CONCEPT OF GULMA

By Dr. BIKASH MAHARJAN

PG SCHOLAR
DEPARTMENT OF KAYACHIKITSA
INTRODUCTION
■ Vitiated doshas predominantly Vata (with or without
rakta) – residing in mahasrotas

1. Forms a glandular, hardened lump

2. Round in size
3. Which increases and decreases

4. Can be palpated (C. Ni. 3/5-7)

Sushruta has said that gulma is deep rooted, fixed and is

round in shape. (Su. U. 42/5)
NIRUKTI

s'lktflgnd"nTjfb u"9d"nf]bofblk .
u'Ndjåf ljzfnTjfb\ u'Nd OTolewLot] .. Su. U. 42/5
Specific features of gulma:
1.Vatik Gulma:
Obstruction of flatus, dryness of the throat and mouth, shivering, fever, pain in heart and
abdominal sides, shoulder and head, aggravates on empty stomach and relieved on ingestion
of food; the condition is worsened by dryastringent-bitter and pungent substances.
• 2. Pittaja gulma:
In the condition, fever, thirst, redness of the face, pain, sweating, burning and tenderness are
complained by the patients.
• 3. Kaphajagulma:
This produces inertia, shivering, fever, body ache, nausea, cough, tastelessness, heaviness,
and hard elevated non inflammatory masses.
NIDANA

विट्श्लेष्मपित्तातिपरिस्रवाद्वा तैरेव वृद्धैः परिपीडनाद्वा|

वेगैरुदीर्णैर्विहतैरधो वा बाह्यभिघातैरतिपीडनैर्वा||४||
रूक्षान्नपानैरतिसेवितैर्वा शोके न मिथ्याप्रतिकर्मणा वा|
विचेष्टितैर्वा विषमातिमात्रैः कोष्ठे प्रकोपं समुपैति वायुः||५||
NIDANA
1. Ati parisrava of vit, Sleshma and Pitta : Excessive
production of faeces, Kapha & Pitta
2. Paripeedana i.e. pressure on or obstruction of Vayu by the
increase in the quality of feces, Kapha & Pitta
3. Suppression of Vegas (manifested natural urges) moving
downwards like urine, flatus and faeces
4. Shoka : Affliction by grief
5. Improper administration of elimination therapies and
6. Excessive or abnormal physical behavior
SAMPRAPTI

कफं च पित्तं च स दुष्टवायुरुद्धूय मार्गान् विनिबद्ध्य ताभ्याम्|

हृन्नाभिपार्श्वोदर बस्तिशूलं करोत्यथो याति न बद्धमार्गः||६||
पक्वाशये पित्तकफाशये वा स्थितः स्वतन्त्रः परसंश्रयो वा|
स्पर्शोपलभ्यः परिपिण्डितत्वाद्गुल्मो यथादोषमुपैति नाम||७||
SAMPRAPTI
• The vitiated Vayu provokes either Kapha or Pitta or
both.

• They obstruct the channels of circulation to cause pain

in the regions of heart, umbilicus, and sides of the chest,
abdomen and urinary bladder.

• Doshas do not get eliminated & are confined to

Pakvashaya (colon) Pittashaya (small intestine) or
Kaphashaya (Stomach) either independently (Svatantra)
or in association with other Doshas (paratantra)

• It becomes palpable because of its round shape for

which it is called Gulma. [6-7]
Gulma Sthana – Locations:
बस्तौ च नाभ्यां हृदि पार्श्वयोर्वा स्थानानि गुल्मस्य भवन्ति पञ्च|
पञ्चात्मकस्य प्रभवं तु तस्य वक्ष्यामि लिङ्गानि चिकित्सितं च||८||

The 5 sites of manifestation of Gulma are:

• Basti – Urinary bladder,

• Nabhi – umbilicus,
• Hridi- heart and
• Parshva sthana – 2 sides of the abdomen (parsva)
 SAMPRAPTI CHAKRA
NIDANA VATA
SEVANA PRAKOPA

MARGAVARO KAPHA –
DHA OF VATA PITTA DUSHTI

URDHWAGAMA PARSHWA, HRIDAYA,

NA OF KUPITA NABHI, BASTI SULA
VAYU UTPATTI

GULMA
ROGA
BHEDA
ACHARYA NUMBER TYPES
CHARAKA 5 V, P, K, Raktaja and Nichhaya Gulma
SUSHRUTA 5 V, P, K, Raktaja and Kshataja Gulma
VAGHBATA 8 V, P, K, R, S, and 3 dvidoshaja gulma
MADHAVA 5 V, P, K, R and S
BHAVPRAKAS 5 V, P, K, R and S
HA
SARANGDHAR 8 V, P, K, R, S and 3 Dvidoshaja gulma
A
BHELA 5 V, P, K, S and Lohita gulma
KASHYAPA 5 V, P, K, R and S
HARITA 5 Yakrita Gulma, Asthila, Granthi,
Candavivriddhaka (Basti pradeshastha),
Pliha Gulma
SAMANYA POORVARUPA
■ Anannabhilasha (no desire to take food),

■ Aruchi (desires but can’t take food),

■ Abubhuksha(loss of appetite),

■ Avipaka (indigestion) and

■ Agnivaishamya (irregular digestion and metabolism)

Two peculiar prodromalsymptoms are to be concerned

• Vomiting / belching at the time of completion of digestion without any

apparent cause.

• Sauhityasya asahatvam or Triptakshamatva, means patient cannot take food up

to the level of optimum satiety.
 VATAJA ASHMARI
■ Vata and kapha dosha after combining together obstructs
the urine and causes pain as a result person bites his
teeth, presses navel, external genitals, anus and shouts
due to pain.
■ Has to pass urine after putting force.
■ The ashmari formed is Shyava, hard,
irregular, rough, it contains thorny
structures like of kadamba Pushpa.
Ref. : Su. Ni. 3/10
FEATURES
■ Blackish, Reddish stone like Kadamb
■ Acute pain in bladder radiating to penis
■ Irregular surface of stone
■ Retention of Urine
■ Increased frequency of urine
■ Children are more prone
PITTAJA ASHMARI
■ Kapha dosha along with Pitta dosha attends
compactness and obstructs the urine and produces
discomfort like burning sensation in the basti-
medhra, feeling of hot air coming out of bladder.

■ Ashmari appears like red, yellow, dark in colour

and appears like seed of Bhallataka.
FEATURES
■ Burning sensation in bladder

■ Inflammation in lower abdomen and bladder

■ Reddish stone

■ Small and marking nut like stone

Ref. : A. H. Ni. 9/11-12

KAPHAJA ASHMARI

■ The Kapha dosha attends compactness and

increases in size and obstructs the urine.

■ It produces features like tearing type of pain in

bladder, heaviness in the bladder & feeling of cold.

■ Ashmari appears like hen’s egg, pale-white colour,

unctous to touch, large in size and like madhuka
flower.
SHUKRASHMARI
■ Causes = shukraveghdharan or excessive coitus.
■ The vitiated vata causes vimargagaman of shukra into
medhra or vrushana and after drying it up forms the
shukrashmari.
■ The resultant ashmari obstructs flow of urine and
causes dysuria, pain in bladder and external genitals,
oedema in legs.
■ Retention of urine
■ White and soft stone
Secondary diseases of asmari- Sarkara, Sikata meha & bhasmakhya roga
 Vataja Ashmari Ureteric calculus
Tivra vedanam bhavati, Ureteric colic – The agonizing pain occurs typically at
loin and radiates to groin.
Bhrusha peeda
It starts suddenly and patient moves around to find
comfort.
The severe colicky intolerable pain originates at loin and
Atyartha peedyamano dantaan radiates to groin. When the stone descends to lower
khadati ureter, pain radiates to the testical, labia majora and
upper portion of the thigh.
Nabhi peedayati anisham Urgency and frequency of urination
Nabhi, mehana, guda shula
Mrudgati medhran

Mehati binushah
Pittaja ashmari Vesical calculus
Pittena dahayate basti, dahyate, Burning and sucking type of pain(scalding type)
pacchate, dushyate iva vedana occurs when the stone approaches the bladder.
A stone impacting very nearer to bladder exactly
mimic an acute cystitis.
Kaphaja Ashmari Fixed renal calculus
Dalyate, bhidyate, suchibiriva vedana, Dull and constant ache at renal angles
Basti guruta, Heaviness felt in the region of kidney
Basti nisthoda Fixed pain which does not radiate
Characteristics Vataja ashmari Calcium oxalate stones
Colour Shyava varna Calcium oxalate stones – Produces
Surface Parusha & kara haematuria resulting in deposition of
Vishama blood over the stone, giving dark color
Edges Hard studded with thorns to the stone.
Shape Like Kadamba pushpa Hard with rough surface, Irregular
Cal. oxalate stones have sharp
projections

Characteristics Pittaja ashmari Uric acid, Urate or Cystine calculus

Colour Rakta varna/peetavarna/ Yellowish
Krishna varna or madhu Reddish brown
Shape Varna, Bhallataka asthi Hexagonal shape

Characteristics Kapahaja Ashmari Phosphate stone

Colour Sweta, madhuvarna, sitavarna, Dirty white, or yellow white
Madhukapushpa varna, Pingala
& sukla varna
Size Mahati They grow bigger in size in major and
Surface Snigdha minor calyces.
Shape Kukkutanda pratikasha They are soft round like hens egg, and
slowly stag horn stones are formed.
DIAGNOSIS
■ Detailed Medical History

■ Physical Examination

■ Investigations

Primary diagnostic Imaging tool

– USG

- X-Ray –KUB

- NCCT

- Routine investigations like CUE, Serum Blood Sample

- 24hr. Urine Volume

X-Ray characteristics of stone
● Calcium oxalate dehydrate
Radiopaque ● Calcium oxalate monohydrate
● Calcium phosphates

● Magnesium ammonium phosphate

Poor Radiopacity ● Cystine

● Uric acid
Radiolucent ● Xanthine
● Ammonium urate
ASADHYAA
■ Patient having swelling

in umbilicus & testis

■ Patient with anuria
■ Pt. having severe pain
■ Pt. with both stone &

sarkara and sikata

UPADRAVA

■ Weakness ■ Anemia
■ Heaviness in Body ■ Gonorrhea
■ Emaciation ■ Polydipsia
■ Pain in abdomen ■ Vomiting
■ Anorexia
CHIKITSA SUTRA
■ Nidana parivarjana

■ Ahara – Eating balanced diet, Maintaining Hydration

■ Treatment of Associated Etiologies like Gout,

Hypercalcemia,

Hyperoxularia, etc.

■ Surgery as mentioned by Sushruta in chikitsasthana.

■ Samsodhana karma – Snehana, Swedana, Vamana,

Virechena, Vasti and also Uttarabasti.
VATAJA ASHMARI
■ Give medicated ghee followed by Niruha and anuvasana basti.

■ Sahachara taila – 20-40 drops during apana period

■ Bolbaddha rasa – 250mg. 3 times a day

■ Kwath : Mixture of Punarnavadi kwath with varunadi kwath in

equal parts, dose 30ml. 3 times a day.

■ Pashanbheda, vasuka, shatavari, gokshura, bhruhati, kantakari

etc drugs should be used in form of kshaar, yavagu, kwatha,
milk, food etc.
PITTAJA ASHMARI
■ Ghee prepared from trinapanchamuladi , dose 2gm. 3 times/day

■ Chandraprabhavati with Avipattikar churna 3times/day

■ Vitarvadi kwath, 15 ml, 3times/day

■ Punarnavashtaka kwath, 30 ml. twice/day with Chandrakala rasa 125

mg.

■ Karpasamuladi yoga, Shatavaryadi yoga

■ Kusha-kasha-sara-gundra-itkata-Morata(sugarcaneroot),
pashanbhedha, vidaari-varahkanda-shaalimoola, gokshura,
shyonaka, punarnava, shirisha, lotus seed, evaru (cucumber) etc
KAPHAJA ASHMARI
■ Shadanshtradi kwath : dose 15 ml. 3 times/day

■ Decoction prepared from Veeratarvadi group or Ushakadi

group : Dose 15 ml. 3 times/day

■ Varunadi gana, guggulu, ela, kushtha, devdaru, haridra,

maricha, chitraka etc drugs in form of kshar, peya, kshira,
yavagu, kwatha.

■ Asmarihara Kashaya, Gokshuradi guggulu, triphala guggulu,

Trikantakadi guggulu.
SUKRAJA
ASHMARI
■ Chandraprabhavati

■ Pashanbhedadi churna

■ Dashamularishta

■ Varuna=Sigru-Kulattha Kwatha

■ Jatamamsi Himkashaya
Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet Coculus hirsutus (L.)

List of Drug Used In Urolithiasis

Abutilon indicum (L.) Corbichonia decumbens (Forrsk.)

Abutilon marmelose (L.) Costus speciosus (Koen.)

and Urinary Tract Trouble

Aerva lanata (L.) Cynodon dactylon (L.)

Ageratum conyzoides (L.) Daucas carota (L.)

Amaranthus caudatus (L.) Digera muricata (L.)

Amaranthus spinosus (L.) Diospyros melaoxylon (Rox.)

Amaranthus viridis (L.) Equisetum debile (Roxb.)

Argemone Mexicana (L.) Gomphrena celosiodes (Mart.)

Asphodelus tenuifolius (Cav.) Grewia flavescens (A. Juss)

Beta vulgaris (L.) Pedalium murea (L.)

Bombax ceiba (L.) Solanum surattense

Boerhavia diffusa (L.) Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.)

Cassia fistula (L.) Tribulus terrestris (L.)

Celosia arigentia Tridex procumbens (L.)

Ceropegia bulbos (L.) Tubiflora acaulis (L.F.)

Chenopodium album (L.) Zea mays (L.)

Costus speciosus (Koen.)

 Plants useful in dissolving stone
Plant Family Plant Family
Aerva javanica Amaranthaceae Desmodium styracifolium Papilionaceae

Ammania baccifera Lythraceae Didymocarpus pedicellata Gesneriaceae

Arctostaphylos ura ursi Asteraceae Dolichos biflorus Leguminoceae

Ascyrum hypericoides Asclepidaceae Eupatorium puipurecum Compositae

Asparagus racemosus Liliaceae Homonia riparia Euphorbiaceae

Berginia ligulata Saxifragaceae Mentha piperita Labiatae

Bridolia montana Caesalpinioceae Musa paradisiaca Musaceae

Chelidonium majus Papaveraceae Nothosaerva brachiate Laminaceae

Chimaphila numbellata Cruciferae Orhosiphon aristatus Labiatae

Curcuma longa Zingiberaceae Desmodium styracifolium Papilionaceae

 Plants showing anti-urolithiatic acitivity

Plant Family Plant Family

Alismatis rhizome Alismataceae Mimosops elengi Sapotaceae

Bryophyllum pinnatum Crassulaceae Macrotyloma uniflorum Fabaceae

Citrus medica Rutaceae Orthosiphon grandiflorus Lamiaceae

Costus spiralis Costaceae Plecanthus umboinicus Lamiaceae

Crataeva magna Capparidaceae Phyla nodiflora Verbenaceae

Eleusine cornala Poaceae Phyllanthus niruri Euphorbiaceae

Helianthus annus Asteraceae Plantago major Plantaginaceae

Ichnocarpus frutescens Apocynaceae Raphanus sativus Brassicaceae

Moringa oleifera Moringaceae Solanum xanthocarpum Solanaceae

Medical Management
Renal colic:
• Pain relief should be initiated immediately.
 NSAIDs are effective in patients with
acute stone colic
 Opioids are associated with a high
rate of vomiting compared to NSAIDs

• Prevention of recurrent renal colic

 First choice: NSAIDs. (diclofenac*, indomethacin or ibuprofen**).
 Second choice: hydromorphine, pentazocine or tramadol.
 Alpha-blockers as medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stone.
Surgical Management
• Obstruction relief:
 Ureteral stent insertion
 Percutaneous nephrostomy

• Definitive surgical treatment:

 ESWL
 Ureteroscopy
 PCNL
 Open, laparoscopic & robotic
pyelo-lithotomy, ureterolithotomy,
cystolithotomy
PATHYA-APATHYA
■ Patient should drink at least 2-3 litres of water every day.

■ Barley water, tender coconut water is more useful.

■ Consuming Kullatha, green gram, old rice and wheat,

yavakshara, juice of kushmanda.

■ Vegetables prepared from the leaves of Varuna,

pashanabheda, sahijana, gokshura, shalparni, etc.

■ Avoid amla, vistambhi, guru, ruksha in excess and also

avoid viruddha ahara and vidahi annapana sevana.
No. of Research Papers upon Mutrashmari in AYUSH
Research Portal
No. of Research Papers upon Mutrashmari in AYUSH
Research Portal