Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare autoimmune disorder which involves generalized inflammation of small arteries in the body affecting mostly the skin, joints, peripheral nerves, intestines and kidneys, though the lings are usually spared. Common symptoms include fever, night sweats, weight loss, skin ulcerations or tender nodules, and severe muscle and joint pains, developing over weeks or months. PAN may be related to Hepatitis B and C infections, as also to genetic mutations. This disease can have serious long-term complications, especially if associated with intestinal, renal, heart or brain damage.

Conservative treatment is usually with steroids and immune suppressant drugs. The overall outlook can be considerably improved with these medicines; however, the long term prognosis still remains grim. Since multiple organs and body systems may get involved, this condition may require comprehensive management by a group of multispecialty physicians.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment is very effective in comprehensively treating PAN including the inflammation and damage to arteries, as well as treating and preventing long term complications. Herbal medicines can treat inflamed arteries, reduce the formation of micro aneurysms, and prevent long term damage, blockage and infarct, which cause long term damage to the organs they supply. Herbal medicines can also induce healing in inflamed arteries without compromising on immunity. Associated symptoms, or known causes, such as hepatitis, and chronic infections, need to be treated separately with appropriate herbs.

For a complete remission and to prevent long term relapses, the full spectrum of Ayurvedic treatment needs to be given, including detoxification, rejuvenation, and immune modulation. The various stages of these treatments need different medicines, while the herbs for the presenting symptoms and PAN pathology are continued concurrently.

Depending upon the type of presentation, the severity of presenting symptoms, and the stage at which treatment has been commenced; Ayurvedic herbal treatment needs to be given from periods ranging from 8 months to nearly 18 months, in order to be able to fully treat all the clinical presentations of PAN. Judiciously used, Ayurvedic herbal treatment can successfully manage and treat PAN, and significantly reduce morbidity and mortality resulting from this disease. Early commencement of treatment ensures a more complete cure and reduces the chances for long term complications or relapse.

The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an Ayurvedic consultant at  www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com  and www.ayurvedaphysician.com  You can start treatment for this condition here

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis (OA) involves degeneration of the smooth cartilage which lines the long bones and forms joints. This can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and limitation of movement. The knee, hip, spine and hands are most commonly affected. OA is most commonly due to old age, obesity, trauma, occupational hazards, and genetic influences; it is more common in women. Treatment is with pain killers, physical activity, weight loss measures, local injections, and surgery to correct bone deformity or joint replacement. Most affected people do well with conservative treatment. Regular physical activity is important to maintain stability of the joint, strengthen supporting muscles, and reduce pain.

People usually try alternative treatment when they do not get satisfactory relief or get only temporary relief with modern medicines and conservative measures to treat OA. With moderate or advanced OA, the damage to cartilage as well as the associated symptoms keeps progressing. Ayurvedic herbal treatment is very effective in treating both moderate as well as advanced OA. Depending upon the severity of the condition, Ayurvedic medicines need to be given in high doses for about 3 to 6 months to get complete relief from pain, swelling and other symptoms related to OA.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment is also very effective in treating advanced OA, especially for those people who have been advised complete joint replacement. Aggressive treatment with herbal medicines, combined with local pain relief ointments, graded exercises, and weight loss measures have resulted in stabilizing affected individuals to such an extent that joint replacement is no longer required. Treatment duration for such patients is usually about 6 to 12 months. Side effects or unwanted effects of Ayurvedic medicines used for such patients are virtually nonexistent, even though high doses are required to effectively treat advanced OA.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a very important role to play in the treatment and management of OA.

The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at  www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com   and      www.ayurvedaphysician.com    You can start treatment for this condition here

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a medical condition involving a mix of several autoimmune diseases. Patients typically complain of Reynaud’s phenomenon, swollen fingers, joint pain, hardening skin, pulmonary hypertension, difficulty in swallowing, and painful muscles. The presence of U1 RNP and snRNP antibodies is diagnostic of this condition. Women are affected more than men. The presence of pulmonary hypertension and other symptoms related to the cardiovascular system indicate an adverse prognosis.

Most patients are managed with drugs to treat pain and swelling, low dose steroids, and immune suppressing agents. Symptomatic treatment is given for difficulty in swallowing and acid reflux. Patients with pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease as well as heart involvement require special attention.

The Ayurvedic treatment of MCTD involves detoxification, reduction of generalized inflammation, and special rejuvenation therapy for the cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system. Once the symptoms gradually start subsiding, immune modulating herbs are introduced slowly. Special care is required since most patients are already on steroid and immune suppressant therapy. As inflammation decreases, the body gradually starts accepting immune modulation and immune strengthening treatment.

Treatment is continued till all symptoms are completely in remission; at this stage, modern medicines like steroids and immune suppressant drugs need to be tapered off gradually. This stage is highly sensitive, since the patient may experience an aggravation of symptoms for about 1-2 months.  Counseling and encouragement needs to be given to the patient at this stage to continue with the treatment. Once the aggravation subsides, then further treatment can be given to treat any residual symptoms and build up the immune system of the body so that it works to the patient’s advantage.

Treatment is then gradually reduced in dosage and frequency so that the patient can start living a life free of medication. Most patients with MCTD, or for that matter, any autoimmune disease, require regular treatment for a period of about 12 to 18 months for a complete remission of the disease with complete cessation of all modern drugs.   It is important to educate the patient to adopt a healthy life style and healthy eating habits, as well as avoid stress, so as to prevent a relapse of the condition.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a specific role to play in the successful management and treatment of MCTD.

The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and  www.ayurvedaphysician.com for Ayurvedic herbal treatment of MCTD, kindly click here

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss and hearing impairment are conditions which can severely affect quality of life, confidence, academic performance as well as earning potential, in addition to increasing the risk to life and limb. Hearing loss can be present at birth, or present later on in life. It can be bilateral or unilateral; it can also happen suddenly or present gradually. Medically, hearing loss can be classified into three types: (1) Sensorineural (2) Conductive and (3) Mixed.  Causes include wax, eardrum perforation, chronic infection, trauma, exposure to loud sounds, diseases of the inner ear or middle ear, tumors, congenital defects, drugs and old age.

The treatment of hearing loss depends upon the known causes for the condition. Conservative management includes avoiding causes where possible, treating allergies and chronic infection, and providing nutrients which may help improve hearing. Such treatments help overcome mild to moderate hearing loss; however, severe hearing loss - both of the sensorineural and conductive types - requires more aggressive management in the form of using hearing aids and surgical implants.

Specific Ayurvedic treatment can be provided depending upon whether the hearing loss is of the sensorineural type or the conductive type. For conductive hearing loss, medicines which act on the bone tissue are used in addition to herbs which have a specific action on the ear and aid in hearing. For sensorineural hearing loss, herbal medicines are used which act specifically on the inner ear and strengthen the auditory nerve. Additionally, if there is a known cause for the hearing loss, it also helps to treat this cause separately. For mixed type of hearing loss, a combination treatment is invariably required.

The average treatment time for hearing loss is about six to eight months. With the availability of newer and better herbal and herbomineral combination medicines, improvement is possible in sensorineural hearing loss of about 70-90%, while the improvement for conductive hearing loss is in the range of 60-80%. Refractory patients may require longer periods of treatment. It also helps to adopt a healthy lifestyle, take adequate rest and nutrition, and avoid stress and exposure to loud sounds.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a unique role to play in the successful management and treatment of hearing loss.

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