Ayurvedic management of Ramsay Hunt syndrome: A clinical experience

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (RHS), caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), is responsible for up to 12% cases of facial paralysis. Initially, the VZV replicates in the geniculate ganglia and then spreads down to impact the facial nerve, inner ear, and spiral and vestibular ganglia. Owing to the similarities in the signs and symptoms, such as crookedness on one side of the face, it can be correlated with Ardita (~facial palsy). A 62-year-old male patient visited the outpatient department of Shalakya tantra, with complaints of dizziness along with burning sensation in the right ear, weakness, and heaviness on the right side of the face for the past five days. On the basis of clinical presentation, the patient was diagnosed with RHS (~ Ardita ) and underwent Ayurveda treatment including, Panchakarma (~therapeutic bio-cleansing) procedures, along with Kriyakalpa (~ocular therapeutic procedures). The treatment protocol included systemic medications, local application of Marichyadi taila, Marsha nasya (~high dose medication through nasal route) with Ksheerabala 101 taila, Upanaha (~poultice application) with Eranda patra (~leaves of Ricinus communis L.), Dhanwantara taila, Haridra churna (~powder Curcuma longa L.), and Dashanga lepa followed by Kukkutanda pinda sweda (~sudation by application of poultice prepared with hens’ egg). The adopted treatment protocol along with dietary recommendations showed clinical improvement, as well as improvement in grading of House-Brackmann facial nerve scale, with sustained resolution. Thus, it can be inferred that a customized Ayurvedic treatment protocol can be adopted for effective management of RHS, without relying on anti-viral or steroid based management.