Autoimmune Diseases – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

A human being has inborn immunity to protect from infections to which the body is exposed at every living moment. This immunity is of two types; natural and the acquired type. The natural, innate, or inborn immune system is the more primitive one, and it activates white blood cells to destroy invaders without producing antibodies. The acquired or adaptive immune system is more complex, and is develops over time, as the body is exposed to more and more foreign elements. This system learns to remember invaders, and activates immune cells to produce proteins called antibodies, which attach to invaders so that they can be recognized and destroyed.

            Autoimmune diseases result when the immune system fails to recognize the body parts as its own and starts targeting and destroying them, by creating auto-antibodies.  Almost any body part can be affected, either singly or several together. Symptoms depend upon the affected parts. Morbidity and mortality depend upon the severity of damage and the body systems affected. Inflammation is the hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Currently, more than eighty autoimmune disorders are known and include mainly rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, SLE, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison’s disease, Grave’s disease, Sjogren syndrome, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and myasthenia gravis.

            Currently, it is not clear what exactly causes autoimmune diseases; however, there could be a combination of causative and aggravating factors such as a hereditary predisposition, chronic infection, exposure to toxic chemicals, faulty diet, high and sustained stress, reduced immunity, lack of exposure to exercise and sunlight,  etc.

            Ayurvedic herbal treatment can be judiciously utilized for the comprehensive management and treatment of autoimmune disorders. Accumulation of toxins within the body can be eliminated using general and cellular level detoxifying herbs. Herbal medicines are very efficient in treating chronic infection and residual chronic inflammation. Normalization of the metabolic process and strengthening of weak or damaged organs and body systems is an important part of treatment with the use of herbal medicines.

            Patients need to adopt a healthy diet with a mix of different fruits and vegetables, nuts, healthy oils, ghee (clarified butter) and bone broth. Regular exposure to sunlight, deep breathing, exercises, and relation techniques, in addition to avoiding known trigger factors, help a lot in reducing symptoms, and improving immunity. Rejuvenating herbs are used to improve strength and vitality. Specific treatment is also given for affected body parts and systems.

            Ayurvedic herbal treatment when given on a long term basis using the above mentioned principles gradually helps modulate the body immunity so that it starts helping the body instead of fighting against it. Severity of symptoms and frequent recurrence gradually subside , and the patient is able to lead a normal or near normal life without a fear of relapse. Adopting healthy practices and avoiding harmful factors can go a long way in preventing recurrence. Special Ayurvedic Rasayan medicines can be used at this stage for a short period to further strengthen body systems so as to improve the quality of life.

Ayurvedic herbal medicines can thus provide a successful and comprehensive treatment of autoimmune disorders.

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

Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (BMFS) are a group of medical disorders in which there is a paucity of RBCs, WBCs and Platelets in the blood either singly or all together (pancytopenia). These conditions may be either hereditary or acquired. Syndromes that result in pancytopenia include the following: Fanconi Anemia and Dyskeratosis Congenita. Syndromes usually limited to single hematopoietic lineage include the following: Severe Congenital Neutropenia (SCN), including Kostmann syndrome, Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia (CAMT), and Thrombocytopenia Absent Radii (TAR) syndrome.

BMFS are usually caused by dysfunctional stem cell production, defective growth factors, a dysfunctional environment, defective nutrition, accelerated cell death, and in the case of acquired aplastic anemia, immune-mediated abnormalities. Severe anemia can cause fatigue and cardiac failure; low leukocyte count can increase susceptibility to infections; and low platelet count can cause spontaneous bleeding.  Several inherited BMFS are associated with a high risk of leukemia and solid tumours.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia is a pure red cell aplasia, usually diagnosed in the first year. Physical abnormalities may or may not be present. Most patients improve with corticosteroid treatment, failing which, red cell transfusions with iron chelation, and lastly, stem cell transplant may be tried. Shwachman–Diamond syndrome (SDS), or Shwachman–Bodian–Diamond syndrome, is a rare congenital disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, bone marrow dysfunction, skeletal abnormalities and short stature.Treatment of SDS includes pancreatic enzyme replacement, intravenous antibiotics, transfusions of RBCs, platelets and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and orthopedic surgery as required.

TAR is diagnosed exclusively in the neonatal period. Treatment is with platelet transfusions. Surgery and stem cell transplantation are used as required. CAMT presents with isolated thrombocytopenia in infancy and develops into pancytopenia in later childhood. It has tendency to transform into Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The primary treatment is bone marrow transplantation. SCN is defined as early onset severe neutropenia, with most patients developing MDS or AML. Patients often improve when treated with G-CSF; however, annual bone marrow assessment is mandatory to check for serious side effects.

            Fanconi anemia is one of the most common inherited BMFSs, with nearly 75% patients exhibiting some physical abnormalities. Standard treatment consists of need based transfusion with RBC and platelets, antibiotics, HLA-matched donor stem cell transplant, and treatment with androgens. Patients in the long run may develop leukemia, MDF and solid tumours. Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare and progressive congenital disorder with characteristic features of skin hyperpigmentation, nail dystrophy and oral leukoplakia. Treatment is with androgens, with the addition of erythropoietin, and G-CSF. The overall results of bone marrow transplant are poor. About 15 % of patients are likely to develop cancer.

            Acquired aplastic anemia is a BMFS which can be life threatening if left untreated. Exposure to chemicals and drugs, pregnancy, immune dysfunction, and a genetic predisposition are believed to cause this condition. It can lead to other disorders like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), MDS, and AML. Treatment options include immune suppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CsA) or high–dose cyclophosphamide. With the availability of a suitable donor, hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation offers an opportunity for cure.

            Almost all BMFS have a serious prognosis, with a magnified long term risk for malignancies. Specific treatments are available which may positively impact the course of the disease; however, most are associated with serious long term side effects. In this scenario, Ayurvedic herbal medicines offer an alternative treatment option which can be safely used for long periods both in children as well as adults and helps keep the blood counts stable at acceptable levels.

            The therapeutic action of Ayurvedic herbal medicines in BMFS is at multiple levels. Some medicines stimulate the bone marrow and help accelerate the proliferation and differentiation of the hematopoietic system. Some medicines help normalize specific and general tissue metabolism as well as metabolite nutrition channels. Herbal medicines and herbomineral compounds help provide an optimum environment which gradually helps dilute the deleterious effect of dysfunctional genes and slows down the death rate of healthy cells. Ayurvedic herbal medicines also help optimize a faulty immune system so that it gradually starts working in favor of the body systems and not against them.

            Depending upon the type of BMFS and the presenting severity, different permutations and combinations of Ayurvedic herbal medicines may be required for effective treatment and lasting results. Modifications in the medical protocol and dosage may also be required as per patient feedback and observed clinical effects.  An average of six to twelve months of regular treatment may be required to stabilize the blood picture in a typical adult patient; further treatment decisions need to be taken on an individual case-to-case basis.

            Ayurvedic treatment can thus help stabilize and maintain patients with BMFS, both in adults as well as in children. In addition to a very low risk profile for side effects, Ayurvedic herbal treatment can cost just a fraction of the cost of modern treatment. Because of the serious nature and poor long term prognosis of BMFS, with the potential for long term complications and high probability of cancer, all patients taking Ayurvedic herbal treatment should be under the concurrent regular supervision  of several health professionals, including a hematologist, and a general physician.

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 Hepatorenal Syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome is a medical condition characterized by the development of kidney failure in patients having advanced, chronic liver disease. Nearly 40 % of patients having liver cirrhosis and ascites (fluid collection in the abdominal cavity) stand a risk of developing this condition. The resulting damage in the kidneys is functional, not structural, and is believed to result from constriction of the renal arteries, with concurrent vasodilatation in the body periphery. Type 1 hepatorenal syndrome has an average survival of 2-10 weeks, while type 2 has a median survival of 3-6 months. Liver transplantation is currently the only mode of treatment in modern medicine, which can improve long term survival; however, this procedure is prohibitively costly, involves a long waiting period, and has the potential for serious complications.

Blood and urine tests as well as other tests like abdominal ultrasonography may help diagnose other causes of kidney failure, since hepatorenal syndrome is primarily a diagnosis of exclusion. No specific modern medicine is currently known to be useful in the treatment of this condition. It is important to look for precipitating factors like infection and obstruction, which can be potentially treated completely, with chances of reversing the condition. Paracentesis (removal of accumulated water from the abdominal cavity) can relieve symptoms and may also help partially reverse the condition.

Hepatorenal syndrome is one medical condition where the timely institution of Ayurvedic herbal treatment can dramatically change the characteristically poor prognosis of this disease. Treated with high doses of herbal medicines, ascites can be virtually cleared up within one to two months.  Depending upon the severity of liver and kidney damage, liver and kidney parameters return to near normal levels within three to six months. It is important to commence treatment at the earliest in order to get maximum beneficial results.

It is equally important to maintain the morale of the patient, since modern medicine has little to offer other than liver transplantation, and most patients can be devastated on receiving this information. Regular monitoring of the patient is essential by different health professionals, including the nephrologist, general physician, and nutritionist. This can help maintain the patient’s health and day-to-day care, and detect any new or unforeseen medical situations.

          Ayurvedic herbal medicines are usually continued in high doses till the patient is completely asymptomatic, with stable liver and kidney parameters for at least three to four months. After this, the dosage of medicines may be gradually tapered with careful monitoring. In order to prevent a relapse, in most patients, it is advisable to continue a few medicines for the kidney and liver on a long term basis, or possibly, lifelong.

            Most patients can lead near normal lives with a good quality of life, and with the minimum possible medication. Ayurvedic herbal medicines can thus be utilized in the successful and comprehensive management of hepatorenal syndrome.

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 hepatorenal syndrome, kindly click here