Dayanand (name changed) appears to be a typical 65-year-old. However, if you look closely, you will notice that he has tremors in his right hand and that his movements are slow and stilted. Dayanand’s symptoms, according to Dr. Kiran B Nair, are caused by Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition that is on the rise in India’s aging population.
Dayanand was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in his early forties. “I had been noticing slight tremors in my right hand for a few days but wasn’t concerned. When I sat down to eat one day, my hand simply refused to bring the food to my mouth. I became terrified. No matter how hard I tried, my arm just would not move,” recalls Dayanand. This incident jolted him into action, and he went to the doctor right away. The neurologist to whom he was referred informed Dayanand that he had Parkinson’s disease.
“Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, is a chronic condition with no known permanent cure. However, there are effective treatments in Ayurveda that can stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease if it is detected early,” says Dr. Kiran of Sreeragam Ayurveda in Kochi, India. Dr. Kiran is the founder and CEO of Sreeragam Ayurveda, which specializes in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease through Panchakarma therapies, oral medication, yoga, and physiotherapy. According to Dr. Kiran, there have also been cases where patients were completely cured of Parkinson’s disease after receiving Ayurvedic treatment.
“Parkinson’s disease progression is divided into three stages at Sreeragam Ayurveda: stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3. When a new patient comes to us, we thoroughly evaluate him or her and determine the stage of Parkinson’s disease,” explains Dr. Kiran. Depending on the stage of Parkinson’s disease, the treatment protocol is set.
Patients in stage 1 have minor symptoms that do not interfere with their daily lives. These patients can be managed with oral medications and dietary changes. Patients in Stage 2 develop visible motor problems such as tremors, rigidity, and so on, which begin to interfere with daily life. These patients require in-house treatments such as Abhyanga, Snehana, Swedana, Virechana, Anuvasana basti, Niruha basti, Shirobasti, and others. Patients in stage 3 have severe motor skill impairment and are more prone to falling. Although a cure is impossible due to the progression of neurodegeneration, Ayurvedic therapies can help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
“I am a firm believer in Ayurveda, and when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I knew that this was my only hope,” Dayanand says. He was confident that he was in good hands while being treated by Dr. Kiran at Sreeragam. “While at Sreeragam Ayurveda, I never felt embarrassed or ashamed of my tremors or the way my body refused to cooperate with my mind. Everyone was sympathetic and accommodating of my limitations, and they made sure I was comfortable throughout my stay,” Dayanand says.
Dayanand has made significant progress after two months of intensive therapy. His tremors and stiffness have subsided significantly, and he can now live a nearly normal life. “I continue to follow a strict regimen of oral medications and have made significant lifestyle changes per Dr. Kiran’s instructions after being discharged from Sreeragam Ayurveda,” Dayanand explains. He believes that with the help of Dr. Kiran and the team at Sreeragam Ayurveda, he will be able to fight Parkinson’s disease for a long time. Dayanand is one of many patients who have successfully battled Parkinson’s disease after visiting Sreeragam Ayurveda.
The Ayurvedic Path to Parkinson’s Relief and Recovery