Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Dystonia is a neurological dysfunction. It’s characterised by uncontrollable muscle contractions. These contractions would result in involuntary actions or irregular postures. It may well have an effect on totally different components of the physique and even your entire physique. The manifestation depends upon the underlying trigger.
Signs of Dystonia embody uncontrolled and painful spasms of muscle tissue, repetitive actions, tremors occurring in rhythmic sample, muscle contractions lasting from seconds to minutes (persists for months in continual situations), and muscle twist or stretch resulting in uncommon physique positions. Relying on the world of the physique concerned it presents in 5 patterns – focal, segmental, multifocal, hemi dystonia and generalized dystonia. Every current with a distinct set of signs pertaining to the area stricken.
Associated Studying – ‘Dystonia – causes, signs, prevention, remedy’
On this article we’ll attempt to perceive dystonia from an Ayurveda perspective.
Dystonia: Ayurveda Understanding
Any single situation defined in Ayurveda can’t be precisely correlated with dystonia. Many situations defined, primarily within the context of Vata Vyadhi could be mentioned in correlation to Dystonia attributable to similarity of those situations by way of their medical presentation, despite not precisely matching with one another as a illness entity. This understanding helps in addressing and managing instances of dystonia by Ayurveda interventions.
Beneath talked about are the totally different situations defined in Ayurveda treatises, which could be thought of on this dialogue, as situations resembling with medical image of Dystonia –
Vata Prakopa
‘Sankocha’ is a symptom talked about amongst the signs of vata aggravation. Sankocha means contractions. Dystonia is characterised by uncontrolled muscle contractions. Sankocha can also be a phrase used to explain spasms and contractures, that are options of dystonia.
Equally, ‘Chaala’ i.e. extreme actions which depicts ‘irregular and uncontrollable muscle contractions’ which is a function of dystonia, too has been talked about amongst the actions of irregular or exaggerated vata.
‘Varta’ which implies twisting or twitching, which is an impact of dystonia, can also be a symptom of vata prakopa.
One more time period ‘Spandana’ which implies involuntary actions or twitching, can also be one in every of vata prakopa signs.
Vata Nanatmaja Roga
There are 80 situations that are induced solely by aggravated vata.
Some situations / illnesses talked about within the listing clarify ‘dystonia’. They’re –
Akshepa – which implies convulsions, which is totally different from involuntary contractions. However this time period could be thought of to explain dystonia. It may be mentioned to be a variant of spandana and sankocha. All these phrases pertain to ‘hyperactivity of vata or chala guna of vata’.
Vepathu / Kampana – means tremors. These phrases too point out hyperactivity of vata and involuntary actions, as in dystonia.
Vata Vyadhi
Seeing the final description of dystonia, it may be categorized beneath Vata Vyadhi – particular issues brought on by vitiation of ‘solely vata’. It’s a neurological dysfunction and all neurological issues are mentioned beneath Vata Vyadhi. This situation is characterised by uncontrollable muscle contractions which in flip ends in involuntary actions or irregular postures. Aggravated Vata is accountable for such muscular occasions.
Mamsagata Vata (a vata vyadhi)
Since this situation impacts the muscle tissue and trigger uncontrollable contractions and involuntary actions, it may be correlated with yet one more illness which has been defined beneath Vata Vyadhi i.e. Mamsagata Vata. Mamsagata Vata is a situation by which aggravated vata which will get localized within the muscle tissue of the physique would trigger these muscular occasions.
Sarvanga Vata and Ekanga Vata (a vata vyadhi)
Since this situation might have an effect on totally different components of the physique and even your entire physique, it falls beneath the class of Sarvanga Vata – a situation by which aggravated vata impacts the entire physique. When a selected a part of the physique is concerned, it may be thought of as Ekanga Vata. Dystonia kind of presentation could be seen in each Ekanga and Sarvanga Vata.
From the angle of signs and kinds of dystonia
The signs of Dystonia which incorporates uncontrollable and painful muscle spasms, repetitive actions, tremors, twisting, irregular postures, irregular stretching of muscle tissue are all contributory to aggravated vata.
Signs of several types of dystonia cowl beneath their umbrella, several types of Vata issues together with – Ekanga Vata, Sarvanga Vata, Pakshavadha, Ardita and Kampavata. So, dystonia covers a broad spectrum of Vata issues which incorporates the talked about situations.
From the angle of causative components
Among the many causes of Dystonia, Parkinsonism, Epilepsy, Stroke and Traumatic Mind accidents have been talked about. Signs of dystonia are discovered within the Ayurveda counterparts of those situations i.e. Kampavata, Apasmara, Pakshavadha and Abhighata / Marma Abhighata respectively.
From the angle of problems
Issues like impairment in every day actions, issues with muscle contractions of eyes, jaw motion, swallowing, speech, discomfort, exhaustion and anxiousness point out involvement of vata.
Dystonia: Ayurveda Remedy Rules
Nidana Parivarjana
Identical to in any illness, conserving away the causative components and triggers of the illness is essential in prevention and remedy of dystonia and in addition to forestall the development and problems of dystonia. From the Ayurveda viewpoint, all ‘vata aggravating’ etiological components could be accountable for dystonia and all these components shall be stored away.
Treating Vata
As already mentioned, aggravated vata is especially accountable for dystonia and its signs and problems. Due to this fact, all medicines, therapies, life-style modifications and practices which might deliver again vata to a state of steadiness shall be thought of within the remedy of Dystonia.
Remedy on the traces of ‘Vata Vyadhi Chikitsa’
The remedy ideas of Vata Vyadhi shall be introduced into follow to comprehensively deal with dystonia. This consists of medicines, therapies, dietetic and life-style modifications.
Different remedy ideas
Dystonia shall be handled on the ideas of remedy of beneath talked about situations –
– Ekanga vata
– Sarvanga vata
– Pakshavadha / Pakshaghata
– Ardita
– Mamsagata Vata
– Kampavata
– Apasmara
Efficient exterior therapies
Beneath talked about exterior therapies are extremely efficient within the administration of Dystonia –
– Abhyanga – natural oil therapeutic massage – any vata mitigating oil can be utilized
– Swedana – sudation – Nadi Sweda, Bashpa Sweda, Pinda Sweda (patra and shashtika shali pinda sweda)
– Dhara – showering of medical liquids on the physique and head – any vata-mitigating oil or milk processed with vata-alleviating herbs shall be used
– Murdni Taila – oil therapies executed on the pinnacle – Shiro Dhara, Shito Vasti, Shiro Abhyanga, Shiro Pichu
Efficient Panchakarma Therapies
Dystonia and its problems could be successfully dealt with by administration of the beneath talked about Panchakarma measures skilfully –
– Virechana – on the traces of Pakshaghata Chikitsa – with medicated purging oils which might steadiness vata
– Vasti – Asthapana Vasti and Anuvasana Vasti shall be mixed skilfully, Matra Vasti too is helpful
– Nasya – errhines with vata assuaging oils will probably be useful
Helpful herbs
– Bala – Sida cordifolia
– Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera
– Kapikachchu – Mucuna pruriens
– Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia
– Dashamula – ten roots
– Medhya Rasayanas – herbs that are mind tonics
– Kushmanda – Benincasa hispida
Helpful formulations
– Maharasnadi Kashayam
– Erandamuladi Kashayam
– Ashtavargam Kashayam
– Balaguluchyadi Kashayam
– Dhanwantaram Kashayam
– Gandharvahastadi Eranda Taila
– Nimbamritadi Erannda Tailam
– Balarishtam
– Ashwagandharishtam
– Saraswatharishtam
– Saraswata Churna
– Vanari Gutika / Vanari Kalpa / Kapikachchu Churna
– Ashwagandha Churna
– Ksheerabala Tailam 101