Ayurvedic View On Parkinson’s Disease And Its Treatment

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is an accelerating and degenerative nervous condition that affects all the movements in our body. Common distinguishing features of parkinsonism are tremors, stiffness, imbalance and lack of coordination. In this study we are going to discuss the causes of parkinson’s disease, their symptoms, ayurvedic view and how we can cure parkinsonism with ayurvedic treatment and the treatment option for parkinsonism by planet ayurveda. So if any of you or the person you know is suffering from this condition then there is no need to worry in this article you will learn wonderful panchkarma treatment and herbal remedies that will make you get rid of this condition.

Introduction of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is also known as parkinsonism and it is an age related neurodegenerative condition which affects the nerve cells in the deeper parts of the brain that are the substantia nigra and the basal ganglia (responsible for dopamine production) which is responsible for transferring messages for controlling the body actions. It is the second most age-related neurodegenerative condition. As per ayurveda it can be correlated with vepathu that occurs due to vitiated vata dosha. In further study we will discuss the causes and symptoms of parkinson’s disease.

Symptoms of parkinson’s disease

Symptoms related to motor neuron system

• Tremors: In Parkinson’s disease patients can suffer from three different types of tremors that are static, resting or non-intention tremors. It occurs unilaterally and usually asymmetrical. 4-7 tremors occur per second and there are pill rolling tremors of fingers and thumb or counting money tremors. Tremors may involve feet, hands, chin, jaw and do not cause any effect on the head. It may present on rest and even worsen on rest. These will be aggravated by excitement, walking, emotional stimulation, anxiety and fatigue. The condition is reduced on voluntary movement and disappears during sleep.
• Stiffness and rigidity: In parkinson’s disease plastic or lead pipe type of rigidity can occur. Rigidity is present throughout the passive movement. To confirm the rigidity, passive extension and flexion is to be done. The rigidity is known as lead pipe rigidity as the resistance faced by a patient while bending a lead pipe. Patients may also suffer from cog-wheel type rigidity which means a patient can feel start and stop like things while performing passive movements of hands.
• Bradykinesia: This means slowness of movements like we may note expressionless face, soft speech, less audible voice, reduced blinking (12-20 per minute), handwriting is small, difficulty turning over bed, difficulty in arising from low chair, difficulty in tying up shoelaces, failure in closing mouth properly, finger tapping, repetitive movements, closing and opening of fist. So these are certain conditions that may be noted in the condition of parkinsonism.
• Disturbance in gait: Here the gait is slow, shuffling and stiff. The appearance of the patient is stooped with forward bending of head and neck, flexed knees, flexed upper extremities, usually elbows, shoulders and wrists but the fingers remain extended. There is reduced or absence of arm swinging in one arm during walking. In advanced conditions arm swinging may be totally absent, the trunk may appear stiff.

Other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

• Anxiety
• Dysphagia
• Depression
• Constipation
• Seborrhea
• Dysarthria
• Orthostatic hypertension
• Dementia
• Rapid eye movement during sleep
• Urinary urgency
• Excessive sweating

Causes of parkinson’s disease

As we discussed earlier the main cause of this age-related degenerative condition is loss of nerve cells. Mainly these nerve cells are producing the dopamine (The chemical messenger in our body) which helps in controlling and coordinating the body movements. So if the nerve cells responsible for producing dopamine degenerates then it’s obvious this will affect the movements of our body and slow down the body movements and lead to abnormal body actions.

The cause behind loss of nerve cells

The reason behind loss of nerve cells is not confirmed yet but it is sure that the degeneration occurs as the person grows older. There are certain conditions that may affect the nerve cells. Let’s take a look:

• Age: It mostly occurs at the age of 60 or above. Rarely it occurs before the age of 50 years.
• Sex: Men are at higher risk of developing parkinsonism than women.
• Genetic factors: Parkinsonism can transfer in blood relations as a result of defective genes being passed from a parent to a child. But this occurs in rare cases of parkinsonism. However it is usually affected by some gene variations that are at high risk of parkinsonism.
• Environmental factors: Certain environmental toxins or factors may cause parkinson’s disease but are usually at low risk.
• Head trauma: If someone had at least one hit over head then the one is at high risk of developing this neurodegenerative condition.
• Drugs: Drugs like Antipsychotic drugs, phenothiazine.

Ayurvedic view of parkinson’s disease

As per ayurveda Parkinson’s disease is correlated with vepathu or kampavata, it comes under vata vyadhi that is the neurological disorder according to ayurveda. According to acharya charaka, it is mentioned under vatajananatmaja vikara. As per Madhav acharya in vepathu roga there is shakiness in all body parts or shakiness in the head and even in any part of the body part it comes under vepathu roga.

Causes of vepathu or kampavata

As we all read earlier that it is one of the vata vyadhi so it’s obvious that the causes are also the same as that of vata vyadhi and now we are going to discuss that but despite that the main reason is dhatu kshaya.

• Excessive fasting
• Ruksha, sheeta, less amount and even laghu ahara diet
• Day sleeping
• Staying awake at night
• Excessive physical exercise
• Excessive walking
• Excessive swimming
• Anger
• Depression
• Stress
• Excessive intercourse
• Trauma
• Excessive weight lifting
• Excessive running

So all of the above are the reasons that lead to vata dosha vitiation.

Treatment for Vepathu as per ayurveda

Treatment must be followed similar to that of vata vyadhi treatment. So the treatment for vata vyadhi is divided into two categories : Shodhan chikitsa and shamana chikitsa. So let’s have a look at both the treatment categories.

Shodhan Chikitsa: Under this treatment option various panchakarma therapies are mentioned that we are going to discuss below:

• Snehana Karma: In snehan karma different types of oils are administered internally or applied externally in vata vyadhi treatment. Basically snehana helps in providing oiliness, smoothness, moistness and liquefaction on external and external use. Different medicated ghee, oil, fat, bone marrow, for both external and internal use. Milk, mamsa rasa along with ghee is used in giving anuvasana basti, snigdha nasya, etc. After doing snehana a patient must go for swedana karma for improving the blood circulation in the body.
• Swedana Karma: After doing snehana, swedana karma is to be done. Swedana karma is used to induce perspiration or sweating. The main function of swedana therapy is to reduce stiffness, heaviness, and coldness in the body and also produce sweat. For this purpose abhyanga by vatnashak oil is to be given and after that nadi sweda, sankar sweda, prastara sweda is to be given. The most preferred external swedana is shashtika shali pinda sweda.
• Virechana Karma: virechana karma is referred to as purgation therapy in which vitiated dosha is expelled out through gudha marga (Anal canal). If vata vyadhi is not resolved with snehana and swedana karma then we must follow virechana karma by mridu virechana aushadhis and let the vitiated dosha expel out from the body. Common aushadh yoga used in virechana therapy are ghee processed with tilvaka, milk processed with eranda (castor) oil.
• Basti Karma: Basti karma is the panchakarma therapy in which herbal decoction or medicated oil is administered by the anal route. Basti is considered as ardha chikitsa which means it plays an important role in curing various diseases. Also one another sutra is mentioned in classical texts- Basti vataharnam shreshtam that means it is the best treatment option for curing vata vyadhi. This is to be given after providing deepaniya and pachniya food, snehana karma, swedana karma.
• Rasayana Therapy: Rasayana Therapy is an Ayurvedic therapy for rejuvenation that helps in promotion and maintenance of health . Rasayana therapy mainly means nutrition provided at all levels whether from micro to macro-cellular level. It replenishes vital fluids among the body which boost the oja that is the vital force of life and the immune system which helps in preventing diseases and other age related health conditions. As we know that the main cause of vata vyadhi is dhatu kshaya (Depletion of tissues) so rasayana therapy is very effective in promoting dhatu nourishment and preventing dhatu depletion.

Shamana Chikitsa: In shamana chikitsa aushadhi yoga is given. For curing parkinson’s disease following aushadhi yoga is to be given:

• Agnitundi Vati
• Konchpaka
• Narasimha Churna
• Bala Arishta
• Haritaki Churna

Treatment for parkinson’s disease by planet ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda provides a number of herbal remedies that provide great health benefits. All the herbal remedies are made under the guidance of M.D Ayurveda doctors with proper quality and quantity check. The formulations are free from any kind of synthetic material like gums, resins, preservatives, starch, fiber, etc. For the health issue of parkinsonism, planet ayurveda provides a parkinsonism care pack. This pack includes Let’s discuss this pack in detail.

PARKINSONISM CARE PACK

1. Brahmi Capsules
2. Vrihat Vatchintamani Ras
3. Musli Strength
4. Zandopa Powder
5. Ashwagandha Capsules
6. Brahmi Chyawanprash

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

1. BRAHMI CAPSULES

Brahmi capsules are a mono herbal remedy by planet ayurveda. It includes brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) as an ingredient. Brahmi is an ayurvedic herb which is helpful to cure symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. It improves brain circulation and improves cognitive functions, mood and other general neurological functions.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with warm water after meals.

2. VRIHAT VATCHINTAMANI RAS

This formulation is present in the form of pills. It includes several ingredients like swarna bhasma (calx of gold), abhrak bhasma (calx of mica), rajata bhasma (calx of silver), loha bhasma (calx of iron), praval bhasma (calx of coral), mukta basma (calx of pearl), rasa sindoor (compound of sulfur and mercury), aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) extract. It is the classical formulation which is very effective in balancing vata dosha which in turn prevents and cures parkinson disease as vata is the main cause of degeneration of nerve cells and causes kampavata (parkinson’s disease).

Dosage: 1 tablet twice daily with warm water after meals.

3. MUSLI STRENGTH

This herbal formulation is available in the form of capsules. It includes two herbs that are safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) and gokshura (Tribulus terrestris). Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) is considered as a white gold (divya aushadh) in ayurveda. It is a great rasayana that helps in rejuvenating the nerve cells which in turn reduces vata dosha and is helpful in alleviating nervous symptoms. Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) prevents the further deterioration of the cells and helps in alleviating cognitive functions and lack of coordination.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with warm water after meals.

4. ZANDOPA POWDER

It is a herbal powder which is made up of a single herb named as kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens). Kapikacchu helps in curing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by balancing vata dosha and also due to ist neuroprotective action it promotes the formation of dopamine which in turn alleviate the symptoms of parkinson’s disease.

Dosage: 1 teaspoonful twice daily with warm water after meals.

5. ASHWAGANDHA CAPSULES

This herbal formulation includes only ashwagandha herb (Withania somnifera). This is also a great rasayana herb that helps in preventing the deterioration of the tissue cells or nerve cells and positively helpful in preventing symptoms of parkinson’s disease.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with warm water after meals.

6. BRAHMI CHYAWANPRASH

This herbal remedy is available in the form of Avaleha (paste). It is a polyherbal formulation which includes brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), dashmoola (roots of 10 herbs), bala (Sida cordifolia), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri), shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus), jeevanti (Leptadenia Reticulata), punarnava (Boerhavia Diffusa), jeerak (Cuminum Cyminum), rishbhak (Malaxis muscifera), vasaka (Adhatoda vasica), vidarikand (Pueraria tuberosa), amla (Emblica officinalis), chandan (Santalum album), choti elaichi (Elettaria cardamomum), dalchini (Cinnamomum verum), lavang (Syzygium aromaticum) and many other herbs. All these herbs are very effective in promoting overall brain health and prevent neurological disorders by alleviating vata dosha.

Dosage: 1 teaspoonful, twice daily after meals, preferably with milk.

Conclusion

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological problem that is age related and progressive type and is considered under vata vyadhi as per ayurveda. The main cause is dhatu depletion which leads to vata dosha vitiation and which in turn causes deterioration of nerve cells and affects the production of dopamine-a hormone which is responsible for controlling all motor functions of the body. So if dopamine levels reduce symptoms like tremors, cogwheel or lead pipe rigidity, slowness of movements, loss of coordination and many more cognitive functions get affected. As per ayurveda Parkinson’s disease is correlated to kampavata or vepathu roga whose main clinical feature is kampan that is the shakiness of the full body or any part of the body. The treatment option is considered the same as the treatment of vata vyadhi that is snehana, swedana, basti, virechana and other vata alleviating samshodana chikitsa. Also along with that some aushadhis are there which are mentioned in this article. Also planet ayurveda is available with a parkinsonism care pack which includes several herbal remedies that are beneficial in promoting overall brain health and improving the quality of life of patients who are suffering from parkinson’s disease. If any querry visit www.planetayurveda.com