Role of yoga and Ayurveda in the management of functional dyspepsia

Abstract

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is commonly known as chronic indigestion and manifests as a group of upper gastrointestinal symptoms such as epigastric pain or burning, postprandial fullness, bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting, and early satiety without any organic or structural cause. In Ayurveda, these symptoms can be considered Ajīrṇa. A 25-year-old male patient with FD, taking on and off conventional treatment for the past few months without much relief, presented to the outpatient department. As the pathophysiology of FD is complex and multifactorial, it is difficult to manage it only with oral medication. Pawanamuktāsana-II and Vajrāsana were advised, along with Hingwāṣṭaka Cūrṇa, to manage the related symptoms. After 4 months of treatment, the signs and symptoms of the disease significantly decreased. The present case report elucidates the role of Yoga as an adjuvant therapy in the Āyurvedic management of FD.

Keywords

• ajīrṇa
• functional dyspepsia
• yogāsana
• pawanamuktāsana-ii
• vajrāsana