Pain management through Ayurveda

How to treat Pain without using Painkillers.

            Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual , potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. (Ref. International association for the study of Pain) .

              And how do WE treat this pain???? Just pop some pill into mouth. Because we want some fast results. And This mentality of masses has been the strongest USP for “Painkiller” medicines. No one is even bothered to think about the contents or molecular structure of such medicines. Let's take a Pop Quiz…

Which Painkillers do you use??How many of you know chemical composition of medicines which you pop as a painkiller ?? How these molecules work?? What are proper doses and how many follow it? What is overdose?? What are side effects of such medicines ??
These are very serious questions concerning your life. Popping pills without proper prescription can be hazardous to Health and can even be life threatening. Has anyone given it a thought?? One must seek some alternate options to treat pain.
                Normally we try to suppress sensation of pain by popping up some painkillers which actually stop sensory signals of pain to reach our brain and make us feel relieved, but suppression of pain and treating pain are two different things. These painkillers also have various side effects on our body like hyperacidity, Hepatotoxicity (liver damage), Reno toxicity(damage to kidneys). Hence it is advised to take painkillers when it is an ‘Absolute Necessity’ And under doctor's supervision only
                    Have we ever considered any other options which offer to treat pain and it's root cause excellently. Ayurveda has many solutions by which we can manage pain effectively.

Ayurveda science explains,   

             Ayurveda have described pain under three subcategories , depending on Dosha involved Such as

Vataj (Vata predominance) -

1. Toda
2. Bheda
3. Taadan
4. Chhedana
5. Aayamana
6. Manthana
7. Vikshepana
8. Chumchumayana
9. Nirdahan
10. Avabhanjana
11. Sphotana
12. Didaran
13. Utpatana
14. Kampana
15. Vishleshan
16. Vikirana
17. Sthambhana
18. Puran
19. Aakunchana
20. Ankushika

Pittaja (Pitta predominance)

1. Osha
2. Chosha
3. Paridaah
4. Dhumayana

Kaphaja ( Kapha Predominance)

1. Kandu
2. Gurutwa
3. Suptata
4. Upadeha
5. Stabdhata
6. Shaitya

This is a collection of various pain sensations as per definition of pain and it has been collected and listed with very minute details in order to give proper diagnosis and its  Association with Dosha.

Treatment of Pain

Snehanam ( Oleation ) - It includes massage to the whole body or an affected part with various medicated oils and Ghee. Type of medicated oil/ghee and procedure of Oletion depends on the disorder and type of pain.
         Various types like Sarvang-Ekang Snehan , Karnapooran , Akshitarpan, Katibasti, Manybasti, Hrudbasti, Shirodhara are used to treat knee pain,back pain,arthritic pain,headaches, earache, eye disorders , palpitations or arrhythmic heart conditions.

Snehana procedures at Samanwaya ayurvedic and panchakarma clinic

Swedanam ( Hot Fomentation)   -

Snehana is usually followed by Swedana. It means to sweat or to perspire. For this either dry or wet ingredients are used to create heat and make body sweat. So swedana is the process of inducing sweat either with the help of steam, generated from medicated herbal decoctions or by using pottali which contains dry powders,hot rice boluses or by Lepas.

(Lepas procedure at Samanwaya ayurvedic and panchakarma clinic)

Herbal decoctions are used in generalised body pain,spinal pain. Pinda swedan (Rice boluses) is used for localized specific tissue injury. And Churna Pottali is used for rheumatism,ankylosing spondylosis etc. 

Basti (Medicated enemas) - it is used as an internal treatment for pain management. Various combinations of decoctions,oils,ghee,honey,milk are used as per pain and disease. It is generally performed for 8/16/21 days.

Nasya ( medicated nasal drops) - medicated nasal drops are used to treat 'Urdhva jatrugat vikara’ ie supraclavicular (above neck) disorders. Which mainly includes diseases of head ,neck, ear,throat and eyes. We use various oils, juices,milks,ghee,kwath, powders as per type of pain.

Raktamokshana (Blood letting) - this procedure is done to treat pain caused by haematomas or by toxic blood. It is usually done by Leeches, suction,Venepuncture and by trained doctor only.

Agnikarma - Agnikarma is very useful technique in order to treat local acute pain. eg various joint pain,headache, cervical pain, foot corn, calcaneal sour are treated with this procedure.

All these treatments are used to treat pain and do not have any harmful side effects. But it is very important to know that  All of these procedures require thorough knowledge of anatomy and ayurvedic marma therapy. Hence it  must be performed by Ayurvedic Vaidya only.


P.S. - To read this article in Marathi, click on the link given below,

https://samanwayayurved.blogspot.in/2014/12/blog-post.html?m=1