STROKE TREATMENT IN KERALA
Stroke, sometimes referred to as a Cerebro Vascular Accident (CVA) is a “brain attack”. It happend when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. Brain cells are deprived of oxygen and cause to death. It might result in a permanent lose of speech, movement and memory.Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability. More than 90 % of patients after leaving hospital had sought alternative medicine. The form of alternative medicine sought by the majority is Ayurveda. Kerala claims a rich heritage in Ayurveda stroke treatment . There are many centres to provide stroke treatment in Kerala. Panchakarma is one of the important treatment modality of Ayurveda. Panchakarma has no adverse effects and it is very useful in treating neurological diseases as well as paralysis. By panchakarma therapy along with internal medicines 90% of relief can be obtained in stroke patients which is promising and documented.
A stroke may be caused by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or the bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke).Ischemic strokes occur when the arteries to your brain become small or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow (ischemia). Hemorrhagic stroke happend when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures. Some people may experience only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain (Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA) that doesn't cause permanent damage.
These factors can increase your strok risk
- Overweight
- Physical inactivity
- Heavy or binge drinking
- Use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Overtreatment with anticoagulants (blood thinners)
- Weak spots in your blood vessel walls (aneurysms)
- Personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack.
- Use of birth control pills or hormone therapies that include estrogen
- Increased estrogen levels from pregnancy and childbirth.
Stroke symptoms include:
- SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding
- SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause
Stroke can be clearly correlated with the condition of Pakshaghata in Ayurveda, which is a kevala vata vyadhi and cause because of vata kopa. Various Ayurvedic poly herbal formulations have been found to have therapeutic efficacy for treating stroke. Cases of stroke are common in Ayurvedic clinical practice. Studies reported relief in stroke patients treated with integrated approach (treated by modern medicine with Ayurveda and physiotherapy).Panchakarma literally means five procedures, vaman (therapeutic emesis), virechan (purgation), asthapan vasti (enema using medicated decoction), anuvasan vasti (enema using medicated oil) and shiro virechan / nasya (nasal administration of medicines). Along with this five major ways there are various other allied therapies like snehan (oleation), swedan (fomentation) etc; comes under panchakarma. Procedures like, udwartanam (powder massage), sarvanga abhyanga and bashpa sweda (full body oil massage with steam),choorna pinda sweda (full body massage with bolus prepared by herbal powders), patra pinda sweda (full body massage with bolus prepared by leaves of herbs), matra vasti (oil enema) were done under panchakarma therapy. The way of treatment was determined by the state of the patient, natural body composition of the patient and the stage of the stroke. In ayurveda, ‘abhyangana chikitsa’ or massage therapy gives the patient adequate exercise by passive movement of muscles and joints to cure unused muscles atrophy. Mahaa vaata vidhwansan ras can sometimes be effective in managing abnormal sensations. Internal medications like Dashmoolaarishta, is very effective for toning up the nervous system.
