The Evolutionary Analysis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) from Sources Old and New [natural History of PD Revisited]

Download or read book The Evolutionary Analysis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) from Sources Old and New [natural History of PD Revisited] written by Kishore Athreya and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ancient Indian scriptures are rooted in the sciences, philosophy, and religion. They often pre-date many of the contemporary sources of scientific and medical discoveries. The Ayurveda is a particular scripture and literary chronicle that covers numerous ailments of the human body and various types of neurological diseases (Vata Rogas in Sanskrit). Ayurveda, which is a subsection of the Vedas, is arguably one of the oldest forms of scriptures dating back 5000 to 3000 BC (the exact date is not known). This particular exploration will focus on the specific evolution of Parkinson's Disease (Kampavata in Sanskrit) through the lenses of the Hindu scriptures (homeopathic) and modern-day medicine/research (allopathic). Parkinson's Disease or PD is most common type of Parkinsonism, is an umbrella term for the many manifestations of the disease. The hallmark cardinal clinical features of PD are: 1) slowness of movement (bradykinesia); 2) stiffness or increased muscle tone (rigidity); 3) tremor that occurs at rest (resting tremors). The most common form is called idiopathic Parkinson's Disease or PD which is addressed in Vedic scriptures along with the various symptoms of this disease. To capture the pathogenesis of this disorder, it is vital to look at the imbalances that occur naturally at the time of Parkinsonism. The rapid degeneration of dopamine neurons (In Ayurveda; imbalance of the bio-entity/brain) and its treatment can clearly be seen in the homeopathic approach taken by Ayurveda. Unlike the homeopathic medicine, modern research is currently focusing on classifying the various stages of Parkinsonism and non-motor symptoms for early diagnostic and treatment plans. There is clear evidence to suggest that homeopathic medicine from ancient Hindu scriptures, studies by Galen and James Parkinson, plus modern research can provide a more holistic approach to the evolution of the neurological movement disorder of Parkinson's Disease.