Psoriasis Ayurvedic Treatment

What is Psoriasis disease?
Psoriasis is a autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It results when the immune system sends out faulty signals and effects the pace of growth of skin cells. Psoriasis is not communicable disease. The disorder is a regular relapsing condition which varies in severity from small, localized patches to the entire body. Psoriasis usually appears pink or red patches of skin thickened, raised, and dry. It may be small flat bumps, large plates of thick skin and raised red spots, pink and slightly dry skin with large flakes of dry skin to flake.
Types of Psoriasis :
There are five types of psoriasis:

Plaque psoriasis - Patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale
Psoriatic arthritis - Which causes inflammation of the joints.
Guttate psoriasis - Small, red spots on the skin
Pustular psoriasis - White pustules surrounded by red skin
Inverse psoriasis - Smooth, red lesions form in skin folds
Erythrodermic psoriasis - widespread redness, severe itching, and pain.

Ayurveda View
According to Ayurveda, psoriasis can be considered as the vitiation of Vata and Kapha. Ayurveda Panchakarma proposes to treat psoriasis in conjunction with diet and relaxation techniques. This is because cleansing of the body is very important for the treatment of psoriasis.

Ayurvedic Treatment

Snehapana, Swedana, Vamana, Takradhara, Massage are the common Ayurvedic treatments for this condition.

Arthritis Ayurvedic Treatment

What is Arthritis disease?

Arthritis is a common disease with inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis symptoms are pain and limited function of joints. The inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by stiffness, swelling, redness and warmth. Tenderness of an inflamed joint can be noted.

Causes of Arthritis :
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury leading to osteoarthritis, metabolic abnormalities such as gout and pseudogout, hereditary factors, the direct and indirect effect of infections bacterial and viral, and a misdirected immune system with autoimmunity such as in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

1. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that causes deterioration of articular cartilage and the formation of new bone (bone spurs) at the periphery of the joints. It is generally considered a primary disease in the elderly but can occur as a secondary condition among young people. Injury, occupation, obesity and genetics are among the factors that cause cartilage of a joint to wear out.

Ayurvedic Treatment
According to Ayurveda, Vata is the most vitiated dosha in this case. Specific Marma massages, Elakizhi, Pizhichil, Njavarakizhi along with some oral medications will be advised.

2. Gout is a type of pain of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in and around the joints. With pain, gout can cause swelling, redness, warmth and stiffness. Gout causes sudden joint pain and severe. Most often, gout affects one joint, but it is possible to affect few joints too. Ayurvedic Treatment
Marma massages, Podikizhi, Elakizhi, Vasti along with dietary restriction and oral intake of medicines are also necessary.

3. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Its also a inflammatory type of arthritis that can lead to joint pain and redness, joint deformity and disability. Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and early, aggressive treatment can help prevent joint damage and deformity. Ayurvedic Treatment
Marma massage, Podikizhi, elakizhi, Vasti along with dietary restriction and oral intake of medicine is most necessary

4. Ankylosing spondylitis, traditionally known as arthritis of the spine, which is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that belongs to a group known as the spondyloarthopathies. Ankylosing spondylitis causes the spine to become rigid and fused, making it painful to move the neck and spine. Ayurvedic Treatment
Marma massage, Elakizhi, Pizhichil along with medicine will help in reducing the discomfort of this condition.

Sinusitis Ayurvedic Treatment

What is Sinusitis infection?
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the lining of the sinuses - the cavities of the skull bone that leads through the nose. This generally means a cold, flu, allergies, or other infections. The cause is infecting bacteria, sometimes in the sinuses or chambers on either side of the nasal cavity, causing sinus problems. The common symptoms are excessive or constant sneezing, runny nose, nose or both nostrils, headaches and pressure around the head, eyes and face, loss of smell is known. The face is very sensitive to touch, but usually not swollen.

Different Types of Sinusitis :

Acute cases, which last for 4 weeks or less
Sub acute cases, which last 4 to 12 weeks
Chronic cases, which last more than 12 weeks and can continue for months or even years
Recurrent cases, which involve several acute attacks within a year

Ayurvedic Treatment
Ayurveda suggests Nasya as an essential treatment for sinusitis. Herbal steam inhalation, Thalam and specific oral medications are also advised.

Migraine Ayurvedic Treatment

What is Migraine Headache?

Migraine is defined as a very serious and recurrent attack of headache accompanied by a feeling of nausea. The frequency of migraine varies from person to person, as well as their severity. In general, headaches in migraine are found only on one side of the head. Migraines are caused by vasodilation (widening of blood) which causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that wrap around pillars in the brain. The enlargement of these blood vessels across the nerves that spins around releases chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing expansion of the arteries amplifies pain. There will always be some triggers that cause the disease and can vary from person to person.

Ayurvedic Treatment

According to Ayurveda, Vata and Pitta are the vitiated doshas in Migraine. Nasyam, Thalam, Thalapothichil are the treatments done for this condition.

Ayurvedic Treatment For Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia

What is Depression Disorder?

Depression is a state of mind and that may affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, helpless, worthless, guilty or agitated. He may lose interest in activities once enjoyed and might overeat or complain about loss of appetite, problem in concentrating, memory and may consider or commit suicide. Insomnia (sleep disorders), excessive sleep, fatigue, loss of energy or digestive problems are some resistant to treatment this.

Ayurvedic Treatment

Sirovasthi, Sirodhara, Thalapothichil, Thalam, mind relaxing therapies and certain medicines helps.

Spondylolisthesis Treatment

What is Spondylolisthesis?

Spondylolisthesis is a medical state in which a bone (vertebra) in the lowest part of the spine slips out of the usual or the proper position onto the bone beneath it. The most common cause for the disease in adults is due to degenerative disease such as arthritis and the slip usually occurs between the fourth and the fifth lumbar vertebrae. Children usually have this between the fifth bone in the lower back (lumbar vertebra) and the first bone in the sacrum (pelvis) area and mainly occur due to a birth defect in that area of the spine or sudden injury (acute trauma).

Symptoms :

The condition may vary from mild to severe and in some cases there may be no symptoms. Mostly the condition produces increased lordosis (also called swayback), but larger stages may result in kyphosis (round back) as the upper spine falls off the lower spine.

It may also include:

Lower back pain
Muscle tightness (tight hamstring muscle)
Pain in thighs and buttocks
Stiffness
Tenderness in the area of slip disk
Increase of pain during activity
Feeling difficulty while trying to stand and sit

Ayurvedic Treatment

The displacement is treated using special manipulations, first the muscles are relaxed and the spine is corrected using bandages, then the muscles supporting the spine should be strengthened, special external treatments are needed for this.

Internal Medicinal Treatment

The patients are prescribed specially prepared ayurvedic medicines for muscle spasm and bone strengthening, along with correcting the cellular digestive process.
External Treatment
Pancha Karma Procedures
Sneha Vasthi
Kashaya Vasthi
Also include special external oil treatment modalities and bandages, tractions along with lepanas.
Massage – Abhayangam
Tractions
Lepanas
Bandage
Katee Vasthi
Swedam

Intervertebral Disc Prolapse Treatment

What is Intervertebral Disc Prolapse?


Invertebral Disc Prolapse can be defined as a tough fibrous pads bonding each of the spinal vertebrae i.e. backbones. Intervertebral disc are made up of a tough outer layer of ligament, the annulus fibrosis and a soft gelatinous core. The role of Intervertebral Disc is to be a shock absorber and cushion the vertebrae during the movements of the spine and to mellow harshness when jumping or running.

Causes of Disc Prolapse :

Disc Slip can generally occur from general wear and tear, it generally happens out of a job that requires constant sitting.
It can also happen while performing jobs like lifting things.
Painful Injury to lumbar discs usually happens when lifting and bending at the waist.
Genetics also plays a major role in disc problems.
Any disc in the entire spine can prolapse or burst, the most common ones are that which occurs at the lowest two.
The disc themselves have no nerve supply, it is only when the disc prolapses and presses onto a nerve or some of the vulnerable part of the spine, the pain can be noticed.
If the disc bursts, then it won't be normal again, such patients are always prone to further bouts of acute pain.
It may also include:

There will be little or no pain if the disc is the only tissue injured.
Severe pains in the thighs, knees or feet.
Pain that radiate into the region served by affected nerve roots that are irritated or impinged by the herniated material.
In cases where the herniated disc is in the lumbar region, the patient may also experience, pain usually continuous or at least continuous at a specific region of the body.

Ayurvedic Treatment

Ayurvedic treatment aims at reducing the dryness and to bring back the sneha guna, elasticity and to re-hydrate the disc, removing the osteophytes also called the mala roopa kapha.The process consists of vataharam and kaphaharam in initial stages and brmhanam in later stages to nourish the disc.

Intake of Ayurvedic Medicines

The intake of herbal medicines strengthens the nervous system and specifically the Para-vertebral muscles of the BACK. In doing this, the compression of the inter-vertebral disc is reduced and there by relief is attained in all related symptoms.

Local Measures – Sthanika Chikitsa

It sets the alignment of bones and the herniated disc is restored to its original position.
Gives relief to myo-facial spasm.
Rectifies disc de-hydration and is a healing procedure for the restored disc.
It boosts para spinal muscles, both the discs and also completed rejuvenation for the whole spine.
It restores back mobility.

Spondylitis Treatment

What is spondylitis?

Spondylitis is a common degenerative condition that occurs on the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) spine. It is usually caused by ageing and repetitive stress injury due to wrong body postures. A degenerative phenomenon seen among professionals in IT industry, BPO sectors, and those who have to spend long working hours sitting in front of the computer. Such condition causes pain, dizziness, vomiting, weakness in shoulders, upper limbs, lower-back and persistent stiffness. In general, it affects men and women above the age of 40 and progresses with the age. Those with less bone density or low calcium intake are prone to this disease.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Spondylitis :

Treatment of spondylitis is a comprehensive one based on the principles evolving ayurvedic medicines, ayurvedic panchakarma therapy and ayurvedic herbs. In ayurveda, spondylitis is considered as a vata disease. Ayurvedic medicines act to strengthen the inter-vertebral disc spaces and reduce inflammation.

It is used externally and internally for preventing pain and inflammation.
Panchakarma procedure is part of the treatment and they are Greeva Basti, Patra Pottali and Swedana. The patient after undergoing these processes gets proper lubrication to the neck bone which results in easiness in movements and reduces stiffness

Sciatica Treatment

What is sciatica?

Sciatica (Gridhrasi) is a common ailment people develop as they reach their late thirties. In ayurveda, it is considered as a vata roga (disease) and the symptoms are Sharp Shocking pain radiating from the Hip up to the Thigh, Calf or the Toes in one or both the Legs. Other symptoms are Numbness, Weakness, Tingling sensation & Discomfort along the path of the Sciatic Nerve are the results of Compression, Irritation & Inflammation of the Sciatic Nerve. Ayurveda considers that Sciatica is the result of aggravation of vayu. In most cases, pain begins with an injury, after lifting a heavy object, or after due to a sudden reflex movement.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Sciatica :

Dietary Changes: Pulses, beans and fried foods should be avoided from your daily diet. Also, curd and other sour substances should be avoided.

Change in Life style: In your daily routine, gentle exercise of the legs is advised. Swimming in warm water is a good exercise that you can do. Take care to avoid exposure to damp and cold conditions. To sleep the patient can use a hard bed, it will increase blood circulation.

Yoga: Many asanas are advised for Sciatica patients. Halasana, Shalabhasana and Bhujangasana are some of the asanas. By doing these asanas there is increase in blood circulation, stimulate immune system and releases tension in the lower back including the spine, stimulates the endocrine, nervous and reproductive system, strengthens the spine and rejuvenates spinal nerves.

Internal Medicines: the patient is prescribed many types of ayurvedic preparations that should be taken internally. Thailams, Grithams, Gutika, Pills, Lehyams, Churnams, Asavaaristams & Kashayas prepared from the herbs like Raasna, Aswagandha, Dasamoola, Satavari etc.
External Therapy: Panchakarma treatment and rejuvenations therapies.

Scoliosis Treatment

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine of a person develops an abnormal curve. Here the spine curves away from the middle or sideways and looks like "S" or a "C" structure rather then straight line, when it is viewed in an X-ray. Scoliosis is more common in girls rather then boys and this condition erupt during the adolescent period when the growth phase is fast. In some cases it is temporary and heels without treatment, but in other cases treatment is required. If serious curves are not curved, it leads to other problems and medical conditions.

Scoliosis can be classified into three types. They are congenital scoliosis (spine is formed curved by birth), idiopathic scoliosis, and neuromuscular scoliosis.

Symptoms:

Tilted pelvis and uneven shoulder height.
Back ache, lower back ache and fatigue can occur due to the condition.
Uneven hips/leg lengths and slow nerve action.
Severe cases results in decrease in lung capacity, putting pressure on heart and restricting physical activities.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Scoliosis
The treatment concentrates on maintaining the normal curvature of the spine while correcting the lateral deviation of the spine. To make this correction, the holding muscles should be relaxed and then the deviation of the spine is rectified using bandages, then the muscles should be strengthened to hold the spine, special external treatment are required for this. Internally herbal preparations and medicines are taken to get relief from pain and give muscular relaxation. Herbal massage is done externally.

Arthralgia Treatment

What is Arthralgia?
Arthralgia is a condition in which the patient suffers pain in one or more of his joints. It is a typical situation where there is pain in the joints without inflammation. The nature of pain can be described as dull, sharp, stabbing, burning or throbbing, and the intensity maybe mild to severe.

The main reasons for arthralgia are injury including fractures, due to number of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, bursitis, and gout. Also diseases like Hepatitis, Influena, Measles, Epstein-Barr viral syndrome and Lyme disease.

Treatment for Arthralgia in Ayurveda

Ayurveda says that Arthralgia is caused by excess of ama and lack of agni. In order to treat Arthralgia the digestive fire has to be ignited and ama has to be suppressed.

Mainly the treatment starts after analyzing a person's body constitution according to vata, pitha and Kapha and his lifestyle, diet and emotional pattern. Ayurveda concentrates on removing the ama from the joints and bringing it to the colon and then flushing it out. Such a procedure requires the colon to be clean.

Different oils maybe applied to the skin to relieve pain, to remove toxins from the body and restore mobility. It gives lubrication to the joints. If vata aggravates then pain in the joints increases, so the treatment emphasizes on balancing the vata.

Avoid sleeping during day time, staying awake late in the night and mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief etc.

Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) considered being the common cause of painful legs. In such condition the pain of the leg eases with the movement of the legs. RLS syndrome also causes worsening of symptoms and leg pain during the early evening or later at night. Other symptom associated with it are night time involuntary jerking of the legs during sleep, also known as periodic leg/limb movement disorder.

Symptoms :
Symptoms vary, but overall nature is that the patient feels - deep-seated, creeping, crawling, jittery, tingling, burning or aching feelings in the calves, thighs, feet or arms. It starts while you are in a sitting posture or lying for a continuous period of time. The patient gets relief the moment when he starts to walk; the patient will have a natural tendency to do so. The symptoms are not obvious during the daytime but worsen during the night when you are in bed. Most people who have RLS find it difficult in getting sleep during the night.

Most cases, it is difficult to find causes for this disease. Researchers say it may be due to an imbalance of the brain chemical named dopamine. It is this chemical that sends message for muscle movement.

Ayurvedic Diagnosis and Treatment :

According to Ayurveda RLS is caused by the triggering of vata dosha. So ayurveda prescribes a vata pacifying diet that consist of stewed vegetables, pureed soups, cooked fruit, warm rice and wheat puddings, nut milks and warm milk. Moreover foods that increase vata dosha in your body should be avoided that includes dry and cold foods such as dry cereals, cold milk, raw vegetables and ice cream. Vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, white potatoes and red and green bell peppers, as well as spicy peppers such as chili and paprika should also be avoided.

The treatment consists of usage of herbs that cures RLS that include nervine sedatives consisting of skullcaps and jatamamsi. Nervine tonics such as ashwagandha and shankhapushpi; rasayanas are used made out of ashwaganda and amalaki; and cool dipanas, which include fennel, dill and aloe vera.

Yoga accompanied with this treatment is highly beneficial for the patient to recover. It relieves the patient from stress and balances energy.

Lifestyle changes should also be adopted. Simple steps like avoiding caffeine and alcohol, especially in the evening; establishing a daily routine by eating and going to sleep at the same time every day to train your body to go to sleep earlier each night so that even if it takes awhile to fall asleep.

Fibromyalgia Treatment

What is Fibromyalgia ?

Fibromyalgia is described as chronic condition in which the patient experiences non-inflammatory pain and tenderness in muscles, ligaments, joints and fatigue. It is relatively a common condition found to affect four percent of the general population. Fibromyalgia is often related to an arthritis-related condition, but it is not arthritis as it does not have inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or tissues like arthritis. More or less Fibromyalgia is considered as a rheumatic condition that impairs the joints or soft tissues and causes chronic pain.

Symptoms :

Prolonged aches and stiffness (more then 3 months) at various sites
Feeling of Fatigue generally
Migraines and chronic headaches
Sleep disorder and change in timing of sleep and cycles
Swelling.
Psychological and neuronal complaints
Numbness and tingling sensation
Ayurvedic Diagnosis and Treatment

Fibromyalgia, according to ayurveda is a result of vata imbalance. It results in the aggravation of vata which destabilize the nervous system and can create hypersensitivity leading to pain and tenderness. Other contributory factors are accumulation of ama (toxins) and shrotorodha. Ayurvedic treatments focus on the treatment of these issues mentioned. Apart from that associated symptoms like weak digestion, constipation, and effects of chronic stress should be treated.

Panchakarma Therapy
In this pre-purification method 'snehan' and 'swetan' are used to balance vata and push out the toxins. Snehan is ayurvedic herbal massage and swetan is sweating or sudation.

Diet
Fibromyalgia patients should avoid eating hot &spicy food, fried foods, sweets, foods (brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes), too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white-sugar, yogurt, chocolate and cocoa. They should not sleep during the day and avoid staying up late in the night. It is good to avoid mental conditions like stress, grief, worry and anxiety.

It is recommended to have vegetable soups and juices (cucumber, carrot & Beetroot), coconut water and coconut milk, cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin, spices like cumin, coriander, ginger asafetida, garlic, fennel and turmeric, green salad with dressing of lemon juice and little salt.

Yoga
It is important to do yoga as it reduces stress, anxiety and mental fatigue, which is not good for Fibromyalgia.

Lifestyle
To maintain the vata balance and stability of the nervous system it is not good to have a lifestyle that affects the natural bodily rhythms. If it is irregular then the body looses its natural balancing cycles.

Multiplesclerosis

Facial palsy

Hemiplegia

Quadriplegia

Management of fracture compliations and rehabilitation

Stress related disorders

Headache