Cerebral Palsy – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle co-ordination. Symptoms include a lack of muscle co-ordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a ‘scissored ‘ gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. Cerebral palsy is usually due to brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or head injury.

The Ayurvedic treatment of cerebral palsy focuses on treating the presenting symptoms and attempting to reverse the brain damage. A group of herbal medicines called ‘Medhya’ are very useful in improving the functional capacity of the brain and may also help in regeneration of damaged brain cells. These medicines include: Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Jyotishmati (Celastrus panniculatus), Kushmand (Benincasa hispida), Ustukhudoos (Lavendula stoechas), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Abhrak-Bhasma and Suvarna-Bhasma. Some of these medicines are also useful in preventing or reducing convulsions.

Medicines which act on the ‘Majja’ dhatu (tissue) are useful in this condition and include Guduchi, Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Panch-Tikta-Ghruta, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Brahmi-Ghruta and Pancha-Gavya-Ghruta. In addition, other medicines are used which improve nerve conduction and muscular co-ordination. These medicines include Kaishor-Guggulu, Yograj-Guggulu, Vatagajankush-Ras, Mahavat-Vidhwans-Ras, Tapyadi-Loh-Ras and Vish-Tinduk-Vati.

Massage of the entire body with medicated oils like Maha-Narayan oil, Maha-Mash-oil and Maha-Saindhav-oil are very useful. Specialized Panchkarma procedures like Shiro-Basti, Shiro-Dhara as well as prolonged courses of Basti (medicated enemas) are also very useful in this condition.

Though cerebral palsy may not be fully cured, Ayurvedic treatment can definitely help to reduce disability and improve the functioning of the affected individual to a great extent.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi uses high quality herbal extracts in tablet form, which are easy to take, effective and safe for long-term use.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of 23 years and clinical research experience of 9 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.

Sudden Deafness – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Sudden deafness, also known as Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), is a rapid loss of hearing which may occur all at once or over a period of up to three days. SSHL is defined as a loss of at least 30 decibels in three connected frequencies, and usually occurs in only one ear. It may be accompanied by dizziness and ringing in the ears. Only about 10% of affected individuals have known causes which include infections, trauma, immune disorders, circulatory or neurological disorders or drugs toxic to the ears. While most people recover spontaneously within a few weeks, about 15% experience progressively worsening symptoms. Standard management includes removal of the known cause, antibiotics, steroids and inhalation of a mixture of carbon-dioxide and oxygen.

The Ayurvedic treatment of SSHL consists of treating the known cause of the condition and giving symptomatic treatment for the hearing loss. Infections related to the ears and upper respiratory tract can be treated using medicines like Sukshma-Triphala, Sitopaladi-Powder, Tribhuvan-Kirti-Ras, Kamdudha-Ras, Sutshekhar-Ras, Shwas-Kas-Mishran-Ras, Ras-Sindur, Yashtimadhuk (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum) and Pippali (Piper longum). Immune disorders can be treated using medicines like Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Pippali, Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Yashtimadhuk, Bhumiamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri), Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Laghu-Malini-Vasant and Madhu-Malini-Vasant.

The treatment of circulatory disorders is important while managing SSHL since it is believed that a reduction in blood circulation to the internal organs in the ears could contribute primarily to the sudden loss of hearing. Medicines are used to remove blood clots, reduce blood toxins and obstruction, and inflammation of the arterial walls. These medicines include Tapyadi-Loh, Ekangveer-Ras, Maha-Yograj-Guggulu, Saarivadi-Vati, Punarnava-Mandur, Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivasav, Arogya-Vardhini, Lashunadi-Vati, Suvarna Bhasma, Panchamrut-Parpati, Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), Patol (Trichosanthe dioica), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus ), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa) and Daruharidra (Berberis aristata). Neurological causes can be treated using medicines like Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Maha-Vat-Vidhvans-Ras, Vat-Gajankush-Ras, Vish-Tinduk-Vati and Agni-Tundi-Vati.

In addition, symptomatic treatment for SSHL includes the use of medicines like Kaishor-Guggulu, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Maha-Rasnadi-Guggulu, Saarivadi-Vati, Punarnava-Mandur, Abhrak-Bhasma, Suvarna-Bhasma, Raupya -Bhasma, Mukta-Bhasma and Pathyadi-Qadha. These medicines improve the perfusion of the inner ear and also increase the functioning of the auditory nerve.

A judicious use of Ayurvedic medicines can thus be used to treat refractory patients of SSHL who do not improve spontaneously or with conventional treatment.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com

The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi uses high quality herbal extracts in tablet form, which are easy to take, effective and safe for long-term use.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of 25 years and clinical research experience of 12 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.

Infertility – Ayurvedic Treatment Overview

The physiology in Ayurveda is unique because it is based upon the three doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These three biological elements together constitute the structural and functional unit of all living cells, tissues, organs and the body as a whole. When normal, they constitute the three basic tissues or pillars termed as “Tridhatoos” which stabilize life, but when abnormal, the same three elements are responsible for aging, disease, and death; and hence they are termed as “Doshas”.

These three elements are in turn divided in five sub-types each, depending upon their location in the different parts of the body. For example, the sub-types of Vata are:- Prana, Udana, Vyana,Samana and Apana. In this article, I shall discus the Apana Vayu sub-type. The sites of Apana Vayu are the pelvis, bladder, uterus, penis, thighs, testicles, abdominal muscles, pelvic colon and the anus. It is represented by the functional unit of the lumbo-sacral autonomic system. The Apana Vayu is responsible for the ejaculation of semen, expulsion of menstrual discharge, delivery of the fetus, and passage of urine and stools. Dysfunction of this Apana Vayu naturally causes dysfunction and diseases of the colon (large intestine) and the genito-urinary tract.

I shall now demonstrate, in the field of Infertility, how making use of these simple physiological principles sometimes gives amazing clinical results. Different causes of infertility need to be treated differently. Ayurvedic herbal treatment is very useful in increasing sperm count in men, and is very effective in women where the cause of infertility cannot be pinpointed, and in women having very painful periods. Very thin and very obese women who are unable to conceive also benefit from Ayurvedic herbal therapy.

Treatment of infertility is usually a very costly affair, with poor success rates. In this scenario, Ayurvedic treatment may prove to be very economical, and yet sometimes offer surprising results. Let me discuss a case study to prove this point.

A couple presented to me in October 1998, with primary infertility. The husband, aged 40 years, and the wife aged 31 years, had been married 15 years back. Since marriage, the wife had not conceived even once. There was no history of abortion. Naturally, during these years, they had consulted several gynecologists and all routine investigations and treatment for infertility had been done not once but several times. Most of the investigations in the couple were within normal limits.

However, the woman had very severe menstrual pain. Every month for 3-4 days, she was regularly bed-ridden, and had to compulsorily take treatment for the menstrual pain. In addition, she was habitually constipated. One more complaint was severe back-ache, with pain radiating down to the left leg, which would increase at the time of her periods. An X-ray of her back did not show any structural abnormality.

As per the principles of Ayurvedic pathophysiology in such case histories, all these symptoms point to the dysfunction of the Apana Vayu, for which Basti(medicated enema) is the best treatment. I therefore, started her on some simple herbal medicines for infertility, and an enema of 50 ml. oil of sesame on alternate days. After just 20 days, she had a completely normal, painless period, much to her surprise and joy. Her constipation and back-ache too disappeared completely. After just 3 months of regular treatment, she missed her periods, and was asked to stop her treatment. Her ante-natal period was uneventful, and she later delivered a healthy full-term baby-boy. Today, she is the proud mother of two healthy children. Not only did the couple get rid of their infertility, but for the mother, the monthly ordeal of severe menstrual pain is a thing of the past. Simple correction of physiology based on Ayurvedic principles helped this woman to conceive for the first time in 15 years.

In this way, by using the evergreen principles of Ayurveda, simple medications can bring about astonishing results, and major changes in the lives of suffering people!

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com and can be contacted at info@ayurvedaphysician.com

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., is a practicing Ayurvedic physician since the last 22 years. He is a graduate of R. A. Podar Medical (Ayurvedic ) College, Worli, Mumbai, India. During this period of 22 years, he has obtained considerable experience in the clinical treatment of a vast array of patients.

Dr. Mundewadi has studied and experienced extensively all the principles of Ayurveda , involving a healthy life-style, diet regimes, body-cleansing through panch-karma procedures, and treatment with herbal and herbo-mineral compounds.

Dr. Mundewadi has also studied the therapeutic effects of Reiki( he is a 3rd degree Reiki Master), Acupuncture ( he has done a basic and an advanced course in Acupuncture), Hypnotherapy and Magnetotherapy. His current style of clinical practice is a culmination of his experience with all these different treatment modalities.

Dr. Mundewadi has been doing clinical research work since the last 9 years. He has published his findings of herbal treatment of HIV / AIDS in 55 patients in the Bombay Hospital Journal, Mumbai, India, July 2005 issue . He has also successfully completed a clinical trial of herbal extract medicines in Schizophrenia compared to modern anti-psychotics, in 200 patients (See http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00483964). He has also conducted preliminary studies of Ayurvedic herbal extracts in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder, Vascular Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Mental Retardation, and Tobacco and Alcohol Dependence. He also has a special interest in the herbal treatment of Age Related Macular Degeneration and different types of Cancer.