Avascular Necrosis (AVN) – Modern (Allopathic) versus Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

 Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a disease in which the blood supply to the head of the joint bone reduces drastically, causing a complete disorganization and ultimate collapse of the head of the joint bone.  Though the hip joint is most commonly affected, AVN can also involve other joints such as the shoulder.  This condition may be caused due to sudden or repeated, low-grade trauma, long-term use of steroids, excessive intake of alcohol, and chronic diseases like blood disorders and auto immune disorders. 

 Of late, there has been a gradual increase in the incidence of auto immune disorders with a resulting increase in the use of steroids; hence, AVN is being diagnosed much more frequently. Patients in their late 20s and early 30s usually present with this disease. The condition may happen within a span of a few days to a few weeks, but the ensuing physical disability may remain life-long. A similar condition in children, known as Perthe’s disease, may reverse spontaneously within a year or two.

 The conservative management of this condition in the modern system of medicine is to give biphosphonates in order to possibly reduce the rate of decrease of calcium and thereby preserve the joint structure to the maximum extent possible.  This is supplemented with graded physiotherapy to preserve joint function and maintain muscular strength.  A slightly advanced condition calls for core decompression surgery in order to reduce stress on the joint.  Further management is only with the use of pain killers like paracetamol, and to adopt a ‘wait and watch’ policy.

 Patients who progress to the third or fourth stage of the disease, involving gross destruction of the joint, are usually advised total replacement of the joint.  Joint replacement surgery can be prohibitively costly; in addition, it may not provide the full range of movement which the person previously had with a normal joint. If the causative factors persist, other joints may become involved.

 Most patients taking biphosphonates, or having undergone core decompression surgery, either do not benefit at all, or find the beneficial effects to be transitory. Such patients can be treated with Ayurvedic herbal medicines for a period of about four to six months and usually get complete and lasting benefit from pain, stiffness, and limitation of movement.

 Patients having the third or fourth stage of the condition usually require higher doses of Ayurvedic oral medicines, supplemented with one or several courses of medicated enemas. Most patients with severe involvement of AVN do recover significantly with the regular use of Ayurvedic treatment for a period of about eight to twelve months.

 To sum up, modern treatment is not very effective in controlling the severe pain and other symptoms associated with AVN. The much touted joint replacement surgery is available to only a select few, and has its own limitations. Ayurvedic herbal treatment is a comprehensive, safe and economical treatment for all the stages of AVN.

The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com To start Ayurvedic treatment for AVN, click here

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Hypothyroidism

 Hypothyroidism is a medical condition in which the secretions from the thyroid gland are less than normal due to various causes such as inflammation or destruction of the thyroid gland, deficiency of iodine or iron, and abnormalities in the pituitary or hypothalamus of the brain.  Hypothyroidism can cause symptoms such as course and thick skin, weight gain, depression, cold intolerance, constipation, decreased concentration, excessive sleep, and pain and swelling in the body.  Hypothyroidism can also cause accumulation of fluid in the heart or lungs.  The modern treatment of hypothyroidism consists in supplementing the body with synthetic thyroxin, which controls the symptoms partially, but needs to be taken life-long. 

The Ayurvedic herbal treatment for hypothyroidism consists of treating the cause of the disease as well as giving symptomatic treatment.  Deficiency of iodine or iron needs to be corrected within the daily dietary intake.  Abnormalities of the brain in the pituitary and the hypothalamus need to be properly investigated, after which the appropriate Ayurvedic treatment can be instituted to correct the abnormality.  Inflammation of the thyroid gland can be treated with Ayurvedic herbal medicines which reduce inflammation and gradually bring the thyroid gland back to normal. 

Simultaneously, Ayurvedic medicines are also given reduce the retention of fluid in the body and gradually increase the metabolism so that symptoms like thick skin, weight gain, depression and swelling and pain in the body disappear, and the body returns to normal.  Excess fluid from the body is washed out through the kidneys with the help of Ayurvedic herbal medicines; in addition, toxins from the blood are treated and also flushed out.  Medicines which act directly on the thyroid gland and thyroid cells are used, so that the thyroid gland starts functioning normally and smoothly.  Normally, treatment is required for a period of eight to twelve months, in which most people affected with hypothyroidism recover completely.  Patients who have developed hypothyroidism after the intake of radioactive iodine suffer large-scale destruction of the thyroid gland; individuals with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis also develop hypothyroidism in the long run. In such individuals, treatment may be required with Ayurvedic herbal medicines for a much longer time. 

Ayurvedic herbal treatment is thus very effective in the successful management of hypothyroidism.

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 hypothyroidism, kindly click here