The following article has been submitted by
Ayush Muscular Dystrophy Society India

Muscular dystrophy is a bundle of severe debilitating conditions in which the muscles that control movement progressively weaken. In some forms of this disease, the heart and other organs are also affected.  Currently there is no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy. Some modern medicines, ayurvedic remedies and therapies can slow the course of the disease.  This article introduces with a main thrust complementary program of care through research on Muscular dystrophy with a focus on Ayurvedic Panch Karma and Yogic approach of treatment. The Ayurvedic Mamsagni Rasayana herbs have shown definite protective influence and longer survival upon muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophies are a group of more than 20 different genetic neuromuscular disorders, some more debilitating than others. The most common, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects 1 in 3500 boys. There is a problem in the chromosome that codes for a protein called dystrophin which maintains the integrity of the muscle cell wall. Eventually irreversible destruction of the muscle cells occurs. In early school years, it may just seem that DMD boys are slower and clumsier than their peers. The disease progresses such that the majority will be wheelchair bound by 10-14 years.

Muscular dystrophies are inherited. Each disease is transmitted by a different genetic trait. DMD is inherited in an X-linked recessive transmission. That means that females may be carriers but do not have any debilitating symptoms. A female carrier has a 50% chance of transmitting the faulty gene onto her children. There is no  satisfactory treatment in any system of medicine. It is a progressive muscle-wasting disease due to a mutation in the dystrophin gene and the consequential protein deficiency in muscle. It results in chronic inflammation and severe skeletal muscle degeneration. How the lack of the sarcolemma protein dystrophin gives rise to the final disease status is still not clear.

The genetic disease conditions are diagnosed through genetic testing, a physical exam, a family medical history, and some specific tests. These might include: A muscle biopsy (the removal and examination of a small sample of muscle tissue)

• DNA (genetic) testing
• Electromyography or nerve conduction tests (which use electrodes to test muscle and/or nerve function)
• Blood enzyme tests (which may reveal muscle damage)

For DMD and BMD, muscle biopsy may show whether dystrophin protein is missing or abnormal, and DNA Test is used to analyze the condition of the related gene.
» Read more: How to Live with Muscular Dystrophy