AN OBSERVATIONAL PROSPECTIVE STUDY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF GRIDHRASI

Abstract

Gridhrasi is one of the most common debilitating diseases of all age groups, affecting the physical, mental, and social life of patients. Ayurveda offers a lot of possibilities for musculoskeletal ailments, and Gridhrasi is not an exception. Gridhrasi is one among the Vataja Nanatmaja Vyadhi where dysfunction of Vata dosha manifests as low back pain which radiates to the lower limbs, accompanied by stiffness and a pricking type of pain. Gridhrasi's symptoms closely resemble the clinical features of Sciatica in modern science where pain, weak-ness, numbness and other discomforts along the path of the sciatic nerve are often accompanied with low back pain. Contemporary conservative treatments offer only temporary relief, and surgical options cannot eliminate the associated complications. Acharya Charaka has provided three limb treatment techniques for Gridhrasi. This classical intervention has yet to be previously attempted, and thus, this study aims to establish the effec-tiveness of these treatments for Gridhrasi. Since Gridhrasi significantly impacts patients' physical, mental, and social well-being, there is a compelling need to identify a suitable and cost-effective cure, making it the focal point of this research. The three limbs are namely Basti, Siravyadha and Agnikarma. Basti is regarded as So-dhana Chikitsa where, whereas Siravyadha and Agnikarma are Anusalya Chikitsa. Thus, in this study, the clas-sical reference of Acharya Charaka’s treatment principle of Gridhrasi was taken, and a conceptual three-arm survey including these three treatment modalities was done. The outcome of the study is expected to generate clinical evidence on the effect of three individual treatments in Gridhrasi.