Chronic Urticaria – Comparison of Modern (Allopathic) and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

 Urticaria aka hives is an allergic skin reaction with characteristic red and itchy patches which usually subside within twenty-four hours without any pigmentation or scaling. When this condition persists for more than six weeks, it is known as chronic urticaria. While urticaria is usually not serious, a variant known as angioedema – involving the skin and mucous membranes, usually in the eyelids, lips, and tongue – is typically more serious and may prove to be life-threatening if not treated immediately.

A detailed medical history along with physical examination usually suffices to make a clinical diagnosis of chronic urticaria. Further investigations may be warranted with a concurrent history of parasitic infection, thyroid disorder, or autoimmune disorder. A skin biopsy may rarely be indicated with concurrent skin bleeds, autoimmune features, fever, arthritis, or if skin lesions persist for more than 24 hours at a time.

Chronic urticaria is usually idiopathic in nature; there is no definite cause which can be attributed to it, though it is now believed that an underlying autoimmune process may be one driving factor. A small subset is known as pressure urticaria, which may be caused or aggravated by pressure, vibrations, temperature changes, sweating, sun exposure and contact with water. Though rare, chronic urticaria may also be secondary to some underlying medical condition.

The modern (Allopathic) management of chronic urticaria is usually with the help of anti-histamine medications, which usually suffice to treat rash as well as itching in mild cases. For individuals with moderately severe symptoms, additional treatment with colchicine, dapsone, and steroids may be required for a limited duration. Immune modulating drugs may be required for patients who exhibit an autoimmune disease process, while a few may require thyroid medications.

In addition to a medication regime, it is also important to avoid triggers like stress, fatigue, tight-fitting clothes, alcohol, aspirin, and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Soothing ointments can help relieve itching, while lukewarm baths can alleviate night-time itching. With a properly planned medication regime, nearly 50 percent patients undergo disease remission within a year, even though chronic urticaria is known to last from several months to several years. Though not serious or life threatening, this condition can adversely impact quality of life.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment is also very useful in treating chronic urticaria; this treatment can especially be put to good use in treating those patients who do not respond satisfactorily to modern medicines. While modern (Allopathic) medicines treat on a symptomatic basis, Ayurvedic medicines act to reverse the basis pathology of the disease. Ayurvedic herbs act on the skin, subcutaneous tissue, mucus membranes, capillaries, blood as well as the nervous system and thereby strengthen skin tissue, treat allergy, and prevent recurrence.

As per Ayurvedic pathophysiology, the diagnosis of chronic urticaria is further differentiated as follows: urticaria with predominantly ‘Vata’ dosha symptoms is known as ‘Sheeta-pitta’;  with dominant ‘Pitta’ symptoms, it is known as “Utkotha”; while with dominant ‘Kapha’ symptoms, it is known as ‘Udarda’. Each of these types is treated in a different way and with different herbal medicines, thereby making the Ayurvedic treatment more specific and further amenable to results, even in refractory patients. For patients with highly refractory symptoms, purification Panchkarma procedures like induced emesis, induced purgation, and bloodletting are utilized, either as stand-alone procedures, or as combinations, or even as repeat combination-procedures, if indicated, along with oral medications. Since chronic urticaria may be related to hidden, underlying causes, it is equally important to look for and treat chronic gastro-intestinal symptoms, repeated worm infestations, thyroid disorders, chronic stress, latent infections, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune processes.

It is therefore very important to take a detailed medical history, do a thorough clinical examination and reach an accurate diagnosis before commencing treatment, in order to achieve a quick and complete remission. With proper and regular Ayurvedic herbal treatment, most patients having chronic urticaria can be fully treated in about 4-8 months. Depending upon the severity, patients with underlying autoimmune disease may require treatment for longer periods. It is equally important to adopt suitable lifestyle modifications and avoid know triggers.

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

Porphyria – Modern (Allopathic) Versus Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

 Porphyrias are a group of inherited metabolic disorders, in which deficiency of enzymes causes a buildup of porphyrins, which are required for the synthesis of hemoglobin in red blood cells. This abnormal buildup affects the skin, nerves, brain, and internal organs, causing symptoms like severe abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, muscular pain, convulsions, tingling, weakness, confusion, hallucinations, high blood pressure, tachycardia, itching and rash. Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an acute manifestation of this condition.

The abnormal buildup of porphyrins causes urine to be typically red colored with the excretion of porphobilinogen, and this is diagnostic of the condition. Symptoms are precipitated by medications, fasting, smoking, infections, surgery, stress, alcohol, menstrual hormones, and exposure to sun. Treatment in the modern (allopathic) system of medicine is with intravenous glucose, simple pain killers, and oral or intravenous Hematin. While the acute condition can be treated adequately in a well equipped hospital, modern medicine cannot prevent further episodes, other than by recommending avoidance of the precipitating factors as well as all unnecessary medications.

The pathology suggests disturbed metabolism and creation of unhealthy blood tissue and vitiated pitta. Features are indicative of Raktapitta disease moving in the downward direction. Depending upon the exact pathophysiology, skin, brain and kidneys are also liable to be affected.

Treatment involves correction of faulty pitta and normalization of blood tissue, correction of metabolism, along with control of a disturbed vata. Other symptoms can be concurrently treated with Ayurvedic medicines. Most patients can be well controlled with Ayurvedic therapy of a few weeks to a few months. Recurrent attacks of pain can be well controlled, provided the patient meticulously avoids all known aggravating causes. Patients having severe neuropsychiatric symptoms may require prolonged treatment of about 6-10 months.

After the initial treatment, once all symptoms have gone in complete remission, it is usually sufficient to just observe the patient for any signs of recurrence or relapse. Most day to day medical issues can be easily handled with Ayurvedic medication, and the patients as well as caretakers quickly learn to manage the situation on their own. It is fortunate that most Ayurvedic medications are well tolerated by patients suffering from porphyria, and so affected individuals need not get intimidated by the long list of Allopathic medications which they cannot take.

Porphyria patients can thus be comprehensively treated and managed on a long term basis with the help of Ayurvedic herbal medicines.

The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an online consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com For Ayurvedic herbal treatment of recurrent porphyria episodes, click here For Ayurvedic herbal treatment of porphyria with neuropsychiatric involvement, kindly click here

Migraine – Modern (Allopathic) Versus Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

 Migraine is a medical condition which affects mainly women and can prove incapacitating in nature, with symptoms such as severe headache, nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity, which may last from four to seventy-two hours. The onset is usually between ten and forty years of age; it may be aggravated with menstruation and may – in a few affected individuals – improve or disappear by the age of fifty. Nearly one billion people worldwide are estimated to be suffering from this condition, and it is believed to be more common than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined.

Migraine may be inherited, and triggered or aggravated by certain foods, caffeine, weather changes, bright light, menstruation, fatigue, stress, and irregular sleep and meals. While the exact mechanism of the disease is as yet not clear, it is believed that the triggers stimulate the trigeminal nerve and cause increased swelling in the blood vessels lining the brain.  This in turn releases neurotransmitters which cause pain and inflammation. Typically, this condition severely disrupts the quality of life of affected patients; in a few individuals, there may be additional symptoms related to the eyes and brain which may be severe enough to warrant hospital admission and intensive care.

The conservative management of migraine includes over-the-counter pain killers, medicines to counter nausea and vomiting, preventive medications (medicines to control blood pressure, convulsions, antidepressants, and CGRP inhibitors [which reduce nerve pain and inflammation]), biofeedback, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Avoiding the known trigger factors, stress management, relaxation training, regular meal schedule, and moderate exercise can also help reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. Other than those suffering from comorbid medical conditions, people affected with migraine usually have normal blood and imaging reports.

The Ayurvedic management of people with migraine involves taking a detailed medical history; including severity and frequency of symptoms, trigger factors, diet and lifestyle. Lifestyle and dietary modifications are suggested. Ayurvedic herbal medicines are given to provide symptomatic relief from symptoms as well as to treat the known causes, as determined by the clinical history. The treatment of hyperacidity, indigestion, constipation, and stress, go a long way in successfully treating migraine as well as preventing further episodes. It is important to treat inflammation in cranial blood vessels in order to reduce the tendency for recurrent migraine attacks, as well as to treat a hyper-reactive nervous system.

In addition to oral treatment, medicated nose drops are used to treat inflammation of blood vessels and involvement of the brain, which may – in individuals with severe migraine – mimic symptoms of stroke, blindness, and glaucoma.  Nose drops may be used both to alleviate an acute attack as well as to prevent migraine. Regular courses of medicated enemas are used to treat a hyper-reactive nervous system. A special treatment modality known as Shirobasti is used to treat severe forms of stress which may be causing recurrent attacks of migraine.

Refractory patients who do not respond well to simple oral treatment are given courses of Panchkarma detoxification treatments in the form of periodical blood-letting and induced purgation. The treatment response varies widely from patient to patient; some individuals with long-standing, severe symptoms respond dramatically to just one short course of treatment, while others with milder symptoms may require a protracted course of treatment with more medicines, that too, in higher doses.

Migraine is a chronic disease which significantly affects the quality of life of affected individuals, and is a public health issue with serious health and economic consequences. While modern medicine can reduce the severity and frequency of migraine episodes, it currently does not offer a cure. Ayurvedic herbal treatment can help provide significant improvement in patients with migraine, and can bring about a cure for most affected people.

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