AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON BACTERIAL FLORA IN PRATISHYAYA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RHINITIS

Ayurveda is one of the most renowned traditional systems of medicine that has survived and flourished from ages till date. With the enormous knowledge of nature-based medicine, the relationship of human body constitution and function to nature and the elements of the universe that act in coordination and affect the living beings, this system will continue to flourish in ages still to come. Ayurveda is based on the idea that each person has certain life forces (doshas) and everything in the universe is connected. An imbalance in one area can affect another. Pratishyaya (Rhinitis) is one among the common diseases affecting respiratory system. It is common Nasagata Rogas and it is the one which is described by almost all the Acharya in detail. The term "microbiota" refers to all microorganisms that live in the body, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and archaea. They are found in our body in large number and varying proportion. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine whether there are differences in nasal microbiota in different types of Pratishaya. In this study the first aim is to identify the microbes in the middle meatus in patients with Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja Pratishyaya and to compare with the normal nasal flora [bacteria]. The second aim of the study to observed microscopically to correlate the bacteria with features of nasasrava and other symptoms from Ayurvedic point of view.