Ayurvedic Treatment for Dementia reverses the damage manifested in the higher memory center and modifies the diet and lifestyle, preventing the further progression of the disease. Dementia is a group of conditions characterized by a loss of intellectual ability. The symptoms interfere with activities of daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is a common cause of dementia.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
- CAUSES OF DEMENTIA
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DEMENTIA
- DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA
- TREATMENTS FOR DEMENTIA
- PROGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA
- COMPLICATIONS OF DEMENTIA
- DEMENTIA AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF DEMENTIA
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF DEMENTIA
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR DEMENTIA
- HOME REMEDIES FOR DEMENTIA
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR DEMENTIA
- YOGA FOR DEMENTIA
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF DEMENTIA
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
- Memory loss
- Difficultyin communicating
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Impaired judgment
- Behavioural changes
- Difficulty with planning and organizing
CAUSES OF DEMENTIA
- Alzheimer’s disease is the major cause of dementia
- Vascular dementia.
- Lewy body dementia
- Degeneration of nerve cells and their connections in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain
- Traumatic injuries
- Parkinson’s disease
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DEMENTIA
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Degeneration of somatostatin-containing neurons appears to be an early and even critical event in the development of Alzheimer’s dementia.
DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA
- History taking
- Physical examination
- Laboratory tests
TREATMENTS FOR DEMENTIA
- Rehabilitation
- Cognition enhancing medications
PROGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA
- Complete cure is not possible. But the symptoms are manageable with appropriate therapies.
- Some causes are reversible.
COMPLICATIONS OF DEMENTIA
- Reduced lifespan
- Inability to perform self-care tasks
DEMENTIA AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda dementia refers to smritibudhihrasa.
- In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, Rasayanaand Panchkarma therapy are very useful in the management of dementia. The Rasayana therapy has the property to check the presenile and senile Dhatu Vaigunya and Kshaya (degeneration).
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF DEMENTIA
- Dhatu kshaya (degeneration)
- Ageing
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
- Impairment of memory (predominantly recent memory in early stages)
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF DEMENTIA
To understand the pathogenesis of dementia in the light of Ayurvedic literature it is necessary to review the general physiology of Manas and Buddhi. Before discussing the aetiology and psychopathology of Smritibuddhihrass, it is worth considering the relation of Mana, Buddhi, Medha, Dhriti and Smriti with each other. In the case of dementia, there is a defect in coordination between mana, budhi…etc.
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
- Smriti bhramsa – loss of memory
- Budhi bhramsa – loss of intellectual ability
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA
- Krichra sadhya- difficult to manage.
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
Ayurvedic local treatment for DEMENTIA
- Shiro vasthi
- Shiro pichu
- Vasti
- Pizhichil
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
- Brahmighrita
- Saraswataghrita
- Mahapanchagavyaghrita
- Kalyanakaghrita
- Dasamolaghrita
- Aswagandharista
- Saraswartarishta
- Brahmivati
- Medhyavati
- Smritisagararasa
- Vrihatvatchintamanirasa
- Brahmidrakshadi Kashayam
- Kalyanakam Kashayam
- Varavishaladi Kashayam
- Drakshadi Kashayam
- Manasamitra Vatakam
- Dadimashtaka Churna
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
- Nasya
- Mridu virechana
- Vasti
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR DEMENTIA
Internal administration
- Brahmi ghrita
- Saraswataghrita
- Mahapanchagavyaghrita
- Kalyanakaghrita
- Dasamolaghrita
- Aswagandharista
- Saraswartarishta
- Brahmi vati
- Medhyavati
- Smritisagararasa
- Vrihatvatchintamanirasa
- Brahmidrakshadi Kashayam
- Kalyanakam Kashayam
- Varavishaladi Kashayam
- Drakshadi Kashayam
- Manasamitra Vatakam
- Dadimashtaka Churna
HOME REMEDIES FOR DEMENTIA
- Enhance communications with family members
- Practice regular exercise
- Schedule the daily activities
- Take pure Ghee (Clarified butter) one teaspoon in the early morning.
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR DEMENTIA
- Avoid food items which produce dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible nutritious food items, cow’s milk, and ghee.
- Oil massage on the head is advised.
- Take proper rest.
YOGA FOR DEMENTIA
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – Calms the mind
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
- Shavasana – relaxes the body and mind
- Bhastrika pranayama
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF DEMENTIA
1. A critical appraisal of dementia with special reference to Smritibuddhihrass
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3902586/
2. Comparative clinical evaluation of an ayurvedic regimen in the management of senile dementia