Backache

All treatments in Ayurveda are prescribed only after a careful diagnosis of the patient's body constitution, family history, sex, age, stage of the disease etc. This will enable the patient to receive treatments that are specifically suited to his very needs. Ayurveda treatments will therefore vary from patient to patient.

The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person's body humour (Dosha) - Vata, Pita or Kapha,because it is the imbalance of these body humours that create Backache.

The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behaviour, food habits, sleeping patterns, personal details like age, height & weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also. The doctor can decide if an Ayurveda treatment is helpful on providing these details.

Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person's body humour and its imbalance. This will help the doctor in treating the disease.

Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.

In tongue diagnosis, the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.

Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person's nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination.

In the eye diagnosis, the colour, size and even the shape of the eyes are important in determining the dosha dominance of a person. His mental status - nervousness, anxiety, confidence level etc - can also be learned through eye diagnosis.

Ayurveda Treatment approach is to increase natural healing ability of the body and not to attack the disease with something from the outside, like drugs or surgery, and cure the diseases in one or two days. It may take a few weeks to regenerate the health. The healing response is one of the most complex and coordinated activities within the human physiology and often cannot be strengthened without the patient’s personal conscious efforts.

After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarma treatments and Rasayana therapies .

The Panchakarma Treatments are meant to flush out the toxins. They are classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods.

The Rasayana Therapies are meant to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.These comprise diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines and ayurveda tonics, yoga and a stress free life. After the treatment the ayurveda doctors will advise you how to lead a healthy life. The beneifts and results of the treatment are shown only after the Rasyana Treatment is over and doctors advise is strictly followed. The results will manifest itself normally after 3 to 4 weeks as the body takes time to regenerate itself.

Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes. These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind.

The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted for curing Backache.

Chavitti Thirummu: It is a specialized form of body massage using the foot of the masseur. The masseur, using warm herbal oils, administers choreographed and rhythmical strokes while balancing on one leg and holding on to an overhead rope. Chavitti thirummu relieves aches and pains in the muscular system, loosens the muscles, alleviates mild postural problems, gently stretches and realigns the spine and creates space between previously compacted vertebrae.

Njavarakizhi is a treatment process where the whole body or any specific part of it is made to perspire by applying the boluses on the body. The boluses, tied in a muslin cloth contain medicinal herbs and spices.Sida plants, winter cherry and asparagus are some of the medicinal herbs used in Njavarakizhi. The treatment may last from one hour to one and a half hours.

Lepam is the application of a specially prepared paste using rich medicinal herbs on the body or on specific parts of the body for a period ranging from half an hour to one and a half hours. Dry ginger, sweet flag , vitex, sesame etc are some of the herbs used in the preparation of this medicinal paste.

Snehapanam This is an important pre purification therapy. It is also called oleation therapy and consists of oral intake of medicated ghee in empty stomach for a specified number of days. This unique treatment helps flush out the toxins from the body. Indukantham or Mahathiktham, the two major types of ghee used for this, is mixed with spices and herbs such as Malabar nut, wild snake gourd, sweet flag, sandal wood, neem, amaltas, asparagus, ginger, mustard, gooseberry etc.

Thalapothichil It is the application of herbal paste on the scalp of a patient for 40 to 50 minutes. The scalp is then covered with banana leaf to allow medicines to stay on and function well. Fruits and herbs such as gooseberry, liquorices, asparagus, henna, lotus seeds, sandal, nut grass tuber etc are generally used in preparing this herbal paste.

Thakradhara The profuse pouring of specially prepared butter milk on the forehead of a person for over an hour is termed thakradhara. This cools down the brain, relaxes the mind and reduces stress, tension and anxiety. The assorted herbs commonly used in the butter milk also include gooseberry, nut grass tuber, sandal wood, valerian, lotus seedsetc.

Kateevasthi The retention of warm medicated herbal oil on the lower back of the body for about 40 to 50 minutes is called kateevasthi. This treatment extends to 2 or 3 weeks. Herbs and spices like bala, beetle killer roots, long pepper, ten roots, liquorices, fenugreek etc are also commonly used in the preparation of this oil. This oil is held from spreading by applying black gram paste thickly around the affected part.

Main Purification Therapies

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Main purification therapies for Backache. This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors. The commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for Lumbar Spondolysis are Virechanam, Vamanam and Vasthy.

Virechanam It is the oral intake of safe herbal medicines leading to the elimination of poisonous wastes through the anal route. Purgative medicines generally consist of herbal powder, medicated castor oil or herbal paste. Avipathychoornam, the herbal powder which is generally used for virechanam is commonly a mixture of herbs like turpith, embellia fruits, dry ginger, cardamom, long pepper, cinnamon etc.

Vasthi 'Vasthi' is an enema therapy. It is considered the ace colon cleaning panchakarma treatment. In this form of treatment special medicines are introduced through the anal route for the evacuation of accumulated toxins and metabolic wastes. Dill seeds, honey, rock salt, herbal pastes, oils etc are also used as ingredients in vasthy.  

These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course. Rasayana treatments for Backache consist of oral medicines, diet regulation and yoga.

Oral medicines for Backache

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Herbal medicines form an important part of any ayurvedic treatment. Oral medicines for Lumbar Spondolysis will be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. These are prepared specifically to restore the lost balance and to provide the needed inputs to cure Backache.Kashayam and Arishtam - herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed. The oral medicines used for Backache generally contain aswagandha, sugar candy, long pepper,ghee etc.

The type and quantity of the medicines to be taken are decided by the doctor after a detailed consultation and examination. The patient's body type, age etc are also important factors to be considered..

Diet regulation for Backache

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Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from Backache. Proper diet is a brilliant means of controlling and curing Lumbar Spondolysis. Ayurveda diet provides adequate nutrition as well as rest for the needed organs. Rice should as far as possible be avoided; consumption of wheat, bajra and jawar should be encouraged in its place. Patients should also avoid sour, fried things and pulses.

Yoga poses including camel pose, cow pose, lotus pose, forward bend, free pose etc are recommended for Backache patients.

Life style: Backache patients,are recommended to avoid tension and worry in their daily lives. Exercises like walking and cycling are recommended. However, they should avoid doing exercises that are fatiguing. Swimming is good; but those who tend to tire easily, should avoid it.

General Information

The ability to properly digest food is very important to sustain health. Incompletely digested foods create toxins and impurities in the body and disrupt body functions. This process plays a major role in a wide variety of chronic conditions. Your Ayurveda Doctor will advise you how to increase your digestion power.

The nervous system controls your bodily functions, and the chronic condition is affected in some way when the nervous system activity becomes imbalanced. Vata is the physiological principle at the basis of nervous system. Imbalance in nervous system or Vata Imbalance worsens symptoms of chronic diseases. Yoga and meditation would help you to avoid stress situations.

It is important to have a lifestyle that does not disturb natural bodily rhythms. When we eat, sleep and exercise in constantly fluctuating and disturbing patterns, the body loses its natural balancing cycles and cannot cleanse or heal itself as effectively. Therefore, regularity in our daily routine can be extremely effective in reducing physiological imbalance to avoid chronic disease.