MS Ayurveda

The Charaka Samhitha, an Ayurvedic classic which was written more than 1000 years ago mentions 80 different neurological illnesses called the “Vata vydhi’’. Vata is responsible for all neurological activities in the human body. The symptoms of MS were found in 3 different illnesses that affect the brain. In MS the demyelinisation of nerves is common to all MS patients, but the cause and area of demyelinisation and the respective symptoms of MS vary from patient to patient. So from Ayurvedic perspective MS is more seen as a syndrome than a separate disease entity.

Corresponding to the activities of nervous system or Vata dosha, MS is considered to have multiple causes that relates to the environmental factors, food pattern and living style. MS is an ongoing degenerative process in the nervous system which could have started months or years preceeding its diagnosis.

 

Specific Aims of DATMS Therapy

Control on Progression of MS – The first year of treatment is aimed at controlling the
progression of the disease and sustaining the positive changes that are acquired
during the time of treatment.

To enable the patient to lead a normal life – MS can be controlled and the patient
could lead a normal life according to Ayurvedic consideration and that is proven in
our case, within the possible limits. (This stage of MS is decided during the DATMS
consultations)

Slow and stable recovery for advanced stage of MS – Advanced stage considered
as - above the 5.5 of EDSS mark. (More specific categorization done during the time
of DATMS consultation on the individual specialty.)

 

Method of Treatment

DATMS Is a system that uses a group of therapies aimed at treating the source of the disease where palliation of symptoms happens together. The symptoms that are first to respond to the treatment are sensitivity disturbances, bladder control (in some constitutions), pains, vision disturbances and so on. The prescribed treatment is to be taken consecutively for 3 years. (Exceptions to be considered).

The prescribed time of treatment is between 45 to 60 days (which is to be decided during the time of consultation). During the treatment the patient will undergo different types of therapies with various kinds of herbal preparations according to the physical constitution of the patient, metabolic state, mental state, severity of the disease, symptom, etc. The duration of the treatment for a single day is approximately 210-300 minutes. The primary daily treatment is done for the central nervous system, Shirovasti, where potentiated herbal oil is poured onto the scalp within a leather cap and allowed to remain for 60 to 150 minutes. There are 5-7 other types of therapies that are assisting the main treatment such as Kanjidhara, Thailadhara, and Vasti, (a medicinal herbal enema).

The foremost aspect of the whole treatment is the usage of potentiated herbal oils which are taken individually or in mixture of maximum 3 different kinds of herbal oils. The oil is replaced every 3 days with a fresh mixture for maximum efficacy. One of the main types of oil contains around 65 different kinds of herbs and requires 3 weeks to prepare. The herbal oils and the herbs used in the treatments are purely herbal in origin and tested for non-toxicity from heavy metals or other toxic ingredients. The oils used for DATMS therapy have been developed and patented by the Raghavan family.

DATMS Approach

1. Adhi-Stana Chikitsa or Treating the source of illness - the central nervous system.
2. Agni Sara Chikitsa or Reorganizing or fine tuning the metabolism – Correcting the digestive fire in a person so that the cellular metabolism improves.
3. Kaya Sattwa or Mind Body Balancing.
4. Dathu Shuddhi or Palliation of accompanying illness or pathology.

Brief about the DATMS Therapy results:

From 2002 to 2007 nineteen patients were treated using the DATMS therapy under the
supervision of Vaiyda Prasanth Raghavan. Four among the nineteen patients took 3
consecutive years of treatment for MS. Among them the first patient who completed the
therapy was in 1996 from the US, two from Germany, and one from India.

• Three among the 4 patients were in the Expanded Disability Status scale 2.0 – 5.5.
• They are free from any symptoms of MS since the completion of therapy.
• Feedback from the patients is taken to ascertain the results of treatment.

Summary of Patients Receiving DATMS:

The overall results for the DATMS treatments after therapy patients reported: an
increase in walking distance; visible difference in gait; palliation of pain, improved
balance; improved bladder control; dexterity of the hands improved; positive changes in
the visual disturbances improved or eliminated; increased energy; improved or total
absence of spasticity; sleep duration and quality improved; and normalizing of cognitive
and emotional disturbances.

Of the 19 patients, 4 had discontinued the therapy. Three of them due to financial
reason and one patient could not follow the regimen of DATMS and had withdrawn from
the treatment.

It is to be noted that 3 years is the minimum time needed for any case of MS. If the MS
is in an advanced stage (a grading of MS that is used in DATMS), the number of years
of treatments will increase according to the severity of the disease.