AGNIKARMA FOR LOWER BACK PAIN

INTRODUCTION

In India, low back pain is among the most prevalent complaints, affecting 70% to 80% of the population. The most typical intervertebral disc prolapses among the numerous causes of low back pain. L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs are most frequently impacted in 95% of lumbar disc herniations, and the pain may be limited to the lower back exclusively or described as affecting the leg, buttock, or hip, which frequently describes the characteristics of Sciatica syndrome.

In Ayurvedic medicine, the illness Sciatica is comparable to Gridhrasi, which is classified as a Nanatmaja Vataja Vikara.The modem life style, dietary habits, injudicious ways of physical activities, mental strain are said to have definite role in the occurrence of Vatavy adhi like Gridhrasi etc.

SYMPTOMS:

The Cardinal symptoms are Ruk, Toda, Sthamba, Spandana in the Sphik, Kati, Uru,Jaanu, jangha and Paada, Tandra, Aruchi and Gourava. Gridhrasi can be co-related to Sciatica Syndrome based on its cardinal symptoms ie, pain, stiffness, and recurrent twitching sensation felt along the course of sciatic nerve in the buttocks,  low back, thighs,  back  of knee, calf region, and foot, along with restricted movement of the affected body parts.

TREATMENT

In Ayurveda, there are specific line of treatment described for Vatavyadhi, but Acharya Sushrutha has particularly explained Agnikarma in Gridhrasi (Sciatica). As Gridhrasi (Sciatica) is a Vatavyadhi, in which the symptom is severe pain due to Vata and Viddha karma is an intense pain reliever. It decreases the pain by eliminating the avruttavata (obstruction) around the place where is pain present and Vata is the causative factor of all the pain.

CASE REPORT