AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF MOTOR NEURON DISEASE: A CASE REPORT

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive condition characterized by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. The term Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is used synonymously with MND. As there was no clarity regarding Ayurvedic aspect of MND / ALS, a major diagnostic and management dilemma exists while approaching the case of MND. The present case report deals with the case of MND and its Ayurvedic diagnosis and management. Difficulty in differential diagnosis exists between the conditions like sarvanga vata, avrita vata and saama vata. Upashaya Anupashaya pariksha is beneficial to solve the problem in differential diagnosis. Ashwagandha preparations, swedana and matra vasti procedures are found to be beneficial in the management of MND.