Multiple Sclerosis is a condition of the immune system, where it attacks the central nervous system and destroys the protective sheath of nerve fibers. This is why, it is known as an autoimmune disease. It is a disabling disease for the spinal cord and the brain. If treatment is not begun in right earnest, the disease may damage the nervous system and disabled people.

However, there is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis in modern medicine. Doctors can at most reduce the pace of progression of the disease, but not halt it. Nevertheless, Ayurveda may have an answer to this dreaded disease.

Modern Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis:

Modern medicine focuses on speeding up recovery from episodes like pain in the body, electric-shock sensations during certain movements, tremors, problems with coordination, etc. Other aspects of treatment include slowing the progress of the disease and managing the symptoms of the disease. People who are afflicted with only mild symptoms usually don t need any treatment. However, for those who have severe symptoms like jerks, slurred speech, etc., Ayurveda may be the answer.

Ayurvedic Interpretation:

In Ayurveda, the malady is interpreted as an energy disorder. Practitioners consider this problem as one arising from improper digestion. Improper digestion leads to toxin formation. If the toxins are not removed, they accumulate in various tissues of the body. According to the tenets of Ayurveda, these toxins obstruct the movement of certain energies. This precipitates neuromuscular disorders.

Ayurvedic Remedy for Multiple Sclerosis:

Ayurvedic remedies for Multiple Sclerosis involve removing the toxins and restoring digestive capacity. It uses herbal remedies for that purpose. However, the task of removing the toxins is a comprehensive one. The toxins need to be eliminated from the tissues and at the same time they need to be prevented from accumulating in the tissues. This can be done by bringing in improvement in metabolism. In fact, this is the touchstone of Ayurvedic remedies for Multiple Sclerosis. Ayurvedic practitioners use Aloe Vera gel to detoxify and improve metabolism in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. Natural minerals and vitamins of Aloe Vera also help in strengthening the immune system and putting a brake on its autoimmune activities.

Lifestyle Changes:

While various remedies help to expel toxins and prevent build-up toxins, patients need to bring in a change in their lifestyle in order to bring in long-standing improvements in digestive capacity and metabolism.

Dietary Habits:

Stuff like green tea has huge potential in prevention and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, a certain chemical known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate has the ability to prevent the T-cells of immune system from attacking the nerve sheath.

Avoid stimulants like alcohol or coffee, fermented foods, peanuts, acidic foods, etc. One should also avoid or quit cigarettes.

Foods that are helpful are whole grains, almonds, Chlorella, Spirulina, Ghee, etc. Eating food which increases the metabolism and digestion of the body will also be helpful for this situation.

Conclusion:

While modern medicine does not have an answer to Multiple Sclerosis, Ayurveda offers a glimmer of hope. Patients need to bring in a comprehensive change in their lifestyle that includes improving lifestyles and taking specific food and drinks that help in fighting the disease. One should always consult a doctor if the symptoms are visible.

Multiple Sclerosis - What Should You Know?

We all have mood swings but not all mood swings have the same intensity. People who have extreme mood swings ranging from depression to manic highs are said to be suffering from bipolar disorder. These extreme moods are known as episodes and usually, last for a few days or even a few weeks. A person suffering from bipolar disorder could have an episode several times a year. This is a very common psychological problem and can affect both children and adults. Though it cannot be cured, this disease can be managed with medication.

There are no known causes for bipolar disorder but genetics may play an important role in triggering Bipolar Disorder. Hence, if a parent or sibling suffers from this condition, you have a risk of developing it as well. An imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the brain may also play a part in the development of this condition. Stress or traumatic events like the loss of a loved one can also increase your risk of suffering from this condition. Given that mood swings affect almost each one of us, bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose. Some of the things to look out for are:

Change in self-esteem
Unusual talkativeness or quietness
Being increasingly prone to distractions
Decreased need for sleep
Agitation
Recklessness in terms of spending decisions, relationships etc
It must be kept in mind that a person must display at least 4 of the above symptoms simultaneously to be diagnosed as bipolar. Also, none of these symptoms should be a result or side effect of any kind of medication, drugs, alcohol or other intoxicants.

There are four main types of bipolar disorder:

Bipolar I: In such cases, the person has at least one episode of elevated moods and associated abnormal behaviour in his or her life. This may be preceded or followed by depressive episodes.
Bipolar II: In these cases, the person must have suffered from at least one depressive episode. It is very similar to bipolar I except that in bipolar II the highs never reach the manic stage.
Rapid Cycling: Some people can have 4 or more manic and depressive episodes a year. In such cases, they are said to be rapid cycling. This condition affects 10-20% of bipolar cases.
Mixed Bipolar: Usually, bipolar patients show mood swings that alternate between manic and depressive moods. However, sometimes a person may experience both elation and depression simultaneously or in rapid succession of each other. These cases are known as mixed bipolar.
Once diagnosed, bipolar disorder can be managed with a combination of medication and psychotherapy. In some cases, electroconvulsive therapy may also be needed.

All About Bipolar Disorder

Is someone close to you into drugs? Are you concerned about him or her having a drug problem? There are several patterns of drug abuse, which help you to determine the extent of drug abuse a person is undergoing. It is important for you to recognize your dear ones  drug use patterns and analyse whether you need to take further steps. The different drug abuse patterns are classified as follows:

Hard drug use
Hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine are considered to be the most dangerous in terms of their harmful effects on health and behavior.
They are associated with risks of addiction. Most people start with such drugs recreationally, but addiction can set in very quickly.
People engaging in hard drugs are subjected to high risk behavior. They usually become isolated and live in their own world, away from society.
Frequent drug use
The frequency of drug abuse is not good enough for determining, if a person is addicted.
People engaging themselves in binge drinking during weekends can have serious issues in spite of not drinking every day.
Frequent drug use indicates a person s drug tolerance and dependence. A person who drinks or uses drugs regularly is quite likely to continue this pattern.
Early drug use
People who start taking drugs from early adolescence are at an enhanced risk of developing drug problems in their adulthood.
The earlier a child gets into drugs, the sooner they become addicts.
During adolescence, a person s body and brain still undergo development and any kind of drug-related consequences may be quite severe.
Drug use from an early age is quite a common phenomenon.
Solitary drug use
Teenagers who use marijuana, cigarettes and alcohol while they are alone are at a higher risk of developing drug problems later in life.
They are quite likely to have poor physical health by the age of 23, compared to social drug users.
Solitary drug use is also quite a common aspect that prevails.
Escapist drug use
The reasons for using alcohol and drugs vary from person to person.
People who use drugs for coping with stress, medicating anxiety or depression, and building self-esteem are prone to becoming addicts.
Teens using substances for coping with boredom and grief are highly subjected to drug problems.
A lot of people drink on some occasions, and try some substance just for the sake of experimenting. However, when the substance starts affecting your career, relationships and activities, a pattern of drug use is recognized. These patterns increase the risk of addiction, no matter how many months, years or weeks a person is engaged in them.

Drug Abuse - Understanding The Pattern!

Depression is possibly regarded as the first sign of Alzheimer s disease. According to a research, the connection between Alzheimer s disease and depression is very interesting. It has been found that the life of people who are suffering from dementia is affected in 2 different ways. Individuals who have suffered from depression in their lives are at a greater risk of developing dementia. It has also been observed that people suffering from dementia also have depression. The health condition should be treated immediately because if it is ignored it can damage the quality of life and result in worst conditions like memory loss. Temperament, as well as behavioral changes, may precede memory problems in people with the disease.

Risk factor of dementia
The significant risk factor for dementia or common form of Alzheimer s is developing depression at a younger age. The other reasons for the link are not very clear, however, it has been speculated that the inflammation that occurs in depression is a contributing factor to the Alzheimer s disease. The risk of dementia also increases with certain proteins which spiral with depression. The common signs of Alzheimer s disease include lack of appetite, sadness, agitation, weight loss, and anxiety. People suffering from this condition are unable to tell if they are depressed, but their actions help in communicating a message. It is always better to seek the assistance of a physician as doctors can make use of tools to assess the neurological disorder.

Best way to treat patients with Alzheimer s
The best way to treat patients suffering from dementia and who are depressed is to engage them in activities. It is important that they step out and do some exercises. They should go out in the sunshine. It is necessary to engage them in activities and conversations and help them to lead a higher quality of life. Some of the symptoms of dementia and depression are alike but not all of them. The major symptoms of depression include feeling tired most of the times, feeling restless, irritable, feeling worthless/guilty, unplanned weight gain and trouble in focusing. These symptoms often occur for more than 2 weeks or longer.

Difficulties caused by Alzheimer s disease
In the case of Alzheimer s disease, it becomes very difficult for the individual to communicate, learn or remember mainly because the damage is caused to the brain. Due to the brain damage, there is a possibility of changes in the personality and moods of individuals suffering from this health condition. The quality of life is affected by depression as well as Alzheimer s disease. Hence, it is always better to treat the condition immediately. For that reason, it is very important to set up a pleasant environment around and help patients suffering from this condition by helping them do enjoyable tasks and make them feel positive about life.

Alzheimer's Disease & Depression - How They Are Related?

What is avoidant personality disorder?

Feelings of inadequacy for long durations and being extremely sensitive to what others think of you is a disorder called avoidant personality disorder symptom. Such feelings of inadequacy in turn push the person to become isolated from the society and the person avoids people, work, and other activities. Social and occupational functioning is affected as the person is extremely sensitive and has very low self-esteem. Symptoms of avoidant personality disorder are:

1. Avoiding social interactions: people suffering from this disorder avoid almost all sorts of interpersonal contact since they lie with the fear of rejection, disapproval and criticism.

2. Avoiding risks: they avoid taking personal risks or being involved in activities which seem new, because they fear that they will embarrass themselves.

3. Socially unplugged: they are not willing to get involved with individuals unless they are absolutely certain of being liked by the person.

4. Preoccupied with negative perception: the idea of being criticized or rejected in social functions is so deep within their psyche that they are often preoccupied with only this thought in their minds.

5. Inferiority complex: people suffering from avoidant personality disorder consider themselves as good for nothing, unappealing, and inferior to everyone else.

6. Avoid intimacy: they are always reluctant to get into intimate relationships because they feel that they will be shamed and ridiculed. Because of such fears, they let go of relationships where they would have been genuinely cherished too.

The only treatment possible for this disorder is psychotherapy. While some people opt for long term therapy, most people usually visit a psychotherapist only when they feel overwhelmed with their fear and emotions.

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6 Signs of Avoidant Personality Disorder, 2nd Most Common Psychiatric Disorder

What happens when you are addicted to a chemical substance? You lose control of your life. It doesn t matter what you are addicted to alcohol, nicotine or drugs the effects are the same. It is usually not easy to get rid of an alcohol and/or nicotine addiction. Most people find it difficult to give up these substances even after years in de-addiction therapy. Hence, it s prudent to let Ayurveda, the ancient science of healing handhold us in getting rid of addictions. 

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds and 400 other toxins. These cigarette ingredients include nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT. Perhaps this list of ingredients that are found in cigarettes is enough to make you want to quit smoking for good! - Lowell Kleinman, M.D., and Deborah Messina-Kleinman, M.P.H 

Addiction - The Ayurvedic View
Ayurveda considers alcohol and nicotine consumed in large quantities as  Visha  or toxic. According to Ayurveda, alcohol has the following properties-

Light or Laghu
Hot or Ushna
Sharp or Tikshna
Drying or Visada
Rough or Ruksha
Expensive or Vikaasa
Swift or Aasuga
Sour or Amla
Subtle or Sookshma
These properties are all opposite to the qualities that ojas possesses. Ojas has all life-giving properties and alcohol and nicotine have life-negating qualities.

Why do humans get addicted to alcohol and nicotine?
Human brain produces Dopamine normally and what alcohol does is to activate the nervous system to promote dopamine formation. The brain thus remembers the taste of alcohol and nicotine by creating special cells called receptor cells. As a person increases the quantity of alcohol, these cells also increase in numbers. When the person wants to give up his addictions these receptor cells agitate and create withdrawal symptoms with unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms.

De-addiction - Ayurveda Way
De-addiction treatments in Ayurveda comprise the following:

Purification therapies or Panchkarma: These are used for getting rid of all toxins present in the patient s body. These must always be done under the supervision of an ayurvedacharya as they are quite potent. After Panchakarma, the patient is given vomiting therapy or Vamana, followed by purgative therapy or Virechana, Basti or enema therapy and administration of Nasya or nasal drops therapy. All these help in detoxifying the body and mind and prepare the patient for further de-addiction ayurvedic treatments like Rasayana therapies which nourish and strengthen the body after Panchkarma. For treatment of addictions, Rasayana treatments include changes in diet and use of oral herbal medicines both.
Herbal medicines used in de-addiction: A range of herbal medicines and their combinations are used in the treatment of addictive problems in Ayurveda and these are to be consumed orally. Ayurveda prescribes Chamomile and Ashwagandha in combination to heal the lungs. These help in cleansing lungs of smoke- related problems. Doctors also prescribe congestion relieving herbs like ginger and pepper mixed with honey or lemon. 
In addition, herbs to improve memory, concentration and to fight depression are also given. These are:

Shankhpushpi
Kanphool or dandelion
Brahmi
Ashwagandha
In addition, herbs to treat sleep disturbances like Jatamansi, Sarpgandha, Brahmi and Jaiphal are also prescribed. Since most addicts have impaired liver function, herbs that improve liver function like Aloe Vera, Punarnava, Long pepper, Kutki, Tulsi are given to revive the liver.

Ayurvedic View on Alcohol and Nicotine De-addiction

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