A REVIEW STUDY ON POṄGĀRĀDI AGADA

Abstract

Keraleeya viśa vaidyas explained numerous formulations for viśa and other disease conditions which are currently in practice among various clinical specialities of Ayurveda. Cutaneous dermatophytosis is a superficial skin disorder with very high impact on the socio-economic domain of affected person owing to its prolonged disease course with multiple bouts of exacerbations.  The hot and humid climatic conditions prevailing in Kerala is an added advantage for the filamentous hyphae of the fungus to thrive on Stratum corneum.  Current therapeutic interventions in modern medicine aims at using topical application of antifungal agents along with corticosteroid therapy given topically and enterally to contain the growth of the fungi.   Inappropriate use of these agents results in multiple exacerbations of the disease ending in development of fungal strains developing resistance against these agents.  Formulations mentioned in the context of viśachikitsa have been used topically against cutaneous dermatosis.  Poṅgārādi agada, a drug formulation with two minerals mentioned in kītaviśa prakarana of Kriyakoumudi by Kutty Krishna Menon. The yoga contain Tankana (Borax) and Gandhaka (Sulphur) as ingredients and it is mentioned for lepa in dadru. Dadru is the disease mentioned under kushtaroga which is having a morphological and disease characteristics similar to that of cutaneous dermatophytosis. This paper is an attempt to make a review on the formulation Poṅgārādi agada.

Key words: Poṅgārādi agada, Dadru, Kriyakoumudi, Cutaneous dermatophytosis