AYURVEDIC TREATMENT OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
Physical fitness is most important key to healthy body or we can say it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. Today’s life style, wrong choice of food leads to nutritional deficiencies in the body. Here we are discussing the muscular dystrophy in which muscle loss occur and leads to several physical problem like frequent fall, inability to walk, difficulty to stand without support etc.
From the ayurvedic perspective, to manage the problem of muscular dystrophy there are various herbs like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Commiphora mukul (Guggul), Cyperus rotundus ( Mustak), Plumbago zeylanica (Chitrak), Emblica officinalis (Amla), Terminalia bellirica (Bibhitaki), Terminalia chebula (Haritaki), Piper longum (Pippali), Carum copticum (Ajwain), Embelia ribes (Vidanga), Tribulus terrestris (Gokharu), Cuminum cyminum (Jeera), Zingiber officinale (Sonth), Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Kali musli (Curculigo orchioides), Semal Musli (Salmalia malabarica), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Akarkara (Anacylus pyrethrum), Vidarikand (Pueraria tuberosa), Safed Behman (Centurea behen), Jaiphal/ Javitri (Myristica fragrans), and Kesar (Crocus sativus) etc present in ayurveda, which helps to provide relief in the symptoms associated with muscular dystrophy. These herbs help to strengthen and build up muscles.
WHAT IS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?
Muscular dystrophy is the group of muscular disease which are characterized by the progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. This is the common problem of all the age group people. There are different types of muscular dystrophy and most common symptoms can be seen in the boys during childhood. In muscular dystrophy abnormal genes hinder the production of proteins which are needed in the formation of healthy muscles.
SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, FEW ARE EXPLAINED BELOW WITH
SYMPTOMS:-
1. DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
This is most common type of muscular dystrophy which affects boys mostly at the age of 2 and 3 years.
Symptoms may include:-
- Difficulty in running and jumping
- Learning disabilities
- Problems in getting up from a lying and sitting position
- Walking on toes
- Quick falls
- Stiffness
- Pain in muscles
2. BECKER MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
This type of dystrophy is also similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy but less severe. It also occurs in the boys at the age of 11 and 25 years.
Symptoms may include:
- Weakness in legs and arms
- Walking on toes
- Muscle cramps
- Difficulty in getting up from floor
3. CONGENITAL MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
It occurs between birth and age of 2 years.
Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty to sit and stand without support
- Vision problems
- Scoliosis
- Speech problems
- Intellectual deformities
- Muscles weakness
- Feet deformities
4. MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY
It is also called as steinert’s disease or dystrophia myotonic. Myotonic dystrophy is characterized by the inability in the muscle relaxation after they contract. It may affect the various parts of body like adrenal glands, heart, eyes, facial muscles and central nervous system.
Symptoms may include:
- Poor vision
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Early baldness
- Problem in lifting neck due to muscle weakness
- Weight loss
AYURVEDIC VIEW
For a healthy body there are three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha those are required in balanced state. Muscular dystrophy is described as the “mamsashosha” in ayurveda. According to Ayurveda muscular dystrophy is due to imbalance of vata dosha and sapta dhatus (basic elements to maintain body structure). Sapta dhatus involve rasa, rakta, mamsa, medha, asthi, majja and shukra which builds our body, each sapta dhatu has its own digestive fire (Dhatawagni). Vitiation in digestive fire of any of these dhatu leads to improper absorption of nutrients which result in weakness.
In this condition there is the increase in mamsa dhatu “agni” that leads to muscle destruction. To manage the muscular dystrophy there is requirement of balancing the pitta dosha and proper nutrition to muscles.
