UNDERSTANDING ETIOPATHOGENESIS OF SHEETAPITTA – A CRITICAL REVIEW

The disease Sheetapitta (NAMC, Disease morbidity code ED 14) was kept forth by Madhavakara in Rigvinis- chayam. Vinaya Pitaka, a book from Buddhist literature of about 500 BCE mentioned a disease named Chavidosha- badha (literally mean skin disease) or Julpittee1 (a disease which causes red coloured wheals and itching on the body). Sheetapitta like manifestations named Udarda, Kotha, Utkotha., were explained in different contexts since the Samhita period. On the contrary with Ushna and Tikshna guna of Pitta, Sheeta guna was used to name the disease, Sheetapitta. Sheetapitta is characterized by Varati dastavat shotha, Kandu, Daha, Thoda, Jwara, Chardi, where all the tridosha involvement is seen. In this regard, there is uncertainty in determining the Nidana, Samprapthi and Samprapthi ghataka of the disease. Hence, here my present study deals with the nomenclature, detailed nidana, Samprapthi and Chikitsa of Sheetapitta.Keywords: Sheetapitta, Nomenclature, Nidana, Samprapthi, Chikitsa.