AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME – A CASE REPORT

Dr. Twinkle Gupta, MD (AYU) and Ayush Verma*

ABSTRACT

Alcohol abuse is not only having impact on individual and families, but creates a lasting social burden on the community and even national level. When a chronic alcoholic tries to reduce or completely impede the alcohol intake, then a cluster of symptoms manifests which is called as alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sweating, headache, auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations, delirium tremens etc. There is need of management from the primary stage itself. The chronic use of alcohol leads to a metabolic error termed as ‘Ama’ condition and Agnimandya with in the Koshtha and eventually leads to obstruction of srotas. In severe stages of Alcohol withdrawal syndrome, delirium tremens occurs, which is characterized with agitation, confusion, disorientation, visual and auditory hallucinations in addition to autonomic hyperactivity. Madya also results in depletion of Ojas due to the opposite qualities in it, against the properties of Ojas and decreased food intake resulting in Vata and Kapha aggravation. So initial treatment designed should be aimed of Vata Kaphahara and Srotoshodhana. Along with the same, Ayurvedic drugs and Panchakarma procedures can be selected to deal the AWS. Here we are discussing the case of a 38-year-old male patient presented with AWS and treated in our hospital with Panchakarma procedures and selected Ayurvedic drugs with the selected protocol.

Keywords: Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome; Agnimandya; Ojakshaya; Pancakarma; CIWA-Ar Scale.