Review on Vachadi shirolepa: A Sri Lankan traditional herbal paste used for Tridoshaja Shiroroga

Abstract

Shiroroga broadly refers to a spectrum of painful conditions manifesting in the Mastishka (head). According to Ayurveda, Tridoshaja shiroroga is a very painful condition of the head caused by the simultaneous aggravation of all three Dosha. The aim of the study was to review on Vachadi shirolepa: herbal paste mentioned in Thalpathe piliyam book used in Tridoshaja shiroroga. The data were collected from authentic Ayurveda and modern texts, journal articles and scientific databases. Observations were recorded and results were analyzed by percentage. The herbal ingredients of Vachadi shirolepa possessed with Katu rasa mainly (50%) while the prominent Guna was Laghu guna (36.48%). Ushna veerya (87.5%) and Katu vipaka (75%) were significant. Katu rasa, Ushna veerya and Laghu guna are responsible for pacifying Vata, Kapha and Pitta dosha. The most prominent Karma was Vatakapha shamaka (87.5%) while the prominent Guna karma of the ingredients were Vedanananshaka, Kaphanissaraka, Kaphaghna and Jeewaniya which are responsible in alleviating the severity of the headache. The majority of ingredients possessed properties such as anelgesic, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and antioxidant, which excel in providing acute symptom relief. The ingredients contain flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids and glycosides as phytochemicals. According to the pharmacodynamic properties, Dosha karma, Guna karma, modern pharmacological attributes and secondary metabolites, Vachadi shirolepa is capable of managing Tridoshaja shiroroga based on Dosha vyadhi viparitha concept. Hence, Vachadi shirolepa can be logically proven as a promising and effective external paste in the management of Tridoshaja shiroroga. Further, efficacy can be validated by conducting large sample clinical trials which is of social importance.