Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder affecting the central nervous system. It generally affects those over 65 years of age . A patient afflicted with this disease will obviously have loss of memory and other intellectual disabilities that prevents him from maintaining a socially active life. This disease is a result of reduced blood flow to the brain.
Symptoms
Those afflicted with this disease will exhibit certain symptoms that are specific to this disease only. There will be an impairment in memory. These patients will besides fail to organize and recollect their thoughts. An inability to reason out things as also a failure to converse will also form part of this disease. Difficulty in performing the usual chores, decreased judgment, unfounded misconception, frequent mood changes, and loss of initiative are all symptoms associated with the onset of this disease. Ayurveda considers Alzheimer's to be a result of the vata provocation and the resultant imbalance in the body constitution. Vata is provoked in the majja dhatau and the tissue layers that include the central nervous system. As a result of the vata provocation in the majja dhatu there will be a degeneration and malfunctioning of the brain leading to Alzheimer's disease.
Causes
Though hereditary factors do play quite often a vital part in the incidence of the disease , ayurveda considers this disease to be a result of external factors. A fast paced life, stress and tension, addiction to fast food, excess intake of tea and coffee, accumulation of toxins, environmental pollution, etc are some of the factors that hasten the onset of this disease in people aged 65 and above. The accumulation of toxins particularly weakens the majja dhatu and makes one susceptible to this disease
All treatments in Ayurveda are prescribed only after a careful diagnosis of the patient's body constitution, family history, sex, age, stage of the disease etc. This will enable the patient to receive treatments that are specifically suited to his very needs. Ayurveda treatments will therefore vary from patient to patient.
The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person's body humor (Dosha) - Vata, Pita or Kapha, because it is the imbalance of these body humors that creates this Alzheimer's disease.
The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behavior, food habits, sleeping patterns, age, height & weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also. Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person's body humor and its imbalance. This will help the doctor in treating the disease.
Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.
In tongue diagnosis, the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.
Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person's nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination.
In the eye diagnosis, the colour, size and even the shape of the eyes are important in determining the dosha dominance of a person. His mental status nervousness, anxiety, confidence level etc can also be learned through eye diagnosis. A preliminary consultation with Ayurveda doctors online is also possible nowadays for guests worldwide
After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarma treatments and Rasayana therapies .
The Panchakarma Treatments are meant to flush out the toxins, They are classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods.
The Rasayana Therapies are meant to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.These comprise diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines and ayurveda tonics, yoga and a stress free life. After the treatment the ayurveda doctors will advise you how to lead a healthy life. The beneifts and results of the treatment are shown only after the Rasyana Treatment is over and docotrs advise is strictly followed. The results will manifest itself normally after 3 to 4 weeks as the body takes time to regenerate itself.
Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes. These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind. The commonly adopted prepurification therapies for Alzheimer's disease are Abhyangam, swedanam and Sirovasti.
Abhyangam means a full body massage done with bare hands, using warm herbal oil. The high penetration ability of the healing herbs helps surface the toxins inside the body, and ensures active blood circulation to afflicted areas. Other than its curing ability, the massage is also a wonderful revitalizing exercise to activate and stimulate the body nerves. Blood circulation to all body parts is enhanced helping the person to tone up his body and preserve youthfulness. The massage also rejuvenates the person's mind. He gets sound sleep and becomes free of mental tensions and distractions.
The treatment begins with active oil application. Oil of tolerable warmth is applied to the entire body of the person lying relaxingly on the treatment table. Oil is let to absorb into the skin for 4-5 minutes. Slow massage is then given, using the whole palm and fingers. Active massage is given on the vital parts, like the sole of feet, palms, fingertips etc., where more nerve ending are concentrated. This is continued for nearly 45/50 minutes and then the person is left to rest for about 15 minutes for the oil to act. The doctor generally recommends one or two weeks of this oil massage, along with oral medicines like Kashayam (decoction) Lehyam (semi solid), Choornam (powder) etc. Such massages revitalize the joints and muscles and effectively relieves Alzheimer's disease.
Swedanammeans medicinal perspiration and involves the active sweating of the whole body using medicated steam. Through this process, the agni is increased and the fatty tissues get mobilized. The channels of the body are softened and this causes the impurities to move out through the skin by way of sweat. Swedanam as a prepurification therapy for Alzheimer's disease cleanses the channels thoroughly and helps to control the vitiated doshas. This therapy is done in two ways. A- Through external application of heat or retention of the body heat such as through exercise or through the use of heavy clothes and blankets. B- Remaining in a chamber that has been well- heated for a considerable period of time or inhaling medicated steam. This helps the patient to sweat considerably and helps to throw out the impurities through the pores of the skin.
Sirovasthi is the retention of warm medicated oil over the head for a certain amount of time. This oil is a prepared mixture of gingelly oil, castor oil, ghee, common milk, and medicated herbs like bala, winter cherry,sandalwood,Liquorice, black gram, bacopa etc. Sirovasthi treatment is highly effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease . There are special ways and methods in which the herbs and oils are boiled in order to extract their full medicinal properties.
The first step of Sirovasthi starts with the application of warm herbal oil all over the body. This nourishes the nerve endings and prepares the body for the main treatment. The next step is to carefully fix an elongated leather cap around the person's head into which medicated oil of tolerable warmth is poured. The oil has to be retained on the head for about 30 to 45 minutes based on the person's tolerance level. During this process, the therapeutic properties of the medicated oil acts on the person's brain and tunes up his central and autonomous nervous system.
The brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and the sympathetic nerves receives the medicinal effects of the oil. As a result, various nerve disorders get mended and the mind gets relieved from conflicts and stress. The timing and periodicity of the treatment varies according to the condition of the patient and type of disease. Usually, the treatment lasts for 7 or 14 days depending on the condition of the patient and the intensity of the disease for which the treatment is being meted out.
Main purification Therapies for Alzheimer's disease
This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. These main purification therapies for Alzheimer's are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors. The commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for Alzheimer's are Nasyam and Vasthi.
Nasyam is the pouring of herbal oil in drops in to the nostrils and inhaling the contents. This opens up the head channels and enables the herb extracts to act directly on the central nervous system. Nasyam treatment lasts for twenty to thirty minutes. The herbal oil is a mixture of sesame oil and herbs such as sida plant,nut grass tuber,bael and Vitex etc.
Vasthi is an enema therapy and is considered the ace colon cleaning panchakarma treatment. In this form of treatment special medicines are introduced through the anal route for the evacuation of accumulated toxins and metabolic wastes. It is highly recommended in the treatment of Alzheimer's .
These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course. Rasayana includes oral medicines and diet regulation.
Oral medicines used for treating Alzheimer's disease will be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. These are prepared specifically to restore the lost balance and to provide the needed inputs to cure Alzheimer's disease. Kashayam and Arishtam - herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams - semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed. Some of the herbs and spices used in the preparation of kashayams and lehyams for treating Alzheimer's disease patients include cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, ginger etc.
Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease during and after the treatment. They should consume vata pacifying foods. A diet of basmati rice, mung dal, well cooked vegetables etc are recommended.
They should consume fruits and green leafy vegetables in large quantities. They should strictly avoid excess intake of tea , coffee and alcohol as also intake of fried and frozen foods. You can find out your type of prakruthi and decide a diet for yourself
Yoga and meditation are always beneficial and have always played a vital part in curing every type of disease. Yoga exercises done every day replenish and re balance the physical and emotional systems that are depleted by the everyday stresses that lie so heavy on our lives. Yoga makes it possible to rest on a strong base of confidence and strength within oneself. Light yoga postures, meditations and breathing exercises are advised.
Life Style for Alzheimer's disease
Patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease are advised to take at least one or two weeks of rest after the Panchakarma experience. At this time the body is weak after the purification process and needs time to get back to normalcy. They should undergo a regular oil massage that will help them stay healthy and vibrant. Fresh air and and a short walk daily is also advised.
