Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment and Long-term Management of Mitral Regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a medical condition in which blood flows abnormally in a reverse direction from the left ventricle of the heart to the left atrium. Mitral valve prolapse (MVP), rheumatic heart disease, infective endocarditis, annular calcification, cardiomyopathy, and ischemic heart disease are the common causes for this condition. In the initial stages of this condition, there may be no, or minimal symptoms; as the disease progresses, affected individuals may experience breathlessness, lung congestion, and heart failure. Clinical history, physical examination, chest X-ray, ECG, 2-d echo, and cardiac catheterization may be required for an accurate diagnosis of this condition.

Conservative therapy includes diuretics, medicines to improve heart function, blood thinning drugs, and regular medication for prevention of infection. Surgical options include repair or replacement of the damaged valve; with repair being the preferred option for most patients. Ayurvedic herbal treatment can be added in the long term management of MR patients to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms, and postpone the requirement for surgical intervention, which has its own inherent risks.

It is important to use herbal medicines which improve heart efficiency and function, and reduce inflammation and prevent infection. However, the use of Ayurvedic medicines which act on the mitral valve, especially on the tendon chords and muscle attached to it, is of greater importance and relevance in treating MR, since the efficacy of these medicines determines the overall success and utility of the treatment.

Treatment is usually given for a period of about 6-8 months. Further treatment decisions will depend upon the response of the patient to the treatment given thus far. Maintenance therapy, in the form of a few medicines, may be required in patients with severe mitral regurgitation. Most patients with moderate mitral regurgitation may be safely managed on a long term basis with the help of Ayurvedic herbal medicines.

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

Successful Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Medical Conditions Related to the Heart

In the modern age of stress, modernization, globalization, pollution, and global warming, diseases of the heart are a leading cause for death worldwide. Ayurvedic management of these conditions is comprehensive and highly successful. A short summary of medical conditions and their Ayurvedic treatment is given below.

Hypertension or high blood pressure has become very common in the young and middle aged population, due to high stress, and competitive lifestyles. Ayurvedic treatment with simple herbs, coupled with relaxation techniques, deep breathing and Reiki, can very well manage mild to moderate blood pressure, without the need for modern anti-hypertensive drug therapy.

Congenital diseases related to the heart can be managed - and in most children, successfully treated - with the use of Ayurvedic herbs and herbo-mineral medicines. It is important to commence treatment at the earliest, immediately after diagnosis, and to continue treatment for at least six to twelve months. Conditions like Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) fall in this category. Even babies just a few months old can be safely treated with Ayurvedic medicines.

Most mild to moderate conditions related to the valves of the heart can be very well treated with Ayurvedic medicines. Both valve stenosis and regurgitation can be successfully treated with good long term results. Even with patients having severe involvement of the heart valves, surgery can be successfully delayed for several decades with aggressive Ayurvedic treatment. Aortic stenosis and regurgitation, and Mitral Stenosis and regurgitation fall in this category.

Medical conditions involving the heart muscle, usually called myopathies, are quite serious and have significant morbidity and mortality. Ayurvedic treatment can be judiciously used to treat these conditions, though the treatment time required here is more. Conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy fall in this category.

Congestive cardiac failure needs to be treated keeping in mind the known causes for the condition. Most patients can be successfully treated if Ayurvedic treatment is continued for about two to three years. Complete success can be obtained using a combination of Ayurvedic medicines and heart health supplements.

Coronary artery disease (CAD), causing angina (with partial blocks) or heart attacks (with complete blocks), have become very common even in young people. Ayurvedic treatment, combined with a healthy life style - including regular exercises, deep breathing techniques, yogasanas, and healthy food - can completely reverse CAD in most people.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment is thus very useful in successfully managing most medical conditions related to the heart.

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

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Mental Retardation (MR)

Mental retardation (MR) is a medical condition signifying a low IQ and deficits in functional life skills.  While the majority of individuals affected with mental retardation do not have an identifiable cause, an exposure to toxins in the prenatal or postnatal stage or a prenatal thyroid dysfunction are some of the causes believed to cause MR.  This condition is more commonly seen in children born into families with low IQ, poor education, and a low socio-economic status.  The common symptoms of MR include behavioural disturbances, language impediments, and neuromuscular incoordination and abnormalities.  This neuro-developmental disability can originate at any stage right from conception up to the age of 18 years.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment for MR includes treating any known cause for the condition, as well as primarily giving treatment in order to improve the IQ of the affected individual, as well as providing treatment to strengthen the neuromuscular system of the body.  A known exposure to toxins like lead as well as exposure to disturbed thyroid hormones is treated with the appropriate Ayurvedic herbal medicines, so that a detoxification of the entire body takes place, and the effect of disturbed, hormones on the body is reduced or neutralized.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines are used in high doses in order to strengthen the brain cells and as well as the neurotransmitters connecting the different parts of the brain.  This treatment also brings about a development of the brain, the spinal cord, the peripheral nerves as well as their connections to muscular structures throughout the body.  Long-term treatment of the nervous system and brain gradually helps in reducing or reversing all the symptoms of MR such as behavioural and language problems, and dysfunction incoordination and movement.

While aggressive treatment needs to be given for about six months, maintenance, low dose treatment can be continued for another twelve months.  This treatment brings about significant improvement in most individuals affected with MR, and can dramatically change the life of affected individuals for the better.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant contribution to play in the management and treatment of MR.

The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at www.ayurvedaphysician.com