Ayurvedic Treatment for Abortion - AyurvedaForAll UK

Ayurvedic Treatment for Abortion aims to restore the pregnancy and to avoid recurrent episodes in the future. Abortion is a condition in which the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus occurs before it has reached the stage of viability (in human beings, usually about the 20th week of gestation). An Abortion or Miscarriage may occur spontaneously and it occurs in approximately 30 to 50 percentages of pregnancies.

Abortion may be of different types,

Induced Abortion: This is a case in which pregnancy is intentionally aborted and the abortion method is selected considering the gestational age. Other factors like legality and regional factors are also considered. The reason for procuring induced abortion may be either therapeutic or elective.

Spontaneous Abortion or Miscarriage: This is the unintentional expulsion of an embryo or fetus before the 24th week of gestation.

Signs and symptoms of Abortion
Causes of Abortion
Pathophysiology of Abortion
Diagnosis of Abortion
Treatments of Abortion
Prognosis of Abortion
Complications of Abortion
Abortion in Ayurveda
Nidana- Causes of Abortion
Purvaroopam (Premonitory Symptoms) of Abortion
Samprapthi (Maturation) of Abortion
Lakshana of Abortion
Prognosis of Abortion
Chikitsa (Treatment) of Abortion
Commonly used medicines for Abortion
Diet desirable to prevent Abortion
Yoga
Research articles link.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Abortion include,

Vaginal bleeding: this may vary from light spotting or slight brownish discharge to heavy bright red colored bleeding. Light vaginal bleeding is common in the first trimester and it does not necessarily lead to miscarriage.
cramping and pain in lower abdomen
discharge of tissue or fluid from the vagina no longer experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, such as feeling sick and breast tenderness.
Mild to severe back pain

Causes

Spontaneous abortions, or miscarriages, occur for many reasons, including

Diseases and infections like Toxoplasmosis, Neosporosis, Sarcosporidiosis (sarcocystosis) and Trypanosomiasis
Trauma
Genetic defect
Biochemical incompatibility of mother and fetus.
Exposure to high levels of radiation or toxic agents.
Hormonal irregularities- in this case, the uterine lining does not develop properly for implantation.
Improper implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterine lining.
Age and severe malnutrition of the mother
Uterine abnormalities like submucous fibroids, developmental abnormalities like septate uterus, etc.
Incompetent cervix.
Certain medicines, such as the acne drug Isotretinoin (Accutane®).
Thyroid disorders- Both hyper- and hypothyroidism have been associated with increased risk of pregnancy loss

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis of Threatened abortion is that there occurs a choriodecidual haemorrhage but not progress to the stage of irreversibility. The chain of events once the process of miscarriage is initiated includes uterine spasm which may be associated with spotting without damaging the intrauterine gestational sac. This means the cervix is not open and the products of conception are not displaced yet

Diagnosis

Pelvic examination and Ultrasonography are the commonly used tools to confirm Abortion. More diagnostic procedures are to be needed to evaluate the cause of repeated miscarriage. This includes,

Endometrial biopsy.
Hysterosalpinogram which is an X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Hysteroscopy is a test in which the doctor visualises the interior of the uterus with telescope-like device.
Laparoscopy – this is a procedure in which the doctor views the pelvic organs with the help of a lighted device.

Treatments

Threatened abortion- The treatment is observation. The doctors usually suggest bed rest and Progesterone therapy.

Inevitable, incomplete, or missed abortions- treatment includes the uterine evacuation or waiting for spontaneous passage of the products of conception.

Evacuation usually involves suction curettage if it is less than 12 weeks, dilation and evacuation if the gestational age is between 12 to 23 weeks and medical induction using drugs like misoprostol is needed if age of gestation is 16 to 23 weeks.

If complete abortion is suspected, then uterine evacuation is not needed. Uterine evacuation is necessary if bleeding occurs and if products of conception may be retained.

After an induced or spontaneous abortion, parents may be given emotional support.

Prognosis

After the 12th week of pregnancy, up to 90% of pregnancies in which vaginal bleeding occurred in the first trimester will be carried to term. It is important to arrange specific care for the rest of the pregnancy as women with first-trimester bleeding in the first pregnancy have an increased risk of complications later in the pregnancy and of recurrent first-trimester bleeding and similar complications in the subsequent pregnancy.

Complications

Post-abortion complications develop due to infection, incomplete evacuation of products of conception leading to hemorrhage and injury due to surgical procedure. The complications developed may be depending on the gestational age ad method adopted for abortion. Complications of spontaneous miscarriages and therapeutic abortions include Complications of anesthesia, Post-abortion triad (that is pain, bleeding, low-grade fever), Hematomata and Retained products of conception, Failed abortion and septic abortion

Disease and Ayurveda:

Abortion can correlated with Garbhasrava and Garbhapaata

Expulsion of fetus up to 4 months of gestation is called garbhasrava
Beyond 4^th month- garbhapata

Nidana- Causes

Aharaja factors (Diet) causing the garbhasrava can be:

Rooksha katu tikta bhojana (dry, acrid and bitter tastes)

Atikshara sevana (highly alkaline foods)

Viharaja factors (daily regimens) include:

Gramyadharama (Intercourse),Yaana vahana(traveling in vehicles) vyayama (exercise),samkshobha (vigorous act),sandharana (forceful withholding of natural urges)

Adhwagamana (walking)

Dhavana (Running)

Abhighata (Trauma)

Vishama sayana asana (Awkward lying postures) , vamana(vomiting), virechana(purgation),atisara (diarrhea)

Manasika factors:

Manobhigjata (Stress to mind)

Eershya (jealousy)

Bhaya (Fear)

Krodha (Anger)

Soka (Sorrow)

Purvaroopam- Premonitory Symptoms

Symptoms said in Prasramsamana Garbha can be said as premonitory symptoms of abortion because Prasramsamana Garbha lakshana can be correlated as Threatened abortion.

Daha (Burning sensation)

parswa prishta soola (Pain in flanks and thigh)

asridgara (discharge per vagina)

anaha (distension of abdomen)

Mootrasanga (difficulty in micturition)

Samprapthi

Ayurvedic authorities revealed that the vimargagamana (defective course) of apanavata the most important culprit responsible for Garbhasrava. The foetus getting detached from its bonds, exceeding normal limits within the uterus, descending downwards from the hollow space between yakrit (liver), pleeha (spleen) and antra (intestine) produces irritation in the kostha (gut). The apanavata getting aggravated due to this irritation causes shula (pain), aanaha (distension), pain in parsha(flanks), Kukshi (lower abdomen), basti-sirsha (bladder neck), udara(abdomen) vagina and troubles the young foetus with bleeding .

Lakshana Signs and Symptoms

Pain in garhasaya (uterus)

Kati (pelvis)

Vankshana (groin)

Vasthi pradesha (bladder region)

Pushpa darsana (bleeding per vagina)

Prognosis

Abortion is difficult to get cured up to the 3rd month due to the association of Amaavasta and it is Asanjatasaara. If there is Amaavasta the treatment Ama is undesirable for pregnancy. So due to this incompatibility in treatment, it becomes difficult to manage.

Chikitsa- Treatment

Acharya Vagbhata explains the snigdha seeta prayoga both internally and externally

Yonilepa/pichu (anointing vagina) with usira (khus roots),kamala(lotus),sandal wood, camphor etc and paste of bark of banyan tree, Indian fig, common fig tree, Indian laurel tree(Nalpamara) with ghee.
Abhyanga (oil massage) with satadhouta ghrita
Avagaha (sits bath) with drugs in the Usiraadi gana(group)
Lehya ( An electuary) made with sugar, honey, kumuda (lotus), utpala (water lily),ghee
Milk boiled with decoction of lotus, water lily etc.

Commonly used medicines

Commonly used medicines which can protect pregnancy and prevent abortion include:

Phalasarpis
Dadimadi ghrita
Milk boiled with Ipomea obscura (lakshmana)etc.

Diet:

A pregnant woman must have a balanced and nutritious diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. However, certain foods like papaya, pineapple, crabs, eggs, mercury-rich fish, etc. shouldn’t be consumed. That’s because these food items can trigger a miscarriage, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Yoga:

It is better to avoid yoga postures if there is a risk of abortion. But in normal pregnancy postures like Bhujangasana, Marjarasana, Tadasana, Virabadrasana, Sukhasana, savasana can be done. Expert advice is always needed.

Research articles link.