Author: Dr. Vikram Chauhan

Motor Neurone Disease Treatment in Ayurveda

Introduction

Loss of function of the nerves (neurones) in the spine and brain i.e. neurodegenerative disorders are commonly referred to as Motor Neurone Disease.

Motor Neurone Disease

They are the commonest form of neurodegenerative diseases, however, they are rare. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease is the commonest type of MND.

Age Predilection

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) can occur at any age however the symptoms usually start appearing after the age of 40.

It is more common in men than women.

Etiology

The etiology behind MND is unknown, however research depicts the following etiological factors :

  • Exposure of certain toxins and chemicals
  • Inflammation and damage to immune system response
  • Ageing of motor neurones
  • Exposure of viruses.

Clinical Features Associated With Motor Neurone Disease

  • Loss of speech
  • Mild Behavioural change
  • Difficulty in doing day-to-day activities, therefore, remaining dependent on others
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Breathlessness and Dysphagia
  • Develop Paralysis of both sides of the body

Symptoms Associated With Motor Neurone Disease

Symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) are categorized in 3 stages namely: Early, Middle and Advanced.

Symptoms in Early Stage of Motor Neurone Disease

  • Fatigue
  • Slurred Speech
  • Weak arms and legs
  • Difficulty in picking up and holding things due to difficult grasp
  • Difficulty in breathing (Dyspnoea)
  • Weight Loss
  • Abnormal responses with respect to emotions like laughing or crying

Symptoms in the Middle Stage of Motor Neurone Disease

It is a severe form of the early stage of the disease characterized by:

  • Pain in joints
  • Drooling of Saliva
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Shrinkage of muscles of the body
  • Personality changes.

Later Stages of Motor Neurone Disease May Develop

Brain involvement, memory and language problems consequently leading to dementia, depression and insomnia.

Symptoms of Advanced Stage Motor Neurone Disease

Is a life-threatening phase where the patient is not able to move, breathe and thereby leading to death due to Dyspnoe problems.

Ayurvedic Herbs for Management of Motor Neurone Disease

  • Shankhpuspi (Convulvus Pluricaulis)
  • Mandukaparni (Centella Asiatica)
  • Brahmi (Bacopa Moneiri)

1. Shankhpuspi

This effective ayurvedic herb is helpful in the treatment of nervous disability, fatigue and insomnia. Due to its effect on brain cells, it thereby produces a feeling of relief, calmness and peace with a decrease in stress levels by serving as a brain tonic. It acts by relieving mental fatigue with nontoxic properties and free from side effects. This herb balances the Kapha-Vatta and Pitta doshas and thereby improves overall wellbeing.

2. Mandukparni

This herb is extremely effective as it acts on behaviour along with exhibiting neuroprotective brain growth properties. It also inhibits memory impairment and decreases stress levels. It thereby gives a boost to our wisdom and intellect. It energizes the brain and helps in the proper functioning of brain cells.

3. Brahmi

It is the ayurvedic herb of grace which boosts up the brain functioning, decreases stress and anxiety and increases learning and ability to retain information.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Motor Neurone Disease by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda provides the ayurvedic formulations to boost up the brain activity in the patients suffering from Motor Neurone Disease (MND). These formulations do not have any side effects and are natural as well as herbal.

The following is the list of ayurvedic formulations for MND:

Herbal Supplements for Motor Neurone Disease

Herbal Supplements for Motor Neurone Disease

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1. Gotukola Capsules

It is prepared from pure extract of Mandukparni/Gotukola. This herb balances the 3 doshas within the body, maintains and boosts up the brain activity.

Dose: 2 capsules twice a day after meals.

2. Ashwagandha Capsules

These capsules are prepared with the standardized extract of Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) herb. It helps relieve paralysis symptoms and relieves physiological functions by working on the neuroendocrine system.

Dose: 1 Capsule twice daily after the meals.

3. Brahmi Capsules

It balances the Pitta and Kapha doshas in the body. It further decreases stress and makes the mind calm, relaxed and regenerates brain cells.

Dose: 2 Capsules two times daily after meals.

4. Shilajit Capsules

This capsule is made up of Shilajit herb which eliminates toxins from the body and decreases stress.

Dose: 1-2 capsules once or twice a day after meals.

5. Vrihat Vatchintamani Ras

This formulation is made by a combination of natural ingredients like Swarna Bhasma, Rajata Bhasma, Loha Bhasma, Abbraka Bhasma, Pravela Bhasma, Mukta Bhasma, Suta Bhasma, Aloe Vera juice.

This formulation increases mental health, keeps the nervous system healthy and also balances the doshas.

Dose: 1 Capsule twice a day after the meals.

Panchkarma Treatments for Motor Neurone Disease

1. Patra Potli Massage

This effective herbal massage improves blood circulation, increases muscle strength, relieves body pain and stiffness. It is also an anti-ageing treatment.

2. Shashtishali Pind Swedan

It is one of the most important swedana (sweat-inducing) therapies. It rejuvenates and treats insomnia and muscle weaknesses. It delays ageing, removes stiffness of the joints and cleans all body passages.

3. Shirodhara

This ayurvedic therapy involves gentle pouring of the liquids over the forehead. “Shiro” means head and “Dhara” means flow.

  • It is extremely effective in the treatment of neurological disorders.
  • It also improves sleep quality amongst suffering patients. It relieves mental stress also. It relaxes the hypothalamus in the brain and brings the activity of hormones to a normal level so as to regulate sleep and emotions.

Depression in today’s working women-how can Ayurveda help get rid of it?

Introduction

One of the basic factors that lead to depression is when we are not happy with the part of our self. While our natural body wants us to rest and take time for ourselves, we are only striving for reaching another goal, doing another big thing. The constant hustle and not giving oneself the time to breathe and feel the roses by living in that present moment have a deep impact on our emotions as well as physical health.

After a certain period, even our body gets so drained that the eight hours of good night sleep get ineffective in bringing rest to our body. Ever since the first-ever organized women’s rights movement in the small village of Seneca Falls, the United States in 1848, a lot has changed. While women are now working at par with their male counterparts in big corporate, participating in the policy matters, representing their nation at the international level in various sports, driving cars, planes, knocking off an opponent in the boxing ring but our social conditioning is still the same.

Herbs for Depression

Women are made to feel guilty by society and even in their intimate relationships for making time for themselves. They are judged by even the other women in the circles for not giving into the social conditioning that expects her to be active and attentive towards her household duty evens after all a long day at work. This constant juggle and striving to maintain balance in work-life along with fulfilling all the responsibilities of home life has torn women into two half.

Sometimes, women do that to themselves so that they don’t feel judged. Deep down they believe that in case they give up some of their responsibilities to work on their other commitments, their importance or place in the family dynamic might diminish with the time.

It’s a high time that we should start the discussion of women empowerment in various platforms in the sense of resting and recuperating and not only confined to opportunities in the corporate world.

The feminine energy that is predominant in females is all about creation, connecting to nature, self-love, and intuition that needed to be acknowledged and nurtured. We need to teach our daughters and friends that men and women are equal but still different. We should not strive to be men but our true authentic feminine self.

Our world is more in the need of a more caring and nurturing individual, not the technologies. Women are innate nurturers; it a matter of them understanding their powers and not wait for the world to confirm them.

Lack of self-love among women

The practice of self-love is what attracts the best things to us but many women who might seem very attractive and confident from the outside lack self-love. The only reason being not acknowledging one’s individuality and being oppressed with the social perception of perfect women.

Women need to understand that we are our being and have our strength and weakness and we all deserve love and respect. Putting you second and trying to be someone to be accepted by the immediate groups or society detaches one from their true self.

For instance, an all-night party might be an idea of fun for one individual but feel more like a nuisance for another. While the women all out there for reaching professional goals and making their mark in the industry, they should also try to know themselves. Their likes and dislikes.

Simple and Natural Ways to Overcome Such Depression

One does not need to spend bucks in an expensive salon or brands for feeling better, there some simple and effective ways we can adapt to practice self-love.

Taking a breather between work and home life

Taking time off for one even it’s half an hour can do a trick even between the busy work and home responsibilities even its spending time while having tea in your favorites spot.

Journaling

Writing is considered one of the best ways of emotional outlet. It helps one to put to emotional clutters in our head into writing. Journaling is not only beneficial for one’s emotional well-being but also for increasing your creativity. This is also another way to meditate if you are not into the traditional method of meditations.

Cooking

The act of cooking is among the creative expressions that the women have been practicing in their kitchen for ages. It is also an expression of love. Our mothers have been cooking healthy recipes in the kitchen with love and care. Practice cooking for yourself and also for your loved ones. It will heighten your nurturing abilities.

Savings

I know we have talked earlier about how women tend to stop caring for themselves while hustling between work and home but even a little saving can make them feel secure and grounded within themselves. The idea is not how much you earn but how you use your capital for feeling secure and grounded and stop living from paycheck to paycheck. It will help you to get rid of anxiety and fear of losing your job tomorrow and give the confidence to stand your ground.

Dance

It does not matter if you are a good dancer or not but dance especially the one with more hip movements can be proven to be beneficial for well being. Dancing increases one’s confidence, improves and removes any form of blockage. It helps you to live in the present movement while your body is in tune with the music and forgetting even it’s for sometimes the events of the past and fear of the unknown future.

COMMON ALIMENTS IN WORKING WOMEN

Other than the depression, some ailments that have seen in the women include heart disease, autoimmune diseases, breast cancer, and osteoporosis due to unhealthy lifestyle, lack of self-care and lack of rest but can be easily cured through natural methods.

HOW CAN AYURVEDA HELP IN MANAGING DEPRESSION?

Sometimes making the changes in lifestyle are not enough as it is a never-ending process that may affect anyone anytime because of the natural behavior of humans. So, we need to go some steps further and take the help of some natural herbs that will help in reducing the effects of depression without causing any other complications. Hence, the most effective and trusted herbs for managing Depression are

HERBAL REMEDIES IN AYURVEDA FOR CURING DEPRESSION

1.Ashwagandha:

Ashwagandha has been proven to be beneficial in curing stress and cutting down the anxiety levels. It also helps one to remain focused and to have more control over mood swings.

2.Brahmi:

Brahmi is a herb is proven to effective in calming the brain and bringing relief from anxiety and stress

3.Peppermint:

Peppermint or Pudina has a cooling effect on the nervous system and helps you to have good sleep.

4.Jatamansi:

It’s a herb that helps in curing insomnia. Jatamansi also works as a natural anti-depressant formula.

While all the above-mentioned steps and herbs are affected but if you are suffering from clinical depression, it is always advisable to consult the doctor.