Ayurvedic Remedies For Dementia
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Dementia
Dementia is not a specific disease but a general term for the weakened ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is caused by damage to or changes in the brain. The common causes of dementia are Alzheimer's disease, but there is a difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Dementia is the term applied to a group of symptoms that negatively impact memory, but Alzheimer's is a progressive disease of the brain that slowly causes impairment in memory and cognitive function. Depending on the area of the brain that's damaged, dementia can affect people differently and cause different symptoms. About one-third of all people aged 85 or older may have some form of dementia, but it is not a normal part of aging.
According to Ayurveda, dementia is caused by the disturbance and imbalance in the three doshas of the body, i.e., Vata, pitta, and Kapha. Among them, Vata has a considerable role in Dementia. Ayurveda focuses on preventing and managing dementia with natural aids. The treatment method in Ayurveda helps to promote and supports equilibrium in different aspects of human life: the body, mind, and soul. So Ayurveda advocates the importance of a balanced diet for healthy brain functioning. An active and stress-free lifestyle helps in maintaining a sharp memory even as you age. Along with diet and lifestyle changes, Ayurveda introduces panchakarma treatments and many medicinal plants and formulations that are effective in slowing down brain ageing and enhancing memory.
Symptoms Of Dementia
Depending on the area of the brain that's damaged, dementia can affect people differently and cause different symptoms. Some of them are:
- Memory loss.
- Slow speed of thinking.
- Problems with language.
- Poor understanding.
- Poor judgment skills.
- Personality changes.
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Inappropriate behaviour.
- Paranoia.
- Agitation. .
- Hallucinations.
Causes Of Dementia
Dementia is mainly caused by damage to or changes in the brain. Other common causes are:
- Alzheimer's disease.
- Vascular dementia.
- Parkinson's disease.
- Dementia with Lewy bodies. .
- Frontotemporal dementia.
- Severe head injury.
- Old age.
- Family history. .
- Race or ethnicity.
- Poor heart health.
- long-term consumption of western junk diet and physical and cognitive inactivity.
- Epigenetic and environmental factors. .
- cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- social isolation.
- traumatic brain injury.
Different Types Of Dementia
The most common types of dementia include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
This is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die. It is caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. The symptom is trouble remembering recent events, such as a conversation that occurred minutes or hours ago, while difficulty remembering more distant memories occurs later in the disease. Other concerns, like difficulty with walking or talking, or personality changes, also come later. Family history is the most important risk factor. .
- Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is a general term describing problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory, and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to your brain. You can develop vascular dementia after a stroke blocks an artery in your brain, but strokes don't always cause vascular dementia.
- Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia, also known as dementia with Lewy bodies, is the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease. Protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, develop in nerve cells in the brain regions involved in thinking, memory, and movement. Other than memory loss, people with this form of dementia may have movement or balance problems like stiffness or trembling. Many people also experience changes in alertness including daytime sleepiness, confusion, or staring spells. They may also have trouble sleeping at night or may experience visual hallucinations. .
- Fronto-temporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term for a group of uncommon brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are generally associated with personality, behaviour, and language. In frontotemporal dementia, portions of these lobes shrink. Symptoms include behaviour and or dramatic personality changes, socially inappropriate, impulsive, or repetitive behaviours, impaired judgment, apathy, lack of empathy, and decreased self-awareness.
- Mixed dementia
Mixed dementia’ is a condition in which a person has more than one type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia is the most common type.
The most common types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Fronto-temporal dementia, and Mixed Dementia.
Ayurvedic Treatment For Dementia
Ayurveda considers Dementia to be a Vata disorder that causes irregular circulation in the body. This disturbs the normal functioning of the cells, which leads to damage to cells in the brain resulting in brain degeneration. Ayurvedic treatment for dementia aims at rejuvenating the brain as well as the whole and thereby improving brain function.
The external therapeutic procedures for the treatment of dementia include:
- Vamana
Vaman means therapeutic vomiting which is a medicated emesis. Vamana is a procedure in which Doshas are eliminated through upper channels i.e. mouth. Especially the Kapha and Pitta Dosha brought to Amashaya (stomach and duodenum) from all over the body by the specific preoperative procedures and then eliminated out by inducing the emesis.
- Virechana
Virechana is a detoxification therapy that has many advantages. WithVirechana, you get the gift of improved immunity and resistance to many infections and diseases. It is beneficial for improving blood circulation while nourishing the skin, improving digestion, strengthening muscles, and eliminating stress.
- Nasya
Nasya is a part of Panchakarma treatment for body cleansing used in Ayurvedic medicine. Nasya uses the route of the nasal cavity to administer ayurvedic herbs into our upper respiratory tract. It pacifies Vata dosha.
- Vasti
In Vasti treatment, the mediated liquids and oils are passing through the anus or vaginal canal and this method is effective for expelling body toxins.
- Shirodhara
Shirodhara is a purifying and rejuvenating therapy designed to eliminate toxins and mental exhaustion as well as relieve stress. Very beneficial for people with Vata and Pitta imbalance. It aids memory, relieves anxiety and nervousness, promotes better sleep, the body gets strengthened, improves concentration, the solution to many eye disorders, sleep is induced and ageing is slowed.
- Abhyanga
Abhyanga (oil massage) is a form of Ayurvedic therapy that involves massage of the entire body from the head to the toe with Dosha-specific warm herb-infused oil. The oil is commonly pre-mixed with herbs for specific conditions. The benefits are improving circulation, strength, vision, and stamina. I also give better sleep and overall health.
The external Ayurvedic treatments to control Dementia are Vamana,virechana,nasya,vasti, Shirodhara and abhyanga.
Diet Recommendations (Aahar)
Diet is an important factor for a patient to treat Dementia. Diet should be aimed at slowing the ageing process and nourishing the nervous system. Some of the specific food areas follow:
- Dry vegetables, meat, sesame, germinated cereals; pulses should be used in the diet.
- Avoid saline, pungent and alkaline food items. .
- Avoid contradictory food, unwholesome and those which obstruct the channels of normal circulation, and stale food.
Lifestyle Changes (Vihar)
Similar to diet, you should modify your lifestyle also. This includes:
- Avoid daytime sleeping, heavy alcohol intake, excess physical activity, and overworking.
- Practice yoga asanas like Surya Namaskar and Pranayama.
Herbal Remedies To Cure Dementia
The Ayurvedic herbs that are very effective to cure Dementia are:
- Brahmi
Brahmi is a well-known brain booster agent. It sharpens the brain, fights stress, and reduces depression. Brahmi works as a tranquillizer, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and brain function enhancer.
- Licorice
It is the best Ayurvedic herb to improve cognitive power and memory. It reduces ageing effects on the brain by preventing the degeneration of neurons.
- Turmeric
It is considered a good ayurvedic spice for improving memory and concentration. It is filled with antioxidants, curcumin, and curcuminoids. It fights the effects of free radicals. Turmeric also lowers inflammation of nerves, improves sleep quality, reduces anxiety, and acts as a stress buster.
- Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is the best Ayurvedic herb for overall nourishment and rejuvenation of the body. By repairing and preventing brain cells from damage, Ashwagandha prevents and reverses the damage that leads to dementia. .
- Vacha
The root of Vacha is the best herbal medicine to treat neurological disease and dementia. It enhances memory and speech coordination.
- Shankhapushpi
It is considered the best brain tonic and relieves mental stress and fatigue. It also improves short-term memory.
- Ginkgo Biloba
Studies show that it is the best-known medicine used to treat conditions such as cerebral vascular insufficiency, memory loss, mood disturbances, cognitive disorders, and depression, and also effective to treat dementia.
- Gotu kola
Gotu kola can enhance your memory and overall cognitive function, especially effective to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The effective Ayurvedic herbs to treat Dementia are Brahmi, Licorice, Turmeric, Ashwagandha, Vacha, Shankhapushpi, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginkgo Biloba, and Goto kola.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned information related to Dementia is taken from various Ayurvedic resources. Always take the advice of an Ayurvedic doctor before starting self-medication.
