Stroke Management in Ayurveda

When there is a sudden stoppage of brain activity because of the improper flow of blood to the brain, it causes a stroke. It is often followed by paralysis of a side of the body that is opposite to the side of the brain where the activity had stopped. There are two types of stroke, which are hemorrhagic and ischemic. The former is caused by the rupture of blood vessels while the latter kind is caused by the blockage of blood vessels. Either way, the proper flow of blood to the brain is interrupted, forcing the brain to shut down its activities eventually leading to paralysis. Paralysis can affect the face, hands, legs, and the whole side of an individual depending on its intensity. It might also lead to inability or difficulty to speak as well.

What are the main causes of stroke?

There is a wide range of symptoms that lead to stroke and some of the most prominent ones among them are as listed below:

• High blood pressure

• Stress

• Unhealthy lifestyle

• Improper diet

• Diabetes Mellitus

• Atrial fibrillation

• High cholesterol

• Atherosclerosis

Some other factors which can increase the chances of stroke are as given below:

• If you are overweight, chances are that your body is trying really hard to maintain its normal functions. Obesity causes additional diseases like high cholesterol and high blood sugar levels which eventually causes damage to the blood vessels of the brain and heart, leading to stroke at times.

• Hormone therapies which include estrogen can also lead to a higher risk of stroke. The increased presence of estrogen can cause the thickening of blood in some cases, which may increase the chance for the occurrence of stroke.

• Smoking, be it active or passive, can lead to stroke in certain cases. People who smoke will have a lower level of oxygen in their blood and continuous smoking can also lead to an increase in blood pressure, which speeds up the process of stroke.

What are the common symptoms of a stroke?

Stroke takes place suddenly and if an individual has any one or all of the below-explained symptoms, he/she might be experiencing a stroke:

• Trouble in understanding what is being said and problems in speaking properly.

• An individual may have trouble seeing through either one of the eyes or both of them.

• Sudden loss of balance leads to an inability to walk properly.

• A feeling of numbness on the legs, arms, or face of either one side of the body.

How to treat Stroke naturally?

When we look at a stroke from an ayurvedic point of view, it is considered a disease that is a result of the Vatha Kopa. It occurs when the Vata dosha gets vitiated and occupies the vacant spaces of the body, which in turn affects the tendons, ligaments, and vesicles of one side of the body. Some of the most effective ayurvedic methods to cure stroke are:

1. Panchakarma

The treatment is proven to be quite effective for treating paralysis as Panchakarma treatment removes the harmful toxins from the body with the help of different kinds of massages and treatments. There are five different kinds of Panchakarma treatments, namely Vamana, Virechana, Vasi, Nasya, and Rakthamoksha. By performing them on specific days in the right manner, individuals are getting a complete rejuvenation experience, leading to an increase in their overall well-being and a decrease in the disease.

2. Ayurvedic herbs and concoctions

There are a lot of ayurvedic herbs that are used in the treatment of stroke, namely Brahmi, ashwagandha, rasna, rasona and eranda. Some other famous medicines used in the treatment of stroke include Balarishta, Dasamoolarishta, Mahavatavidwamsana, Sacharadi Kashaya, and Saraswathaarishta. All of these medicines aim at treating particular areas of the body, causing effective results in bringing down the impact of stroke.

3. Lifestyle changes

One of the key suggestions that are recommended in Ayurveda is to make positive lifestyle changes. Give more emphasis to what you put inside your body. Include fruits like pomegranate and papaya. Also, increase the fiber consumption by focusing on foods that offer the same. Decrease the intake of foods that contain a high amount of spice and oil as well.

Apart from all these natural ways for stroke management, one is advised to seek the expert guidance of a physician for the effective management and treatment of stroke.