Abstract

PAIN AND PALLIATIVE CARE IN AYURVEDA

Anushri Gokul Endait*, Mayuri Patil and Mayuri Santosh Nagre

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Abstract

Ayurveda the science of life gives the detailed guidelines of healthy living as well as the treatment of various medical conditions. These methodologies or principles can be applicable for the current health issues including terminally ill cancer patients or end stage cancer patients. The most important concern of the terminally ill cancer patient encompass the existential, spiritual, familial, physical, financial and emotional issues. They actually lost hope due to poor prognosis and unfruitful results. Being a health care professional it is our moral, ethical and the spiritual responsibility to ease the emotional, social, physical and spiritual life of the terminally ill cancer patients. It is also their right to have a peaceful last inning and the painless death. Ayurveda can play a major role in this palliative care along with the conventional methods. Ayurveda have the several procedures which can give a smoothing smile to deathly painful patients. These treatment measures can be absolutely suitable and convenient to perform along with conventional treatments or individually to end stage cancer patients. These procedures includes Snehan, Swedan, Kawal-gandush, Shirodhara, Shiropichu, Vrana karma, Nasya, Karna poorana, various Yapana basti, Bruhan basti etc. These procedures may contribute in reducing the depression - anxiety. These procedures can reduce the pain of the patients who are dependent on the pain killers which are generally morphine based. Also, can give the contribution in wound care like bed sores, oral hygiene. Procedures like Yapana basti may give the nutrition and can improve the quality of life. Overall these procedures are able to improve the all concerns which are faced by the Conventional doctors in case of the terminally ill patients. Here, we are going to discuss the scope of Ayurveda in palliative care and its benefit to the patients.

Keywords: Yapan basti, Snehan, Vrana karma.