Somaroga – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Comparison

Somaroga can be correlated with two main diseases.
1. Excessive female discharge and loss of vitality
2. Diabetes insipidus.

Somaroga as a gynaecological disorder

Somaroga – excessive female discharge is one such discomfort, experienced by few women. Because the symptoms are difficult to appreciate, this disease is most commonly neglected  in early stages. When it is associated with other symptoms, it takes shape of a major health problem which may need longer treatment.

Soma means white. It also symbolises moon which is the representation of lustre, strength and vital capacity (Prana, Ojas). Roga refers to disease. So, Somaroga refers to a condition where due to continuous, excessive discharge from vagina or urethra, vital strength of the body is lost, causing loss of lustre in the face.

Causative factors

Causative factors of somaroga:
1. Ati stree prasanga – Excess sexual indulgence.
2. Shoka – Grief.
3. Shrama – Tiredness.
4. Atisaraka yoga – Intake of diarrhoeal/laxative medicament for longer time period.
5. Garadosha – food poisoning

Origin of disease

Origin of the disease somaroga:
Due to above said factors, the body immunity is reduced and the nutrients of the body is also markedly declined in the aqueous portion of the bodily constituents. Due to sluggish withholding capacity of the body, it is discharged out of the body through urine or as vaginal discharge.

General symptoms

General Symptoms of Soma Roga: 
1. Clear, non-odorous white discharge per vagina.
2. White coloured urine
3. Tiredness, debility
4. Cannot withhold the urge of urine.
5. Headache or emptiness in head.
6. Dryness of the mouth and palate.
7. Syncope.
8. Yawning.
9. Delirium
10. Dryness of the skin (loss of lustre)
11. Not happy with any kind of eatables and drinks, anorexia
12. Depression

Comparison with leucorrhea

Comparison of Soma Roga with modern disease system:
Some Ayurvedic experts opine that somaroga is nothing but white discharge (leucorrhea), whereas some physicians consider this as Mootra- Atisara – excessive urination, wherein vital energy is lost through urine.
Quite interestingly, the line of treatment to leucorrhea, excessive urination are quite similar as per Ayurveda. Read more about white discharge Ayurvedic treatment

Line of treatment

Line of treatment of somaroga
1. Balya therapy – measures to improve body strength and immunity.
2. Intake of tarpaka (nutrients) food, beverages and medicines. – Improving the nutrition level in the patient.

Useful herbs

Single drugs useful in somaroga
Dates – Kharjoora
Banana stem and fruit
Black gram
Indian Licorice – Yashtimadhu
Amla – Indian gooseberry
Tanduleeyaka- Amaranthus spinosus Linn
Vidarikanda-Ipomea tuber- Pueraria tuberosa Dc.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines useful in somaroga
1. Kadali ghrita – an herbal ghee prepared with banana stem
2. Kadalikanda rasayana – an herbal jam prepared with banana stem
3. Chandraprabha vati – Useful to relieve infections related to vagina, uterus and urinary tract
4. Kamdudha Rasa –mouktikayukta – Has coolant effect, balances Pitta, relieves burning sensation and excessive discharge. In Gynaecological disorders, this medicine is administered along with milk or rice-washed water.
5. Balarista – a fermented Ayurvedic medicine aimed to improve immunity and nourishment levels
6. Shatavari guda – used in many gynaecological disorders
7. Muslikhadiradi kashaya – relieves excessive discharge. Useful both in gynaecological and urinary tract disorders.
8. Chandrakala Rasa – used to relieve excessive discharge
9. Phala ghrita – used in many gynaecological disorders.

Medicinal Yogas Mentioned for Soma Roga in Sahasra Yoga Text Book
Somarogahara Ksheera
Dhatryadi Ghrita
Modaka Twagadi Ghrita
Amruta Pippalyadi Choorna
Bahumutrantaka Rasa

Ayurvedic home remedies

Simple remedies used in somaroga
5-6 seed marrow (pulp of the seed) of amalaki(amla) fruits are collected and crushed well. This is added to buttermilk and taken twice a day for 14-21 days. Read more about this remedy 

Amla banana remedy: 1 banana fruit is taken and macerated well. It is mixed with 10-15 ml of fresh juice of amla. Further 5 gram of honey and powdered sugar-candy are added to this. This is taken routinely for 15-20 days. 4-5 days medication gives good confidence among the patients. Learn more about this remedy

Amla juice (10-15ml) is added to the ash gourd juice (10-15ml) and 5ml each sugar candy and honey and a pinch of cardamom are added and mixed well. This is taken daily once, in empty stomach, daily mornings.Date fruits can also added to this.

Useful diet

Wholesome diet and habits

1. Ksheera-Milk
2. Kharjoora-Date fruits
3. Tanduleeyaka-Red spinach
4. Kooshmanda-Ash-gourd
5. Amla-Gooseberry
6. Mudga-Green gram
7. Shastika shali-Red rice
8. Goghritha-Cows ghee
9. Vishrama-Rest etc

Unwholesome diets and habits

1. Madyapana-Alcohol intake
2. Vidahi ahara-Spicy food
3. Rooksha ahara-Dry and junk food
4. Jagarana-Night awakening
5. Shrama-Work and exhaustion
6. Vyavaya-Excess sexual indulgence
7. Ashwayana-Riding the vehicles and horses etc.

Due to the altered life style, busy work schedule, stressful life, hurry and junk food, so many health problems are caused. Somaroga is one such discomfort which is often commonly found in the middle class as well as higher class women. Careful watch and supervision on causative factors helps to keep this disease at bay.
Article by Dr MS Krishnamurthy and Dr Hebbar.

Soma roga as diabetes insipidus

Soma Roga explained as Diabetes insipidus – By Dr Raghuram:
Soma roga disease, mentioned in Madhava Nidana wherein entire water component of the body is contaminated and drawn towards urinary passages.

Urine is frequently eliminated. Urine is devoid of odour, is cold on touch, white colour, clear, and in more quantity. There lack of control over urination due to extreme debility.

He may also faint due to dehydration. This condition can be compared to diabetes insipidus. It is caused due to insufficient production of ADH i.e. Anti Diuretic Hormone which is made by hypothalamus and stored in posterior pituitary. All symptoms of this condition are similar to kapha increase. Kapha is also a representation of water in the body.

One of the root of water controlling stations is said to be talu i.e. palate. We can observe that anatomically thalamus and pituitary are located above the level of palate and first signs of thirst caused by dehydration are also found in palate. Head is also one of seats of kapha. Kapha also represents water. Kapha controls water carrying channels.

Other conditions named mutratisara wherein there is excessive urination and appears like diarrhoea occurring from urinary tract is also compared to diabetes insipidus. Similarly one of the types of prameha caused by vitiated kapha i.e. udaka meha wherein urine appears like water can also be compared to this type of diabetes.

This explanation establishes kapha link with pituitary and hypothalamus functions.

Formulations for Diabetes Insipidus

Soma roga explained in Ayurveda treatises is often compared to below mentioned conditions –

• excessive urination
• diabetes insipidus
• leucorrhea

Somarogahara Yogas
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakarana

1. Dhatryadi Yoga

Juices of Emblica officinalis and plantain fruit should be consumed along with honey and sugar.

2. Madhukadi Kashayam

Decoction prepared with the below mentioned herbs should be taken mixed with milk, sugar and honey –

• Mdhuka – Glycyrrhiza glabra
• Vidari – Pueraria tuberosa
• Masha –  Black gram

3. Dhatryadi Kashayam

Decoction of the below mentioned herbs shall be consumed mixed sugar.

• Dhatri – Emblica officinalis
• Masha – black gram / Vigna mungo
• Dwi Darbha – Imperata cylindrical and Desmostachya bipinnata

4. Vidaryadi Kashayam

Decoction of the below mentioned herbs should be prepared and served fresh –

• Vidari – Pueraria tuberose
• Ikshu – Saccharum officinarum / sugarcane
• Masha – Vigna mungo / black gram
• Yashti – Glycyrrhiza glabra

Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu) – Skype