Successful Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Chronic Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an immune-related disease known for its chronic and refractory nature.  There are five different types of psoriasis, of which the commonest is the plaque type, in which skin cells pile up and create a silvery appearance.  When the plaque is removed, pinpoint bleeding spots can be seen in the skin below. It is estimated that nearly six million people in the US and nearly 21 million people in India are affected with various forms of psoriasis.  While not life-threatening, this chronic skin condition can cause considerable disability and loss of quality of life, in addition to being socially embarrassing and psychologically distressing.

Various treatments are currently available for psoriasis in the form of local applications and oral treatment.  While these treatments do provide temporarily relief, currently there is no known cure for psoriasis with conservative treatment.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines, given in high doses, can gradually bring about a complete remission in most patients of chronic psoriasis.  Treatment needs to be regularly taken for about four to six months to obtain a complete remission, with a complete resolution of all the patches on the skin, which assumes a normal appearance.

After a complete remission of the disease, medicines which were initially  required to be given thrice daily can then be reduced to twice daily for a few months and then once daily for another few months.  This ensures that the patient remains in remission and there is no relapse of the disease.  Local Ayurvedic applications in the form of ointments, oils and pastes can be used to help supplement the oral treatment.  The treatment protocol for psoriasis requires to be individualised according to the response of each patient; however, significant relief can be obtained by nearly all patients, provided regular treatment is taken.  Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus provide relief to millions of people affected with psoriasis.

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 Advanced Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic and degenerative disease caused by inflammation and break-down of the cartilage between the bones of weight bearing joints.  Currently, there is no cure for this disease and the aim of conservative treatment is to reduce pain, improve functioning of the joint, as well as improve quality of life.  Current therapeutic measures include graded exercises, weight control, heat therapy, medicines to control pain and inflammation, dietary supplements to strengthen cartilage, and surgery as a last option.  Joint replacement can treat intractable pain of severe and advanced osteoarthritis; however, this option does not restore full joint mobility and can be cost prohibitive.

The disability burden of osteoarthritis is considerable, with an estimated 21 million people in the US, and an estimated 70 million people in India currently being affected with this disease.  Since the disease is life-long, pain and suffering from this disease are long-term or life-long.  Hence, a comprehensive treatment for this disease holds considerable significance both in terms of reducing disease morbidity as well as financial loss due to disability.

Ayurvedic herbal medicines have proved to be very useful in the treatment of chronic osteoarthritis as well as advanced forms of this disease.  Ayurvedic medicines have a comprehensive action of reducing inflammation, strengthening bone cartilage, strengthening the muscles and tendons around joints, as well as significantly reducing the pain which is a hallmark of this disease.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines, given in high doses, can bring about significant relief to affected individuals within about one or two months of commencing treatment.  Results are equally effective even in patients of advanced osteoarthritis and obesity.  The duration of treatment ranges from 6 to 12 months; once relief is obtained from pain, medicines can be gradually reduced for the next few months and stopped altogether.  Local applications in the form of oils and ointments, as well as fomentation therapy can be used to supplement oral treatment.

Ayurvedic herbal medicines have proved to be very effective in the treatment of both chronic as well as advanced osteoarthritis.  Considering the side-effects of modern drugs, and the high cost of surgical joint replacement, Ayurvedic treatment can prove to be a great boon for patients affected with osteoarthritis.

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 Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic Anemia is a medical condition which results due to a failure of the bone marrow to produce sufficient quantity of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  This results in severe anemia in the affected individual, leading to frequent infections, fever, and possible bleeding within the body.  Currently, there is no known cure for this disease.  Conservative treatment is in the form of blood transfusions as required and supportive treatment according to the requirements of each individual.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment can be judiciously utilised to successfully treat and cure patients affected with aplastic anemia.  Herbal medicines have a powerful effect on the bone marrow and stimulate it to start producing normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  This process usually takes about three to six months, depending upon the immune status and overall physical condition of the affected individual.  The majority of affected individuals usually go into a complete remission within six months of starting Ayurvedic herbal treatment.  Most affected individuals do not require blood transfusions after about three to four months of commencing Ayurvedic treatment.  Once the blood picture comes to a complete normal, medicines which are initially given thrice daily can then be gradually reduced to twice daily for a few months and once daily for another few months, and then stopped completely.  This gradual tapering of medicines helps in bringing about a prolonged remission of affected individuals for the treatment of aplastic anemia.  This disease, which is considered currently incurable and has a high mortality rate, can be treated quite satisfactorily with the help of Ayurvedic herbal medicines.  This is probably a major contribution of Ayurveda in the treatment of a serious medical condition like aplastic anemia.

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

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