Guillan-Barre syndrome is a medical condition which involves severe dysfunction of the nervous system and weakness of nerves, resulting in numbness and eventual muscular paralysis, leading to respiratory failure. While the cause of Guillan-Barre syndrome is not known, it is usually known to result after an infection of the lungs or the gastrointestinal system. The modern management of this condition consists of supportive treatment, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobin.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for Guillan-Barre syndrome is aimed at treating the dysfunction of the immune system, treatment of the damage to the nervous system, and also treating the complications of this condition. Respiratory paralysis is a serious condition requiring immediate treatment and hospitalization in intensive care. Ayurvedic herbal medicines which have a good immunomodulatory action are used in high doses in order to treat the severe dysfunction of the immune system in the affected individual. Herbal medicines which act on the nervous system and which help to repair the damage done to the nerves are also used in high doses in order to bring about an early recovery of the affected individual. In addition, medicines are also given to treat the infection of the respiratory tract or the gastrointestinal tract in order to treat the root cause of the condition. Ayurvedic herbal medicines are also given to reduce the inflammatory process which is the main cause for Guillan-Barre syndrome.
While oral medication is necessary to treat this condition, supportive treatment in the form of local application of medicated oils and hot fomentation can also be utilised in the treatment of this condition. This results in an early recovery from weakness and numbness, which are characteristic of this condition. Most people affected with Guillan-Barre syndrome need Ayurvedic herbal treatment for about four to six months in order to get a complete recovery from this condition. Persons with a severe dysfunction of the immune system may require longer treatment.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus be judiciously utilised in the management and treatment of Guillan-Barre syndrome.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at www.ayurvedaphysician.com
