Understanding of Guillain Barre Syndrome and its management through Ayurveda - A Case Study

Abstract

Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy caused generally by autoimmune response after certain post infections. GBS damages part of nerves. This nerve damage causes tingling, muscle weakness and paralysis. According to Ayurveda, it can be correlated with Vatavyadhi - Sarvangaghata. A 62 Year old male patient, presenting with sudden onset of, complete paralysis of all four limbs (quadriplegia), unable to walk, stand, sit, difficulty in deglutition (dysphagia) and dysarthia. Previously patient admitted and treated in SNMC Medical College, Bagalkot, but did not show any sign of improvement. So, patient was admitted and treated with Ayurvedic treatment for 60 days. As per Ayurvedic classics which is Apatarpan a nature (diseases with deprived nourishment of body tissue) preceded by Jvara (H/O fever before onset of GBS). Hence the principle of treatment is Santarpan Chikitsa (nourishing treatment) includes Bahyopakramas (nourishing external treatment modalities), such as Abhyanga (oleation therapy) and Shastika Shali Pinda Sveda (sudation using hot and processed), Kalabasti (medicated enema), Sirodhara (gentle pouring of medicated liquid over forehead) and using various Ayurvedic herbomineral compounds. Remarkable results were observed in the form of improvement in the muscle power from zero to five of all four limbs with improvement in speech. There was no difficulty post treatment in deglutition, sitting, standing and walking; and now patient is near to normal movements.