Ayurveda, is a major factor for reducing body immunity and making it susceptible for H.I.V. survival.
2. Parenteral transmission: Factors / diseases indicating need of transfusion, also, already reduce body resistance making it susceptible HIV survival.
3. Perinatal Transmission: Mother's general health is also considered for development of AIDS in HIV positive infants ( WHO AIDS Series-3 ).

Need of helping factors for H.I.V. survival, is also proved with the fact that secretions like urine, saliva and breast milk also contain HIV organisms but the organism do not survive or develop AIDS transmitted by these routes. This is so because no route of transmission of these secretions, reduces our body resistance. It is why breast feeding is not contra-indicated even in H.I V. positive mothers.

Signs / Symptoms: Filteration of OJA, in urine, which is protein in nature, flatulance, constipation or diarrhoea, indigestion, nausea, fatigue, lethargy, sever anaemia, involvement of skin, lumbago, headache, change of urinary frequency, muscular atrophy and ocular oedema are the sign symptoms of OJOMEHA. Along with these symptoms there may be loss of fat anorexia, fever, oedema and digestive disturbances which show its uncurable stage. Above sign symptoms are usually found in stage A.R.C. and AIDS. Other symptoms found in Acute Phase, A.R.C. and AIDS e.g. influenza, sore throat, night sweats, spleenomegaly and lung affections are explained in etiological factors of 'Ojameha'. Sign , symptoms of neurological menifestations of AIDS are explained in Ayurveda under OJA defects which plays a major rote in OJOMEHA . Fever in uncurable stage of OJOMEHA indicates super added infections in AIDS. Whereas fever in etiological factor of OJOMEHA indicates fever in acute phase of H.I.V. infection, before actual development of AIDS.