Facial Paralysis is a temporary facial paralysis that generally is confined to one side of the face. It sometimes progresses to total paralysis of the affected side. It is infact a paralysis of those muscles that control expression on one side of the face. Facial Paralysis may result from damage to the facial nerve, one of which runs beneath each ear to the muscles on the same side of the face. This condition will result in a droopy appearance and can be a real blow to the patient’s self esteem. Most often, Facial Paralysis is not that serious and for most people it will clear up on its own within weeks or sometimes months.
In the Ayurveda system of medicine this condition is known as Ardita and finds mention in the Vatta Vyadhi (Vata diseases). It is also found that over half of all cases of paralysis affecting the face are ardita. Ayurveda considers Facial Paralysis to be the result of the vitiated Vata dosha. It is vata dosha that controls the overall level of balance and activation of the nervous system in an individual.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Facial Paralysis are likely to come on quickly. They manifest themselves suddenly and often come in a matter of hours accompanied by a sudden feeling of pain around the ear. However, it has also been found that in some rare cases, Facial Paralysis symptoms come on more gradually. Some of the main symptoms visible among Facial Paralysis patients are: facial distortion, paralysis or weakness on one side of the face, sagging eye brow, drooping eye lid, impairment of taste, difficulty in closing the eye, numbness of the face, dry mouth and difficulty in speaking, ear pain especially below ear tearing or dry eye, abnormal blink, inability to whistle or pucker lips and loss of taste in the front portion of the tongue etc.
Causes
Though ayurveda does not specifically mention any one singular cause for Facial Paralysis, it has been found that damage to the facial nerve, shouting persistently at the top of one’s voice, eating hard articles of diet, laughing heavily, yawning, carrying heavy load on head and lying on uneven ground may some times lead to aggravation of vayu in relation to the head, nose, lips, chin, forehead, and the eyes. These can then affect the face and produce facial paralysis.
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 humour (dosha) – Vata, Pita or Kapha, because it is the imbalance of these body humours that create every disease.
The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behaviour, food habits, sleeping patterns, personal details like age, height, weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also. The doctor can decide if an Ayurveda treatment is helpful on providing these details.
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.
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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 following pre-purification methods are usually adopted in the treatment of Facial Paralysis
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 persons mind. He gets sound sleep and becomes free of mental tensions and distractions. It has been found to be highly beneficial in the treatment of Facial Paralysis.
Shiroabhyanga: This is a massage therapy for Facial Paralysis using anti vata oils. The massage stimulates the nervous system of the patient. Shiroabhyanga therapy helps to alleviate the vata dosha and strengthens both the nerves as well as the muscles of the face.
Mukhabhyanga: This is a special massage therapy highly useful for facial muscles. The great benefit of mukhabhyanga is that it activates the facial muscles and gives increased reflexes to the person.
Sirodhara therapy refers to the Pouring of warm medicated herbal oil on the person’s forehead, non stop, for about 30 to 40 minutes from a suspended oil filled vessel hung 3 or 4 inches above the patient. The medicated oil is made by boiling herbs and fruits such as gooseberry, bael, sandalwood, liquorices, nut grass tuber, winter cherry etc in gingelly oil, coconut oil, ghee and milk. Sirodhara is highly effective in the treatment of Facial Paralysis.
ThalamRetention of medicated paste or oil right on the vertex of a person for over 30 minutes is termed thalam. The therapeutic effects of herbs and oils pass on to the central and autonomous nervous system through the brain. Indian pennywort, staff tree, sida plant, rasna etc are some of the medicinal herbs used in preparing the herbal paste. Thalam is highly recommended for the treatment of Facial Paralysis
s that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors. The two commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for Facial Paralysis 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 blend of sesame oil mixed with herbs such as Sida plants, Bel and Vitex etc.
Vasthi an effective enema therapy, 'Vasthi' is termed as the ace colon cleaning panchakarma treatment where special medicines are introduced through the anal route for the evacuation of accumulated toxins and metabolic wastes. Dill seeds, honey, rock salt, herbal pastes, oils and decoctions are the main ingredients used in vasthi.
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 treatments for Facial Paralysis consist of oral medicines and diet regulation.
Herbal medicines form an important part of any Ayurvedic treatment. Oral medicines for Facial Paralysis 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 Facial Paralysis.Kashayam and Arishtam herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams– semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed
Liquorice, gooseberry, bael, winter cherry, nut grass tuber , Henna, Asparagus etc are some of the medicinal herbs used in the preparation of kashayams, lehyams and aristams meant for Facial Paralysis patients.
The type and quantity of the medicines to be taken are decided by the doctor after a detailed consultation and examination. The patient’s body type, age etc are also important factors to be considered.
Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from Facial Paralysis. Proper diet is a brilliant means of controlling and curing this disease. Ayurveda diet provides adequate nutrition as well as rest for the needed organs. Patients are advised to eat a well balanced high fiber content diet. They are to consume large quantities of leafy vegetables, carrot juice and lots of fruits. They should, however, cut down on high protein foods. Consumption of organic foods is to be encouraged at all times.
They should avoid processed and chemicalized foods, alcohol, coffee, excess intake of hot spices, sugar and tobacco. They should drink six to eight glasses of water a day as it helps to flush out the toxins from the body.
Patients should eat slowly and chew the food thoroughly. Eating soft, smooth foods such as yoghurt are recommended.
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 rebalance 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.
For Facial Paralysis patients, there is an element of mental stress involved and also matters that affect the nerves. Yoga and meditation are highly beneficial for relaxing the mind. These methods reduce or remove stress and thereby contribute towards the recuperation of Facial Paralysis patients.
Life Style for Facial Paralysis: Doing simple exercises like relaxing your facial muscles may make those muscles stronger and help you recover faster. Massaging the forehead, cheeks and lips with oil or cream is also recommended.
