PANCHAKOLA SIDDHA YAVAGU[MEDICATED RICE GRUEL] IN MANAGEMENT OF VATARAKTA [GOUTY ARTHRITIS]: A REVIEW

Yavagu or rice gruels are used as daily food items in Kerala and southern part of India, as they are light to digest. “Panchakola siddha yavagu” is a medicated rice gruel mentioned in classical Ayurveda book Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana “Apamarga tanduliya”chapter. And it is used in inflammatory conditions like Gout arthritis. It contains drugs such as Pippali [ Piper longum], Pippalimoola [Root of Piper nigrum], Nagara [Zingiber officinale], Chavya [Piper chaba] and Chitraka [ Plumbago zeylanica] which are all processed in six times of water along with rice. In case of Gouty arthritis, in Ayurvedic point of view, it is due to improper digestion of food in body associated with doshas like vata and rakta. It causes reddish discolouration, debility, looseness and cutting or pulsating type of pain in knees, ankles, hips, shoulders, fingers and toes. The drugs mentioned in Panchakola Siddha Yavagu ie Shogaol present in dry ginger [Nagara], Plumbagin present in fire plant [Chitraka], Piperine present in Long pepper [Pippali], Long pepper root [ Pippali moola], and Wild pepper [Chavya] is proved to be having anti-inflammatory action. So that by consuming rice gruel containing these drugs will help to reduce symptoms like inflammation, looseness and pain present in joints in conditions like Gouty arthritis.