Parkinson’s Disease – Signs, Symptoms & Siddha Treatment

Parkinson’s Disease – Signs, Symptoms & Siddha Treatment Causes : Deficiency of Dopamine, a neurotransmitter which produces smooth controlled movements is the major cause of onset of this disease. Slowly, neuro- degeneration occurs causing secondary symptoms like anxiety, stress, confusion, memory loss, dementia, depression, male errectile dysfunction etc. Symptoms : Main symptoms are : Rigidity : Stiffness of limbs and trunk which increases during movements. Muscle pain may be present due to rigidity. Cogged-wheel rigidity of upper limbs and Lead-pipe rigidity of lower limbs are seen. Bradykinesia : Weakness of muscles leading to reduced voluntary movements. Short- Stepping Gait or Shuffled gait with diminished or absence of arm swing seen. Mask like face, Indistinct speech. Patient tends to fall due to postural instability. Balancing of body becomes difficult. Diagnosis : Early diagnosis may be difficult and sometimes misinterpreted or inaccurately diagnosed but for a good treatment early and accurate diagnosis is very neccessary. On basis of medical history, symptoms, family history, types of medication, history of head trauma or any toxin exposure, neurological examination, this disease can be diagnosed. If any of the two symptoms among the triad i.e tremor, rigidity and bradikinesia is seen, Parkinson disease is diagnosed. Usually its starts on any one side of the body first. Treatment : No treatment or cure as per Modern Science. Therapies to increase Dopamine in brain or replace Dopamine resembling transmitters. Leva dopa (sinemet) is most commonly used and effective therapy for Parkinson as per modern science. Long term medication can produce side effects like painful cramps and involuntary movements. Other side effects include fluid retention in body tissues, drowsiness, constipation, dizziness, hallucination, nausea etc. Siddha Concept & Treatment : According to Siddha this disease is classified under Vatha ailment. It may be compared to ‘Sira-kamba Vatham’ or ‘Naddukku Vatham’ as per Siddha. The term ‘Sira-kamba vatham’ is used as degeneration of nerves in brain is caused due to derranged Vatha humour affecting Motor movements and muscle control. The term ‘Nadukku vatham’ is used for this disease due to its charecteristic feature or symptom ‘tremor’ which is seen even during rest. Siddha treatment has very effective response towards this disease. The symptoms gets well controlled and slowly with prolonged course of medication it is found that patients can even survive on minimum dose of allopathy drugs without any side effects. Basic line of treatment involves 3 steps : First and foremost step is to normalise the derranged vatha humour, there by correcting the 3 doshas. First and foremost way to normalise the vatha humour is to induce purgation. Drug of choice is done according to patient’s age, physical condition, disease etc. Then digestion has to be corrected. Second Step is administration of Internal medicine : Poonaikkali or Macuna pruriens : An internal medicine for parkinson disease is prepared from processed seeds of this plant as it contains natural dopamine, known as Poonaikkali Choornam. Dose: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon with hot milk twice daily. Amukkura Choornam : Siddha medicine given as Nervine tonic and general body nourisher. Poorna chandrodayam, Rasa gendhi mezhugu, Karisalai karpam, Thanka Parpam, Armugha chendooram, Ksheerabala thaila Capsules etc are other important medicines given for this. Third step or External Treatment or Thokkanam : Regular Varma massage of Head and body with oil like Ulunthu Thailam, Ksheerabala Oil etc along with steam bath allows the toxins to flush out of body and improve motor movements, reduce tremors and improve balancing the body. Advices : With proper treatment, most individual can lead long productive lives for many years.