Ayurvedic Treatment for Muscular Dystrophy in Kerala
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Ayurvedic Treatment For Muscular dystrophy in Kerala
In Ayurvedic Treatment for Muscular dystrophy in Kerala, Vitiated doshas can be pacified, and metabolic toxins can be eliminated with the help of panchakarma therapies, including
- Abhyangam
- Snehapanam
- Udwartanam
- Njavara kizhi
- Kashaya vasti
- Anuvasana vasti
- Ela kizhi etc.
By the above therapies, the toxins get eliminated from the body; the doshas come back to normalcy. It rejuvenates the muscle fibres and body tissues, which leads to the improvement of muscle strength and flexibility.
Yoga and meditation can also be practised at home to manage the disease better.
What is Muscular Dystrophy? What are the causes?
Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that affects the body’s muscular system with progressive weakness and loss of mass of muscles. Eventually, the affected patient cannot walk or move appropriately alone. It may be associated with respiratory and sometimes non-myopathic involvement.
The symptoms are often seen in childhood, but in some patients, they appear in their teenage or middle age. The symptom gets adverse over time, and the patient loses their ability to walk and care for themselves. Some people can live with mild symptoms for years.
Muscle wasting and weakness of muscles and usually symmetrical tendon reflexes are usually preserved until a later stage.
Muscular dystrophy is inherited in families. It is due to gene mutation and is an X-linked autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pattern. The gene hinders the production of proteins that require healthy muscle formation.
The defective gene is inherited from their mothers in males with muscular dystrophy. In females with muscular dystrophy, both parents must suffer from the disease for the child to acquire it.
Different Types of Muscular Dystrophy and Their symptoms
Muscular dystrophies are classified into various groups based on the onset of the disease, symptoms, etc.
The most common form of muscular dystrophy and its symptoms are
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
It is an X-linked autosomal recessive disorder that usually appears in boys aged 3 to 5. The symptoms include:
- Quick falls are associated with difficulty walking, running, jumping, etc.
- Progressive weakness of the muscles.
- The patient uses their hands to climb up from sitting.
- Mental impairment.
- Walking on toes.
- Unable to walk by the age of 12.
- Progressive kyphoscoliosis, which leads to respiratory impairment.
Becker Muscular Dystrophy
It is a less severe X-linked recessive disorder that occurs from early childhood to adulthood. The symptoms include:
- Muscle wasting is noted, especially in the proximal muscles and lower extremities.
- Weakness in legs and arms.
- Hypertrophy of the muscles, especially in calves.
- Mental retardation may occur.
- Cardiac involvement is seen in some patients.
LIMB -Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
It is both autosomal dominant and recessive muscular dystrophy that affects both males and females. The onset ranges from late in the first to fourth decade. The symptoms include:
- Progressive weakness of pelvic and shoulder muscles.
- Weakness of the diaphragm results in respiratory insufficiency.
- Muscle cramps are present.
Myotonic Dystrophy
It is also known as statement disease or dystrophia myotonica. The symptoms include:
- The patient has a ‘hatchet-faced’ appearance due to the atrophy and weakness of the temporalis, masseter, and facial muscles.
- Frontal baldness is seen in men.
- Inability to relax muscles after its contraction
- It affects the adrenal glands, heart, eye, facial muscles, and central nervous system.
- The patient develops poor vision, difficulty in swallowing, and dysarthric speech.
- Intellectual impairment, increased sleep, cataracts, insulin resistance, decreased esophageal and colonic motility.
Muscular Dystrophy in Ayurveda
There is no direct correlation between muscular dystrophy in Ayurveda.
It can be called Mamsa dosha.
The pathogenesis of the disease can be considered as adibala pravit (a disease that affects occur by defects in sperm(sukra) and ovum (sonita) ) with mamsagata Vata due to obstruction of the channels(srotas).
It occurs due to the imbalance of Vata dosha and sapta dhatu (essential elements required to form the body).
Vata dosha, which gets vitiated, plays a vital role in forming muscular dystrophy.
The Vata dosha gets obstructed by rasadi dhatus, mainly mamsa and medo dhatu, which are the seat of the Vata dosha.
This leads to an increase and decrease in mamsa and medo dhatus.
It results in the lack of nutrition to the nerve supply of the corresponding muscles and gets deactivated.
When the Agni (digestive fire) gets impaired at the dhatu level, it leads to low absorption of nutrients, resulting in weakness.
Ayurvedic Treatment For Muscular Dystrophy in Kerala
The correction of Agni and Vata dosha is necessary to manage muscular dystrophy. The disease can’t be cured entirely; only the symptoms can be managed, and slowed progression can be managed. These must be kept in mind while undergoing treatment for muscular dystrophy.
The nourishing medicines and treatments (brahmana) and Vata dosha hara must be administered. The correction of Agni and obstruction of the channels deepana pachana and lekhana aushadas must opt. The drugs that nourish the dhatus must be followed.
Vitiated doshas can be pacified, and metabolic toxins can be eliminated with the help of panchakarma therapies, including
- Abhyangam
- Snehapanam
- Udwartanam
- Njavara kizhi
- Kashaya vasti
- Anuvasana vasti
- Ela kizhi etc.
By the above therapies, the toxins get eliminated from the body; the doshas come back to normalcy. It rejuvenates the muscle fibres and body tissues, which leads to the improvement of muscle strength and flexibility.
Yoga and meditation can also be practiced at home to manage the disease better.
Lifestyle Modification
The affected person must modify their life to cope with the disabilities caused due to the disease. It includes:
- Avoid extreme massages as it provokes muscle damage.
- Avoid being overweight.
- Undergo physiotherapy.
- Use braces for limiting scoliosis and other deformities.
- Family screening must be done.
- Yoga and meditation must be practised, which includes
- Padahastasana
- Padmasana
- Paschimothasana
- Gomukhasana
- Bhujangasana
- Nadi sodhana pranayama
- Bhramari pranayama
Anuloma- villoma pranayama
Diet
A well-balanced diet that is a good source of energy and nourishes muscle fibres must be needed. The diet must include high protein, low fat, and low carbohydrate.
Protein food items like fish, soya, beans, legumes, egg, chicken, cauliflower, whole grains, etc., nourish the muscle and help generate muscle.
Food items rich in calcium, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, etc., leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, calcium-added food such as orange juice and cereals, and fish such as sardines and salmon help in muscle and bone growth.
Vitamin D is also necessary for the proper growth of muscle and bone growth. It must be obtained from sunlight, fish, dairy products, and vitamin D supplements.
Intake of fruits and vegetables with a large number of fibres and water intake helps relieve constipation and stay hydrated.
Avoid processed food, coffee, carbonated drinks, and alcohol as possible.
Home Remedies
- Exercise and physical activities like yoga, stretching exercise, and pranayama.
- A healthy diet includes high protein, low fat, and low carbohydrate.
- Emotional support therapies like counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy.
- Energy and nutritional supplements.
Do's and Don'ts During Treatment
- Avoid extreme massages because it provokes muscle damage.
- Avoid oil (Snigdha) and hot(ushna) prayoga.
- Take proper rest during and after treatment.
Muscular dystrophy is different from other diseases. Special care must be given to the child. Parents and children must be emotionally and physically prepared for the progress and harmfulness of the disease. If you notice any of the above symptoms, don’t hesitate to visit a doctor and took proper treatment.