Exploring Ayurvedic insights and approaches for managing low back pain: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Introduction: Back pain, in India is quite common affecting about 6.2% of the population and skyrocketing to a 92% among construction workers. This condition not poses medical challenges but also has significant economic implications since it ranks high on the list of causes for disability. Although some people may naturally recover from this ailment it still puts a strain on healthcare resources. In this article we critically examine treatment methods while highlighting the importance of adopting a comprehensive strategy to address, back pain in an efficient and cost effective manner. Aims and Objectives: The main focus of this study is to provide descriptions of back pain a condition that affects a significant percentage of adults (70-85%). Our goal is to bridge the gaps in research by examining the knowledge, about low back pain found in classical Ayurvedic texts. Materials and Methods: In order to achieve this objective we conducted a review of articles published in reputable journals. Our review specifically focused on the background of back pain, sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy. We systematically searched databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and others. Our aim was to extract and analyze information pertaining to types of back pain described in Ayurvedic classics. Observations and Conclusion: The impact of pain can be severe both medically and economically. It ranks as the leading cause of disability for individuals under the age of forty five and third leading cause for those over forty five. It is crucial to understand the severity of this condition in order to effectively manage it while keeping costs under control. Results: Our review uncovered an understanding of conditions related to low back pain found within Ayurvedic texts. These include Katishoola, Katigraha, Gridhrasi, Trikshoola, Trikvedna and more. Additionally we gained insights into their pathophysiology through Samhita’s along, with their recommended treatment methods as well as Pathyaand Apathya.