Buerger's Disease - can Ayurveda cure it?

We all know how bad smoking is for our health. However, individuals who are hooked on cigarettes never take the term seriously. Tobacco contains nicotine, which induces vasospasm and inflammatory endarteritis. This toxin limits our blood vessels and makes the blood sticky. Over time, these veins, particularly in our legs, might get clogged. As a result, this condition is often known as a smoker’s disease. Buerger’s disease is more frequent in men but extremely rare in women. However, the main question is whether Ayurveda offers a remedy for Buegers’ disease. Let us discover the answer.

What is Buerger’s disease?

Buerger disease is a chronic autoimmune disease. The condition can be identified as thromboangiitis obliterans. It affects the arteries in the upper and lower limbs, resulting in inflammation.The arteries and veins in specific areas of the arms and legs expand and become inflamed, increasing the risk of blood clots. The affected regions can become infected, which may further cause gangrene. According to doctors, the disease primarily affects men between the ages of 18 and 50. Surprisingly, it’s mostly seen in young and middle-aged men, especially those from the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Middle East.

Ayurveda’s View on Buerger's Disease

Buerger’s disease is not clearly described in ancient Ayurvedic writings, although its symptoms and pathology are linked to some Ayurvedic principles.

Dosha Imbalance: The condition is generally associated with an imbalance of Vata dosha, which regulates movement and circulation. Increased vata dosha can cause circulation difficulties as well as tissue dryness.
Ama (toxins): Ama can cause inflammation and clotting in blood vessels.
Dhatu (tissue): The condition leads to an imbalance in the Rakta Dhatu (blood tissue) and Asthi Dhatu (bone tissue).

Buerger's Disease Symptoms

After looking at Beurger’s disease and Ayurveda’s point of view, let us look at its symptoms.

Intermittent Claudication: Pain in the legs, feet, arms, or hands during physical exertion is caused by insufficient blood flow, which recovers with rest.
Rest pain: Constant pain in the extremities that worsens at night and can be relieved by hanging the limb over the bed.
Digital Ulcers: Painful sores or ulcers on fingers or toes could indicate a serious blockage in blood flow.
Raynaud’s Phenomenon: Cold or stress can turn your fingers or toes into pale, blue, and then red, along with numbness or tingling sensation.
Skin changes: Affected regions may seem glossy, thin, or reddish-blue. Hair loss and brittle nails may also develop in the affected areas.
Swelling: Infection in blood vessels can cause swelling in the hands and feet.
Gangrene: In serious cases, loss of blood supply can cause tissue death (gangrene) and might even require amputation.

Ayurvedic Treatment Approach for Buerger's Disease

Modern medicine is incredibly effective at treating and improving the condition of people suffering from Buerger’s disease. But, Ayurveda takes a comprehensive approach to addressing Buerger’s disease by increasing circulation, lowering inflammation, and purifying the body.

1. Lifestyle Modifications

Quitting Smoking: This is the most important step for controlling Buerger’s disease.
Balanced Diet: A balanced diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is vital. One must include foods high in anti-inflammatory compounds like ginger, turmeric, and garlic.
Stress Management: Practicing yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can help to manage stress, which is typically associated with Vata imbalance.
Regular Exercise: Add gentle exercises like walking and swimming to improve circulation.

2. Ayurvedic Treatments

Panchakarma: Panchakarma is a detoxification or purifying technique that removes toxins from the body and improves overall well-being.
Oleation (Snehana): The vaidya applies beneficial oils to impacted regions to nourish the tissues and enhance circulation.
Swedana (Sudation): Steam baths can relax muscles and enhance blood flow.
Vasti (Enema): Specific vasti can help in balancing Vata and minimize inflammation.
Leeches: Ayurvedic practitioners often go with leech therapy to treat blood-related diseases. It can help to enhance circulation and prevent inflammation.

3. Ayurvedic Medications

Rasayana Herbs: Ashwagandha, Brahmi, and Shatavari potentially boost the immune system and general wellness.
Vasodilators: Ayurvedic medicines with vasodilating elements can enhance blood flow.
Anti-inflammatory herbs: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) have substantial anti-inflammatory effects.

4. Panchakarma Therapies

Panchakarma is a detoxifying technique that can be highly beneficial for Buerger’s disease. However, it is critical to highlight that Panchakarma should only be administered by the Vaidya (Ayurvedic practitioner). Here are some specific Panchakarma treatments that might be useful:

Abhyanga (Ayurvedic massage): Abhyanga improves circulation, lowers vata, and promotes calmness.
Shirodhara (applying medicinal oil to the forehead): Shirodhara promotes relaxation, lowers Vata, and enhances sleep.
Virechana (therapeutic purgation): Virechana can help to eliminate Ama from the digestive tract, specifically if Kapha is strong.
Basti (medicated enemas): Basti helps to clean the colon, promote circulation, and balance Vata dosha.

Things to Avoid

Here is a list of some specific items that one should avoid.

Item	Reason
Smoking	Buerger’s disease is mostly caused by smoking.
Processed foods	Contains harmful fats, sodium, and preservatives.
Refined carbohydrates	Can lead to blood sugar increases and inflammation.
Red meat	Can promote inflammation.
Dairy products	Difficult to digest for some, which could worsen Kapha imbalance.
Spicy foods (except cayenne pepper)	Affects the digestive tract and exacerbates pitta imbalance.

Conclusion

While Buerger’s disease remains a challenging disease, Ayurveda provides a comprehensive approach to controlling symptoms and increasing general well-being. With Ayurveda, patients can treat the underlying Vata and Ama imbalances and incorporate lifestyle changes that may help them get relief from the discomfort associated with the disease. However, it is critical to note that Ayurveda should be used as a supplement to current medical treatment. Quitting smoking is still the key component of controlling Buerger’s disease, and regular monitoring by healthcare specialists is required.