ABHYANGA, NASYA AND RASA AUSHADHIS : A SILVER LINING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ARDITA (FACIAL PARALYSIS): A CASE REPORT

Ayurveda is the ancient system of medicine and the holistic blueprint for maintaining good health, contentment, peace, and tranquility. In present scenario the prevalence of Vatavyadhi (neurological disorder) such as Pakshaghata (hemiplegia), gridhrasi (sciatica), Ardita (facial palsy) has been increased due to stressfull lifestyle. There are 80 types of vataja nanatmaja vata vyadhi in ayurveda, Ardita is considered as one of them. Ardita is characterized by Mukhardha bakrata in which there is deviation or crookedness leading to deformity of one side of the face. Based on clinical symptomatology Ardita can be correlated with Bell's palsy. It is the neurological condition that causes sudden onset of weakness of muscle to oneside of the face which includes facial nerve (7th cranial nerve). The present case deals with 64yr old man diagnosed with Ardita which is already admitted in our IPD after complaint of knee joint pain. During the treatment, presenting symptoms included with complaints of deviation of mouth, improper closure of eye, speech impairment and dribbling of saliva on oneside. According to sign and symptoms he was diagnosed with Ardita and treated with sthanika snehana (massage therapy), sthanika swedana (localised steam), and nasya karma and murdhni taila along with oral Ayurvedic samana ousadhis effectively alleviated the Ardita symptoms. A signicant relief from all the symptoms was observed within a two week period, demonstrating the efcacy of the Ayurvedic approach in managing neurological conditions.