Alternative Treatment of Dysphasia and Aphasia

Overview

Speech has a vital role in our life. It allows us to communicate with the outer world and form connections with others. Without communication skills, it becomes problematic to interact with others or the ability to communicate in the working world would be nearly impossible. Speech development is an important part of learning and making connections with others. Speech and language skills are the roots of a child’s cognitive and socio-economic development. It is the process of interaction or addressing others. Speech and language skills are very helpful in maintaining any relationships. But, there are conditions that affect them. The two terms which fit in speech difficulty are dysphasia and aphasia. As a Hindi phrase also states the importance of good speech, as mentioned below:

(There is a unique power in Speech. One  may not sell the honey with a bitter speech and with a good speech, even the Chillies can be sold well.)

Introduction

Dysphasia is the term that means difficulty in speech or inability to produce and understand spoken words or language. In this condition, a person can cause reading, writing, and gesturing impairments. It is often mistaken with dysarthria (speech disorder) and dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing). Actually, dysphasia is a language disorder.  It occurs when the area of the brain is affected by any cause.  Basically, dysphasia is an alternative term for aphasia.

Aphasia is the term which means a complete loss of speech. This is the impairment of language, affecting the ability to read and write. It occurs due to injury to the brain which is responsible for the speech and language regulation (cerebellum). This is a serious condition in which communication with patients is almost impossible. Most affected people are middle aged or older. As per the studies, about 1 million people in the united-states currently have aphasia

In Ayurveda, we correlate this disease with Mooka-Minmina and Gadgada

This shloka explains that Vata dosha in association with kapha dosha obstruct the dhamini / routes of voice and become responsible for the disease like dumbness, stammering or speech impediments.

Etiology / Causes

Dysphasia and aphasia have the same etiology. Stroke is the most common cause for dysphasia and aphasia. During a stroke, there is a blockage in the blood supply of the brain because of blood clot or leakage of blood vessels.

Some Other Causes are

• Infections
• Brain tumors
• Seizures
• Transient ischemic attacks (TIA)
• Progressive neurological disorder
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes

TIAs and seizures may results in temporary brain damage, once attack is over language or speech abilities are restored.

Nidhana (Causes) or Samprapti (pathology) of aphasia and dysphasia

This shloka states consumption of food and adoption of lifestyle that vitiates vata dosha leads to aphasia and dysphasia and this vitiated vata, in turn disturbs kapha dosha causing obstruction in recurrent laryngeal nerve and resulting in aphasia and dysphasia.

Clinical features/signs and symptoms

People who are suffering from these conditions may experience difficulties in speech basically.

Symptoms Include

• Struggling to find words
• Slow speaking
• Speaking difficulty
• Short words
• Grammatical errors
• Speaking nonsensical words
• Struggling to understand speech
• Taking extra time to understand
• Facing difficulty in understanding fast speech
• Give incorrect answers.

Types of Dysphasia and Aphasia

There are five types of aphasia and dysphasia

1. Broca’s aphasia and dysphasia

In this condition, the patient makes a lot of effort to say a word or a sentence and may be ableto say four to five words at a time only. This is also called “non-fluent aphasia”. This condition arises when injury to the frontal region of the left hemisphere occurs.

2. Wernicke’s aphasia and dysphasia

In this, the patient says many words which make no sense. It also affects reading and writing ability.

3. Anomic aphasia

In this situation, the patient can’t find the words which they want to use in sentences or in writing. People with anomic aphasia or dysphasia can understand and read anything, but miss the words in their writing.

4. Global aphasia and dysphasia

A stroke affects the portion of frontal and back regions of the brain and causes global aphasia and dysphasia. In this condition, a person cannot speak many words and also doesn’t understand speech sometimes. They can’t read or write properly.

5. Primary progressive aphasia and dysphasia:

This is the actual form of dementia in which people lose the ability to speak, write and reathings over time. There is a gradual loss of language ability in advanced stages.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is normally made by interaction. Patient finds difficulty in interacting with the doctor or finds difficulty in understanding simple words or difficulty in naming objects. For this, the doctor rules out the brain injury by doing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan (computed tomography).

Treatment

Aphasia and dysphasia improves on its own without any treatment if brain damage is minute. But in trauma cases, the patient needs recovery. For that, People undergo speech and language therapy to recover and improve their communication skills.

Speech and language therapy aims to

• Restore as much of your language and speech ability
• Help you to communicate to the best of your ability

Drug therapy

Some drugs are effective in restoring speech and language skills by improving blood circulation to the brain and enhance the brain’s recovery ability. Moreover, herbal drugs show the wonderful results in these cases and support efficient recovery.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Aphasia and Dysphasia

Snehana (massaging): Massage the head with medicated oils two times a day for improving blood circulation.

Gandusha and kavala dharana: Keeping medicated oil in mouth for about 5 minutes till salivation, this is called gandusha and gargling with oil, also called kavala. This improves speech and language skills by reducing the obstruction of the laryngeal nerve caused by vitiated vata dosha as also said above.

Nasya karma: This therapy means medication applied through the nasal path. In this procedure 2-2 drops of medicated oil are to be poured into each nostril alternatively.

Above mentioned procedures are very effective in improving speech ability and cause no side effects as modern medicine does.

Herbal Remedies by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda is a manufacturing hub, which provides many herbal formulations for a variety of diseases. The herbal products are being manufactured here, with adherence to the principles of ancient ayurveda.  All these products contain pure and organic natural herbs with ancient time tested formulas.Planet Ayurveda provides following herbal products for the Treatment of Aphasia and Dysphasia

Herbal Products

1. Gotu kola
2. Ashwagandha capsules
3. Medhya churna
4. Brahmi capsules
5. Brahmi chyawanprash

Products Description

1. Gotu Kola Capsules

This is a single herb formulation. These capsules are made using the standardized extract of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica). This is the best herbal remedy for brain disorders. As aphasia and dysphasia are generally caused by brain trauma, these capsules provide calmness to the brain and improve speech.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice a day with plain water, after the meals

2. Ashwagandha Capsules

This is also a single herb formulation that contains the standardized extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). This is a stress buster and useful innervous breakdown. It effectively acts as a nerve tonic and improves speech and language ability.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with normal water, after the meals

3. Medhya churna

This is a herbal powder which works effectively in boosting memory. This herbal product helps in maintaining speech ability and improving slow speech due to the presence of the most potent herbs.

 The ingredients mixed in this formulation are:

• Vacha (Acorus calamus)
• Shwet jeeraka (Cuminum cyminum)
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
• Krishna jeeraka (Carum carvi)
• Ajmoda (Carum roxburghianum)
• Sonth (Zingiber officinale)
• Maricha (Piper nigrum)
• Patha (Cissampelos pareira)
• Pipali (Piper longum)
• Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)
• Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri).

Dosage: 1/4 teaspoon once daily with 1 spoon of Cow Ghee (Clarified Butter).

4. Brahmi Capsules

Brahmi Capsules are prepared using the standardized extracts of Brahmi (Bacopamonnieri). This is a very potent and proven herb for proper brain functioning and improving blood circulation. It increases the coordination between brain neurons thus, helps in improving speech ability.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice a day with plain water, after the meals

5. Brahmi Chyawanprash

This is also known as Rasayan jam. Brahmi, its major ingredient, is the most efficient nerve tonic. This product is a cell rejuvenator and boosts the immune system. It also improves the functioning of the laryngeal nerve. It is a herbal blend of 28 best natural pure and organic herbs.

Dosage: 1 teaspoonful twice a day after meal with lukewarm water or milk

This herbal formulation is prepared using Centella asiatica’s standardized extract. These capsules maintain the normal functioning of the brain and heart. Gotu Kola pacifies all the tridosha in the body and promotes the functions of voluntary neurons and aids in relieving systems like restricted muscle movements, weakness, difficulty in holding grip, etc.

Dosage: Two capsules twice a day after meals with plain water.