The Role of Ayurveda Management in Sjogren’s Syndrome

Abstract

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic slowly progressive autoimmune systemic disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands, which causes glandular fibrosis and exocrine failure. It is characterized by the triad of dry eye (kerato-conjunctivitis sicca), dry mouth (xerostomia), and rheumatoid arthritis. Ayurvedic concept of Sjogren syndrome is obscure and studies are lacking in this area. Things have become difficult for an Ayurvedic physician to evaluate and manage the cases Sjogren syndrome of due to a lack of literature. The diagnosis and line of treatment of ‘Amavata’ are suitable to manage the condition of Sjögren’s Syndrome. Especially when it is associated with ‘Rheumatoid Arthritis’. Ayurvedic treatment looks promising to manage Sjögren’s syndrome and its complications. Brief case report: A 49 years old female patient with clinically a diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome came to P D Patel Ayurveda hospital on the date 20^th May 2022. She was having complaints of dryness in the eyes and oral cavity, swelling, and pain in joints, morning stiffness(<1hr), dryness of skin, heaviness in the body, and fatigue for the last 9 years. She was in under modern medicaments but she could not find any satisfactory relief. So, the patient came for alternative medicine in Ayurveda and was treated with Vardhaman Pippali Rasayan, Bashpa Svedan, Virechan Karma, and Niruha Basti. Tarpana with Go-Ghrit, Gandush with Balataila, Shamnarth Snehapana with Panchtikta Ghrita, Agnikarma as well as oral medicaments including Pippali Churna, Rasnapanchak Kvatha, Yograj Guggulu were also given to the patient after Virechan Karma. Conclusion: Positive result in the present case highlights the potential of multi-modal Ayurveda treatment in managing Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) and will help to generate the hypothesis for further research.