A CLINICAL STUDY ON SIRAVEDHA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GRIDHRASI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SCIATICA

Sumedh Paikrao* and AnupThakar

ABSTRACT

Background: Sciatica is knows as sciatic neuritis, sciatic neuralgia, or lumbar radiculopathy, is when pain is felt going down the leg from the back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Typically, symptoms are only on one side of the body. About 90% of the time sciatica is due to a spinal disc herniation pressing on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots. Sciatica is neuralgia disease and Ayurveda addressed as Gridhrasi. Gridhrasiis one of the Vatavyadhi caused by aggravated Vatadosha. It is characterized by radiating pain, tingling sensation & numbness at posterior aspect of leg, which makes the patient difficult to walk. There is no specific curative remedy in modern medical science except pain killers. Ayurveda mentioned Siravedha in management of Gridhrasi and Acharya Sushruta has mentioned Siravedha as superior therapeutic procedure among others as it gives instant relief. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of Siravedha in the management of Gridhrasi w.s.r. to sciatica. Materials and Methods:A total of 20 patients suggesting Gridhrasi on the basis of sign and symptom and clinical examination were selected from O.P.D. and I.P.D. of Dept. of Panchkarma was treated with 4 sitting of Siravedha (weekly one sitting).Assessment was done after the completion of therapy on the basis of subjective criteria (pain, stiffness, tingling and pricking sensation, numbness and twitching and objective criteria (SLR, scoliosis). Results: Siravedha was found to be significantly effective in reducing pain and other symptoms. Conclusion: Siravedha gives instant relief in Gridhrasi.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Gridhrasi, Sciatica, Siravedha.