DYSPHAGIA- Ayurvedic Treatment, Diet, Exercises, Yoga & Pranayama

Dysphagia means difficulty in swallowing. Causes of dysphagia are ranges from simple to complex.

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• CAUSES OF DYSPHAGIA 
• PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DYSPHAGIA 
• DIAGNOSIS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• TREATMENTS FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• PROGNOSIS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• COMPLICATIONS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• DYSPHAGIA   AND AYURVEDA
• NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF DYSPHAGIA 
• PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF DYSPHAGIA 
• CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• HOME REMEDIES FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• YOGA FOR DYSPHAGIA 
• RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF DYSPHAGIA 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Coughing or choking during swallowing
• Obstruction of food at the throat or chest
• Difficulty in chewing
• Drooling of saliva
• Pain while swallowing (odynophagia)

CAUSES OF DYSPHAGIA 

• GERD
• Esophagitis
• Infections
• Achalasia
• Diabetes
• Esophageal cancer
• Laryngeal cancer
• Cleft palate
• Cerebral palsy
• Stroke
• Parkinson’s disease
• Neurological diseases
• Ageing
• Dryness in the mouth and throat

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DYSPHAGIA 

Swallowing is assisted by both oropharynx and esophagus. Any defect in the functioning of oropharynx or esophagus like obstruction, neurologic reasons, fibrosis, infections and inflammations can result in dysphagia.

DIAGNOSIS OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Endoscopic examination
• X-ray – to find out the normal positioning and shape of esophagus
• Barium meal swallowing test
• Manometry 
• Neurological examinations

TREATMENTS FOR DYSPHAGIA 

• Treatment of underlying pathology
• Dilation of stricture
• Swallowing therapy

PROGNOSIS OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Prognosis is based on the cause of the disease, duration  and condition of the patient

COMPLICATIONS OF DYSPHAGIA           

• Aspiration pneumonia
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration

DYSPHAGIA AND AYURVEDA

• In Ayurveda,dysphagia is managed based on the treatment of vataroga( neurological ) amlapitta(GERD) etc.

NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Excess consumption of dry, acrid, sour food
• Excessive aggravation of doshas
• Suppression of natural urges
• Vatarogas – neurological problems
• Improper functioning annavaha srotas

PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Difficulty in swallowing of liquid foods

SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Due to the above-mentioned causes doshas aggravated especially vata. The vitiated doshas reside in the throat and esophagus and produce symptoms of dysphagia.

LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Burning sensation, Sour belching ( amla udgaram), Vomiting, Bitter taste in the mouth ( tikta asyatha ) in the case of GERD
• Difficulty in chewing, swallowing, drooling (lala srava) are in a neurological deficit.

AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF DYSPHAGIA 

• Sadya (curable) in the early stage and manageable in the chronic stage with proper Ayurvedic remedies.

CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR DYSPHAGIA 

AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPHAGIA

In association with GERD

• Guluchyadi kashayam after food
• Drakshadi gulika along with amalaki swarasa ( gooseberry juice)
• Shatavari ghrita
• Shankha bhasma
• Amlapittantak lauha
• Shaddharanam churna
• Shankha vati
• Avipattikara churna- along with honey at bedtime
• Nalikera khanda

In association with neurological problems

• Vatanulomaka medicines
• Abhyanga – oil massage on head, neck and whole parts of the body 
• Maharasnadi kashayam
• Yogendra rasa
• Rasaraja rasa
• Dhanwantharam ghrita

 AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPHAGIA 

• Vamana – emesis
• Virechana – purgation
• Vasthi – medicated enema
• Nasya – nasal medications

COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR DYSPHAGIA 

Internal administration

• Guluchyadi kashayam
• Drakshadi gulika
• Shatavari ghrita
• Shankha bhasma
• Amlapittantak lauha
• Shaddharanam churna
• Shankha vati
• Avipattikara churna
• Maharasnadi kashayam
• Yogendra rasa
• Rasaraja rasa
• Dhanwantharam ghrita

HOME REMEDIES FOR DYSPHAGIA 

• Intake of soft and liquid foods like juices

DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR DYSPHAGIA 

• Avoid food items which produce vata dosha imbalance like more acrid and sour. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
• Consume easily digestible food items
• Timely intake of food in divided doses
• Drink an appropriate quantity of water
• Avoid dry, hard and sticky foods

YOGA FOR DYSPHAGIA 

• Nadi Shuddi Pranayam    – cleans the respiratory passage. Reduces swallowing difficulty associated with COPD 

The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.

                            

RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF DYSPHAGIA 

1. Ayurvedic management of achalasia

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275053105_Ayurvedic_management_of_achalasia

source https://ayurvedapc.blog/2021/11/14/dysphagia-ayurvedic-treatment-diet-exercises-yoga-pranayama/