Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Ayurveda treatment

MS is a progressive, chronic, degenerative illness that affects the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. This is expressed as intermittent damage to myelin - a fatty substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers and facilitates the conduction of nerve impulse transmissions - caused by the destruction of specialized cells that form the myelin.
This causes scarring and hardening (sclerosis) of nerve fibers usually in the spinal cord, brain stem, and optic nerves -which slows nerve impulses and results in weakness, numbness, pain, and vision loss.

Symptoms
MS often expresses by affecting different nerves at different times, improving in one place to appear elsewhere.
Symptoms include weakness, vision disturbance, Motor disturbance, sensory disturbance, Pain,loss of coordination and dizziness, Bowel, Bladder and Sexual Symptoms, sleep disorders ,cognitive disorders and many more

Managing MS with Ayurveda

In ayurveda we like to avoid characterizing or placing a label to a person, sometimes this can become a form of ego identification in which a patient can identify with the disease in order to define themselves, this often can become a barrier to wellness. So weather you have the illness or not, the first thing you need to work on is not define or identify yourself with the illness.
Treatment of MS according to Ayurveda would be a long basis of treatment aimed at allaying the state and halting the progress of the illness, in addition a total rebalancing of the body and bringing it back to health would be essential.

The illness results in an autoimmune situation that often compromises the patients health, making them susceptible to easy infection.

There is strong evidence to suggest that a this illness is at least a good deal partly due to chronic depletion of a substance in ayurveda called Ojas, for those of you familiar with traditional Chinese medicine, - this would equate to Jing in addition it would seem that cross dosha aggravation is also at play –Vata Pitta and Kapha all disturbed, the primary aggravator would be Vata- these are the symptoms of Vata Aggravation:
• insomnia
• pain
• headaches
• constipation
• anxiety, worry and fear
• fatigue
• dry or rough skin
• poor digestion
• underweight
• heightened sensitivity

Ms seems to be a combination of toxic load(ama) poor digestion –and the presence of accumulated stress all leading to a general decline in immune response and functioning.
Ojas on its own is a massive subject but I will briefly touch upon this sublime ayurveda concept.
“Ojas is a Sanskrit word which literally means "vigor or Shakti which means Energy". According to the principles of Ayurveda , it is the essential energy of the body and when sufficient it is equated with immunity and, when deficient, results in weakness, fatigue, immune system related disorders like cancer, Crohns disease, HIV, Sarcoidosis, Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Ojas is both the gateway and the container. It is the gateway between consciousness and physiology, between spiritual and material. As the subtlest physical, it is a container. It contains the flow of cosmic energy (Prana) which is the life energy that performs respiration, oxygenation, and circulation. All motor and sensory functions are linked to prana from Atman through the individual.

Ojas is the first material expression of consciousness. It is both manifest and unmanifest. It pervades the body.”

Ojas is a refined essence(fluid) it is the material basis for all life. It influences our genetic constitution, vitality, power of presence-the power of our life and willpower, reproduction, growth and development, Spiritual attainment and longevity. It is the foundation for the production of Prana/Chi(Vital energy) and responsible for nurturing of the nerve tissues(brain,nerves,marrow etc)

Called essence, it is a mixture of sexual fluids(semen, menstrual fluid, vaginal excretions, saliva) sex hormones, hormones, adrenals, and biochemical fluids. Ojas is found all over the body but accumulates in all the organs but most particularly the kidney organ where it is concentrated in the greatest amount

It nourishes the entire body (it has to do with growth and development)with vitality,– by stabilizing and preventing its loss, the cultivator aims to convert Ojas to Vital energy which will have the effect of stimulating health and spiritual development.

Ojas most closely affects immunity, mental health ,vitality, Life power, personal power, and directly affects longevity particularly with regard to the vital energy form of jing.

In laymans terms Ojas would best be described as the biochemical nutritive component that nurtures your immune system, Mind/nerves and reproductive system, and bones(in fact it affects Everything but primarily those systems)-it is the most refined of your tissues, the most subtle expression of your bodys physical nature and its interface with consciousness itself, it is expressed partly as reproductive fluid in fact building up your level of Ojas is necessary in order to attain enlightenment or spiritual realization.

In MS it would seem that the ojas is depleted through various processes, in addition there is a build up of toxins, (because we often see marked improvement for MS sufferers when they detoxify, And a disturbance of their constitutional makeup.

The strength of Ayurveda in treating neurological disorders is globally appreciated. Since it addresses the root cause of the issue the results are excellent.

Ms effect on nerves

Treatment would involve stress reduction therapies and practices: Meditation would be primary, and should be practiced twice daily, in addition yoga and breathing therapy(pranayam) or qigong would greatly benefit the person.

1. Establish a healthy routine – and stick to it- a variable routine of eating and sleeping odd hours and eating variable amounts and meals will seriously compromise the persons ability to heal. Have 3 meals a day and get to sleep by 10 pm (if you battle with sleeping – exercise more during the day, try break a sweat. And take ½ teaspoon nutmeg 30 mins before bed)

2. Detoxify the system- using a gentle and rejuvenative herb mix like triphala will provide good results without too much shock to the system. It has been shown that detoxification is crucial to MS treatment and the body responds better to the herbs after it has shed its toxic “load”.

3. Yogharaj Guggulu – is a nervous system tonic as well as a digestive stimulant, this compound is almost always recommended for MS.- it is a Powerful Anti oxidant and immune stimulant. – it has detoxifying and laxative properties while calming the entire system.

4. Improve the digestive power with the aid of herbs (Musta)

5. Help the Nervous system with Nutritive nervines that stimulate the production of Ojas at the same time:

a. Ashwaghanda,jatamamsi,vacha and Brahmi
b. Shankpushpi (Clitoria ternatea)
Properties and Uses: Commonly known as the "Butterfly Pea," Shankpushpi is used traditionally to treat nervous debility, insomnia, fatigue, low energy level.

6. Ojas stimulants: Shatavari, Gokshura and Musta
a. Musta (Cyperus rotunda)

b. Properties and Uses: According to Ayurvedic tradition, Musta rhizome is a pungent, bitter, astringent, with carminative, stimulating, and alterative properties. It is also an emmenagogue, antihelmintic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, vermifuge, demulcent, diuretic, and a galactagogue when applied externally. it is used to treat menstrual disorders, where it acts as a regulator in conditions such as dysmenorrhea, PMS emotionality, menstrual pain, and pre-menstrual congestion of blood and water. It is additionally used to treat menopause, palpitations, gastrointestinal yeast and candida, parasites, sluggish liver, indigestion, dysentery, loss of appetite, chronic fevers, gastritis, poor memory, . Musta is one of the best digestive stimulants for "Pitta" types and conditions, and it imporves absorption in the small intestine, making it invaluable in the treatment of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption.

7. Daily Massage with Sesame seed oil, this will help to balance one of the primary agitators in the constitution(vata) it can be expensive to seek professional massage all the time, it may be wise to get a family member to help or to do self massage)

8. Supplements that may also help would be omega 3 supplementation, and vitamin e.

9. Shirodhara with potentiated oils(therapeutic oil pouring on the forehead, this is deeply relaxing to the CNS and profoundly rejuvenating. this plus all the above recommendations would go a long way to helping arrest the progression of MS and slowly reverse it.

10. Include daily consumption of pumpkin seed, and almonds.
.
Things to avoid:
• Gluten containing products ie bread, flour, oats etc – replace with basmati rice as a grain.
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Refined sugar
• Margarine or other butter substitutes (replace with Ghee)
• Normal unorganic dairy- as milk contains antibiotics and growth stimulating Rgbh hormone which has been linked to increase of breast cancer.

to know more about Ayurveda treatments for MS,please  contact us at  info@ayurwellness.in