Management of Ardita (~Bell’s palsy) in pediatric patient through Ayurveda protocol

Bell’s palsy is an acute unilateral lower motor neuron condition characterized by the paralysis of the facial nerve and causes difficulty in the functioning of facial muscles. The estimated incidence is 6.1 cases/year per 100,000 children aged between one and 15 years. The clinical presentation of Bell’s palsy is comparable with the symptoms of Ardita mentioned in Ayurveda. As per the classics, it is considered one of the 80 Vataja nanatmaja vyadhi (~diseases caused due to only the vitiation of Vata dosha ). In the present case study, a 12-year-old male patient came to the Kaumarabhritya Outpatient Department with chief complaints of deviation of mouth to the right side for two days, along with incomplete closure of the left eye and lacrimation from the left eye. Based on clinical examination, the case has been diagnosed as Ardita, which correlates with the clinical presentation of Bell’s palsy. The line of management mentioned for Ardita in Ayurveda was adopted which includes Navanam (~medication of unctuous substance through the nose), Murdha taila (~oil application overhead), Tarpana (~therapeutic retention of medicated liquids over the eyes), Nadi sweda (~sudation using pipe-like instrument), Upanaha (~poultice application), and internal medications. The patient demonstrated significant improvement in all signs and symptoms after 14 days of external and 21 days of internal treatment, suggesting the effectiveness and broad applicability of Ayurveda in the treatment of Ardita .