AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF PAKSHAGHATA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HEMIPLEGIA (CVA)-A CASE STUDY

Pakshaghata is a Vata dosha predominant disease. It has been enlisted among the Eighty Vataja Nanatmaja Vikara and considered as a Mahavatavyadhi in Ayurvedic textual literature. Pakshaghata is the condition in which the aggravated vata dosha, invades the shareera dhamanis and disrupts the functions of Sira (Blood vessels), Snayu (Ligaments) and Kandara (Tendon)causing loss of function of one side of the body. It can be compared to Hemiplegia(paralysis) from modern perspective, which is the commonest manifestation of Cerebro Vascular Accident (CVA) or stroke. Stroke or CVA is defined as the rapid onset of focal neurological deficit, resulting from diseases of the cerebral vasculature and its contents, affecting the face, limbs and trunk on one side of the body. Ayurveda offers various treatment modalities for the management of Pakshaghata such as; use of herbomineral formulation, Yoga and Shodhana Chikitsa. Treatment protocol was Snehana, Swedana, Mridu Virechana, Basti Karma, Nasya Karma( Nasal medication), Murdhani Taila (Shirodhara) along with Physiotherapy and internal medication which is mentioned by Acharyas. The present study is a case report on management of stroke of a 64 year male patient with chief complaints of loss of function of the Right upper & lower limb since 1 year. He was a diagnosed case of stroke on the basis of clinical presentation and brain computed tomography scan. The case treated with the Ayurveda medications was found to be effective in providing relief in chief complaints with improvement of overall health of the patient. The recovery was promising and worth documenting. Keywords: Pakshaghata, Vatavyadhi, Hemiplegia, Stroke, Panchakarma, Snehana, Swedana, Virechana, Shirodhara, Shiropichu, Samshamana Aushadi, Physiotherapy