Ayurvedic management of Acute Cerebro Vascular Accident due to Hypertensive Bleed (Pakshaghata): A Case Report

Stroke is defined as the fast onset of focal neurological deficit within which poor blood flow to the brain ends up in necrobiosis. It is the second most common reason for worldwide mortality. Hemorrhagic strokes are classified based on their underlying pathology. Some common causes of bleeding are hypertensive trauma, ruptured aneurism, arteriovenous fistula, transformation of previous ischemic pathology and drug-elicited hemorrhage. They result in tissue injury by inflicting compression of tissue from an expanding hematoma. Pakshaghata described in Ayurveda can be correlated with Stroke. All Acharyas have emphasized that in the manifestation of Pakshaghata, Vata is predominant with the association of Pitta and Kapha Dosha. Here is the case of 46 years old male diagnosed as an acute case of hypertensive bleed in the right centrum semiovale and putamen (Magnetic Resonance Image-MRI of Brain) resulting in left-sided hemiparesis. Assessments were done on the basis of National Institute of Health (NIH) Stroke Scale, Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale for Muscle Strength, Barthel Index and Scandinavian Stroke Scale. He was given Yastimdhu Ksheera Nasya, Takra Shirodhara, Kalyanaka Ghrita as Anuvasana Basti and oral medications. After 12 days of treatment there was marked improvement in these scales.