24/02/2023
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and the spinal cord (central nervous system).
In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problem between the brain and the body.
There is no cure for the disease though there are treatments available to help speed up the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms.
According to Ayurveda it’s a Sannipata disease where all the Tridoshas are vitiated causing interruption between Rasa Vaha and Majja vaha strotas. Strotas are the channels of the network of the functional pathways in the body. Interruption in the strotas causes ill health. Many diseases are caused by these blockages, e.g., High or Low Blood pressure, breathing problems, abnormal heart rhythm, lethargy, mental confusion, pains, swellings, skin issues etc. Accumulated toxins also play an important role in weakening the immune system.
All forms of this condition reflect typical ama pathology. As ama accumulates in the body it migrates through the blood circulation (pitta & kapha in Rasa & Rakta dhatu / strotams) and is deposited in various locations of the body. Once ama is deposited in a dhatu it begins to attack the tissue or it provides an environment favorable for viral or bacterial growth. This sticky ama can also cause inflammation of the tissue that it is attached to – either with or without bacterial infection. This occurs because ama is attached to the nerve tissue and the immune response tries to remove it. This results in the immunity attacking the nerve tissue which has difficulty to separate from the ama that has attached to the myelin sheath.
Ayurveda starts with the diet and lifestyle modification where a disease has occurred.
Dincharya (daily routine)
a. Wake up, go to toilet Drink warm water either before or after the toilet visit.
b. Apply a thin layer of sesame oil all over your body. Avoid putting it on your head
and hair. Dress in comfortable clothes. Have a hot shower – dress to stay warm.
c. Put 1 or 2 drops of sesame oil in each nostril. Allow the oil to move to the back of the throat then blow your nose and remove all fluids.
d. Have a hot drink (ginger tea, etc.)
e. Do 10 minutes of alternate nostril breathing (Pranayam, Anulom Vilom)
f. Diet should be nourishing but simple
g .Eat breakfast – warm food in small amounts if not hungry. Warm food in larger amounts if hungry.
h. Go to work or other daily activity.
i. Mid-day – Eat lunch, warm food. Avoid cold raw foods as the only lunch. This should be a main meal in your day. Take at least 30 to 60 minutes break at mid-day.
j. Continue with your work or other daily activity.
k. Have a hot drink in the late afternoon (4.00 p.m.). Avoid sweets in any form.
l. Eat the evening meal earlier rather than later. You need to have 3 hours of time to digest your dinner before going to sleep. Avoid heavy foods and dairy products. This will give more energy in the morning. Eating earlier in the evening and allowing more time to digest will help stabilize the energy levels and reduce fatigue. Eat enough that you are not hungry later but not too much that you feel heavy.
m. Eat lighter than at mid-day. NO desert or snacks after eating. If there is a craving for sweets, sit for 10 minutes and repeat the breathing exercise.
0. Be in bed by 10.00 p.m.
Dietary considerations
The basic starting point is to increase immunity & ability to digest and assimilate the food.
Regular meal timings are very important. Discipline in daily routine helps which means” Meal and Sleep” timings to be established and followed. Early to bed and early to rise is the best for Sleep discipline.
AVOID:
Animal products and stimulants (coffee, alcohol), aerated drinks.
Acidic Food like Fatty & fried food and high protein diet. Fermented foods inclusive of bakery.
High sodium foods like sea foods, pickles etc. Processed foods, Stale food
All sweet carbonated beverages
Smoking ci******es. All forms of alcohol.
Eating between meals, sweets and chocolate.
TAKE:
Use ginger tea plus digestive spices to increase Agni (digestive capacity).
Increase regularity in your life. Develop habitual schedules for eating, sleeping and work. Six days per week need to be very regular and one day can be the rest from the schedule per week.
Fresh fruits & easy to digest lentils like split or washed green gram,
Drink fresh coconut water.
Early morning. Sunshine for Vitamin D
Avoid stress. Take 30 minutes’ walk every morning and evening.
Panchakarma therapies:
Virechna, Basti, Pinda Sweda, Shirodhara, Nasya, Abhyanga. Udvartna are recommended as per the symptoms of the MS attack. Your Ayurveda specialist will guide you on the particular Panchakarma therapies required.
Deep tissue detox therapies Virechna and Basti should be done annually or earlier if the mild symptoms of MS occur.
