How Ayurveda is Helpful in Treating Neurological Disorders?

What are Neurological Disorders?

In simple words most neurological disorders occur due to imbalance gets created in the Vata dosha. These disorders affect the brain, autonomic and central nervous system. Such disorders can affect only a single neuron or the whole neurological pathway. In most cases the healing takes a long time span in treatment. Ayurveda has a different approach in dealing with these disorders than the modern medical sciences.

In fact, the nervous system is a very complicated, complex and sophisticated system that controls and regulates the whole body. It manages all the basic functions and various activities. Beginning from digestion to endocrine function, all functions depend on this complex neuro-physiology. Actually, it is a kind of an organ that holds wheels within wheels. 

It is made up of 2 main divisions, including the central nervous system (consists the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (consisting of all other neural elements).

According to Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the ancient holistic science of India, which is able to treat neurological diseases since its inception but the terminology used to heal has become something different.

According to Ayurveda neurological disorders are the result of a Vata disorder. When the aggravation of Vata dosha causes an imbalance and disharmony in the human system that results in neurological disorders. Ayurvedic healing for neurological disorders just aims to restore balance in this Vata imbalance and bring harmony between the Vata dosha with Pita and Kapha dosha so as to eradicate any type of disease in a person. There are more than 600 recognized neurological disorders and conditions that affect the human nervous system and for lots of them, treatment options are extremely in limited numbers.

Billions of people all over the world are affected by neurological disorders. In fact approximately 6.2 million people on the planet Earth die because of a stroke every year; over 80% of these deaths take place in poor or still developing countries. A little above 50 million people have epilepsy in this world. It is estimated that there are 35.6 million people with dementia on this globe with 7.7 million being added every year in new cases. Alzheimer's disease is the most common reason for dementia and may contribute to 60 to 70% of the total cases Ayurveda has a different approach when dealing with this complicated disease.

Let's discuss its various ways;

The panchakarma therapy in the management of Neurological disease

Panchakarma is a 5 fold treatment methodology that is basically divided into 3 parts, namely Purva Karma (preparatory procedure), Pradhan Karma (main operative procedure) and Paschat Karma (post-operative regimen). Panchakarma is authentic process that purifies various systems of the human body and throws out the accumulated toxins out from the body. Basically Panchakarma is a bio-cleansing process that detoxifies the whole body and helps in enhancing the bio-availability of drugs, diet, etc.

Purva Karma (preparatory procedure):

It consists of  lighting up the digestive fire (Deepan), digestive (Pachan), oilation of the body (Snehan)
and medicated sedation (Swedan). These provide benefits in lubricating, , liquefying of toxic waste products, so that all are flushed out along with urine.toxins that have accumulated in various channels of the body and also help for their easy throw from the body through the nearest route available.

Pradhan Karma (main  procedure)

After you have finished Purva Karma (preparatory procedure), as per the need of the Pradhan Karma (main procedure), which are five in number as vaman (emesis), virechana (purgation), Basti (enema), Nasya (putting medicated oil drops through nostrils) and Raktamokshan(bloodletting). These procedures are done according to the predominance of doshas.

(Post-Operative Regimen)

After the fine process of Pradhan Karma (main procedure) is over, one should follow a special dietary menu called Samsarjan karma. It becomes mandatory to restore the normalcy of body tissues and the system as well as it helps in rejuvenating the person.

Herbs useful in neurological disorders:

Vacha:

Vacha just focuses on your nervous system and penetrates deep into your brain tissues and pulls out the toxins residing there and opens the vessels of higher chakras. It helps in treating mental stress, headaches, emotional imbalance and laziness that makes you a couch potato.

Its qualities alerts the brain, making it Sharp and enhances concentration level. It promotes cerebral circulation, meaning absorbing the information that can be recalled later. It is an absolute cure for memory loss and attention deficit disorders.

Shankhpushpi:

The whole plant is used as a nervine tonic that enhances memory and cognitive function. It is recommended for stress, anxiety, insomnia and mental tiredness. It maintains the production of stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline.

Conclusion

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra):

It is an herb known for its treatment in brain disorders, especially if your brain is filled with anxiety, stress and memory loss. It has proved its worth by improving the memo yarning abilities. It also has the capacity to reverse the effects of amnesia quality to the huge anti-oxidant profile of licorice. This action helps as a shot in the arm to the neuronal damage caused during the seizures.

Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are helpful in preventing and finding a cure for bipolar disorder, depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia. It helps as it contains abundance of omega-3 fatty acids and alpha linoleic acids that convert into DHA that help the brain regain its health.

Asparagus racemosus

Asparagus racemosus wild, also called as wild carrot is another long-established remedy for treating a wide spectrum of disorders including brain diseases. Scientific research has clearly revealed that asparagus is packed with strong antioxidants which help in enhancing the memory and provides protection against amnesia that effects to its positive effects on the cholinergic system.

Indian gooseberry

Indian gooseberry or amla is a time-honored remedy, which is trusted for curing multiple disorders including brain conditions. This is done because the presence of antioxidants, vitamin B, C and many other healthful components present in the Indian Gooseberry which helps in strengthening the immune system and helps in boosting body’s capacity to fight infections and other disturbing factors which may cause brain disorders like schizophrenia.

Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera extracts have turned out to be effective in treating many brain diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and memory repair. Scientific studies also reveal us that Moringa Olefeira leaf extracts exercise nootropic activity which aids in enhancing memory and possesses tremendous antioxidant potential which fights oxidative stress that comes with the Alzheimer’s disease.

Curcumin or Haldi

Curcuma or Haldi in Hindi has neuroprotective components like phenylheptanoids, monoterpenes and most importantly Curcumin which have tremendous antioxidant power that may prove valuable in the prevention and treatment of various brain disorders like Alzheimer’s diseases.

Note

• All these herbs are quite helpful in treating brain disorders and helps in soothing it and stay cool.
• The above study mentions that neurological problems can be effectively treated by Ayurvedic system of medicine.
• Ayurvedic healing involves, use of Ayurvedic medicine, Panchakarma therapies i.e. Snehan (Oleation/ External Massage), Swedana (fomentation), Virechana (medicated purgation), Vasti (medicated enema), Vamana (medicated emesis), Shirodhara,Sirovasti, Murdha Taila (head massage) and use of Nadi Swedana (herbal steam) etc.