The term cardiovascular disorders in ayurveda refers to diseases of heart and blood vessels and includes angina, heart attack, diseases of the heart valves or heart muscle, heart failure, stroke and pain from poor blood flow to the legs. Cardiovascular conditions often exist without pain/ obvious symptoms, which mean they often they go untreated. This can lead to even more serious health issues, including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney damage
Cardiovascular disorders in ayurveda have many causative factors like:
- Stress
- Tensions
- Fatty and junk food
- Smoking
- Alcoholism
Physical deterioration of structure of cardiovascular vessel walls
This deterioration of structure can be of three main types:
- Clogging of vessels with cholesterol and plaque
- Damaged areas due to increased pressure and free radical activity
- Loss of vessel wall thickness
As stated above, CVD may exist with no obvious symptoms or pain. When symptoms are present, they vary depending on extent to which normal flow of blood to the affected organ is interrupted. When interruption of blood supply to brain or heart is severe, some or all of following symptoms can be experienced.
Heart attack symptoms include:
- Central chest pain with an oppressive or squeezing feeling that lasts for few minutes
- Chest pain that can spread to the neck, shoulders and/or arms
- Chest discomfort along with light-headedness, sweating, faintness, nausea or shortness of breath
Stroke symptoms include:
- Weakness of the arms or legs
- Loss of feeling in the face or body
- Difficulty in speaking
- Sudden loss of vision in one eye
- Dizziness
- Sudden, intense headache
Congestive heart failure symptoms include:
- Swelling of the lower extremities, referred to as ‘peripheral edema’
- Intolerance to exercise followed by shortness of breath; fatigue
- Cough
In addition to hereditary factors the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease are:
- Excess stress and over-activation of the "fight or flight" response
- Overweight and inactivity
- Too much saturated and trans fats in the diet
- Overeating
- Sugar intolerance and diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Cigarette smoking
Heart (Hrudaya) is an organ of high importance and is included in Sadyopranahara marma (an organ injury/ damage to which can cause instant death). Many herbal drugs, compounds & therapies have been devised to combat Cardio vascular diseases as well as their after effects. Herbs like Guduchi, Amlaki, Haritaki are also of great importance in treating heart diseases.
The main aim of treatment is to improve digestion, strengthen the heart and vessels and improve circulation.
The package includes:
- Consultation
- Internal medication
- Lifestyle management
- Diet management
- Abhyanga
- Hrudaya basti
- Yoga and meditation
- Shirodhara