A Clinical Study on Effect of Patrapinda Sveda with Ashtakatwara Taila in Gridhrasi w.s.r. to Sciatica

Abstract

Today is the era of modernization and fast life. Changing of life style of modern human being has created several disharmonies in his biological system. Advancement of busy professional and social life, improper sitting posture in office or continuous work in one posture and overexertion, lifting heavy weight, jerking movements during travelling; all these factors create undue pressure and stress injury to the spine and play an important role in producing disease like sciatica. In this way, this disease is now becoming a significant threat to the working population. The lifetime incidence of sciatica is estimated to be between 13 and 40%. The prevalence of sciatic symptoms reported in the literature varies considerably ranging from 1.6% in the general population to 43% in a selected working population. In modern medicine, the management of sciatica includes analgesics, epidural steroid injections, peri-radicular infiltration and surgical treatment at the cost of their own limitations and complications. In Ayurveda, sciatica can be correlated with Gridhrasi. Ayurveda through its holistic approach and radical treatment like Panchakarma, corrects the basic pathology by eliminating the chief causative factors. Svedana Karma is very important treatment modality in Panchakarma. Thus present study has been conducted on 20 patients to assess the efficacy of Patrapinda Sveda with Ashtakatwara Taila in Gridhrasi w.s.r. to sciatica. The result has been analyzed statistically. It was very effective in relieving pain, stiffness (more than 45%) and numbness (more than 70%) in patients of Gridhrasi.