One of the most complex and intricate system of the body is the nervous system. The movement of nerve impulses all over the body is the most crucial aspect of interaction between all the cells of the body. Since movement is the most characteristic feature of the system, vata dosha plays the most important role in appropriate management of the nervous system. Most of the ayurvedic treatments, help in stabilizing the vayu dosha, thereby reducing the anxiety, calm the nerves.
Depending upon the root issue of the manifestation of a specific neurological disorder, the following are the examples of some commonly occurring neurological issues and Ayurvedic management of the same:
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Headaches
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Migraines
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Syncope
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Hemiplegia
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Alzheimer’s
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Dementia
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Stroke
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Vertigo
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Psycho-somatic disorders/ Manasika roga
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Epilepsy
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Motor Neuron disease
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Neurological pain manifestations – numbness, tingling, lack of grasp in hands, lack of coordination
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Multiple sclerosis
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Fibromyalgia
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Neuropathy – Diabetic, metabolic, infectious, auto-immune, CIDP
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Chronic fatigue syndrome
And several other such neurological and neuro – psychiatry issues.
An overview about Ayurveda’s approach in neurological & neuro-psychiatry problems:
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Identify the causative factor or the combination of causative factors
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damage of nerve root – carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spondylitis,
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aggravation of a dosha – postural hypotension, syncope,
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response post trauma or post-operative – psychosomatic disorders, vertigo
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an allergic or a triggered response – migraine, stress
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genetic factors – epilepsy,
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infection – vertigo
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lifestyle related – frequent headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome
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Internal medication to manage the neurological biological mechanism.
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External treatments/ therapies to manage the symptoms – shirodhara, sodhana chikitsa, shirovasthi, pinda swedam, pizhichil etc
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Diet/ lifestyle modifications
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Restoration of digestive system plays a crucial role in management of headaches/ migraines or in pitta predominant condition