Diabetic Neuropathy

The goals of treating diabetic neuropathy are preventing and possibly reversing the progression of nerve damage, and reducing the symptoms, targeted therapies to the underlying mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy are essential to slow the progression of the disease.

All treatments in Ayurveda are prescribed only after a careful diagnosis of the patient’s body constitution, family history, sex, age, stage of the disease etc. This will enable the patient to receive treatments that are specifically suited to his very needs. Ayurveda treatments will therefore vary from patient to patient.

The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person’s body humour (Dosha) – Vata, Pita or Kapha, because it is the imbalance of these body humours that create every disease.

The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behaviour, food habits, sleeping patterns, personal details like age, height & weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also. The doctor can decide if an Ayurveda treatment is helpful on providing these details.

Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person’s body humour and its imbalance. This will help the doctor in treating the disease.

Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.

In tongue diagnosis,the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.

Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person’s nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination.

In the eye diagnosis, the colour, size and even the shape of the eyes are important in determining the dosha dominance of a person. His mental status, nervousness, anxiety, confidence level etc can also be learned through eye diagnosis.

Ayurveda Treatment approach is to increase natural healing ability of the body and not to attack the disease with something from the outside, like drugs or surgery, and cure the diseases in one or two days. It may take a few weeks to regenerate the health. The healing response is one of the most complex and coordinated activities within the human physiology and often cannot be strengthened without the patient’s personal conscious efforts.

After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarma treatments and Rasayana therapies .

The Panchakarma Treatments are meant to flush out the toxins, They are classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods.

The Rasayana Therapies are meant to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.These comprise diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines and ayurveda tonics, yoga and a stress free life. After the treatment the ayurveda doctors will advise you how to lead a healthy life. The beneifts and results of the treatment are shown only after the Rasyana Treatment is over and docotrs advise is strictly followed. The results will manifest itself normally after 3 to 4 weeks as the body takes time to regenerate itself.

Pre-purification therapies
Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes. These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind.

The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted for curing Diabetic Neuropathy

Snehapanam is an important pre purification therapy. It is also called oleation therapy and consists of oral intake of medicated ghee in empty stomach for a specified number of days. This unique treatment helps flush out the toxins from the body. Indukantham or Mahathiktham, the two major types of ghee used for this, is mixed with spices and herbs such as Malabar nut, wild snake gourd, sweet flag, sandal wood, neem, amaltas, asparagus, ginger, mustard, gooseberry etc.

Udvarthanam Body massage using herbal powder is called udvarthanam. The treatment is good for diseases like diabetic neuropathy, paralysis, obesity, sciatica, and sclerosis of blood vessels. The massage activates the nerves and increases blood flow to the impaired parts of the body.

Dhanyamladhara It is the continuous pouring of warm fermented medicinal liquid on the body for nearly 50 minutes. Lemon, horse gram, beaten rice, rice flakes, dried ginger etc are used for making the fermented liquid. The nerves receive a lot of nourishment from this continuous pouring and is very effective for treating all types of diseases affecting nerves.

Thalapothichil It is the application of herbal paste on the scalp of a patient for a specific period of time. Selected medicinal herbs, thoroughly ground and made in to a fine paste, is thickly applied on to the scalp of the person. The scalp part of the head is then covered up with usually banana leaf to allow the medicine to stay on and function well. This stays on the person’s head for almost 40 to 50 minutes giving wonderful relaxation to the mind. Fruits and herbs such as gooseberry, liquorices, asparagus, henna, lotus seeds, sandal, nut grass tuber etc are moisturized in buttermilk before grinding it to paste form. The paste thus obtained becomes a rich blend of various cooling agents.

Thakradhara is the profuse pouring of specially prepared buttermilk on the forehead of the person for at least one hour. This cools down the brain, relaxes the mind and reduces stress, tension and anxiety.

This butter milk is a mixture of assorted herbs and spices and also includes such herbs as gooseberry, nut grass tuber, sandal wood, valerian, vetiver and lotus etc. gooseberry and lotus are excellent cooling agents.

Main Purification Therapies for Diabetic Neuropathy

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This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors. The commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy are Virechanam, Vamanam and Vasthy.

Virechanam is the oral intake of safe herbal medicines leading to the elimination of poisonous wastes through the anal route. The purgative medicine consists of herbal powders, medicated castor oil or herbal paste. Avipathychooram, the herbal powder which is generally used for virechanam is made out of a mixture of herbs like turpith, embellia fruits, dry ginger, cardamom,long pepper, cinnamon etc.

Vamanam is also known as therapeutic vomiting. It is a treatment that eliminates the vitiated doshas (waste products) through the upper gastro-intestinal track. It expels and cleanses undigested food. It has been found to be highly effective in treating Diabetic Neuropathy. Herbs generally used in vamanam include – nut grass tuber,liquorices etc.

Vasthi is an enema therapy. It is considered the ace colon cleaning panchakarma treatment. In this form of treatment special medicines are introduced through the anal route for the evacuation of accumulated toxins and metabolic wastes. It is highly recommended in the treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy. Dill seeds, honey, rock salt, herbal pastes, oils and decoctions are the main ingredients used in vasthy. Vasthy helps to flush out the accumulated wastes and toxins from the metabolic system.

These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course. Rasayana treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy consists of oral medicines, diet regulation and yoga.

Oral medicines for Diabetic Neuropathy

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Oral medicines form an important part of any ayurvedic treatment. Oral medicines for Diabetic Neuropathy will be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. These are prepared specifically to restore the lost balance and to provide the needed inputs to cure Diabetic Neuropathy. Kashayam and Arishtam - herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams – semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed.

Turmeric, Neem, Triphala, Shilajit, Jambul, Bel are some of the medicinal herbs used in the preparation of kashayams, lehyams and aristams for the use of Diabetic Neuropathy patients.

The type and quantity of the medicines to be taken are decided by the doctor after a detailed consultation and examination. The patient’s body type, age etc are also important factors to be considered.

Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from Diabetic Neuropathy. Initial step will be to bring blood sugar levels under control by diet. Proper diet is a brilliant means of controlling and curing Diabetic Neuropathy. Ayurveda diet provides adequate nutrition as well as rest for the needed organs. Sugar in any form should be strictly avoided as also rice, potato, banana, cereals and fruits containing high concentration of sugars.

One should avoid eating all types of fatty foods. Vegetables such as bitter gourd, string beans, cucumber, onion and garlic are recommended. Bengal gram, wheat and black gram can be consumed. Home made cottage cheese and butter milk can be taken. Consumption of eggs and soya beans are beneficial.

However, emphasis should be on raw vegetables and herbs. These play a vital role in stimulating the pancreas and enhancing insulin production.

Yoga and life style for Diabetic Neuropathy

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Yoga and meditation: Bhujang Asana (Cobra); Shalabh Asana (Locust); and Dhanur Asana (Bow) are some of the recommended yoga asanas for Diabetic Neuropathy patients. In addition to yoga and meditation they are also encouraged to do exercises like jogging and cycling on a regular basis. They should be careful to keep their weight under control.

Life Style : Diabetic Neuropathy patients should realize that they lack resistance to diseases and should take great care not to injure themselves as any wound may take long time to heal and finally become septic. Utmost care needs to be taken for eyes as the disease in serious condition might affect the eye. They should also take great care not to injure their feet; the feet should be washed with warm water several times a day as patients with Diabetic Neuropathy do occasionally suffer loss of feeling in the feet. Sleep during the day is best avoided by the Diabetic Neuropathy patients.

General Information

The ability to properly digest food is very important to sustain health. Incompletely digested foods create toxins and impurities in the body and disrupt body functions. This process plays a major role in a wide variety of chronic conditions. Your Ayurveda Doctor will advise you how to increase your digestion power.

The nervous system controls your bodily functions, and the chronic condition is affected in some way when the nervous system activity becomes imbalanced. Vata is the physiological principle at the basis of nervous system. Imbalance in nervous system or Vata Imbalance worsens symptoms of chronic diseases. Yoga and meditation would help you to avoid stress situations.

It is important to have a lifestyle that does not disturb natural bodily rhythms. When we eat, sleep and exercise in constantly fluctuating and disturbing patterns, the body loses its natural balancing cycles and cannot cleanse or heal itself as effectively. Therefore, regularity in our daily routine can be extremely effective in reducing physiological imbalance to avoid chronic disease.