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
