Ayurvedic Techniques To Overcome Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy, also known as muscle weakness, is a severe medical condition in which somebody’s muscles gradually become weaker from the time they are born. It is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscles. In most cases, muscular dystrophy (MD) runs in families. It usually develops after inheriting a faulty gene from one or both parents.

In Ayurveda, the term "Mamsavatakshaya" is used to denote muscular dystrophy. The main reasons for muscular dystrophy are the imbalance of Vata Dosha and Sapta Dhatus [the essential seven elements required to maintain body structure]. Vitiation in the digestive fire (Agni- needed for the digestion of food in the stomach) of any of these Dhatus leads to improper absorption of nutrients, which results in weakness. Ayurvedic management of muscular dystrophy will involve boosting proper nutrients to the muscle tissue and addressing the fire component associated with the muscular tissues of the body, ensuring appropriate nutrition to the whole body and the muscles in particular. Thus, it gives a good range of movement to all the joints in the body and strengthens them.

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Symptoms Of Muscular Dystrophy

The main symptom is muscle weakness. Depending on the type, the disease affects different muscles and parts of the body. Other signs of muscular dystrophy include:

• Enlarged calf muscles.
• Difficulty walking or running.
• Unusual walking gait.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Heart problems, such as arrhythmia and heart failure (cardiomyopathy).
• Learning disabilities.
• Stiff or loose joints.
• Muscle pain.
• Curved spine (scoliosis).
• Breathing problems.

Causes Of Muscular Dystrophy

Certain genes are connected with making proteins that protect muscle fibers. Muscular dystrophy occurs when one of these genes is defective. Each form of muscular dystrophy is caused by a genetic mutation particular to that type of disease. Most of these mutations are inherited.

Different Types Of Muscular Dystrophy

There are several types of muscular dystrophy, some of which are explained below:

• Duchenne muscular dystrophy

  It mostly affects boys between the ages of 2 and 3 years. Symptoms may include difficulty in running and jumping, learning disabilities, problems in getting up from a lying or sitting position, walking on toes, quick falls, stiffness, and pain in muscles.

• Becker muscular dystrophy

  This type of dystrophy is similar to Duchene muscular dystrophy, but it is less severe. It also occurs in boys at the ages of 11 and 25 years. Symptoms may include weakness in legs and arms, muscle cramps, difficulty in getting up from the floor, etc.

• Congenital muscular dystrophy

  It occurs between birth and the age of 2 years. They had shown symptoms like difficulty sitting and standing without support, vision problems, and scoliosis.

• Myotonic dystrophy

  Myotonic dystrophy is also called Steinert’s disease or dystrophia myotonica. Myotonic dystrophy is characterized by the inability of muscles to relax after they contract. It may affect various parts of the body, like the adrenal glands, heart, eyes, facial muscles, and the central nervous system. The usual onset is seen in age groups between the 20s and 30s. Symptoms are poor vision, difficulty swallowing, early baldness, problems in lifting the neck due to muscle weakness, weight loss, etc.

There are several types of muscular dystrophy, some of them are Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, congenital muscular dystrophy, and Myotonic dystrophy.

Ayurvedic Treatment For Muscular Dystrophy

Ayurveda offers effective treatment techniques for Muscular Dystrophy that helps in muscle growth and to improve the quality of life. The treatments can help to maintain a good range of motion for the entire joints in the body. The main treatments are as follow:

• Body Heating Therapy

  It is an important Ayurvedic method to treat Muscular Dystrophy. It boosts blood circulation, which then allows nutrients and oxygen to travel to joints and muscles. This circulation helps repair damaged muscles, relieves inflammation and pain, and improves back stiffness. The heat opens up the pores and removes body toxins through the sweat allowing the body to heal fast.

• Oleation Therapy

  It involves a full body massage done with Ayurveda medicated oils. It relieves pains and aches in the joints, by lubricating the same, improves blood circulation, and channelizes nerve endings.

• Medicated Enema Therapy

  This therapy involves an enema using medicated decoction. It aims to expel toxins from the body and is also helpful in fighting the symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy.

• Panchakarma

  Panchakarma is regarded as one of the most effective healing therapies in Ayurvedic medicines. It expels accumulated imbalanced substances called dosha and ama from all organs and systems of the body. The 5 Panchakarma therapies are:

• Vamana

  Here in the first stage, toxins are removed from the body by making you vomit.

• Virechana

  It helps to remove toxins from the body through the bowel. It is the administration of purgative substances for the cleansing of pitta through lower pathways.

• Bast

  Basti is the third stage which involves administering medicated substances such as herbal decoction, oils, milk, or ghee in your rectum to cleanse it. It is the most powerful treatment among the five.

• Nasya

  It helps to remove problems related to the head and shoulders. A light massage is given to the head and neck and a medicinal drop is administered through the nose.

• Raktamokshana

  It is an effective blood purification therapy, in which carefully controlled removal of small qualities of blood is conducted to neutralize accumulated Pitta toxins of many blood-borne diseases. It helps to cure problems related to impure blood.

Effective Ayurvedic treatments to cure Muscular Dystrophy are Body Heating Therapy, Oleation Therapy, Medicated Enema Therapy, and panchakarma therapy.

Diet Recommendations

Ayurveda recommends the below-mentioned diet to help control the symptoms of muscular dystrophy:

• Include in your diet good sources of protein and fiber.
• Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and dark green vegetables.
• Consuming a nutritious diet enriched with vitamins, amino acids, and herbs helps to reduce the condition.
• Avoid or reduce the use of red meat and trans fatty acids.
• Do not eat cake, cookies, crackers, French fries, onion rings,or other processed foods.
• Refrain from stimulants like coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and refined foods.

Lifestyle Recommendations For Muscular Dystrophy

The lifestyle changes to cure the condition are:

• Drink plenty of water daily (at least 8-10 glasses of water).
• Practice meditation and breathing exercises. It helps to improve oxygen at the cellular level, particularly in muscular tissue.
• Maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity. Stop smoking because it leads to respiratory problems.

Effective Yoga Asanas For Muscular Dystrophy

Gentle yoga asanas and breathing exercises help in strengthening the muscles, spine and helps to have good neuro-muscular fitness. Important ones are:

• Tadasana.
• Padahastasana.
• Trikonasana.
• Vakrasana.
• Relaxation.
• Paschimottanasana.
• Vakrasana.
• Shashankasana.
• Pawanmuktasana.
• Ardha Shalabhasana.

• Left nostril breathing.
• Right nostril breathing.
• Sitali or Sitkari.

Ayurvedic Herbs For Muscular Dystrophy

The herbs used for the treatment of Muscular Dystrophy are:

• Ashwagandha

  Ashwagandha has a property called an adaptogen, which helps in muscle strengthening and buildup of the body. So it acts as a magical effect on Muscular Dystrophy.

• Bala

  Bala, also known as Sida cordifolia or Country Mallow, is an effective Ayurvedic herb to treat muscular dystrophy. The meaning of Bala is strength. It is used to enhance the strength of bones, muscles, and joints and to increase the overall strength of the body.

• Guduchi

  Guduchi, also known as Giloy, helps to boost immunity, helps with autoimmune disorders, improves blood circulation, helps with joint disorders, and also helps to maintain metabolic health.

• Guggulu

  Guggul is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It acts as a natural blood cleanser and removes toxins from the body. It is an effective remedy for muscle cramps, stiffness, and inflammatory diseases of muscles.

• Musta

  Musta is used for treating digestive disorders. Another benefit is that it increases the absorption of minerals and vitamins from food and provides soothing and relaxing effects on the body.

• Gokshura

  Gokshura is an Ayurvedic herb most commonly known for its immunity-boosting, aphrodisiac, and rejuvenation properties. This herb helps increase libido in males by increasing testosterone levels in the body and also aids in strengthening the muscle.

• Arjuna

  Arjuna helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. It strengthens and tones the heart muscles and helps in the proper functioning of the heart.

• Brahmi

  This herb helps improve muscle mass and enhances the functions of nerves. It prevents oxidative damage to the muscle tissues and acts as an antioxidant.

The Ayurvedic herbs that are helpful for the treatment of Muscular Dystrophy are Aswagahandha, Bala, Guduchi, Guggulu, Musta, Gokshura, Arjuna, and Brahmi.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned information related to Muscular Dystrophy is taken from various Ayurvedic resources. Always take the advice of an Ayurvedic doctor before starting self-medication.