Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Vogt Koyanagi Harada (VKH) Syndrome

Vogt Koyanagi Harada (VKH) Syndrome, also known as uveodermatologic syndrome, is a rare disease which affects the melanocyte-containing organs present in the body, including the eyes, hair, skin and inner ears.  Individuals affected with this condition present with symptoms of uveitis (inflammation of the inner parts of the eye), visual impairment, white skin patches, whitening of hair, and meningitis.  This condition is believed to have an autoimmune origin, resulting from a dysfunction of the T helper cells of the body. It is seen more in people of Asian, Latin and Mediterranean origin.  Treatment in the modern system of medicine is usually symptomatic, and prognosis is not very good.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment of Vogt Koyanagi Harada Syndrome is aimed at treating the dysfunctional immune system as well as providing corrective treatment for the affected tissues of the body.  Symptomatic treatment is provided for the eyes, ears, skin, hair as well as brain.  Ayurvedic treatment is basically focused on giving medicines to treat the blood tissue as well as providing strengthening treatment for the central nervous system.

Medicines which treat vat and pitta vitiation are especially useful in the management of this condition. Most patients affected with this condition require treatment for about 6 to 9 months to obtain significant benefit from treatment.  Treatment is tailor-made for each patient according to the presentation and severity of symptoms.  Regular treatment provides considerable relief to almost all patients suffering from this condition. Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant role to play in the management of Vogt Koyanagi Harada (VKH) Syndrome

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

Successful Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is usually of three types: sensorineural, which results from a dysfunction of the auditory nerve leading up to the hearing centre in the brain; conductive, which results from a dysfunction of the middle ear; and a mixed type, which includes both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.  This medical condition may be related to various causes such as infections, trauma, medications, misuse or occupational overexposure to loud sounds. The modern system of medicine cannot provide any effective medication for such types of hearing loss, and the only options are surgical correction and the provision of hearing aids.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can usually be treated completely with the help of Ayurvedic herbal medicines.  Treatment is usually given for about six months, depending upon the severity and presentation of each individual case.  Associated symptoms like diabetes, blood pressure, buzzing sound in the ear, and discharge from the ear can complicate the symptoms and may require additional medications.  Individuals affected with this condition, and who do not have discharge from the ear are also advised to use local ear drops.  Most patients report improvement in hearing with the first two months of treatment, and report an overall improvement in hearing of nearly 80 to 90% on completion of treatment.

Conductive hearing loss is usually related to an ossification of the tiny bones which connect the eardrum to the auditory nerve and thereby conduct sound impulses from outside to the inner ear.  The response to Ayurvedic treatment for conductive hearing loss is mixed; about 50% of patients improve very well with the first two months of treatment, while the remaining 50% report no change in this condition.  Based on past experience, further wastage of financial resources and time is prevented in the second group of patients by advising them to go in for surgical correction of the condition.  Those patients who respond well in the first two months are continued with the treatment, and most of them are able to carry on with their normal lives after taking a full course of six months of treatment.

Individuals with mixed hearing loss are treated on a case-to-case basis, depending upon the individual presentation and severity of symptoms.  However, most of these patients do require treatment since there is a sensorineural component to the hearing loss, and the majority of patients report an improvement in hearing of about 40 to 70%.  Ayurvedic treatment thus has a definite role in the management of all the different types of hearing loss.

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

Successful Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of Hip

Avascular necrosis is a disease in which the blood supply to the head of the hip joint reduces drastically, leading to a disorganization and ultimate collapse of the head of the hip joint.  While this medical condition usually relates to the hip joint, it is also less commonly seen in other joints such as the shoulder joint. This disease usually occurs due to unknown causes, but it may also be related to trauma and the use of medication such as steroids.

Ayurvedic treatment has been very successful in the management of this disease, by reversing the main pathology of the disease, by improving and normalising the blood circulation to the head of the hip joint.  In addition, Ayurvedic medicines are also very successful in treating the symptoms of this disease such as pain, stiffness, and impaired mobility.  Treatment is usually in the form of oral medication and is supplemented by local applications and fomentation.  Intensive therapy is usually given for about six months, after which the affected individual can take supplemental therapy for another twelve months.  Pain and stiffness disappear in about four to six months, usually due to reversal of the pathology of the disease.  However, the process of remodelling of bone structure of the head of the hip joint takes a much longer time and may continue for twelve to eighteen months.  This is why maintenance therapy is necessary and recommended.

Currently, there is no treatment for this condition in the modern system of medicine, other than providing medication for pain relief and advising graded exercises for reducing stiffness and impaired mobility.  Gross changes in the structure of the head of the hip joint are surgically corrected, or a complete replacement is advised.  In this scenario, it is heartening to note that Ayurvedic medicines can successfully treat this disease completely and reverse the entire pathology of the disease.

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

Heavy Metals in Ayurvedic Medicines: A Real Cause for Concern?

An article published in 2004 by Saper and other researchers stated that about 20% of Ayurvedic medicines which were tested by them showed abnormally high content of heavy metals, which include mainly mercury, arsenic, lead and chromium.  Subsequently, several articles have been published concerning information related to heavy metals present in water, air, and products obtained from the soil.  Large number of industrial products, commercial packaging, nutritional supplements, food supplements, cosmetics and some Ayurvedic and modern medicines are stated to contain heavy metals.

It cannot be disputed that if a large amount of heavy metals are ingested in a very short span of time, heavy metal toxicity is highly likely to occur and harm the individual considerably.  As far as Allopathic (modern) medicines are concerned, all these medicines are usually single (chemical) molecules and therefore it is very easy to maintain quality control of such medicines.  The issue with Ayurvedic medicines is much more complicated, since even a single herb contains a large number of molecules, possibly in hundreds.  This scenario makes it very difficult to choose some common, standard parameters for quality control.  However, this very situation is also responsible for bringing about the well-known safety of herbal medicines, since some molecules from the medicine bring about the therapeutic effects; other molecules contribute a synergistic effect, while the remaining molecules in the medicine prevent serious adverse effects.

Herbo-mineral medicines are known to contain mercury, sulphur and metals in oxidized, ash form.  However, the medicines are the end-result of an elaborate system of purification and processing which renders these medicines harmless and biologically acceptable to the body.  In addition, even single herbs, as mentioned above, possess multiple molecules which bring about a positive therapeutic effect and prevent side-effects.  And this is precisely the reason why patients who take Ayurvedic medicines under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic physician do not exhibit any serious side-effects even after prolonged use of the medicines for several years.  This has been proved and documented with respect to the functioning of the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys of patients on long-term Ayurvedic therapy.  Serious side-effects are usually observed when patients resort to self-medication, use spurious drugs without medical advice and supervision, or take treatment from quacks. It can therefore be concluded that while heavy metals may be harmful to the human body, the proper use of Ayurvedic medicines has not demonstrated any toxic effects of heavy metals.

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

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Bleeding Disorders and Hereditary Anemias

Bleeding disorders include different diseases like Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) and heamophilia A, B and C,   Hereditary anemias include diseases like Thalassemia Beta major and minor and sickle-cell anemia.  Ayurvedic herbal treatment has immense scope in the management of these diseases, since there is no known treatment or cure for these conditions in the modern system of medicine.

Simple herbal medicines can be used to treat HHT and heamophilia to such an extent that all the symptoms of bleeding and its long term complications can be prevented for several months or even up to several years.  This results in preventing long term complications, and brings about an overall improvement in quality of life as well as morbidity and mortality.  Ayurvedic herbal treatment can also increase the hemoglobin count in hereditary anemias such as Thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia.  The tendency of the rupture of the RBCs in the blood can be decreased significantly with the help of Ayurvedic herbal treatment.  This reduces complications such as acute pain crises, arthritis, infections, fatigue, low blood count, leg ulcers, liver and spleen congestion, and damage to the lungs, heart and eyes,

Both in terms of simplicity of treatment as well as safety from adverse effects, Ayurvedic treatment has a strong edge over other treatment modalities and can definitely redefine the management and treatment of bleeding disorders as well as hereditary anemias.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com/

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Wernike's Encephalopathy

Wernike's encephalopathy is a condition involving a combination of loss of balance, eye disease, confusion, and short-term memory loss.  This is usually caused due to damage to different parts of the brain resulting from inadequate consumption or absorption of vitamin B1 and carbohydrate.  The situation can usually be seen with chronic alcohol consumption, cancer of the stomach, chronic gastritis, Crohn's disease, and intractable vomiting.  The modern management of this condition involves intravenous or intramuscular injection of vitamin B1 and other intravenous fluids. Early treatment brings about a prompt and complete recovery; however, established brain damage can cause long-term complications, with an increased morbidity and mortality.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment for Wernike's encephalopathy is aimed at treating the root cause of the disease and preventing its long-term complications.  Treatment for the acute condition is usually with hospitalization; however, long-term treatment can be done with Ayurvedic medicines and other associated treatments.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines which strengthen the brain and nervous system and bring about regeneration of damaged nerve cells form the mainstay of treatment in the chronic management of this condition.  Known deficiencies in affected individuals can be treated with appropriate nutritional supplements.

Herbal medicines which have an anti-inflammatory action and which have a specific action on the brain are also used the management of this condition.  These medicines remove the swelling and damage in different parts of the brain and commence the process of regeneration and repair, as well as improve the communication between different nerve cells.  While the main treatment is in the form of oral medication, local treatment can also be used as a supplement, in order to bring about an early recovery and reduce the overall treatment time.  Local therapy is in the form of massage with medicated oils followed by medicated steam fomentation.  Panchkarma treatments like Shiro Basti and Shirodhara can also be used to provide local treatment on the scalp, which in turn help reduce brain damage.

Depending upon the severity of the condition and the presence of complications, Ayurvedic herbal long-term treatment of Wernike's encephalopathy may be required for about 6 to12 months.  Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a definite role to play in the management and treatment of this condition.

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

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a rare form of cancer which occurs in early childhood and usually affects the eye, especially the retina.  Common symptoms include pain in the eyes, diminished vision, an opaque white appearance of the eyes, and a visible bulge in the eye.  This tumour can spread through the optic nerve to the brain and other parts of the body, especially the bones.  The pressure of the enlarging tumor usually displaces the retina, thereby causing gradual blindness. The modern management of this condition includes a combination of laser surgery, cryotherapy, radiation and chemotherapy. 

Ayurvedic herbal treatment for retinoblastoma is aimed at treating the primary tumour as well as its spread to other parts of the body, especially the bones.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines which have a specific antitumor action as well as a specific affinity for the eyes and the retina are used in high doses and for prolonged periods in the management of this condition.  Medicines are also given in order to preserve eyesight to the maximum extent possible; however, the best way to preserve eyesight and to prevent further damage is to bring about remission of the tumour at the earliest.

Immunomodulation is an important part of treatment in which Ayurvedic herbal immunomodulatory agents are used in combination with the above-mentioned medicines, so as to bring about remission of the tumour at the earliest, reduce treatment time, prevent its spread, and improve the overall outcome of the tumour.  While treatment for this tumour is mainly in the form of oral medication, it can also be supplemented with local therapy in the form of eye drops and the application of medicated oils, ointments, and pastes in and around the eyes.  Local therapy can help in reducing symptoms quickly and reducing the overall treatment time.

Most children affected with this tumour require Ayurvedic herbal treatment for periods ranging from nine to eighteen months in order to obtain significant benefit from treatment.  Ayurvedic treatment can definitely improve the chances for a remission or cure from this condition.

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