Rajyakshma

• Introduction
• Rajyakshma Lakshan (symptoms)
• Rajyakshma Chikitsa (treatment of Rajyakshma)

Introduction
It is an old age disease making the patient suffer all throughout. Ayurvedic classics have expounded Tuberculosis as well as it's treatment. The Bruhat trayee (Charak Sanhita, Sushrut Sanhita & Ashtang Hridaya) have expounded the above in great details. Following are the synonyms of this ailment:

• Kshaya
  • It leads to depletion of Dhatus (body tissues) to such an extent where by the Aushad (medicines) used to treat the disease, are depleted i.e. it is Kruchha Sadhya (difficult to treat).
    
  
  
  
• Shosh
  • It leads to drying & diminution of body tissues & thus emaciation.
  
  
  
• Rajayakshma
  • It is the king of Yakshmas (disease syndromes).
  
  
  
• Rograt
  • King of diseases since it reigns (overpowers, subdues) over them. Just as the king is accompanied by his soldiers Tuberculosis is accompanied by a hoard of premonitory signs, signs & symptoms & a host of complications.

Rajyakshma Lakshan (symptoms)
The symptoms for tuberculosis are classified on the basis of different stages of the progress of the disease, as follows:

• Trirupa Rajyakshma (first stage of the disease)
  • Pain in shoulder & ribs (scapular region), flanks
  • Burning of palms of hands and soles of feet
  • Fever (pyrexia).
  
  
  
• Shadarupa Rajyakshma (second stage of progress of disease)
  • Anorexia
  • Fever
  • Dyspnoea
  • Cough
  • Haematemesis
  • Hoarseness of voice
  
  
  
• Ekadash Rupa Rajyakshma (third stage of progress of disease)
  • Cough
  • Pain in shoulders (scapular region) & in flanks
  • Hoarseness of voice
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Haematemesis
  • Dyspnoea
  • Anorexia
  • Diarrhea

Rajyakshma Chikitsa (treatment of Rajyakshma)
In Rajyakshma all food in the gastro-intestinal tract is converted to Malas & a little is utilized for Ojas. Hence the stool in patient of Rajyakshma should be cared for particularly because in the state of wasting of all seven Dhatus as the strength of the stool supports the body.

• Emesis & purgation should be administered with substance, which will not exert debilitating effect on the patient.
• In patients having abundance of Doshas, emesis & purgation should be carried out with great care.
• The patients who are emaciated should be given well-prepared meats of carnivorous animals, which are particularly built- promoting.