Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term neurological disability worldwide. In Ayurveda, poststroke hemiplegia is correlated with
Pakshaghata
, a subtype of
Vata Vyadhi
. Although conventional rehabilitation remains the standard of care, Ayurvedic interventions may provide additional benefits in functional recovery. A 52-year-old male with a history of recurrent cerebrovascular accident and hypertension presented with right-sided hemiplegia following an intracerebral hemorrhage confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. On admission, he had complete loss of motor power (Medical Research Council grade 0/5) in the right upper and lower limbs, Grade 3 spasticity, bladder and bowel incontinence, dizziness, and marked functional dependence. Based on the clinical presentation and imaging findings, the primary diagnosis was recurrent hemorrhagic stroke with right-sided hemiplegia. The patient underwent a comprehensive 6-week integrative rehabilitation protocol consisting of Ayurvedic internal medications (
Lasuna Rasayana, Ekangveer Rasa
, and
Rasarajeshwar Rasa
), sequential Panchakarma therapies including
Udvartana, Dashamoola Parisheka, Abhyanga
, sequential
Swedana, Shiro Pichu
, and
Matra Basti
, together with conventional physiotherapy. At the end of treatment, motor power improved from 0/5 to 2/5, spasticity decreased from Grade 3 to Grade 1+, bladder and bowel continence was restored, dizziness resolved, and the patient achieved assisted ambulation with improved functional independence. This case suggests that a sequential Panchakarma-based rehabilitation protocol, integrated with physiotherapy, may contribute to improvements in motor recovery, spasticity, autonomic function, and mobility in patients with poststroke hemiplegia. Further well-designed clinical studies are warranted to establish its efficacy and generalizability.