A stroke is a medical emergency that needs urgent treatment. Strokes happen when blood flow to a part of the brain gets cut off. This problem can be caused by a number of things, like clogged arteries or broken blood vessels. If the person gets help right away, they have a very good chance of survival. The first aim is to get the blood flowing again to the injured area and stop further problems.

There will be some effects of the stroke that won't go away for a while. Rehabilitation after a stroke helps people get over these side effects and get back to full health. It also helps the person get back some of the skills they may have lost because of the stroke. 

Stroke rehabilitation programs are available in Ayurveda. These treatments aim to make the body and mind feel better and give great results. It helps to get the blood flow better, strengthen nerves, and boost muscles. It can also clear the mind and make a person feel more energized and happy.

Ayurvedic programs for stroke recovery normally last between 30 and 45 days. The patient must stay in an Ayurvedic hospital to get the most out of the treatment. A good diet and regular exercise are just as important to the success of the program as treatment. 

Causes and effects of stroke

A stroke occurs when cells in some parts of the brain don't get enough blood to work. It happens for two reasons, which leads to two types of stroke. 

The patient will have a hemorrhagic stroke if an artery that brings blood to a part of the brain breaks, and blood flows out to clot outside the brain. 

No matter what caused the stroke, the brain cells in the area will die if they don't get enough blood. As the cells in these areas die, the body processes they control will also start to get worse. If the stroke affects a more wider area, the person may have paralysis, which makes one side of the body weak. Or, it may only affect a small part of your body, like a side of your face, an arm or leg, etc.  

The common signs of stroke include trouble speaking and walking, confusion, stiffness in some parts of the body, difficulty seeing, etc. 

Stroke Risk Factors

There are many factors that can lead to stroke. Some of them are in your control, while a few others are beyond your control. 

The factors that we can control include

• Smoking
• Heavy Alcohol drinking
• Drugs like cocaine 
• Overweight or Obesity
• Lack of Physical activity

Your medical condition also plays an important part. You will be more at risk if you have

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Sleep Apnea
• Heart diseases

Apart from these, other things that make the risk of stroke higher are: 

• Age: People over 55 are more at risk 
• Gender: Men are more likely to have a stroke than women
• Hormones: Taking birth control pills, hormone therapy, etc., increases the risk 
• Family history: You are more at risk if there is a history of stroke in your family

Stroke and Ayurveda

Ayurveda says that the body has three energy forces, called doshas, that control how it works. These are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The balance between these forces is vital for health as a whole. Several things can throw off this balance, which can lead to illness. As these doshas depend on each other, any change in one dosha will impact how all three work. 

As per Ayurveda, a stroke, or Pakshaghatha, happens when there is a huge imbalance in the Vata dosha levels. Vata is the force that controls most functions, including nerve signals, blood flow, and muscles. Also, it is the force behind Pitta and Kapha, the other two doshas. 

Ayurveda aims to get people healthy by bringing all three energy forces back into balance. Ayurveda thus treats the person and not just the part of the person that is sick. The main goal of Ayurvedic treatment for stroke recovery is to bring the Vata dosha back to normal. In the process, it also brings the other doshas back to normal. When these doshas are back in balance, a person becomes healthy again.

Stroke Rehabilitation in Ayurveda

When treating a stroke, it is important to deal with the disease's root reasons. The main aims of the treatment are 

• Stimulate the blood arteries to increase the flow of blood through the body
• Stimulate the nerves to get them to work as they did before

It is vital to restore the functions of various body parts, such as muscles, ligaments, etc.

After a personal consultation, the doctors will decide on the course of treatment. They will take into account the following factors:

• The severity of the stroke
• The age of the person
• Overall health status of the person
• Presence of other health problems, like kidney or heart problems

The first line of treatments will be preparatory in nature and include procedures like Snehanam (oleation) and Swedanam (fomentation). These procedures help the body prepare for the primary therapies for stroke rehabilitation. The main therapies include 

Dhara: During the Dhara treatment, the therapists will pour medicated oil over the body. It stimulates the nervous system, gets the muscles moving, and reduces swelling. 

Pizhichil: is a type of massage treatment that uses warm oils with medicinal properties. Therapists will rub the whole body, from the head to the toes, with this oil. It helps to get the nerves and blood arteries working again and brings back the tone of the muscles. It also helps to restore sensory and motor functions to their optimal levels by re-energizing nerve endings.

Nasyam: the team administers medicine through your nose. This process helps to improve the functions of the nerves.

Vasthi: is a type of medicated enema. It helps to remove toxins from the body and brings the doshas back into balance.

Oral medicines also form an important part of the treatment. The medicines will come in pills, powder, liquid, and other forms. After the treatment, the patient will need to continue with medicines at home. The doctor will advise on the details at the time of discharge.

Stroke rehabilitation success factors

There are a lot of things that affect how well stroke recovery works, such as:

Severity: If the damage to the brain isn't too bad, the person is more likely to get better soon.

Attitude: A positive mood will help a survivor deal with hard times and keep their mind on getting better in the future.

Support: During the recovery process, a stroke survivor's family and friends can be one of the most valuable sources of support. This support helps a person feel better emotionally and mentally.

Time: As soon as possible after a stroke, rehabilitation must begin. Delays can cause damage that will be hard to fix later.

Complications from Stroke

Stroke can lead to several serious issues like

• Paralysis
• Loss of memory
• Seizures
• Loss of muscle strength
• Depression
• Vision and hearing problems

Timely treatment and rehabilitation can go a long way in preventing most of these problems. Ayurvedic treatment for stroke recovery and rehabilitation is a safe and sound option.

Ayurveda hospitals for Stroke Recovery

Rehabilitation after a stroke is very important as it helps the person to lead a normal life again. Ayurveda treatments help people in their recovery from stroke faster. However, you will need to go to the right hospital for this case. 

Some of the best Ayurveda hospitals for stroke recovery are

• Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda
• Nandavanam Ayurveda Hospital
• Ayush Prana
• Tharavad Ayurveda Retreat
• AyurVaid
• You will need to be in the hospital for about 30-45 days for the treatment. Please get in touch with us to get a free treatment plan from these hospitals.