European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ROLE OF KSHEERBALA TAILA NASYA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF FACIAL PALSY W.S.R.H TO ARDITA

*Anil Kumar, Sanjay Gupta and Alok Kumar Srivastava

ABSTRACT

Facial paralysis is a disfiguring disorder that has a great impact on the patient. Facial nerve paralysis may be congenital or neoplastic or may result from infection, trauma, toxic exposures, or iatrogenic causes. The most common cause of unilateral facial paralysis is Bell's palsy, more appropriately termed 'Idiopathic facial paralysis' (IFP). In Bell's palsy, the onset is rapid, unilateral and there may be an ache beneath the ear. The weakness worsens over one to two days. Bell palsy is an acute, unilateral, peripheral, lower-motor-neuron facial-nerve paralysis that gradually resolves over time in 80-90% of cases. In an upper motor neuron lesion e.g. stroke, the forehead is spared since this region is bilaterally represented in the cortex. Looking for 'forehead sparing' is thus a way of differentiating between upper and lower motor neuron causes of facial weakness. Facial palsy generally refers to weakness of the facial muscles. Mainly resulting from temporary or permanent damage to the facial nerve. This result in paralysis of the affected part of the face. This can affect movement of the eye and mouth as well as other areas. Ardita is a Vatika disorder mentioned in Ayurvedic classics which is included amongst the eighty Nanatmaja Vata disorders by Acharya Charaka. Acharya Vagbhatta describes it as ‘Ekayam’, Acharya Sushruta mentions the involvement of face whereas Acharya Charaka the whole of Sharirardha (half of the body). Ardita is a disease causing the vakrardha (deviation) of mukhardha. Facial palsy is the conditions which present with the deviation of half of the face and associate with the impairment of motor and sensory function of the affected side of the face. Facial paralysis can be placed under the wide spectrum of the ardita vyadhi which is described in ayurvedic classics.

Keywords: Ardita, vata vyadhi, ksheerbala taila Nasya, facial palsy.