Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment – Cushing’s Syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome is a condition that occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol, for a long time. The classical signs of Cushing’s syndrome include a fatty hump between the shoulders, a rounded face, pink or purple stretch marks on the skin, high blood pressure, bone loss and occasionally, diabetes. The common causes of this condition include: prolonged use of corticosteroid medications, a pituitary gland tumor, an ectopic ACTH-secreting tumor and a primary adrenal gland disease. Treatment includes reducing or stopping corticosteroid medications, surgery, radiation therapy and other medications.
The Ayurvedic treatment of Cushing’s syndrome is aimed at treating the cause of this condition. If corticosteroid medications are being used for some disease, Ayurvedic medicines are started for that disease and steroid medications are reduced gradually and stopped completely, if possible. Since corticosteroid medications are usually used on a long term basis for chronic inflammatory diseases, Ayurvedic medicines which treat inflammation can be used in such situations. These medicines include Arogya-Vardhini, Triphala-Guggulu, Kamdudha-Vati, Chandrakala-Ras, Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra) and Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus). If a tumor in the pituitary gland or in the adrenal glands is the cause, it is treated with Ayurvedic medicines like Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Kachnaar-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Qadha, Gokshur (Tribulus terresteris), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia). In addition, other medicines like Heerak-Bhasma, Abhrak-Bhasma, Suvarna-Bhasma and Suvarna-Malini-Vasant are used to help improve immunity and reduce the tumor size.
Cushing’s syndrome can cause a lot of serious complications and can lead to death, if left untreated. It is therefore, important to start aggressive treatment at the earliest possible. All patients of Cushing’s syndrome should be under the regular care and supervision of an Endocrinologist.
Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant.
