Ardhitha - facial nerve paralysis Management through Ayurveda

Ardita is a disease causing the facial nerve paralysis affecting all ages and the need of the hour to curb the disease through effective treatment.

Face is the index of mind. Facial muscle functions play an integral part in our day today life. Facial expressions reveal the mood of a person. Ardita is a disease causing the Facial nerve paralysis is the condition which presents with the deviation of half of the face and associated with the impairment of motor and sensory functions of the affected side of the face Ardita with special reference to facial palsy, is a disease affecting all ages and the need of the hour to curb the disease through effective treatment. In Ayurveda, ardita vata is mentioned one among the vataja nanatmaja vikara.

Nidana of arditha:

Speaking loudly in excess, Chewing of hard food stuffs, Excessive laughter, yawning and sneezing, Carrying heavy loads on head, Sudden movement of head and neck, Sleeping in an uncomfortable posture, Use of pillows in wrong posture; either too high or too low etc, Rakta Kshaya in specific group of patients get afflicted by Ardita, Pregnant lady, Recently delivered lady, Children, Old people, Emaciated persons, Following an injury, By doing day sleep excessively, Excessive tongue scrapping, Siravyadhana (Bloodletting if done improperly), Injury to the Marma in the head, Excessive rubbing of the eyes, ears and nose, By consuming alcohol, asavas in excess etc.

Signs and symptoms:

Facial weakness, Impairment of taste, Muscle twitching, Ringing in one or both ears, Difficulty in speech, Pain and discomfort in jaw and behind the ears, Tremors in head.

Pathogenesis:

Due to nidana sevana, vata gets aggravated and take sthana in the mukha ardha bhaga leading to vikrti of mukha known as Ardita vata.

The treatment protocol for arditha:

Moordhataila (Application of oil) to the head, Nasya karma, Tarpana Kriya

Nadi Sweda, Upanaha Sweda has to be administered.

Matishkyam,Shirovasti, Dhoomapana,Snehana- according to the Dosha involved.

If associated with daha, siravyadha is recommended

Some of the single drugs useful are Lashuna, Nirgundi, Eranda, Panasa patra, Ashwagandha, Vacha, Guggulu, Rasna etc. Kashayas like Dhanadanayanadi kashayam, Maharasnadi kashayam, Rasna dashamooladi kashayam helps .