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Management of multiple sclerosis through Ayurveda: A case report

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problem between brain and rest of the body. Steroids are the drugs of choice in conventional systems but fail to provide a complete cure. There is no direct reference to the disease in Ayurveda, but based on the clinical picture, treatment can be planned. A 28-year-old male patient diagnosed with MS approached the Panchakarma outpatient department with chief complaints of difficulty in balancing while standing and walking, weakness in bilateral lower limbs, and lower backache. On examination of presentation according to Ayurveda, this manifestation was diagnosed as a type of Vata vyadhi (~diseases caused by a Vata dosha). Considering the case, different Panchakarma (~five bio-purification therapies) procedures including Ruksha churna pinda swedana (~dry fomentation), Takradhara (~therapeutic buttermilk dripping), Kshara basti (~therapeutic enema therapy by alkali substance), Snehapana (~internal administration of medicated lipids), and Virechana (~therapeutic purgation) followed by Kalabasti (~therapeutic enema therapy) and Nasya (~intranasal drug administration) were adopted along with Shamana (~palliative) therapy. After completion of 45-day stay in hospital and one month Shamana treatment on follow-up, considerable improvement was recorded in subjective parameters. Assessments were made using the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale which was 8 before treatment and decreased to three after follow-up. The Functional Assessment of MS was reduced from 158 to 102. The Visual Analog Scale which was 8 before treatment was decreased to 1 with increased quality of life according to the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale.