Ayurveda Treatment for Back Pain

Back pain is a commonly suffered ailment. It is a chronic condition characterized by a persistent dull or sharp pain per the lower back. It may be also associated with burning, stiffness, numbness or tingling with the pain shooting down the buttocks and the legs. Here we are describing the various ayurveda treatment for back pain.

Treatment in Ayurveda is to bring the vitiated 'dosha' back to the state of equilibrium and thereby to the state of health. For treating low back pain, internal as well as external treatments are done. Herbal preparations like 'Asthavargam' are administered internally. Daily purgation is recommended to restore the vitiated 'dosha' to the state of normalcy.
Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatments like Abhyanga (oil massage), Basti (meditated enema) are very much helpful in relieving backache and correcting abnormalities. Drugs like Yogarajaguggulu, Lakshadiguggulu, Triphala Guggulu, Maanarayana tailam are useful in this condition.



Yoga and Yogasana: The source of the pain is due most often to pushing oneself beyond physical or emotional capacity. The spine needs stability and, therefore, the mind must first be steady. So, the first step is to learn to relax the mind and focus on the specific areas of back pain. With practice, you can redirect the body's energy and affect the pain.
Among the Yogasanas ,when there is pain, start with simple back-bends, such as Locust, Cat, and Sunbird. To keep the spine aligned practice Hero Pose.

Ayurveda Treatment Comprises of three approaches, Elimination (Shodhanam), of the accumulated toxic products of digestion, metabolism and the disease process, Pacification (Shamanam) and correction of the entities responsible for altered functioning and Rejuvenation (Rasayanam) of the bodily tissue to regain and maintain natural strength and vitality.

For treating low back pain, internal as well as external treatments are done. Ayurvedic medicine offers conservative treatment as oral & external medication. This herbal medicine can help you reverse the disease-process.
Ayurvedic Treatment usually involves a series of Panchakarma therapies like ABHYANGAM, SWEDAM, NASYAM, ELAKIZHI, NAVARAKIZHI, KATI VASTHI, KASHAYA VASTHI & ANUVASANA VASTHI etc. for treating low back pain.

ABHYANGAM
Abhyangam is a special type of oil massage in Ayurveda. In this treatment strokes are applied on the body according to the disease, for 45 minutes per day for 14 days. This treatment is very useful for curing obesity, especially for back pain.
SWEDAM
Avagaha Swedam, immersing in a medicated medium, is a special treatment in traditional ayurveda for diseases such as neurological disorders, rheumatism and arthritis. It is the fomentation by taking bath in a tub or a vessel with vata alleviating decoction or milk. In this treatment, the patient is made to sit in a tub which is filled with the vata alleviating decoction or milk for a prescribed time. The decoction in the tub should be above the level of the umbilicus and the decoction should be maintained at the same temperature by periodically alternating with warm decoction.It is a tonic for both nervous and muscular systems. Chronic back pain, weakness of a limb, muscular cramps, stiffness, etc are cured with choice of herbal leaves. It also enhances blood circulation and promotes good metabolism.
ELAKIZHI
Elakizhi (or ilakizhi) is a bolos bag massage with medicinal leaves. It is used to tackle joint pain, muscle cramps, stress and arthritis. Each of these combinations give a curative and rejuvenative effect after being undergone for definite periods and repeating at definite interval.Herbal poultices (bundles) are prepared with various herbs and medicated powders. The poultices are warmed in medicated oils and used to massage the entire body, neck, shoulders, hand and back, shifting the person from side to side.


NAVARAKIZHI
Navarakizhi is a treatment made to perspire well through massage with puddings in the form of boluses tied up in cloth bags.In this treatment, the patient’s body is made to sweat by fomentation with a bundle of linen filled with a bolus of Navara rice that has been cooked in a milk herbs and herbal decoction. The fist - sized bundle (kizhi) is dipped every now and then in a warm medicated Kuzhambu (ointment).
KATI VASTHI
In this treatment, specially prepared warm medicated oil is kept over the lower back with herbal paste boundary. This treatment lasts for 45 minutes to 1 hour.ativasti is an effective therapy of Ayurveda for Katisula, which is the term for lower backache or stiffness or pain felt down the back.The patient is made to lie face down on the Droni. A rectangular reservoir made of black gram dough is built up on the lower back, around the lumbo-sacral area. After ensuring that this is leak-proof, a lukewarm medicinal oil, which alleviates pain and strengthens the bone tissues, is slowly poured into it.