Understanding Hydrocele: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

ABSTRACT

Disorders like hydrocele, if not treated properly within the regular duration of time, may lead to some serious outcomes such as impotence, sexual dysfunctions, and in a few cases, psychological discomfort is also noticed as per the research.

Ayurveda, the ancient most science of Indian medicine, deals with hydrocele by making use of herbal formulations that go to the deep-rooted cause and eliminate the ailment by using the Tridosha theory (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and Panchamahabhuta theory (five basic elements for living – Aakash (whole space), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jal (water), and Prithvi (our mother earth)).

Imbalance between the dosha-dushya (prime energies and essential organs of our body) is the main reason behind every disease. So let’s start discussing the Ayurveda aspect of hydrocele and how it deals with such ailments.

INTRODUCTION

Meaning of Hydrocele

Understanding Hydrocele means accumulation of fluid within the scrotal region, more specifically within the layers of tunica vaginalis (the covering layer of testicles). This disease is seen in males as it is a disorder of the male reproductive organs.

According to Ayurveda

We can correlate it with accumulation of fluid in vreshan (testicles). It is considered as “Shukarvah Sroto Dushti Janya Vikar”.

Shukar is the last dhatu (one of the 7 important organs/elements) of our body. It is very important for the generation of the next progeny in the human body.

The main seat of Shukarvah Srotas (reproductive tract) as per Ayurveda are explained very beautifully in the below-mentioned shloka:

“शुक्रवहे द्वे, तयोर्मूलं स्तनौ वृषणौ च ॥” (सु.शा. 9/12-औ)
“शुक्रवहानां स्रोतसां वृषणौ मूलं शेफश्च ॥”

vrishan(testis), shef( penis) and stana(breasts) are the main sites.

ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS

According to ayurveda:

‘अकालयोनिगमनान्निग्रहादतिमैथुनात् ।
शुक्रवाहीनि दुष्यन्ति शस्त्रक्षाराग्निभिस्तथा॥”

This verse states that:

• If a person deliberately suppresses semen ejaculation for a longer duration.
• Indulging oneself in improper sexual activity and non-vaginal tract.
• Engaging in excessive coitus.
• Injury due to surgical instruments to the reproductive tract.
• Overuse of kshar (alkali substances) and agni (cauterization procedure).

Other causes :

• External injury.
• Underlying infection of surrounding structures.
• Systemic sepsis.
• Hereditary factors.
• Excessive fluid intake.

CLINICAL FEATURES

‘शुक्रस्य दोषात् क्लैब्यमप्रहर्षणम् ।
रोगि वा क्लीबमल्पायुर्विरुपं वा प्रजायते॥
न चास्य जायते गर्भः पतति प्रस्रवत्यपि।
शुक्रं हि दुष्टं सापत्यं सदारं बाधते नरम ॥”

This shloka states that:

• Leads to formation of impotence and erectile functions of penis got altered.
• His next generation(progeny) will be sick or impotent/ deformed also.
• The conception will not take place properly or even if it get in few cases leads to miscarriage or abortion later on.

Other symptoms:

• Discomfort in the scrotal area.
• Difficulty in moving, walking and sitting.
• Mild to severe pain, it varies according to the severity of hydrocele. In initial stages there will be mild ache, but in case of prolonged duration , severe pain is present.
• Patient feel less activeness for sexual drive.

Complications:

• It may leads to sexual dysfunctioning and infertility.
• Formation of inguinal hernia[part of intestine or extra mass start bulging out from the inguinal canal(an opening in groin region)].
• May reduce the sperm count and functions.

DIAGNOSIS

The most common diagnostic approach useful in hydrocele are:

1. Proper history taking of the patient.
2. 2. Thorough and detailed physical examination of the patient:
   By inspection: swelling, redness will be present over the scrotum
   By palpation: tenderness will be there.
3. Ultrasonography: of the scrotal area will be done.

As per ayurveda- The two most prefered diagnostic approach used by physician are as follow:

Trividh pariksha (set of 3 examination)

• Darshan Diagnosis is made by visual examination of the symptoms. In hydrocele physician notice swelling and discoloration over the scrotal area.
• Sparshan Physician uses tactile examination to evaluate whether skin is cold/hot. In hydrocele, the affected area appears soft due to accumulation of fluid inside it.
• Prashan Physician ask direct questions from the patient, to evaluate the root cause of the disease i.e history taking.

Asthavidh pariksha (set of 8 examination procedure)

• Nadi pariksha by palpating the pulse rate of the patient.
• Mutra pariksha by examining the urine of the patient.
• Mal pariksha by stool examination.
• Jivha pariksha by examining the tongue whether coated or not.
• Shabad pariksha by observing the natural sounds within the body like intestinal sound (peristalsis)
• Sparsh pariksha by observing the patient skin texture whether it is cool, wet or dry.in psoriasis it is usually dry, rough in texture.
• Drik pariksha when a physician inspect patient symptoms through his/her eyes.

TREATMENT

In most of the cases- Aspiration of fluid is done.

Surgery (Hydrocelectomy) As per ayurveda the main line of treatment in every “shukarvah srotodushti janya vikar” is explained in below mentioned verse:

‘मज्जशुक्रसमुत्थानामौषधं स्वादुतिक्तकम्।
अन्नं व्यवायव्यायामौ शुद्धिः काले च मात्रया ॥

It means in shukargat roga-

• Use of madhur(sweet), tikat(bitter) food products or medicines composed of herbs that possess these rasa(taste).
• Engage in sexual intercourse, physical activities.
• Eliminating the root cause(involved dosha) in proper time and in adequate quantity by doing proper sanshodhan chikitsa( detoxification procedures).

PANCHAKARMA THERAPY

1. Deepan – It means increasing the power of agni (digestive fire) within the body by using ayurvedic medicines.
2. Paachan – In this, we do the assimilation of undigested food present inside our digestive tract with the oral intake of herbal medicines.
3. Snehan (Oiling/Massaging) – In this, the massage of the body is done with slightly warm oil/ghrit to smoothen the raised toxins level (dosha).
4. Svedan (Steaming procedure) – Where fumigation/steaming is done with herbally made kwath/solution to relax the channels and openings of the body.
5. Vaman (Emesis) – Remove pacified dosha by using emetics technique. It shows the best result in removing elevated kapha dosha from the body.
6. Virechan (Purgation) – Remove toxins through the anal canal by the purgation procedure.
7. Basti technique (Enema) – In this liquid form of medicine (kwath/oil) is put inside the body via the anal canal with the help of a specially made basti yantra (instrument).

• Beside these panchakarma procedures we also have another treatment modality known as SANSHMAN CHIKITSA. In this medicines are given to the patient by oral route(oral cavity/mouth).
• Acharya also explains certain classical herbal formulations for the management of hydrocele. They are as follow:

Vati :

1. Chandraprabha vati
2. Brehani gutika

Dosage: 1-2 tablets twice daily with plain water.

Churan :

1. Shatavaryadi churna
2. Ashwagandha churna

Dosage: 3-6 grams once daily with lukewarm water.

• If you want to go for sanshaman chikitsa, Planet ayurveda offers various authentic herbal formulations for this,some of them are as follow:

1. Tribulus power:
   • Ingredients: Extract of gokshura( Tribulus terrestris)
   • It enhances the digestive fire of our body and has “mutravirechan”(diuretic action), so works very well in reducing the fluid accumulation of the testicular and scrotal region in the hydrocele patient.
   • Dosage: 1-2 capsules twice daily with lukewarm water.
2. Kanchnar guggul:
   • Ingredients: Bark of Kanchnar (Bauhinia variegata), Haritaki( terminalia chebula), Pippali( Piper longum), Kali mirch( Piper nigrum) etc.
   • Kanchanar is a best herb to act as “gandmala nashak”( aid in removing lymphadenopathy), the remaining herbs contains anti-inflammatory action. So this joint combination works really well in maintaining the healthy functioning of lymphatic system of our body, so assists very efficiently in malady like hydrocele.
   • Dosage: 1-2 tablets in a day with lukewarm water.
3. Punarnava capsule:
   • Ingredients: Extracts of punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa).
   • It possesses excellent properties like ‘rakta vardhak’ (increases hemoglobin content of blood), reduces edema and inflammation present in hydrocele.
   • Dosage: 1-2 capsules twice daily with lukewarm water after meal.
4. Water-Ex:
   • Ingredients: Varun (crataeva nurvala), gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) and punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa).
   • All the herbs present in it are natural sources of diuretic quality (means relives urine retention) and posses’ ability to cure renal dysfunctions related disorder thus needful in oozing out excessive fluid accumulation of scrotal area in hydrocele.
   • Dosage: 1-2 tablets twice daily with plain water after meals.

CONCLUSION

Now we can conclude that in hydrocele, ayurvedic treatment shows very good and effective results. If you are considering going for ayurvedic treatment kindly visit planet ayurveda. It is a leading manufacturing unit serving people worldwide with their holistic and authentic approach of healing via ayurvedic formulations that are 100% organic, chemical and preservative free. In case of any query kindly visit www.PlanetAyurveda.com