Multiple Sclerosis Treatment in Ayurveda

Other symptoms are vision impairment, tingling, and numbness of the skin and limbs, difficulty walking, memory loss, depression.

Notes:
The symptoms of MS may occur in isolation or in combination.
A clinical attack is considered if the symptoms are present for a minimum of 24hrs.

The exact cause remains unknown, but researchers believe that a combination of several factors may be involved such as:

• Immunological reaction – Multiple Sclerosis is generally believed to be autoimmune diseases
• Viral or other Infectious agents – Some factors such as infections encountered before the age of 15 may cause for Multiple Sclerosis to develop later in life. Researchers believe that many autoimmune diseases are provoked by some kind of infections that strikes people who have certain genetic makeup.
• Environmental factors – Multiple Sclerosis occurs in geographic locations that are farther from the equator probably because of Vitamin – D deficiency.
• Genetic factor – Family history is associated with risk of Multiple Sclerosis (It is strong with MHC on ch 6, HLA DR B1-1501).

• Early diagnosis of MS is a challenge as immediate access to imaging and scans are not available in many parts of the country.
• Sometimes a family physician may not diagnose the problem and hence won’t be able to send the patient to the right place.
• Due to similar symptoms in other diseases, MS can often be misdiagnosed.

Blood-brain barrier breakdown- The BBB prevents entrance of T cells into the nervous system. The BBB is normally not permeable to these types of cells unless triggered by infection or a virus, which decreases the integrity of the tight junctions. When the BBB regains its integrity, usually after infection or virus has cleared, the T cells are trapped inside the brain.
[Note: T cells are a type of lymphocytes ( a subtype of WBC) plays a central role in cell-mediated immunity. They are called T cells because they mature in Thymus from thymocytes. ]

Auto immunology – The immune system attacks the nervous system, forming plaques or lesion. Commonly involves white matter. Destroys oligodendrocytes causing demyelination. Remyelination occurs in the early phase but not completely. Repeated attacks lead to fewer remyelination.

Inflammation– T cells attack on myelin triggers inflammatory processes, stimulating other immune cells and soluble factors like cytokines and antibodies. Leaks form in the BBB cause swelling, activation of macrophages and more activation of cytokines and other destructive proteins.

Symptoms

• Shortness of Breath, Lethargy, Mental confusion
• Bad taste in the mouth, Feeling of coldness, Pain in flanks.
• Abnormal Heart Rhythm, Abnormal Urine output with or without blood
• Itching, Chest pain, High blood pressure, Swelling around ankles

AGNI
Immunity is influenced by the power of Agni. Agni is the ability to digest, assimilate and absorb the nutrition in the human body. If Agni is impaired by any imbalance then the metabolism will get affected, immune response and natural resistance will also lower.

BALA
Bala is the strength of the body tissue. It is difficult to treat disease which is occurred in one whose body strength is low.
Bala is classified into three types:-
1.Sahaja bala-constitutional(by birth).
2.Kalajabala – based on division of season and age of the person.
3.Yuktikrithabala – acquired strength.

OJAS
It is the pure and subtle substance which is extracted from the food that has been completely digested. It provides psychological stability and endurance. The nature of Ojas differs from person to person depending on Agni, Satva, Prakruti etc. Ojas maintains the physiological balance of the body. Characteristic feature of Ojas are somatmakam, snighdha, shukla, sheeta, sthira, sara, vivikta, mridu, mritsna. Ojas is useful to maintain the condition of good health. It not only nourishes all the body constituents but also nourishes the mind. The functions of Ojas are, Balasthiraupachitamamsatha (stability and growth of muscles), Sarvacheshtasvapratikhata (ability to perform all activities without any hindrance), Svaravarnaprasada (clarity of voice and complexion), karananamaatmakaaryapratipathi ( the ability of external and internal sense organs to perform their own functions). The three abnormalities of Ojas are Ojovisramsa, Ojovyapath, and Ojokshaya.

Multiple Sclerosis is a sannipataja vyadhi (vitiation of all tridoshas), with majjadhatukshaya, kaphakshaya, ojakshaya,andvata- pitta vriddi.
Due to aharajaviharaja and manasanidanas, causes the aggravation of vata dosha, this aggravated vata enters the Asthi majja dhatu where the khavaigunya is already present due to hypo activity of the dhatwagni leading to defect in the selective absorption of nutrients by the receptive cells in the Asthi majja dhatu (as per khalekapotanyaya).

Thus the atipravarthi of prakupitavata leads to Asthi majja vaha srotodushti in the mastulunga (brain) leading to sthanikakaphakshaya, vatavriddhi and majjakshayaie the demyelination of the nerve cells. As per Ayurveda lymphatic congestion or srotorodha causes or predisposes or leads to immune related or nervous system disorders. Due to the disturbance in the dhatu parinama which leads to diminished production of Ojas resulting in Multiple Sclerosis.

Treatment intervention to the subtle level of the body and a well-balanced food intake with a healthy lifestyle with utmost care is very much requiring curing such a grave disease. In the process of the treatment, the patient has to be encouraged to have a strong mind and extreme forbearance to achieve the cure they require.
The treatment principle includes sarvanga vata chikitsa, sannipata dosha chikitsa, deepana-paachana chikitsa, correcting the dhatu parinama process, dhatu kshya janya vata roga chikitsa, lakshanika chikitsa, mastishka naadi vishesha chikitsa, naadi balya chikitsa and rasayana chikitsa.
Treatments advised are abhyanga, dhara, udvarthana with brihmana dravyas, snehapana, shirodhara, shirovasti,nasya, matra vasti, anuvasana vasti and njavara kizhi.

As it is a degenerative disease, foods which are acidic, high in saturated fat, food with trans fat, food with high sodium, foods high in refined sugar, full-fat dairy etc has to be avoided.
Also avoid over exertion, fasting for a long period, constant worries, food which is dry in nature, consuming less quantity of food, excessive exposure to heavy wind and the sun, heat, keeping awake at night, anger, fear, grief and sorrow. Avoid incompatible foods, untimely food self-medication, habituated use of medicines like pain killers, anti inflammatory medicines, sleeping pills etc.
Intake food which is easy for digestion, alkaline in nature, fresh, having all six rasas, seasonal foods, timely foods, vitamin-D rich foods, keep hydrating the body, keep mind calm, relaxed and free from worries, intake of more antioxidants rich fruits, green vegetable etc.