Sleshmaja Krimi vis a vis Helicobacter Pylori: A Literary Review

Abstract

From the Vedic period onwards Krimi is accepted as an etiological factor of various diseases. In Ayurveda, Krimi is widely explained especially by Acharya Charaka who gave full details in Vimanasthana Vyadhitaroopiyam Adhyaya. There is detailed description of Saptaka Gana – Samuthana (Nidana/cause), Sthana (habitat), Samsthana (morphology/ form), Varna (colour), Nama (name), Prabhava (effect) & Chikitsa (treatment). Only a few studies have been carried out in Ayurveda to identify the type of Krimi, infection based on their types, etc. Some researchers tried very well to correlate various Krimi with some microbes. The probable correlation of Krimi with the contemporary infectious microbes may be possible by examining the resemblance of their habitat, morphology and effect on the host. But it is little bit a difficult task to correlate Krimi with the microbes due to lack of sufficient description of individual Krimi. Under the word Krimi, all microorganisms like bacteria, virus, parasites, fungi, etc. can be considered. Here we consider Sleshmaja Krimi w.s.r to Helicobacter pylori and also its habitat mucous layer as Kledaka Kapha. Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacillus, which lives in gastric mucus, some adherent to the mucosa & some enters the cells or penetrates the mucosa; its distribution is not systemic. It is motile in the mucous environment because of its spiral shape & flagella. Colonization of this organism is an important risk factor in causing peptic ulcer, gastritis, gastric adenocarcinoma, etc. In some conditions like gastro-esophageal reflux disease, etc. H.pylori colonization may offer protection against the complications. Through this article, an effort has been made to describe the concept of Sleshmaja Krimi from different Ayurvedic treatises and also to correlate with Helicobacter pylori, based on the habitat and effect on human body.