Effect of Panchakarma therapy in the management of congenital muscular dystrophy: A case report

Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD) is a general term for a group of genetic muscle disorder that occurs at birth (congenital) or early infancy. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by weakness and degeneration of various voluntary muscles of the body. The severity, specific symptoms, and progression of these disorders vary greatly. A six and half-year-old female child was brought by her parents to the outpatient department (OPD) of Kaumarabhritya department, with the chief complaints of toe walking, unable to balance her body, tremors while standing, unable to stand from a sitting position without support, and unable to lift up both legs from the supine position. The patient visited the OPD with a diagnosis as CMD. After examination, internal medications: Bilwadi gutika, Ashwagandha churna, Pippali churna, Pravala bhasma, and Shirisharishta were prescribed along with Panchakarma procedures (~five therapeutic procedures) including Udwartana (~therapeutic massage using powders), Sarvanga abhyanga (~whole body oil massage), Swedana (~sudation therapy), Niruha basti (~therapeutic decoction enema), and Anuvasana basti (~therapeutic unctuous enema). After treatment, improvement in muscle power was seen. The total score of the Barthel index before the study was 70 and after the study was 95, which shows improvement in activity of daily life. Serum creatine phosphokinase and serum creatine kinase-MB values were insignificantly improved before and after treatment. Liver function test, kidney function test, and electrocardiogram before and after treatment were within normal limits, this shows the safety of the internal medication and Ayurvedic Panchakarma procedures. Improvement in the activity of daily life and muscle power seen in the present case gives hope, where there are still no satisfactory management options for patients with CMD are available.