Ayurveda management for acute upper limb ischemia - a case report

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Ayurvedic Pharmacology
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Acute upper limb ischemia (AULI) presents a critical threat to limb viability, necessitating prompt intervention.
• Traditional Western medicine approaches often involve surgical or endovascular procedures.
• Exploring complementary and alternative medicine, such as Ayurveda, offers potential for novel treatment strategies.

Observation:

• A 52-year-old male presented with classic AULI symptoms including pain, numbness, weakness, and pallor in the left upper limb.
• Ayurvedic diagnosis identified the condition as Vatarakta.
• Initial CT angiogram showed a thrombus occluding the left brachial artery.

Findings:

• The patient received a comprehensive 12-month Ayurvedic treatment regimen including oral medications (Kaishor guggulu, Ashwagandha, Guduchi, etc.), medicated enemas (Mustadi yapana basti), sudation therapy (Shalishastika pinda swedana), and nasal therapy (Nasya with Shadabindu oil).
• Follow-up CT angiogram after 12 months revealed significant revascularization with 70-80% luminal narrowing in the left ulnar artery, indicating improved blood flow.
• All AULI symptoms resolved completely following the Ayurvedic intervention.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions in managing acute upper limb ischemia.
• Ayurveda may offer a viable alternative or complementary approach for AULI treatment, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures.
• Further research into Ayurvedic protocols for vascular emergencies is warranted to validate these findings and explore mechanisms of action.