Pages

Thursday 23 October 2014

Successful Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is a medical disorder resulting from dysfunctional bone marrow production. While there is a simple and universal paucity of red blood cells and white blood cells in aplastic anemia, in MDS, in addition, these cells also display morphological abnormalities.  MDS causes symptoms of anemia, fatigue, fever, heart disease, bleeding, reduced urine output and shock. MDS can be primary or secondary; the later type is usually caused by the side effects of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, viral infection, exposure to chemicals, and a genetic disposition.

MDS can be successfully treated with the help of Ayurvedic herbal medicines which have a specific action on the bone marrow.  Medicines which are effective on the Majja dhatu (tissue) are useful in the management of MDS;  in addition medicines which act on the blood tissue as well as liver and spleen are also effective in the management of symptoms. Medicines need to be given in high doses and for prolonged periods on order to be effective, so that they can bring about a remission and prevent relapse.

In order to increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce treatment time, simple Ayurvedic Panchkarma procedures are added to the oral treatment.  These include giving a series of medicated enemas (basti); especially, a medicine known as Tikta Ksheer can be effectively used as a series in the management of MDS.  This enema is known as Tikta Ksheer Basti.  Given in small amounts (100ml), these can be safely administered, without any contraindications, to all affected individuals without any risk of side effects.

Treatment ranging from six to ten months is usually very effectively in successfully managing patients affected with MDS. It is important to initiate treatment at an early stage in order to bring about an early and complete treatment response as well as prevent further complications such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).  At this point, it is heartening to note that even such complications can be effectively treated with Ayurvedic medicines. Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from MDS and most such patients can be very successfully managed on a long-term basis.

The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com  


Successful Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP)

Porphyria is a complex group of inherited disorders resulting from faulty and incomplete conversion of porphyrins into heme.  Though heme is present in almost all body tissues, it is most commonly found in the red blood cells.  An acute presentation of this condition is known as acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), since the attacks are intermittent and recurrent, and cause acute symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, muscular pain, high blood pressure, red urine, itching and skin rash, and symptoms related to the nervous system.

This acute presentation is usually treated with intravenous glucose and the use of the medication, Hematin, where available.  Most such patients are sensitive to many medications which have to be strictly avoided, once the diagnosis has been made.  AIP can be precipitated by medications, fasting, smoking, infections, surgery, stress, and excessive use of alcohol or exposure to sun.  Other than conservative treatment of the acute stage, which is usually done in the intensive care section of hospitals, there is no known preventive or curative treatment for this condition in the modern system of medicine.  However, using Ayurvedic pathophysiology, this condition can be treated very effectively with simple medicines and simple procedures of Panchkarma.

AIP is usually treated with herbal medicines which have a digestive and antispasmodic action as well as medicines which have a lubricating and laxative action.  Other than these, medicines which treat an overactive nervous system, as well as an overactive metabolism, are useful in the management of this condition.  Thus, medicines which are useful in the treatment of Vata and Pitta doshas are utilized in the management of AIP, as well as in the long-term management of porphyria.  Simple Panchkarma procedures such as full body massage and fomentation (mild snehan and swedan), and simple matra basti (medicated enemas in low doses) are highly effective in treating acute stage of AIP as well as preventing further attacks.

Most such patients go into full remission within a few months of treatment and can then be managed with low doses of medicines, a strict diet in which aggravation of vata and pitta have to be avoided, as well as suitable lifestyle modifications in order to avoid precipitating an acute attack.  AIP as well as porphyria can thus be effectively managed and treated successfully using the Ayurvedic system of medicine.


The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Effective, Proven and Safe Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Advanced Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common and debilitating condition which affects joints, causing severe limitations to quality of life and creating an enormous economic burden.  Though related to ageing, osteoarthritis can also be adversely affected by other factors like obesity, trauma, previous surgery or infection, and genetics.  Recent medical trends believe osteoarthritis to be a mix of inflammation and degeneration which affects the entire joint.  Weight bearing joints like the knee joints are primary affected with this condition.

In the initial stage of this disease, inflammation usually causes swelling of the joint and may last for prolonged periods ranging from years to several decades.  This stage is usually followed by a gradual loss of joint space due to softening and degeneration of the cartilage.  Advanced conditions usually causes joint deviation, for example, in the knee joint, there is a collapse of the inner side of the knee resulting in outward deviation of the joint and leg.

In the initial stages of osteoarthritis, almost any anti-inflammatory medicine, be it Allopathic or Ayurvedic, combined with local application of ointments, application of heat, and simple exercises, can result in a satisfactory resolution of symptoms and provide long term relief.  However, in the chronic phase of the disease, most medicines do not work and individuals affected with this disease usually progress and become suitable candidates for joint replacement or arthroplasty.  This is the usual state of affairs since there is no known Allopathic or modern medicine which can significantly stop the progress of the disease or modify the structural damage resulting from chronic and advanced osteoarthritis.

Ayurvedic herbal medicines have a dual advantage of complete safety and a significant ability to reverse the entire disease process as well as the structural damage resulting from osteoarthritis.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines help to reduce inflammation and swelling, repair damage to the cartilage, help in healing of damaged muscles and menisci, and remove overall inflammation and swelling of the entire joint capsule.  Herbal medicines also gradually repair damage to eroded bone ends.  Local applications of medicines as well as hot or cold compresses can provide immediate and temporal relief from pain; however, Ayurvedic herbal medicines, given orally, form the mainstay of treatment for chronic or advanced osteoarthritis.

Depending upon the severity of the condition and the degree of joint damage, Ayurvedic herbal treatment may be required for periods ranging from two to eighteen months; however, this treatment is usually successful in reversing the disease process and repairing structural damage to the maximum extent possible.  With this, even individuals with advanced osteoarthritis who have been advised joint replacement can successfully lead a normal quality of life and recover joint mobility to the maximum extent possible.  Ayurvedic herbal treatment is thus a viable, safe, effective and proven treatment modality for advanced osteoarthritis as compared to surgical options which can be prohibitively costly and still provide limited mobility after surgery.  Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant role to play in the management of severe or advanced osteoarthritis.


The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com