Role of Panchavata in Diabetic Neuropathy - Conceptual Review

Neuropathies are the most prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus. It affects more than 50% of chronic diabetics with diverse clinical manifestations. The most common early symptoms include pain and unpleasant sensation of burning and tingling followed by numbness and loss of sensation. All these symptoms are attributed to the dysfunction of the nervous system which is very much similar to dysfunction of Vata Dosha due to Avarana explained in Ayurveda text books viz. Harsha (tingling sensation), Daha (burning sensation), Toda (pricking pain), Suptata (numbness) and other signs. In this review article, an effort has been made to understand the role of five types of Vata Dosha due to Avarana in manifesting the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.