Pain is one of the commonest symptoms
which forces people to seek medical help; it is also one of the leading causes
of chronic disability and adverse quality of life. It may arise from trauma,
disease, inflammation or nerve damage. Pain can be classified in various ways. Duration
wise, it can be classified as acute and chronic; it is termed chronic when
lasting for more than three months. There are different known types of pain and
these include breakthrough pain, bone pain, nerve pain, phantom
pain, soft tissue pain and referred pain.
Pain perception is determined by a persons’ genetics, personality, emotional build, lifestyle and the memory of past experience. The need for pain control medications can be significantly reduced with the help of relaxation, meditation, deep breathing, music therapy, yoga and tai-chi, positive thinking and mind-body techniques which combine imagery with relaxation as well as biofeedback. These have been discussed in detail elsewhere.
Here, Ayurvedic pain management will be discussed in detail. This includes several treatment modalities which are outlined as follows:
Snehan: This is basically
lubrication of the body using medicated oils. This can be either external or
internal. Oil of sesame is considered the best oil for this purpose. Massage
with oil has neuro-hormonal effects and may help release endorphins, thereby
reducing pain sensation. Snehan therapy
is
useful for arthritis, insomnia, paralysis, tremors, nervous exhaustion,
constipation, and other neurological derangements
Swedan: This implies hot
fomentation which is meant to induce sweating. This procedure stimulates
peripheral nerve endings which transmit heat and pain sensations, and is
effective in relieving pain. Swedan is suggested for different
pains like earache, headache, neurological pain, pain due
to constipation, and absence or retention of urine. It is also indicated for
stiffness, arthritis, muscle and tendon spasms and tremors.
Agnikarma: This procedure utilizes heat to bring about a burn in a small, preselected area; this is therefore a therapeutic cautery. This is probably one of the most effective techniques for pain control and is used for treating heel pain, osteoarthritis, and frozen shoulder. Several physiological hypotheses come into play here, including selective heat and pressure perception which competes with pain, counter nerve irritation, detoxification due to increased blood supply, and bringing about muscle relaxation.
Raktamoksan: This involves blood-letting, and includes removal of blood using a syringe (venesection), cupping, and the use of leeches. Blood-letting is useful for regional as well as generalized pain control. Severe and throbbing pain and burning sensation can be controlled quickly using this procedure.
Leech therapy: This reduces pain by counter pain and burning sensations, bringing about liquidification of blood, and treating inflammation. This procedure is usually used to treat migraine, intractable tension headache, painful clots, and gangrene wounds.
Viddhakarma: This procedure
consists of piercing of specific vital points known as marmas; this causes
release of endorphins, thereby controlling pain. In day-to-day clinical
settings, a sterile insulin needle is usually used for this purpose. This procedure
serves many purposes but is usually helpful in headache, eye-ache, tonsillitis,
nasal blockage, renal colic, pain related to nerve defects, joint pain,
radiated pain etc. A combination of piercing and cauterization can be used and
is known as Viddhagni karma.
Lepankarma: This consists of application of medicated pastes on the skin to relieve inflammatory conditions as well as muscle and tendon spasm.
Bastikarma: This is the use of
medicated enema wherein medicines are introduced into the rectum in liquid
form. This procedure is known to affect the sympathetic nerves, which in turn
act via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to release hormones to reduce pain
and inflammation.
Basti is
useful for many disorders including chronic constipation, sciatica, lower back pain,
arthritis, gout, and rheumatism. It also heals numerous neurological disorders like
Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, paraplegia, hemiplegia, poliomyelitis,
osteoporosis, and muscle and nerve atrophy.
Miscellaneous modalities: These include Shirodhara (oil drip on the forehead), abhyang (massage), pichu (medicated cotton swab), anjan (medicated eyeliner), netratarpan (local basti over eyes), karnapuran (medicated oil for ears), karnadhupan (smoke therapy for ears), kawal-gandush (medicated gargles), hrudaya basti (localized oil dam procedure over heart area), Prushta basti and katibasti (localized oil dam procedures over upper and lower back). Each modality is designed to treat or cure some specific medical condition causing pain and other symptoms.
Ayurvedic herbs: These include herbs like turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, cardamom, tulsi, yashtimadhu, neem, ashwagandha, nirgundi, guggulu, and shallaki, which have anti-oxidant, digestive, detoxifying, stimulant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties and thereby reduce pain.
Yogic procedures: These include asanas, purification procedures, meditation, and breathing techniques which bring about relaxation of muscles, tendons and ligaments, reduce stress, calm the mind, induce good sleep, and reduce inflammation on a long term basis. Different yogasanas can be prescribed for different types and locations of pain.
Satvavjay
treatment: These include counselling and mind-body
techniques to conquer pain.
In this way, people affected with both acute as well as chronic pain can use a combination of Ayurvedic pain management techniques to treat their pain on a long term basis. An accurate diagnosis by a qualified and experienced Ayurvedic practitioner is a must. Likewise, it is best to take professional help for handling acute pain and for planning long term treatment, and long term pain management. What works best for one person may not work for someone else; also, different stages of pain-causing diseases may require different management in the same individual. However, it is an established fact that regular adherence to an effective pain management programme can significantly reduce and treat pain.
Dr A A Mundewadi is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
