Allodynia – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment in Ayurveda

ABSTRACT

This is a condition in which pain occurs by a stimulus that normally does not provoke the pain. People presented with this condition are highly sensitive to touch. Things which do not lead to pain can be so painful like brushing hair, wearing cotton t-shirt or cold temperature etc. Allodynia and hyperalgesia both terms are totally different from each other but they are types of neuropathic pain. Various conditions are the reason behind allodynia. Approx 15%-20% people suffering from nerve pain have allodynia. So today we will read briefly about allodynia in this article.

Allodynia

INTRODUCTION

Allodynia is a nerve-related condition in which pain occurs in the nerve. People with allodynia experience pain from stimuli which actually do not cause any pain. For example:- pain is experienced when cloth touches your skin.

TYPES

Following are the three types of allodynia

  1. Dynamic allodynia:- In this pain experience from the things which move around the skin.
  2. Static/Tactile allodynia:- In this pain experience from touch.
  3. Thermal allodynia:- In this pain feels from temperature changes.

CAUSES

Following are the causes of allodynia

  • Use of opioids
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Shingles
  • Chemotherapy
  • Diabetes
  • Migraine
  • Trauma
  • Chickenpox
  • Postherpetic neuralgia
  • Trigeminal neuralgia

SYMPTOMS

Following are the symptoms of allodynia

  • Anxiety
  • Nausea
  • Vision changes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Tiredness
  • Depression
  • Severe headache
  • Difficulty in sleeping

DIAGNOSIS

  1. By physical examination
  2. By medical history (if having any disease in past medical history)

TREATMENT

  • Use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Dietary changes
  • Nerve blockers

Prevention

  • Do exercise regularly to prevent your body from stress or migraine headaches.
  • Family history of any disease like fibromyalgia, stroke or diabetes then regular checkup should be followed.
  • Maintain a healthy fit body
  • Getting vaccinated yourself to prevent viral infections.
  • Eat a healthy and balanced diet.

AYURVEDIC OVERVIEW

In ayurveda we can correlate allodynia with vatavyadhi. Vata is responsible for the functioning of the nervous system. All the functions of kapha, pitta, mala and dhatu are dependent on vata dosha. Abnormal vata performs various afflictions to the body, thereby producing various diseases. It also affects the strength, complexion, happiness and longevity. Due to the impairment of vata dosha leads to many neurological disorders such as stress, stroke, parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety etc. Vata dosha can be vitiated by many reasons such as faulty diet or lifestyle. Let’s read out about vata dosha in brief

Vata vyadhi definition

वात एव व्याधि: वात व्याधि। (मा. नि. २२ )

According to the above shloka:- Vaat is itself a disease.

It combined with particular dushyas attains the form of generalized affections and because of producing pain it is called as vatavyadhi.

Causative factors

According to sushruta (S.Su.21/19) shloka

  • Weak person fighting with strong person
  • Performing heavy exercises, indulging in more sexual acts, continuous study
  • Falling down from certain height
  • Running or speed walk
  • Excessive strain/sprain to the body
  • Injury due to fighting
  • Swimming in water
  • Not sleeping during night time
  • Carrying heavy loads
  • Excessive travelling on elephant, horse, chariot and by foot
  • Increased intake of pungent, astringent, bitter, rough, light, cold, dried vegetables
  • Dry meat
  • Eating during indigestion

Pathogenesis of vatavyadhi

Vata dosha gets aggravated with above mentioned factors which leads to occupied empty srotas (transporting channels). On filling the empty spaces, the aggravated vata develops many diseases like it may be ekanga(limited to a particular area) or sarvanga (affecting the whole body) that is vatavyadhi.

Vata vrddhi lakshana

According to sushruta (S.Su.15/18) shloka

  • Emaciation
  • Blackish discoloration
  • Throbbing sensation in body parts
  • Tremors
  • Desire for warmthness
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Loss of sleep
  • Decrease in strength
  • Hard stools

Vata kshaya lakshana

तत्र, वातक्षये मंदचेष्टाअल्पवाक्त्वमप्रहर्षो मूढ़संज्ञता च । (S.Su 15/11)

According to sushruta shloka

  • Diminished activities
  • Loss of speech
  • Lack of excitation
  • Diminished mental faculties

Treatment

  • Snehan:- In vatavyadhi medicated oil, ghee is widely used to nourish the body and decrease the level of vata dosha, increase the digestive fire and strength.
  • Sweden:- After snehan sweden therapy should be followed.
  • Mridu virechan:- It purifies the whole body.
  • Use of deepana pachana drugs.
  • Massage the body with medicated oils.

Herbal remedies for Allodynia by planet ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda provides various packs of herbal medicines which treat various diseases related to the human body. Their all products are 100% natural, pure and vegetarian. All the medicines are GMP certified. There are no added chemicals, preservatives or yeast. All the herbs are highly effective in nature and effective for the human body.

For allodynia planet ayurveda provide

  1. BOSWELLIA CURCUMIN
  2. NEUROGENIE CAPSULES
  3. MAHA RASNADI KWATH
  4. VRIHAT VATCHINTAMANI RAS
  5. VATA BALANCE

Herbal remedies for Allodynia Herbal Supplements for Allodynia

Product Description

1. BOSWELLIA CURCUMIN

It is a poly herbal capsule made up of Shallaki (boswellia serrata), Curcumin (curcuma longa). It maintains the overall body health and well being.

Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily

2. NEUROGENIE CAPSULES

It is poly herbal capsules which are made up of Brahmi (bacopa monnieri), Ashwagandha (withania somnifera). It works on nerves of our body that’s why it is very effective in allodynia.

Dosage:– 1 capsule twice daily

3. MAHA RASNADI KWATH

It is an liquid preparation made from various herbs like Javasa (alhagi pseudalhagi), Bala (sida cordifolia), Errand (ricinus communis), Rasna (pluchea lanceolata) etc. It mainly works on vata dosha that is the reason to give this medicine to vatavyadhi.

Dosage:- 2 tsp twice daily

4. VRIHAT VATCHINTAMANI RAS

It is made from Swarna bhasma (gold bhasma), Rajata bhasma (silver bhasma), Abhraka bhasma (mica bhasma) etc. It helps to maintain a healthy nervous system and healthy digestion.

Dosage:- 1 pill once daily

5. VATA BALANCE

It is made up from Bilwa (aegle marmelos), Shyonak (oroxylum indicum), Gambhari (gmelina arborea) etc. It balances the vata dosha in our body and makes our nervous system healthy.

Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily

Contact Planet Ayurveda Support Team to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or Call at 0172-521-4030 (India), +91-172-521-4030 (Outside India) or Whatsapp at (+91) 9915-593-604

Conclusion

Allodynia is a nerve related disorder in modern and vatavyadhi in ayurveda. In ayurveda there are various kinds of vata disease which affect the human nervous system. In this disease vata is the main culprit to develop such disease. It is quite difficult to assist such a disease but we can manage this disease with ayurvedic herbs such as rasna (pluchea lanceolata), eranda (ricinus communis), bilwa (ricinus communis), shyonaka (oroxylum indicum) etc which balance the vata dosha and makes our nerves healthy. Other procedures like putting medicated oil in the umbilicus, ear, eyes (triphala ghrit) can prevent vata dosha and nourishes the body.