Inguinal Hernia

• A bulge in the area on either side of your pubic bone, which becomes more obvious when you are upright, especially if you cough or strain
• Weakness or pressure in your groin
• A heavy or dragging sensation in your groin
• A burning or aching sensation at the bulge
• Pain or discomfort in your groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting
• Occasionally, pain and swelling around the testicles when the protruding intestine descends into the scrotum
Signs & symptoms of a strangulated hernia include-
• Nausea, vomitting or both
• Fever
• Sudden pain that quickly intensifies
• Inability to move your bowels or pass gas
• A hernia bulge that turns red, purple or dark
Causes-

• Increased pressure within the abdomen
• A pre-existing weak spot is the abdominal wall
• Strenuous activity
• Pregnancy
• Chronic coughing or sneezing
• Straining during bowel movements or urination
Risk Factors –
• Being male
• Being older
• Being white
• Having family history
• Chronic cough
• Chronic Constipation
• Pregnancy
• Premature birth and low birth weight
• Previous inguinal hernia or hernia repair
Complications-
• Pressure on surrounding tissues
• Incarcerated hernia
• Strangulation
Prevention –
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Emphasize high-fiber foods
• Stop smoking
• Lift heavy objects carefully or avoid heavy lifting
Diagnosis –
Doctor can usually diagnose an inguinal hernia during a physical exam. During the examination, doctor will ask the patient to cough while standing sothey can check the hernia When it is most noticeable.
then it is reducible, doctor should be able to easily push an inguinal hernia back into your abdomen when the patient lying down on his back. However, if this is unsuccessful, patient may have an incarcerated or strangulated inguinal hernia.
Treatment-
If hernia is small and is not bothering the patient, doctor might recommend watchful waiting. Sometimes, wearing a supportive truss may help relieve symptoms, but it should be approved by the doctor because it is important that the truss fits properly. In children, the doctor might try applying manual pressure to reduce the bulge before considering surgery.
Enlarging or painful hernias usually require surgery to relieve discomfort and prevent serious complications.
There are two general types of hernia operations –
• open hernia repair
• laproscopic repair
Ayurvedic Perspective-
Inguinal hernia is compared to Aantra vruddhi in Ayurveda. It is one of the 7 types of Vruddhi as explained in Ayurveda texts.
The Vayu getting aggravated due to the consumption and exposure to the above said causes narrowing of a part of intestine and displaces it from its normal site. After displacing the intestine from its normal site, the vitiated Vayu further pushes the part of the intestine into the groin and causes a swelling which resembles a granthi. If neglected, the vitiated Vayu further pushes the intestinal part downwards. At the same time, the vitiated Vayu also moves further down into the scrotum and causes swelling of the scrotum. This condition is called Aantra Vruddhi.
The first line of treatment for hernia remains surgery in the modern medicine. Sushruta too has considered Auntre Vruddhi as asadhaya i.e. difficult or impossible to treat especially once the abdominal contents mainly the intestine drips into the scrotum.The treatment principles and medicines works with dietic and lifestyle correction with a view of providing substantial relief from symptoms and also to prevent the disease from progressing.
Beneficial Herbs –
• Hingu-

• Kutaja –

• Senna-

• Karanja-

Some useful formulations –
• Bala Eranda – Erande taila prepared and processed with decoction of Bala is highly effective to relieve distension and flatulence and cure Antravruddhi associated with pain.
• Rasnadi kwath
• Pippalyadi lepa – Paste of Pippli, Jeeraka, Kustha, Badar, Shushka gomaya made in Kanji
• Derdarvayadi lepa- Paste of Devdaru, Mishi, Vasa, Takali Mula and Sain- dhava lavana mixed in honey should be applied on the scrotum swelling to relieve Aantra Vruddhi.
• Triphla gugglu
• Shankh Vati
• Chitrakadi Vati
• Kanchnar Gugglu
• Vriddhivadhika Vati
Effective Yogasana –
• Uttanpadasana-

• Uddiyana Bandha –

• Vajrasana –

• Sarvangasana-

• Naukasana-

• Gomukhasana-