EFFECTIVE HERBS AND HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS TO TREAT WRITER’S CRAMP.
Writer’s cramps as the name indicates that something that makes you refuse to write. It is a type of focal (limited to one location) dystonia (state of abnormal muscle tone) that affects your hands, fingers and forearms. It’s an idiopathic neurological movement disorder. In this disorder the brain sends false information to the muscles causing excessive and involuntary muscle contractions and these contractions make the hands twist in abnormal ways. It is also known as task-specific dystonia as it makes it difficult to perform particular day to day activities or skill movements like sewing, playing a musical instrument, typing etc. Other names for writer’s cramp are- focal hand dystonia, arm dystonia, musical cramp, finger dystonia, occupational cramps and task-specific dystonia. This condition is most common in men.
TYPES OF WRITER’S CRAMP
1. Simple Writer’s Cramp
In this type of writer’s cramp symptoms only appear while writing. Symptoms started appearing as you pick up a pen and it affects only the ability to write.
2. Dystonic Writer’s Cramp
Here symptoms appear while writing as well as while performing other tasks along with the help of hands such as applying make-up, while eating, using a knife, playing musical instruments, etc.
SYMPTOMS OF WRITER’S CRAMP
As you read earlier that the main characteristic feature is abnormal and involuntary movement of hands so the symptoms are also related to that of hand movements. Let’s take a look at those symptoms.
- Gripping of pen or pencil hard
- Flexing of wrists
- Extension of fingers during writing and make it difficult to hold the pen
- Unusual movement of wrists and elbows
- Failing of response by hands and fingers
- Cramping pain in hands
- Distorted or untidy writing
- Slow writing speed
- During anxiety and stress tremor in hands increased
CAUSES OF WRITER’S CRAMP
It is an idiopathic disease whose cause is unknown. Along with that the reason behind it is the malfunctioning of some areas of the brain which includes sensory motor and basal ganglia as a result of excessive fine motor activities like overuse of the hand, poor way of holding pen, poor writing posture and muscle strain due to pressing the pen. On the other hand anxiety and stress may worsen the symptoms.
DIAGNOSIS OF WRITER’S CRAMP
There is no single test for the diagnosis of writer’s cramp. Doctor may ask your personal history and medical history along with neurological examination. Writer’s cramp may often be mistaken with other conditions that involve over use of hands and other conditions that involve the disfiguring of hands like R.A, tendon problems, muscle cramps, etc.
Degree of disability varies and can be diagnosed with ARM DYSTONIA SCALE (ARM) or WRITER’S CRAMP RATING SCALE (WCRS).
AYURVEDIC VIEW OF WRITER’S CRAMP
As we read that writer’s cramp is a neurological disorder and as per ayurveda it is correlated to vata vyadhi. Vata vyadhi occurs due to aggregation of vata dosha. Now let you come to know what vata dosha is. For this purpose let us discuss the concept of tridosha. Tridosha are the three biological energies in our body that manage all psychological and physiological functions in our body. They build the body and maintain it in a potent state of health. When these vital energies are aggravated due to improper factors then the mind and body connection begins to suffer and the pathology of the disease begins. Vata dosha- is the most powerful dosha among all of the three. Our body is made up of five elements- space, air, fire, water and earth. Vata dosha is formed by the reaction of space (akasha) and air (vayu). Vata is responsible for all the movements in the body. Pitta dosha- is formed by the reaction of fire (agni) and water (jala). It is responsible for regulating body metabolism and transformations. Kapha dosha- it is formed by the reaction of earth with water. It helps in providing lubrication to different body tissues. If all these three energies are balanced then your body is disease free and if any of the energy gets vitiated then you will suffer with the disease. As we studied that writer’s cramp occurs with the vitiation of vata dosha here you learnt about the vata dosha now let you introduce the causes of vitiation of vata dosha.
- Katu (pungent), tikta (bitter) and kshaya (astringent) food items
- Vishma ahaara (odd diet)
- Adhyashan (intake of food on indigestion)
- Excessive intercourse
- Excessive fasting
- Vegdharana (suppression of natural urge)
- Chinta (stress)
- Shok (depression)
- Bhaya (fear)
- Excessive swimming
- Excessive traveling
- Excessive studying
- Excessive talking
- Excessive weightlifting
- Less sleep
- Krodha (anger)
- Diva shyana (sleeping in day)
All these conditions lead to vata dosha vitiation and if a person is doing any of the things among these causes then he or she may suffer from neurological disorders like writer’s cramp.
Common symptoms of vata vyadhi
- Contractions in affected body parts
- Stiffness in joints
- Piercing type of pain
- Stiffness in affected part
- Lameness with affected body part
- Dystrophy of organs
- Throbbing sensation in body
- Pricking pain
- Tearing pain
2. ASHWAGANDHA CAPSULES
These capsules consist of root extract of single herb-ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Every herb contains rasapanchaka (rasa, guna, virya, vipaka, prabhava). Rasa (taste)- tikta (bitter) and kshaya (astringent), guna (properties)- snigdha (unctuousness) and laghu (light), veerya (potency)- ushna (hot), vipaak (action) and prabhava (effect). Each herb acts according to their rasapanchaka. Benefits of ashwagandha are: great nervine tonic, helps to reduce stress and anxiety, boost up mass and strength which in turn boost up immunity levels.
DOSAGE: 1 capsule twice daily after 30 min of meals with warm water.
3. BRAHMI CAPSULES
Brahmi capsules are formulated with standardized extract of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri). Brahmi is one of the medhya rasayana (rejuvenates cognitive power). As it contains antioxidant properties hence prevents degeneration and helps to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Its brain functions which in turn improve cognitive functions. It calms our brain and prevents anxiety and stress as both these induce writer’s cramps so Brahmi is a miracle drug for writer’s cramp.
DOSAGE: 2 capsules twice daily after 30 min of meals with warm water.
4. SPIRULINA CAPSULES
Spirulina capsules are single herb formulations consisting of spirulina (Spirulina platensis). Deterioration in the brain leads to reduced muscle strength in the writer’s cramp. Spirulina has antioxidant properties so it prevents the deterioration of the brain and improves muscle strength so these capsules are advantageous for writer’s cramp.
DOSAGE: 1 capsule twice daily after 30 min of meals with warm water.
DIET FOR WRITER’S CRAMP
Diet to be consumed:
- Whole wheat
- Brown rice
- Sweet potatoes
- Moong daal
- Red lentil
- Cow milk
- Fruit juice
- Herbal tea
- Egg white
- Cashew nuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Cow ghee
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
Diet to be limited:
- Dry oats
- White rice
- Dried fruits
- Raw vegetables
- Kidney beans
- Split peas
- Powdered milk
- Coriander seeds
- Ice cold drinks
- Soft drinks
- Red meat
- Sunflower seeds
- Dry and roasted nuts
- Flaxseed oil
- Canola oil
- Brown sugar
- White sugar
In this study we discuss the writer’s cramp care pack. This pack is formulated to treat writer’s cramp. Writer’s cramp is a neurological condition caused by some defect in the brain. As per ayurveda neurological condition occurs as a result of vata dosha aggravation. The main characteristic feature of writer’s cramp is involuntary muscle contraction of hands. Planet Ayurveda’s writer’s cramp care pack includes four great herbal formulations that treat the condition with pacifying the vata dosha.