Cardiomyopathy – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscles which affects the function of the heart to pump blood efficiently to the entire body. Common symptoms include breathlessness, swelling of the lower extremities, abdominal bloating, fatigue, palpitations and dizziness. Coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, high blood pressure, metabolic disorders and prolonged alcohol and drug abuse are the common causes of this condition. Cardiomyopathy can be mainly of 3 types: dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive. Cardiomyopathy may result in complications like heart failure, thrombosis and cardiac arrest.
The Ayurvedic treatment of cardiomyopathy is aimed at reducing the symptoms and treating the cause of the condition. Medicines like Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Shrung-Bhasma, Makar-Dhwaj, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) are used to improve heart function and reduce symptoms like breathlessness, swelling of the ankles and bloating. Triphala-Guggulu, Medohar-Guggulu, Triphala (Three fruits), Trikatu (Three pungent herbs), Lashuna (Allium sativum), Psyllium (Plantago ovata), Shallaki (Boswellia serrata), Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) and Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa) are used to treat coronary artery disease. Medicines like Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Laxadi-Guggulu, Asthishrunkhala (Cissus quadrangularis), Dashmool (Ten roots) and Draksha (Vitis vinifera) are used to treat valvular heart disease.
Metabolic disorders such as thyroid disease or diabetes are treated with medicines like Arogya-Vardhini, Kachnaar-Guggulu, Haridra (Curcuma longa), Shilajit (Purified bitumen), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Vijaysaar (Pterocarpus marsupium), Mamejva (Enicostemma littorale) and Gudmar (Gymnema sylvester).
Medicines which act directly on the heart muscle are used to treat the different types of cardiomyopathy. These include Amalaki, Haritaki, Behada (Terminalia bellerica), Sunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Marich (Piper nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica). In addition, medicines like Maha-Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Suvarna-Sameer-Pannag-Ras, Abhrak-Bhasma and Suvarna-Bhasma are used in minute doses to give strength to the heart.
Ayurvedic treatment can be combined with modern treatment to control the symptoms of cardiomyopathy, improve the quality of life, prevent complications and prolong survival. All patients affected with this condition need to adopt appropriate lifestyle changes like avoiding alcohol and smoking, losing excess weight, eating a low salt diet and getting regular, moderate exercise.
Treating a Canine Stroke
Introduction
Stroke in dogs is a condition that requires immediate veterinarian treatment. Once a stroke has been diagnosed the treatments will begin as soon as possible. The treatment protocol for stroke in dogs depends on what type of stroke has occurred, and why the dog has experienced a stroke. Early diagnosis and treatment will drastically increase the outlook for a full recovery. If your dog displays any signs of symptoms of stroke, take your dog to a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately.
There are two types of strokes that can occur in dogs: ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes. Ischemic strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain has been reduced and the brain becomes oxygen starved. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a vessel in the brain bursts and bleeding in the brain occurs. While strokes in dogs are not common, there are a variety of disorders and conditions that can cause a stroke to occur.
Treating a Stroke in Dogs
Treatment for a stroke in dogs focuses on supportive care, and addressing the cause of the stroke. If the stroke has been caused by an underlying medical condition such as diabetes or Cushing's disease, the underlying medical condition must be brought under control in order for the stroke to be treated. If the stroke has been caused by an injury to the brain, or inflammation of the brain, supportive care and medications are administered.
Medications which may help to reduce any permanent effects of a stroke include anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids to control the swelling in the brain and anti-seizure medications. Intravenous fluid therapies are also provided to help combat shock.
Recovery from a stroke can take days, to weeks, to months. It all depends on how much damaged occurred and how quickly treatments were begun. Pet owners may also need to provide supportive care at home for the recovery period. Fortunately, most dogs that have experienced a stroke have a good prognosis.
Cataract – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment
A cataract is a change in the clarity of the natural lens inside the eye that gradually degrades visual quality. The lens plays a crucial role in focusing unimpeded light on the retina at the back of the eye. A significant cataract formation blocks and distorts light passing through the lens, causing visual symptoms and complaints. Cataract development is usually an age-related process because of protein loss in the lens. Other causes of cataract include eye surgery, eye inflammation, congenital cataract, exposure to excessive ultraviolet light, diabetes, smoking, and the use of certain medications like steroids, statins and phenothiazines. Blurred vision, difficulty with glare, increased near-sightedness, and occasionally double vision are some of the symptoms of cataract.
The conventional treatment for cataract is surgical removal along with implantation of an artificial lens. Once a cataract has formed, there is as yet no scientifically proved medication which can clear the cataract and avoid surgery. However, there are a number of Ayurvedic medicines which can be taken in an early age to prevent or delay future cataract formation. Such medicines can be divided into two categories: medicines which act locally on the eyes and medicines which have a general anti-aging effect on the whole body.
Triphala (Three fruits) is a combination which has been recommended for the eyes in the ancient Ayurvedic texts. Triphala consists of Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and Behada (Terminalia bellerica). Triphala can be used in a decoction form to wash the eyes on a regular basis, and can also be used as eye drops. Triphala-Ghrut is recommended for oral intake on a long term basis to improve the vision in the eyes, cure night blindness and prevent other diseases of the eyes. Medicines like Saptamrut-Loh, which are specially indicated for the eyes, contain Triphala as the main ingredient. In addition, other medicines like Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Daruharidra (Berberis aristata) are also very useful for the eyes. If used on a long term basis, these medicines preserve eye function, prevent degeneration of the lens, prevent or reduce the accumulation of waste products inside the eyes and also prevent abnormal capillary formation in the retina, which can lead to bleeding and premature loss of vision.
The second category of medicines which has a general anti-aging effect on the body is the group of medicines called 'Rasayanas'. These medicines include Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Samudrashosh (Argyreia speciosa), Naagbala (Grewia hirsuta), Amalaki, Haritaki, Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Aparaajita (Clitoria ternatea), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Punarnava, Mudgaparni (Phaseolus trilobus), Mashparni (Teramnus labialis) and Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris). These medicines prevent atherosclerosis and thus ensure a good supply of blood to all the parts of the body. They act directly on each cell of the body and help to maintain an optimum cellular environment. These medicines also act on vital organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and brain and help to ensure an optimum function of these organs and prevent premature ageing. The overall effect on the entire body is to maintain health and to improve longevity, while preserving the function of all the organs of the body. These medicines therefore act on the eyes too, by preventing or delaying cataract formation and maintaining a healthy retina.
This sort of preventive, rasayan therapy can be used by everyone, but is specially indicated for those people who are more prone to a cataract formation such as people having cardio-vascular disease, previous eye surgery and diabetes. It is also important to take other preventive steps to minimize exposure to factors that promote cataract, such as wearing sun glasses while going out. A healthy lifestyle with a proper diet, regular exercise and rest, and avoidance of smoking and alcohol also helps a lot in preventing the formation of cataract.
For Stroke Victims – Recover From Stroke Starting Today
When the blood in the brain is reduced or cut off for some reason, a medical complication can happen - stroke. Strokes can be very devastating for people because they can ruin the rest of your life. There are many problems that people can experience after having a stroke which includes difficulty in breathing, loss in the use of their arms and legs, and having problems with their speech. Many of these people often have to undergo weeks or even months of physical therapy in order to recover from stroke.
The main reason that these symptoms happen is because when blood flow is stopped in a specific area of the brain, neural connections that are damaged and many neurons in this area die. These connections are those that control all of these functions (walk, speech, vision...). There is a new medicine available that helps the brain to form new neural connections over a period of time. This enables stoke recovery for the sufferers. The main attribute that stroke victims need to understand is that although there are alternative medicines that can help in recovery, a proper rehab program is still crucial.
You should start your rehab program right away as soon as you are discharged from the hospital. Hospitals should have onsite rehab programs and you can choose to go through the exercises there. During the rehab program, family members should accompany the patients to give them moral support. Stroke patients need lots of encouragement, especially from family and friends, in order to have a speedy recovery.
Recovery from a stroke does not take one day or a week. It takes consistent effort from the patient, as well as support from family and friends. Patients should not lose hope because with a consistent rehab program in place, as well as stroke medicines, (not true, some patients will never recover/ or very poor recovery)
Sleep is an Important Aid to Stroke Recovery
Sleep contributes a lot to the success of a stroke patient's rehabilitation program. Brain scientist and former stroke patient, Jill Bolte Taylor reveals this in an interview.
Taylor contradicts the methodology of most rehabilitation facilities wherein stroke patients are kept awake through medication or through activities that depended on therapists' schedule despite the patient's tiredness. Taylor's treatments stopped when she was tired and began when she was ready for it, regardless of the time of day or night.
This proves that stroke rehabilitation programs' effectiveness rely on the capability of the human body to absorb information in a given day especially when the brain is not functioning properly.
APPLYING THE BENEFITS OF SLEEP TO STROKE PATIENTS
1. Sleep helps the brain consolidate memories
Harvard Medical School's Dr. Jeffrey Ellenbogen tested whether sleep helps build and maintain memory and overcome interference. Results showed that sleep is not a state of mental inactivity for it actively helps the brain digest memories such as those from recently learned facts or working memory.
Participants who did not sleep between learning and testing recalled less of the new words they learned than those who slept. Sleeping in between therapy,then, allows the stroke patients to absorb information derived during their rehabilitation.
2. Sleep strengthens the brain
Various psychologists during the 84th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association presented the benefits of Random Eye Movement (REM) Sleep, which occurs between the 6th and 8th hour of sleep when dreaming begins. REM sleep produces sleep spindles that allow the brain to store new information into long-term memory. Sleep spindles are one- to two-second bursts of brain waves that rapidly wax and wane at strong frequencies.
The brain, while in REM sleep, transfers short-term memories in the motor cortex to the temporal lobe, to become long-term memories. Sleep spindles are transmitted as the temporal lobe makes sense of the new information and stores it in long-term memory. In this process, neurotransmitters essential to remembering, performance, and problem-solving are replenished by the brain.
Sufficient sleep strengthens and recuperates the brain to overcome common problems like short attention spans. Stroke patients can also be given Neuroaid to expedite recovery of neurological functions.
3. Sleep decreases risk for another stroke
Patients with diabetes and high blood pressure who suffered stroke may decrease the risk of another stroke by increasing sleep in their regime. According to Dr. Eve Van Cantor, professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, lack of sleep increases risk for diabetes and high blood pressure to become less susceptible to medication.
Scientific research has proven the effects of sufficient sleep (8 hours) to the human body, to behavior, and to society as a whole. This is why sleep should be interspersed in a stroke patient's rehabilitation program, even if this means incorporating more hours of sleep. The length of time is irrelevant. Patience is a real virtue that reaps great rewards like the 8-year recovery of Jill Taylor.
Surviving A Stroke – Is There a Vampire Bat in Your Future
The much-maligned upside-downer may be landing upright after all. The vampire bat, following centuries of scorn and ridicule, finds itself on the cutting edge of medical advances. Researchers have discovered that a derivative of the vampire bat's saliva may be the most effective early intervention in cases of ischemic stroke - strokes due to a blockage of an artery in the brain.
Stroke is serious business. The American Heart Association lists stroke as the third leading cause of death in America, following heart disease and cancer. About 700,000 people suffer strokes each year and there are currently over 5.5 million stroke survivors. Women suffer strokes more frequently than men, and they account for just over 60% of stroke deaths and roughly 55% of survivors.
How does the vampire bat enter into the equation? Researchers find that desmoteplase, a derivative of the bat's saliva, may be beneficial in treating stroke victims. The vampire bat's saliva has a natural anticoagulant property that inhibits the blood of its victims from clotting. In human trials, the saliva derivative also acts aggressively to breakdown existing blood clots in the brain, without doing damage to surrounding tissue. This is a decided advantage over the current early intervention drug, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), and there may be additional advantages as well.
Time, of course, is critical in the treatment of stroke victims. TPA, to be both effective and safe, must be administered within three hours of the stroke. However, only about 3 percent of stroke victims receive treatment at a hospital within the three-hour window. The vampire bats apparently dealt with this issue long ago, and the saliva drug derivative triples the time available for treatment to a full nine hours. This advance alone makes the new drug the frontrunner in early intervention. In addition, the bat saliva derivative has proven to be more effective against blood clots and administration is quicker. TPA must be delivered intravenously, over about a one hour period, while the new bat derivative is administered directly by injection, within just a minute or two.
The bat saliva derivative is currently in Phase III clinical trials in eighty medical centers worldwide. Does this mean we'll soon see images of vampire bats on hospital emergency room signs? Doubtful. But, don't be surprised if you hear an overly eager neurology resident, caught up in the drama of treating her first stroke patient, shout, "Get the bat - stat!"
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