Gulmam- By Dr P.M Madhu & Dr Anjali Sivaram

Gulma is such an entity of ‘disease spectrum’ in which the distinctive
feature is ‘amoorthatwa’ (non structural).Though it may gain some forms
occasionally, it is not much obvious in our patient examinations. Because of this
non availability of permanent shape /size of a bulge in abdominal cavity, the
disease also remains as a vague entity in the structural sense. But our ancient
seers found no difficulty in approaching such an indistinct variety. Based on the
fundamental principles of an age old science, they gave explanation to each and
every change inside our body. Even though our body is a structural entity, there
takes place a number of physiological acts, by which the structural make up
remains intact. Behind any structural change, there happen a number of
functional alterations. The method of assessment through inference is highly
significant in Ayurveda. “When the trees dance and bend”, we have to confirm
that the “wind is passing by”. By the appraisal of the functional aspects through
the perception of basic qualities in line with the ‘Pancha bhootha theory’ they
tried to approach such varieties and gave brilliant results. This is only a model.

Both in diagnosis and treatment of all the diseases, we can experience this
elementary principle. Basic principles, etiopathogenesis, classifications and
treatments of Gulma are described in this book.