Typical angina is uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest. The discomfort also may be felt in the neck, jaw, shoulder, back or arm. Many types of chest discomfort aren't related to angina. Acid reflux (heartburn) and lung infection or inflammation are examples.
Roughly 6.3 million Americans are estimated to experience angina. Angina is more often the presenting symptom of coronary artery disease in women than in men. The prevalence of angina rises with an increase in age. Similar figures apply in the remainder of the Western world. All forms of coronary heart disease are much less-common in the Third World, as its risk factors are much more-common in Western and Westernized countries; it could therefore be termed a disease of affluence. The increase of smoking, obesity and other risk factors has already led to an increase in angina and related diseases in countries such as China.
Angina: An Ayurvedic View
There are two or three disorders in Ayurveda which are close to the condition of the Angina Pectoris, the most common is the Parshva Shool, which literally means "Pain in Sides", this is told to be the condition related with the heart and lungs both, next is the word "Hrutchool" this directly relates with the pain in heart, but in Angina Pectoris there will be no pain in the cardiac muscles as such, so perhaps it was denoted to something related with the pain in the mediastinal region where heart lies in the thorax. This pain is usually by the GERD (Gastro-esophageal reflux disorders), this is the reason that Ayurvedic text and later on Ras Shastra Granthas were of a view that medicines used in the Hyperacidity were recommended for the heart diseases, which is still in practice all over the Ayurvedic Community.
For Pasrshva Shool, medicines referred are not too much, these are some herbs and herbomineral preparations. In these preparations Pushkarmool is a prime herb. Pushkar Mool is told to be the best remedy for the Parshva Shool and modern day researches have confirmed this herb as a best ß-blocker, which are the main line of treatment now a days. This confirms that Angina is something related to the Parshva Shool condition.
As modern science believes that this is a condition of Affluence, Ayurveda too believe the same but more than this, Ayurveda states more about Rasas about this condition and available references of the Samhitha Granthas like Charaka and Sushruta states few important statements about this condition and its relevance with the Rasas.
Amla Rasa is told to be the Heart-Friendly Rasa by all the texts. Now a days we all are known that Vitamin C is the best nutritional supplement for the heart. But not in the form of isolated vitamin C which is on high sales all over the internet now a days. Whatever you wish to have should be natural and the best natural source is Amalaki and Nirgundi for the Vitamin C.
Lavana Rasa is told to be the most harmful for the heart. Modern Sciences has proven the fact too. But here comes an interesting thing from Ayurveda and that is, Saindhava Salt, commonly known as the Rock Salt is told to be the best for heart. This contains a lot of Potassium in it and potassium is believed to be the best ion for heart.
These all statements are enough to give one the idea that how much Ayurveda was known to the facts about the heart diseases and about your heart. For Diet and lifestyle general guidance, please refer to the link on home page- Care Coronaries with Ayurveda!
