Exploring Panchakarma therapy in the management of Wilson disease: An observation

Abstract

Wilson disease is not just a disease of children and young adults but may present at any age. The key features of Wilson disease are liver disease and cirrhosis, neuropsychiatric disturbances, Kayser–Fleischer rings, and acute episodes of hemolysis, often in association with acute liver failure. The diagnosis of Wilson disease is not always straightforward as clinical presentation of the disease can vary widely. In Ayurveda, it can be correlated with Vatavyadhi (~disorders due to vitiated Vata). Furthermore, increased copper levels in the body are also to be considered while planning the management. A 30-year-old patient visited the outpatient department with slurred speech, repetition and slowness of physical activity, muscle stiffness all over the body, loss of physical coordination, difficulty and change in handwriting, mood swings, dropping of saliva, loss of appetite, belching, and nausea. The patient was examined, assessed, and treated with Udvartana karma (~therapeutic powder massage), Abhyanga (~therapeutic massage), Swedana (~sudation therapy), and Basti karma (~therapeutic enema) along with internal administration of suitable Ayurveda medicines. All the symptoms were subsided by the end of the management along with a reduction in the urine copper levels from 915 µg/24 h to 37.5 µg/24 h. This single observation inferred that a patient with Wilson disease can have an improved quality of life when rationally managed with internal Ayurveda medication along with suitable Panchakarma (~five internal bio-cleansing therapies) procedures.