Autoimmune disorders are caused due to a dysfunction
of the immune system of the body which attacks body organs and systems assuming
them to be foreign, causing more than 160 different autoimmune diseases.
Conservative modern treatment is in the form of immune suppression which
results in temporary improvement in the symptoms; however, most patients with
serious symptoms do not benefit in the long run, and may in fact exhibit
serious side effects from treatment.
Almost all affected individuals exhibit some genetic
predisposition to disease, along with exposure to environmental triggers. These
include allergies, chronic infections, traumatic inflammation, degeneration,
nutritional deficiencies, and toxic build up in the body. Ayurvedic treatment can
be given for a few months to systematically detoxify the body; this is followed
up with rejuvenation therapy for the next few months. When treated in this
manner, patients can be gradually given medicines to treat generalized
inflammation and also to gradually modulate a compromised immunity, without
showing any aggravation of symptoms.
Treatment is also given to treat specific symptoms
as they present. The key to successful treatment is to treat specific and generalized
inflammation, which is the hallmark of autoimmune disease. This can result in
remission of commonly occurring autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, alopecia areata, systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE), thyroiditis, Addison’s disease, pernicious anemia, celiac disease,
multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), scleroderma, and mixed
connective tissue disease (MCTD).
Simple diet instructions are given which can be
easily followed by most affected people. Avoidance of fast food, fried food, and
packed food items; minimization of sugar, salt, non-vegetarian food, and dairy;
and consumption of large amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits (subject to
tolerance) are recommended.
Most affected individuals report significant
improvement with about four to six months of Ayurvedic herbal treatment, and go
into a full remission after about eight to ten months of therapy. Medicines can
then be gradually tapered off and then stopped altogether. Patients who are
already on steroids and other immune suppressant drugs may require more time to
obtain remission of symptoms as well as to gradually get off all modern
medication. Early institution of Ayurvedic herbal treatment is important in
preventing permanent damage to important organs.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus be
systematically used to comprehensively treat all autoimmune disorders.
The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
