Muscular dystrophy includes a group of inherited muscle diseases, which result from a genetic deficiency of dystrophin, a muscular protein, because of which muscles display an unusual susceptibility to damage and therefore progressively weaken. Muscular dystrophy includes several diseases like Duchene’s muscular dystrophy, Becker's muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy (also known as Steinert's disease), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (also known as Landouzy-Dejerine dystrophy), limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, congenital muscular dystrophy, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, distal muscular dystrophy and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. Each condition has characteristic symptoms and may have variable outlooks. Duchene’s muscular dystrophy is the most common type of inherited muscular disorder.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for muscular dystrophy is aimed at treating the genetic deficiency which results in progressive muscular damage and weakness. Different types of herbal medicines are utilised in the treatment of muscular dystrophy. These include herbal medicines which act on the blood tissue as well as the muscle tissue of the body. These medicines regulate and normalize metabolism of both these tissues at the microcellular level, so that the breakdown of muscle at an accelerated rate is prevented or minimized. Ayurvedic treatment can be given both in the form of oral medication as well as local application. Medicated herbal oils are used for massage on the entire body, after which medicated steam fomentation is given to supplement the effect of the local application.
In addition, medicines are also given to detoxify the body from the buildup of the elements of muscle breakdown. Other specific herbal medicines are also used which act on the cellular DNA of the body so that the genetic deficiency can be regulated and modified to the maximum extent possible. These treatments help in minimizing the long-term damage of muscular dystrophy, improving muscle strength and tone, reducing long term disability, improving the quality of life, as well as in prolonging survival of affected individuals, especially those having Duchene’s muscular dystrophy.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant contribution in the management and treatment of muscular dystrophy.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
