Multiple Sclerosis MS – Problem Symptoms Treatment As Per Ayurveda And Traditional Healing Methods
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic progressive immune mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease related to the central nervous system. Demyelination of the myelin sheath around the axon in the brain or spinal cord, results in impairment or loss of impulse transmission from brain to body and vice versa.
The cognitive, sensory or motor dysfunctioning can cause a variety of symptoms,depending on the level of impairment in the myelin sheath. As per Ayurveda, this condition is caused by Vata dosha’s “Chala guna”, and is considered as Vataj vyadhi, or more precisely medo-majja gata vataj vyadhi.
Causes Of Multiple Sclerosis
Modern medical science declares its cause to be unknown, and defines it to be an autoimmune disease as the individual self immune system eats the myelin sheath.
Women between age 16 to 55 years are more vulnerable to the disease.Genetic as well as environmental factors such as cold climate with low sunlight are considered as a risk factors. People with metabolism disorders like thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorder are at higher risk of getting MS. Smoking is also considered as a potential risk factor.
As per Ayurveda, all the causes of Vata vruddhi and kshaya, similar to the before mentioned risk factors responsible for MS.
Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis
Every individual shows different symptoms according to the site of demyelination. Some of the common symptoms are:
- Vision impairment as blurred or double vision
- Numbness or tingling sensation in the extremities
- Lack of balance
- Lack of bowel and bladder control
- Fatigue weakness or muscle spasm
- Lack of coordination
- Sexual dysfunction
- Seizures
Management Of Multiple Sclerosis
According to modern science corticosteroids, immune modulatory drugs and plasmapheresis are prescribed to restrain the disease from progressing.
On the other hand, Ayurveda shows great results in various chronic diseases including multiple sclerosis. Since it is a vataj vyadhi, the basic treatment concentrates on balancing the vitiated vata dosha and repairing the sclerosed myelin sheath. The treatment helps to address the root cause, thus helps in maintenance of the physical and mental health.
Treatment for MS includes panchakarma therapies such as snehana, swedana, basti, nasya and various oleation treatments. As Vata is of ruksha and laghu qualities, warm snigdha oleation is performed externally through snehana (massage) and internally through basti and nasya therapy to pacify the dosha. Yoga and meditation to maintain flexibility in joints and muscles by providing energy to nerves as well as helps to avoid stress thus helping in fast repair.
Other conservative treatments include some vata balancing herbo mineral drug combinations, in concatenation with vata pacifying and nerve nutritious diet and yoga. Vata pacifying, freshly cooked, warm food easy to digest diet is suggested, while the patient is advised to avoid dry, cold, roasted food.
