Realistic cure prospects for common diseases

AYURVEDA FOR THE PSYCHIC HEALTH CARE

Courtesy : The following experiences are indebted to my teacher and constant guide of psychiatry medicine

Dr. Parvathi Devi, B.A.M.S, Medical officer at the Govt Ayurveda Mental hospital, Kottakkal, Malapuram Dist. drmpp1@rediffmail.com Ph. 0494 - 2681284, 9447276834.


Kerala state holds the unique distinction of having the exclusively Ayurvedic mental hospital where a wide variety of psychic ailments are treated and cured well .The significance of such an institution lies in the fact that patients from national and international level reach there to seek treatments for their ailments and that includes even retired defence personnels who had a scarred psyche in battlefields.

Given the ground reality of immense stress of psychological origin among the the civilised population , the services of the psychiatric speciality of Ayurveda does assume profound importance at preventive, curative and promotive healthcare levels.

Its a common knowledge that Kerala special Panchakarma therapies and the “stress buster” therapies are immensely popular among and sought after by foreign nationals who are generally found to have high levels of mental stress. The outstanding results that are achieved by these therapies naturally ensure that these foreign nationals make regular yearly visits to the Ayurveda health resorts and hospitals of Kerala.

Dr. Parvathi Devi ,B.A.M.S ,Medical officer at the Govt Ayurved Mental hospital, Kottakkal, Malapuram Dist. drmpp1@rediffmail.com has profound experience in treating and curing the ailments of psychic origin and she has been kind enough to teach her experiences in good length to me.

The ailments are classified as per the World Health Organisation criteria of International Statistical classification of diseases and related health problems – ICD 10

The commonly encountered diseases , their treatment response time are mentioned.

Its to be borne in mind that treatments in psychiatry is a challenging aspect and the presence of various variables of etiology, non co-operation of the patient to undergo medications and therapies, denial of the patient to accept that he has an ailment, diverse triggering factors, variation of individual temperaments , circumstances back home and work place etc.. have an impact either way. Thus a specific and precise time duration of response to treatments will not be practically easy.

1. Organic Mental Disorders

Alzheimer’s disease

Mild severity cases - very well managed and immediate memory loss can be cured.

Moderate severity –restlessness can be managed effectively.

Severe cases – no change can be brought to the memory status but associated symptoms can be well controlled and subsided.

Bed ridden case- no hope.

Dementia

Multi infarct vascular dementia and subcortical vascular dementia – no hope-generally poor response.

If Parkinsonism is the etiology – response to treatments is mixed with half the patients responding well the remaining half not responding.

Immediate memory loss responds very well to treatments but remote memory loss has not so encouraging results.

Duration of the therapies – 3 weeks to 5 weeks – but varies from case to case.

2. Mental disorders due to habit forming substances and drug abuse

Very encouraging results are observed soon after the completion of Snehapaana. Withdrawal symptoms are also controlled very rapidly and almost all cases show very good results.

Duration 4 weeks.

3. Schizophrenia

This is characterized by delusions ( thought, emotions and behaviour) and hallucinations.

Halucinations that too auditory respond in the first 5 days itself very quickly to dhoomapana and dhoopana.

But delusions are difficult to be cured off.

Paranoid variety – very good improvement is observed.

Hebephrenic ,Catatonic variety – appreciatable improvement.

Residual variety with negative thoughts – very difficult to cure.

Persistent delusion disorders- much improvement is noted but it will be a bit unrealistic to claim cure for this.

Schizo affective disorder –good improvement is noted.

4. Mood disorder

Duration of treatments - minimum forty days.

This is related much to the emotional state of a person and has seasonal variations.

Manic episode – responds very effectively.

Bipolar – very good improvement noted.

Depressive episodes are generally tough to respond.

Persistent mood disorders respond very quickly to treatments.

Its noteworthy that if the treatments are repeated next year also before any major triggering factor of the disease happens , a lasting impact of the treatments (performed the previous year) is observed.

Its observed that the treatments have a definite strong positive impact on the patient and the recurrence of the ailment is delayed very effectively.

5. Neurotic & Stress related disorder.

Phobic anxiety disorder – treatments alone are not enough , psychotherapy is also needed.

Generalised anxiety disorder – good response to treatments.

Obsessive compulsive – treatment and counseling make a greater impact than mere medicines. Two weeks of thalapodichil gives good relief in mild to moderate cases.

Adjustment disorders and reaction to severe stress - treatment response is tough as the temperament and mental strength threshold varies just like the intensity of the physical or mental trauma. Anxiety can be well controlled by medicines but counseling is also required .

It’s a common incidence in many wars and battles and also specialized trainings of many elite training programs of the special forces all over the world to have such incidences. Indian armed forces is no exception to this.

Disassociative disorders – very good improvement in one month duration.

Disassociative Multiple personality disorder –good improvement is noted.

Somatoform pain disorder –is found in general practice also – mild cases respond very well in two weeks treatments like thalapodichil

6. Behavioural syndrome associated with psychological disturbances

Eating disorders –Anorexia responds well but no comments are available about Bulimia as no cases have been reported yet.

Non Organic sleep disorders – somnambulism, nightmares,hypersomnia are very well manged at the OPD level itself.

Sexual dysfunction – (that not caused by organic lesion) –lack of sexual desire, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, orgasmic dysfunction ,non organic dysparenunia ,excessive desire are encountered separately and some of them along with an established psychic ailment too.

Bark of araghwadha administered in decoction form for 2-3 weeks is found to be very effective in diminishing the excessive desire.

Most of these are treatable at OPD level and results are evident in 2- 3 weeks time along with counseling.

Mental disorders associated with purperium-

Mild cases respond very quickly to OPD level treatments and severe cases do so to IPD level treatments.

Generally 3- 4 weeks is the maximum duration of recovery.

Acute onset features usually show good prognosis.

Rarely some patients have slipped into the phase of psychotic disturbance which is generally tough to respond.

7. Disorders of adult personality and behaviour

Duration of treatment 4- 5 weeks

Specific personality disorders – very tough prognosis as the patient simply refuses to undergo treatment modalities.

Borderline personality disorder –very good results in two to three weeks by thalapodichil itself. They can continue with OPD level management .


Paranoid personality disorder – only partial relief is observed.

Habit and impulse disorders like Trichotillomania respond well to OPD level medications. But some other patients are not available for proper follow up.

Gender identity disorder – poor prognosis

Some male patients who show feminine features during the course of stay in the hospital get rid of such clinical features .

This compels to make a statement that temporary isolated events of such opposite gender identity are resolved well.

Disorders of sexual preference

Varied response ,cases of fetichism also respond if it happens to be a temporary isolated event.

8. Mental Retardation

There is no cure in Ayurveda.

Salivation will come down and associated signs and symptoms would also come down but overall prognosis is poor.

9. Disorders of psychological development

Generally tough prognosis and medications are required for months at OPD level.

Developmental disorders of speech and language – slight improvement is observed but not satisfactory enough.

Specific disorders of scholastic skill – some parents report an improvement in writing function of the children.

Autism and cerebral palsy - very appreciative improvements are observed and treatments of the duration of 3 weeks are required once in every six months for three years and profound improvement in the physical and emotional functions are clearly noted. Speech becomes much clear and the higher mental functions slowly but surely become better and better.

Interestingly enough, such is the positive impact of treatments to the child that parents of Cerebral palsy and Autism patients make sure of their half yearly visits to hospital of their own without being reminded of it .

Kerala Ayurveda physicians witness lot of such patients from other parts of India and abroad.

10. Behavioural and emotional disorder with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence.

ADHD – Attention deficit hyperactive disorder –
responds very well to 3 weeks of treatments and medication- followed by medications for months or even years depending upon the co existence of cerebral palsy or autism in the child.

It has been found very regularly that clinical features of ADHD, autism and cerebral palsy co exist in the same patient at a given time .

The response is very good results keeping in mind that other system of medicine do not seem to have any cure for this.

Conduct disorder- tough prognosis.

Emotional disorders – treatable with high success rate.

Non organic aneurosis – can be controlled by medicines to a good extent.

Pica tendency – can be controlled by 2- 4 weeks of medication.

Its noteworthy that mental healthcare of poulation is significant.


VISHA CHIKITSA PRACTICE IN KERALA - AYURVEDIC TOXICOLOGY

I owe this article to my friend

: Sri. Brahmadathan Namboodiri, Ullnoor Mana, Thrissur dist.
anudathanu@gmail.com, Ph. 0487 - 2261222, 9388847128

This has been and still continues to be speciality with emergency medical care.The range of conditions that are cured are wide and the response time is the quickest as they are life saving measures.

I have spend time learning this speciality with traditional Vaidyas who still possess clinical acumen to manage life threatening critical situations.

The scope of this lies not only in snake bite case but also in various toxicology condition of the North East Indian jungles were the troops are in lot of hardship due to poisonous flies, mosquitoes and insects bites that are characteristic of dampy , marshy jungle terrains. Even diseases of allergic nature, non healing ulcers caused due to even viper bites are very well managed.

Its noteworthy that these physicians are generally approached after all other systems of medicine have been tried out with no satisfactory results.

Each case of snake bite is unique. The venom targets the weakness in the body physiology of the victim and attacks it. Russels viper bite usually presents with symptoms like severe burning pain in the bite area which usually spreads to other areas, oedema, weakness in the limbs, severe bleeding etc.

The Ayurvedic clinical management of snake bite can be broadly divided into two.

1. Emergency management.

2. Continued medical evaluation and management.

Emergency Management

The first and foremost aim of an Ayurvedic toxicologist is to manage the emergency and stop the further development of pathology which may present the risk of the patient slipping into a coma, systemic failure and ultimately, death. Ayurveda bases its diagnosis and therapeutics on the theory of three humors and it is thus very important for the physician to find out which of the three humors or their combinations have been vitiated. A very bitter tasting drug is pasted on a betel leaf and given to the patient to chew and he is asked to report the taste experienced. It is noted that tastes like sour and even sweet are experienced by victims of snake bites. Based on this, the further development of pathology can be guessed by the physician and needed measures can be adopted. A number of drugs are also given as per the specific diagnosis. If the patient is unconscious or his response to stimuli are dropping, specific therapeutic measures like nasal medications, Anjana( applications in the eye) are adopted to bring the patient back to consciousness.

Once the patient is stabilized and out of the emergency, the stage of continued medical evaluation and management is commenced.

Continued medical evaluation and management

This stage involves with the various therapeutic procedures to counter the systemic and local symptoms which are of lesser severity and is not of direct risk to the life of the patient. Symptoms such as pain, continued bleeding, stupor, weakness, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty in micturition etc are managed by the spectrum of medicines and therapeutic procedures explained in the traditional texts of Ayurveda and toxicology.

Usually this stage lasts for one week in the case of Krait or Cobra bites, but in the case of Viper bites, this can extend to 90 days as the symptoms have a greater chance of relapsing by even a slight transgression from Pathya or dietary and habitual regimens prescribed by the physician. Medicines are prescribed to alleviate the associated symptoms such as oedema, ulcers, body pain and weakness etc.

Viper bites are usually associated with non-healing ulcers. These usually need medications ranging from 4 weeks to 12 weeks for complete healing. A number of such non healing ulcer cases present to the VISHA CHIKITSA practitioners of Kerala [notable among them are ULLANOOR MANA Vaidya Valloor Sankaran Namboodiri is a very experienced physician of this speciality Smti Vimala Antarjanam, Brahmadattan Namboodiripad , Trissur district, AVANAPARAMPU MANA Shri. Maheshwaran Namboodiripad, Ph : 04884-232910, Trissur & Manmathan Vaidyan in Nilamboor, Ph. 9446247902 Malapurram Dist.]

Some of the non - healing ulcers are 3-4 years chronic and they achieve a complete recovery by Ayurvedic medication within a time span of three months. This is mainly due to Ayurveda’s stress on correcting the impaired body physiology of the patient rather than on the administration of antibiotics which only serve to kill the microbes which infect the immunologically compromised tissues.

A lot of systemic complications can also develop due to venomous snake bites. One of the most common among them is the renal failure commonly developed in the viper bites. An interesting case was presented at Ullannoor Mana a couple of years back, where a young Christian boy was brought straight from a modern allopathic hospital. He had been bitten by a Russels viper 72 days back. A massive dose of Antivenom had saved the boy from immediate fatality, but soon after the bite he had developed renal failure. The doctors had certified that he had severely necrosed kidneys and was in need of immediate transplant of at least one kidney, which due to the financial constraints the family was unable to afford.

The presenting complaints were severe vomiting. The boy was unable to have any solid or liquid food owing to the severe vomiting and was surviving on fluids. He was severely emaciated and there was hardly any micturition.

Ayurvedic treatments were commenced soon after and after a period of three months of strict dietary and habitual regimen and medicines, he recovered completely. Modern laboratory tests revealed the normal functioning of kidneys and the now healthy individual co operates full time in his family profession. It is worthy to investigate further the role of Ayurvedic treatments in the management of such serious and life threatening complications which can develop even independently.

Some of the other cases that present at these VISHACHIKITSA centres are poisonous spider bites, bites of millipedes, wasp and bee stings and other insect bites including those of the millipedes. Usually in a clinical scenario, these are very commonly misdiagnosed as mere allergic reactions and are treated accordingly. It is a common scenario at these centres to have patients who have not responded to such allopathic treatments and when treated for their actual cause 95% of the patients respond well within a couple of days.

Skin diseases are also very common in these clinics for which treatments have worked well within a very short period of time, where modern treatments have failed to produce any result even by prolonged durations. It is experience of Ayurvedic physicians of Kerala that cases of eczema, fungal infections, skin diseases due to other metabolic disorders like Psoriasis respond well to Ayurvedic treatments. Since the treatments for poisons are also dependant on the humoral triad of Ayurveda, they can be easily adopted in any conditions of similar humoral vitiation, even when there has been no direct involvement of a poisonous substance in the development of the presenting pathology. It has an added advantage that, most of the treatments for poisons have been designed with the time factor in mind, most of these treatments can be directly adapted to the modern clinical scenario where time required for healing of diseases is of prime importance owing to the new economical challenges that the new millennium poses.

Realistic cure prospects for common diseases

ORTHOPEDICS SPECIALITY TREATMENTS OF KERALA AYURVEDA

The following informations are indebted to my teachers -under whom I learned the Orthopedic speciality

Dr. Sreekandan Nair, M.D.(Ayu) Ph. 0471 - 2465644 / 2460557, HOD of Shalya Tantra department,
Dr. Sivakumar C.S. M.D. ( Ayu) Ph. 9447389253, Reader, Dept. of Shalya Tantra, Govt. Ayurveda College Hospital, Trivandrum.

Its a common trend in any society to have medical problems related to orthopedics and sports injuries. Even though not life threatening in nature , the injuries induced lead to considerable morbidity and disability to the people affects their morale .
Many of them are subjected to office works instead of real active field duties thus causing loss to the functional capabilities of the organisations they serve.

Many are left out with residual injuries which severly effect their carieer.

The following conditions are applicable to most people

1. Simple fractures, joint injuries without fracture –

70 -90 % of cure is possible

Special bandages soaked in Murivenna for 3 weeks duration is very effective. The average time period for effective cure are mentioned below

Ankle joint ligament injury – 2 weeks

Knee joint medial and lateral collateral ligament -1month

Shoulder joint dislocation and injuries -3 weeks

2. Fractures needing operative reductions with nail, screw or plate.

If they can continue in active duty, the injuries would be manageable and Ayurvedic treatment methodologies of taila dhara,maatravasthi, kativasthi etc.

are found to have much remarkable results than mere physiotherapy . Flexibilty is attained and so is the neuro muscular strength.

Duration - one month of therapies with sufficient rest and internal medications

In severe case that would necessitate termination from service, therapies with duration of 1-3 months wil be required.

3. Head injury resulting to Quadriplegia ,Hemiplegia.

Generally 3 months duration is required and is found to have much better results than physiotherapy.

4. Tendon and ligament injuries

Related to - shoulder, elbow ,wrist, knee, ankle

Minimum one month is required .

This is the better option compared to the usage of steroids which do not promote regeneration of the injured tissues.


5. Osteoarthrosis of spine, knee ,ankle secondary to injury or fracture

Treatments and medications over a span of 3 weeks and medications for another 3-4 months yield about 95 % cure in such patients.

Further degeneration to the joints is surely arrested and enhanced mobility and power to the joints is attained.

6. Meniscus injury second degree – is curable

7. Patellar fracture – One and half months

8. Joint stiffness in the joints with nails implanted in open reduction –
responds very much better with increased mobility in 2 -3 weeks duration itself.

9. Ribcage fracture – in the absence of any thoracic cavity injury – ie. fracture with hematoma

Ayurveda has a better management , cure in a span of 3- 6 weeks


10. Fistula – in –ano

Kshara sootra is the ultimate sure shot treatment modality that has complete cure depending upon the chronicity and extent of the fistula.

15 cms long fistula tract - 3 to 6 months required for total cure.

5 cms long fistula tract – 1month required for total cure.


11. Dislocation of joints

Ayurvedic management aims at analgesics and joint stability bandages for 3 weeks and specialized massage techniques .

It has been found that various modern medicine doctors regularly refer such cases to the Govt. OPD for obvious reasons.

There is greater strength and stability gain in the joints with bandages and application of herbal pastes.

These techniques and medications were and still are used in the martial arts tradition of Kerala.

12. Wedge compression fracture of thoracic vertebra - that does not require operative reduction.
Bandage and rest and medications for 4 -8 weeks ensures greater flexibility.




CLINICAL PRACTICE OF OPHTHALMOLOGY - KERALA SPECIAL TREATMENTS


The following informations are indebted to the best Ayurvedic opthalmologist in Kerala

1. Dr P K Santakumari , M.D ( Ayu),
Head of the Department – Shalakya Tantra,
Govt . Ayurveda College , Trivandrum
pksanthakumari@rediffmail.com
Ph : 0471 - 2731352, 9387734578

and also to my friend

2. Dr. Jomon Joseph Daniel, PG Scholar
Govt. Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram
drjomonjoseph@yahoo.co.in
Ph : 9446993260

The stress nature of office type jobs are finding its place in any organization . Long hours spent in front of the computer systems, computer vision syndrome etc are finding its place among many individuals.

Eye healthcare is an important arena that can be earmarked for preventive and curative aspects.

Ophthalmology physicians of Kerala Ayurveda have developed their own special medicines and treatment methodologies regarding the preventive and curative healthcare of most of the disorders of eye.

Dr. Santakumari is the most sought after ophthalmology specialist in the Ayurveda circles of Kerala with about three decades of experience in ophthalmology practice.

The following clinical conditions are just few of the cases that regularly come across in her clinical experience in the Ayurveda college hospitals of Kerala.

1. Sinusitis- acute phase-

Nasal drops of special herbs relieve the pain and congestion within one to 3 hours.

2. Migraine

Application of "talam" – medicated oil or paste over bregma ensures quick pain relief in 15 -30 minutes.

3. Acute management of cerebral hemorrhage – not possible.

4. Management of arterial block – not possible.

5. Residual impact of the above two conditions – possible.

6. Acute congestive glaucoma –

Immediate pain relief by leech application .This ensures the results as good as an injection.


7. Eyestrain

Sekam and talam makes it possible to provide relief with in hours.

8. Corneal abrasion

Due to foreign body, severe burns , trauma – poor prognosis.

Durva ghritham is found very effective for topical application.

9. Corneal ulcers – shata shuklam

Symptomatic relief is very much possible the same day, for healing5 to 20 days are required depending upon the intensity of lesion.

Corneal opacity that is mild – curable by Ayurveda.

It’s a regular experience that by Ayurvedic treatments of topical application and internal medications in a corneal ulcer, chances of opacity become very minimal.

Corneal ulcer secondary to infection – poor prognosis - Ayurvedic measures do not help.

Corneal opacity that is dense – poor prognosis – Ayurveda can not manage.

10. Stye – anjana pitaka

Parasurgical measure like I &D.

11. Blepharitis -pillam

Total cure in 7 days time. For some patients there are chances of recurrence.

12. Follicular conjunctivitis- sikatha varthmam

Ayurvedic management ensures very less chances of recurrence.

Immediate response to the treatment done.

13. Conjuctival infections – uthklishtam,kardama varthmam

Response time 5- 15 days by sekam ,ashchotanam etc.

14. Madrosis –pakshma shatam

Leeching followed by anjanam.

15. Ptosis , Blepherospasm – vatha hatam

Ayurveda is the best choice as there are no side effects like steroids.

Needs course of treatment for a month.

16. Pterigyium – armam

Surgery the best option.

It is possible to avoid the recurrence with the help of special Anjanas for two months duration that are very effectively employed in treatments.


17. Scleritis , Episcleritis

Modern medicine has better management.

18. Dry Eye

A very common ever increasing ailment .

Unlike the modern medicine’s artificial eye drops that have side effects in the long run, Ayurvedic approach is more on the systemic lines and offer better results.

Course of treatment of 3 weeks each twice a year is required for substantial cure.

19. Blood vessels spreading like in the cornea – sirashuklam

Intensity of the condition can be surely reduced by jalooka / leech therapy.

20. Cataract

Ayurveda is helpful in very early stage but practically not much patients would be available for such a follow up.

Modern medicine has a better role in this.

21. Macular oedema

In 3 weeks of duration of treatments appreciatble level of cure is achieved and further recurrences can surely be reduced.

22. Retinal hemorrhage

This condition can be arrested by 15 - 45 days of treatment.

23. Diabetic retinopathy

Ayurveda treatments are found to be better in Background affected retinopathy.

Similar is the matter with hemorrhage, leakage ,exudates – these three can be arrested much better by Ayurveda.

Proliferative retinopaty - poor prognosis in Ayurveda.

24. Glaucoma

Signs and symptoms can be surely controlled and the clinical entity maintained with out problems for a long period.

Closed angle glaucoma – nothing can be done by any means.

25. Retinal detachment

Partial detachment is well responding to Ayurvedic treatments of one month with medicines as follow up.

Total detachment – impossible by Ayurveda .

Its note worthy that selection of head oil is very important regarding diseases of the eye.

26. Degenerative diseases.

These are the areas in which modern science has nothing significant to offer but Ayurveda can surely enhance the quality of life .

27. Macular degeneration –

Ayurvedic management is found to have much better positive impact on the prognosis of the disease.

28. Retinitis Pigmentosa

Further degeneration can be surely arrested whereas the previous damaged cells cannot be regenerated. Enormous importance is attached to food & life style for palliative care of the desease.



OPHTHAlMOLOGY & ENT - Practice in Kerala Ayurveda

Couresty

Dr. Jomon Joseph Daniel, drjomonjoseph@yahoo.co.in

1. External hordeolum or stye - Anjana pitaka

An easily treatable condition and responds well within a few days treatment. In recurring cases, deworming, refractive error correction – if any, may be needed.

2. Chalazion - Laganam

Very good prognosis. Treatable through internal medications and a minor surgical procedure as explained in Ayurvedic classics.

3. Episcleritis and scleritis

The different stages of this disease are beautifully explained in Ayurvedic classical texts and are entitled as separate diseases as sirolpatha, siraharsha, sirajala – all of which are curable with 1 – 2 months of treatment.

4. Sub conjunctival haemorrhage - Arjunam

Can be cured within 5 to 10 days. Installation of a special eye drops is described in this context.

5. Pterigyon - Armam

Surgical and post surgical management are well explained and is now practiced in Ayurveda colleges. Recurrence rate in very low.

6. Different stages of cataract.

Explained as thimiram, Kachams, linganasam. Duration of medication depends on the stage and chronicity of the disease. Modern surgery is the best option in chronic cases.

7. Conjunctivitis - Amloshitha

Easily curable with local and internal medications with in a few days.

8. Pan ophthalmitis - Akshipakathyayam

Vision may not be always preserved by treatment. But complications that lead to evisceration or dissemination of infection can be very well managed / prevented.


9. Deafness - Badirathwam

Treatment methods, duration and prognosis depends on the cause, duration etc.

10. Tinnitus - Karnanadam

Curable with local and internal medication.

11. Suppurative otitis conditions

Poothikarnam, Karnapakam

Very good result yielding conditions. Ayurvedic treatment procedures are found to activate healing of membrane rupture rapidly and conditions were gromet insertion was advised have responded very well.

12. Conditions of wax impaction and its complications - Karnaprathinaham

Easily curable within 2 weeks (maximum).

13. Allergic / vasomotor rhinorrhoea - Brisa Kshavarogam

Some times responds immediately but usually needs a long duration treatment of two months for complete results.

14. Chronic / hypertrophic rhinitis - Dustha prathi syayam

A treatable condition, needs long duration management of at least six weeks.

15. Nasal polyp - Nasarsas

Responds very well to local drug application / minor surgical procedures.

16. Stomatitis - Mukhapakam

A very easily treatable condition. But in chronic and recurrent cases there is need to rule out some underlying pathology and can be treated for it. Usually responds well within 1- 2 months treatment.

17. Trigeminal neuralgia - Anantavatam

A tough prognosis disease to be brought under control. Curable but recurrence rate is quite high.


18. Migraine / Vascular headache - Sooryavartham

Usually not completely curable, but can be managed well and can reduce the recurrence rate. Some physicians opine its curable & recurrence is rare for many patients.


19. Various forms of headaches (tension headache etc) Vathika, Paithika and kaphaja sirasoola etc.

Treatment depends mainly on the causative / provocative factors and clinical features. Success rate is high.

20. Alopecia areata - Indraluptha

Yields very good results. Hair growth is regained within 20 – 35 days.

21. Tonsilitis - Thundikeri

Curable in the initial as well as chronic stages.

22. Dental caries

In Ayurvedic texts, the different stages of this are explained as separate diseases and the initial stages as Seethadanta, danta harsha etc – if managed at this stage, further progress can be arrested.
But the last stage is Krimidantha & has to be extracted.

23. Myopia

Clinical features and treatment are explained in the context of drishti rogas. Even myopias with high refractive errors respond well to internal medications, local treatment procedures, eye exercises etc.

Some may need repeated treatment schedules at intervals of six months.

24. Opthalmia neonatorum - Kukoonakam

Effective treatment options against local / systemic steroid therapy which has widespread immediate and late complications are explained in Ayurvedic classics.

Realistic cure prospects for common diseases

44. VARICOSE VEINS

Response to medicine is the best in cases not more that 2 yrs chronic and those with no hereditary predisposition.

3 weeks of medications, special bandages and life style modifications give substantial relief but structural changes remain the same- the bulging of the veins remain unchanged.

By 2- 6 months of medications the complications of varicose vein can surely be avoided.

Yoga posture Paschimottasana is very effective for its management.

45. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Surgery can be surely avoided.

3 weeks of medications provide profound relief.

Symptomatic relief is obtained in the very first week .

Some patients of Rheumatoid arthritis and Hypothyroidism present this and respond well on being treated for that.

External application of medicated oil is very much essential.

46. PERIARTHRITIS

One month sufficient for total cure. For diabetic patients 4- 6 weeks is required.

Substantial relief in half month duration with increased mobility is reported.

Physiotherapy is avoided for the first ten days of external therapies. Oil application in the initial stages flares up the pain.

47. TENO SYNOVITIS.

Two weeks of medication and external treatment modalities are sufficient for 90 % relief .

48. HERNIA –INGUINAL

Generally tough to respond in nature – Symptomatic relief is found but cure remains elusive as surgery is the best option.

49. VARICOSE ULCER

Very tough prognosis but responds to medications and topical applications in 6-8 weeks time.

Chances of recurrence are always high.

50. CELLULITIS

Cure in seven days time. Signs and symptoms receed down in three days time though.

Medications and topical applications necessary.

51. ABSCESS -

Medications vary according to the nature of abscess.

In the early stages, Raktha moksha done by Jalooka ( leech therapy) brings down 80 % of infection in two days time even in abscess of pyogenic arthritis .Drainage of the abscess can be achieved in the very second day.

Special care is taken for treating abscess of the ear, inguinal and perianal region.

52. WARTS

Curable except the genital warts.

Agnikarma – choice of treatment.

53. DIABETIC GANGRENE

Variable success.

Symptomatic relief starts in the first week itself.

Medications and treatments are required for 2 – 3 months with the strict diet pattern and IPD level observation is compulsory.

Success rate is 70 % as most of the cases could avoid amputation at the level of knee joint but auto amputation of the toes occur during the course of the treatment but does not get infective beyond the localized region.

In most cases, amputation can be avoided.

54. TAO – THROMBO ANGITIS OBLITERANS

Symptomatic relief in the first three days itself is possible .

Medications are required for 2 – 6 months.

55. NON HEALING ULCERS

Very effective management and cure is available and varies according to the cause.

Ideally 3 – 6 weeks are required for cure .

Even bed sores in coma patients do respond very well in 2 weeks time without any help of antibiotics and without further spread.

Special food pattern is of utmost importance with internal medications.

56. CORNS

Cure in three weeks by external application.

In seven days of local application, the mass bursts open with pain and pus formation. Another two weeks filling of Jaatyadi ghrita does the healing.

The treatment is painful and needs good co operation of the patient.

57. SCOLIOSIS

Secondary scoliosis responds well to special methods of massage.

3 months minimum duration is required for near total cure.

Realistic cure prospects for common diseases

31. RENAL CALCULUS

Calculi up to 7mm are surely curable whereas those with 8mm and even 9mm also respond with success over a period of 6 to 12 weeks .

But medications need to be continued for about 6 months to prevent recurrence of the calculi .

Uric acid stones do not respond much to medications whereas calcium oxalates and phosphates are surely curable in a span of 2-4 months.

32. MIGRAINE

This is curable by medications for 1-6 months and external oil applications over head for the same duration . Some respond in below one month duration also.

Most get total cure in one year and do not show recurrence whereas some need two years to attain such a state.

Recurrence can surely be delayed and most often avoided for at least two years.

33. SINUSITIS

Chronic sinusitis is manageable if chronicity is of above 2 years. Some respond in one month of medication.

Sure cure is possible for sinusitis that is not more than two years chronic.

Medications for 3 months will be required for some for cure .

Even hyposmia cases can be managed by medications and localized treatments.

Anosmia does not respond to Ayurveda medications.

34. EPILEPSY

Petit Mal is manageable with 4 -6 months of medication.

Epilepsy that is devoid of etiology of space occupying lesions, devoid of TB, and those with akinetic seizure and temporal lobe epilepsy are treatable and brought under control in 4- 6 months duration.

Epilepsy in children is curable and so is for the teenage group of patients by medications for about 6 months .

Febrile fits found mostly in children are curable by 3 months medication.

Tonic clonic and grandmal seizures are not curable by Ayurveda.

35. PSORIASIS

Curable but chances of recurrence always depend upon the diet restriction and modification and stress elements of the patient.

Treatments for 3 weeks and medications for 3 -5 months are required for very severe chronic cases of over 10 years in which the lesion sizes are as large as even 18cms to 25cms .

Guttate psoriasis, isolated scalp psoriasis are curable.

Nail changes can be reversed and made better in a span of 60 days.

In psoriatic arthritis the symptoms and signs can be totally controlled but some patients show relapse after one year.

It has been noticed that Ayurvedic food habits and stress have a major role in deciding the healing.

Treatments are required continuously for 3 years –once a year basis-at a fixed time for a duration of 2- 3 weeks in genetically prone cases. This is seen to have delayed the recurrence for as long as five years.

36. URTICARIA

Cure by 3 weeks medication.

There is a relation between food patterns and the flare up of this disease.

Some severe cases with vomiting and breathing difficulties also respond very quickly.

37. ECZEMA

Dry variety is tougher ( than the wet variety ) to be cured and is curable if the chronicity is less than 2 yrs.

Duration of medication for cure is at least 3months.

Weeping eczema responds very remarkably to medicines in the first ten days itself, new fine layer of skin is formed in the span of one and half months.

Duration of medication – less than three months.

38. HERPES

Self resolving mostly yet 3 weeks of medications are required .

Post herpetic neuralgia is generally tough to respond to medications and requires at least 6 months to obtain 70 % relief .

Cure remains elusive in most cases.

39. HEMORRHOIDS

First and second degree piles are curable . Medication is required for at least 4 – 6 weeks by which symptoms are totally eradicated .

By 3 – 4months the pile mass shrinks off very substantially.

Third degree prolapsed piles is surgical and intervention by Ksharasootra is the best option.

Bleeding variety responds faster than the non bleeding variety. Some severe cases respond within 4 – 5 doses of medicine.

Some carcinomas are found to mimic as bleeding piles in their presentation .

40. FILARIASIS

Acute case is curable in 3- 6 weeks duration.

Elephentiasis and filariasis of one year chronicity is not curable.

41. BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA

Some patients do not respond whereas a good majority report notable symptomatic relief in the span of one month of medication. Thus cure remains elusive.

Patients with PSA levels above 10 do not respond to medicines generally.

42. HEMANGIOMA

Response is found within 2 weeks and substantial cure in one month duration

43. TENNIS ELBOW

Generally curable and requires low dosage medicine for minimum 3 – to maximum 6 months with special bandages with herbal pastes.

External application of medicines are more important than internal medications alone.

44. VARICOSE VEINS

Response to medicine is the best in cases not more that 2 yrs chronic and those with no hereditary predisposition.

3 weeks of medications, special bandages and life style modifications give substantial relief but structural changes remain the same- the bulging of the veins remain unchanged.

Realistic cure prospects for common diseases

31. RENAL CALCULUS

Calculi up to 7mm are surely curable whereas those with 8mm and even 9mm also respond with success over a period of 6 to 12 weeks .

But medications need to be continued for about 6 months to prevent recurrence of the calculi .

Uric acid stones do not respond much to medications whereas calcium oxalates and phosphates are surely curable in a span of 2-4 months.

32. MIGRAINE

This is curable by medications for 1-6 months and external oil applications over head for the same duration . Some respond in below one month duration also.

Most get total cure in one year and do not show recurrence whereas some need two years to attain such a state.

Recurrence can surely be delayed and most often avoided for at least two years.

33. SINUSITIS

Chronic sinusitis is manageable if chronicity is of above 2 years. Some respond in one month of medication.

Sure cure is possible for sinusitis that is not more than two years chronic.

Medications for 3 months will be required for some for cure .

Even hyposmia cases can be managed by medications and localized treatments.

Anosmia does not respond to Ayurveda medications.

34. EPILEPSY

Petit Mal is manageable with 4 -6 months of medication.

Epilepsy that is devoid of etiology of space occupying lesions, devoid of TB, and those with akinetic seizure and temporal lobe epilepsy are treatable and brought under control in 4- 6 months duration.

Epilepsy in children is curable and so is for the teenage group of patients by medications for about 6 months .

Febrile fits found mostly in children are curable by 3 months medication.

Tonic clonic and grandmal seizures are not curable by Ayurveda.

35. PSORIASIS

Curable but chances of recurrence always depend upon the diet restriction and modification and stress elements of the patient.

Treatments for 3 weeks and medications for 3 -5 months are required for very severe chronic cases of over 10 years in which the lesion sizes are as large as even 18cms to 25cms .

Guttate psoriasis, isolated scalp psoriasis are curable.

Nail changes can be reversed and made better in a span of 60 days.

In psoriatic arthritis the symptoms and signs can be totally controlled but some patients show relapse after one year.

It has been noticed that Ayurvedic food habits and stress have a major role in deciding the healing.

Treatments are required continuously for 3 years –once a year basis-at a fixed time for a duration of 2- 3 weeks in genetically prone cases. This is seen to have delayed the recurrence for as long as five years.

36. URTICARIA

Cure by 3 weeks medication.

There is a relation between food patterns and the flare up of this disease.

Some severe cases with vomiting and breathing difficulties also respond very quickly.

37. ECZEMA

Dry variety is tougher ( than the wet variety ) to be cured and is curable if the chronicity is less than 2 yrs.

Duration of medication for cure is at least 3months.

Weeping eczema responds very remarkably to medicines in the first ten days itself, new fine layer of skin is formed in the span of one and half months.

Duration of medication – less than three months.

38. HERPES

Self resolving mostly yet 3 weeks of medications are required .

Post herpetic neuralgia is generally tough to respond to medications and requires at least 6 months to obtain 70 % relief .

Cure remains elusive in most cases.

39. HEMORRHOIDS

First and second degree piles are curable . Medication is required for at least 4 – 6 weeks by which symptoms are totally eradicated .

By 3 – 4months the pile mass shrinks off very substantially.

Third degree prolapsed piles is surgical and intervention by Ksharasootra is the best option.

Bleeding variety responds faster than the non bleeding variety. Some severe cases respond within 4 – 5 doses of medicine.

Some carcinomas are found to mimic as bleeding piles in their presentation .

40. FILARIASIS

Acute case is curable in 3- 6 weeks duration.

Elephentiasis and filariasis of one year chronicity is not curable.

41. BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA

Some patients do not respond whereas a good majority report notable symptomatic relief in the span of one month of medication. Thus cure remains elusive.

Patients with PSA levels above 10 do not respond to medicines generally.

42. HEMANGIOMA

Response is found within 2 weeks and substantial cure in one month duration

43. TENNIS ELBOW

Generally curable and requires low dosage medicine for minimum 3 – to maximum 6 months with special bandages with herbal pastes.

External application of medicines are more important than internal medications alone.

44. VARICOSE VEINS

Response to medicine is the best in cases not more that 2 yrs chronic and those with no hereditary predisposition.

3 weeks of medications, special bandages and life style modifications give substantial relief but structural changes remain the same- the bulging of the veins remain unchanged.