AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO TREAT CHRONIC RESIDUAL BELL’S PALSY IN CHILDREN: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction: Bell’s palsy is the most common type of unilateral facial paralysis (60%-75%). The etiopathogenesis of Bell’s palsy is uncertain. The clinical features include acute onset of unilateral facial paralysis, poor eyelid closure, posterior auricular pain, numbness of cheeks, and deviation of the angle of the mouth towards the unaffected side. Bell’s palsy can be understood as Ardita in Ayurveda. Acharya Sushruta has included bala as a susceptible group while describing the vishesha nidanas of Ardita. Aims and Ideas: To study the effect of a framed Ayurvedic treatment protocol in managing chronic residual Bell’s palsy in children. Methods: The present case was a chronic right-sided residual Bell’s palsy with a history of 12 years and was approached through the line of management of Ardita mentioned in Bruhattrayees and Yogamrutam for 12 days. The treatment was started with takra dhara to give mrdu rookshana. Takra dhara mukha abhyanga and ksheera dhoomam were administered, followed by marsha nasyam. Two specific treatments mentioned in Yogamrutam was adopted in this case, i.e., panasa patra swedam and navaneeta shiro talam. The treatment was ended with shashtika shala pinda swedana to mukha. Results and Discussions: The facial asymmetry was reduced by 60% at the end of the treatment. Watering of the right was subsided entirely, and there was complete effortless closure of the right year after treatment. Pain, twitching and numbness on the right half of the face were utterly absent. The House and Brackmann grade was reduced from Grade III to Grade II after 12 days of treatment.