Urinary Calculi/ Kidney Stone (Mutra asmari) and its Ayurveda Treatment

Urinary Calculi/ Kidney stone

Calculi or stone is a solid/ crystal sedimentation formed in the urinary system. It is also called as Urolithiasis. It is mainly formed from the dietary minerals and waste materials found in the urine. It is usually comprised as a compound called Calcium oxalate or Phosphate. These are result of an accumulation of dissolved minerals on the inner surface of urinary system like Kidneys etc. It may have different sizes. Some of them have the size of a pin head and may be pass unnoticed through urine without causing any symptoms. Some of them have enough size to obstruct urinary passage and can cause symptoms like pain,etc. These can be grouped and classified according to the location and chemical composition.

SHASHTIKA SHAALI PINDA SWEDA OR NAVARAKIZHI

Shashtika shaali pinda sweda also known as Navarakkizhi is a Kerala specialty of treatment in which the whole body or any specific part is made to perspire by the application of heated medicinal rice (Navara) puddings externally in the form of boluses tied up in a cotton cloth in a specific manner for specific period of time.These procedures are very commonly used in Keraliya Panchakarma.

'Navara' means special rice which is harvested in 60 days. 'Kizhi' means bolus bag.

Bashpa Sweda or Steam Bath in Ayurveda Treatment

BASHPA SWEDA or STEAM BATH

This is kind of sudation by which medicated steam is applied to the patients body for a certain periods of time to get perspiration.It removes stiffness,heaviness and coldness from the body.(ref:A.H).

For this purpose Bashpa Sweda Yantra (A steam bath chamber) is required.Medicinal herbs decoctions is kept boiling in the Bashpa Sweda Yantra from where the steam is generated and applied all over the body or any specific part through a tube or pipe.The patient is advised to lie down inside the steam chamber after massage with warm oil (20-22C). A thick cotton sheet may be used to cover the body to get proper perspiration.

WRIST PAIN AND NUMBNESS/ CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AND ITS AYURVEDA TREATMENT

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AND ITS AYURVEDA MANAGEMENT

Carpal tunnel syndrome or median neuropathy at the wrist, is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist leading to paresthesia numbness, pain and muscle weakness in the hand. It is caused by an inflammation or collapse of carpal tunnel that allows nerves to pass through the wrist. It is a common complaint of office workers, drivers and is usually associated with repetitive activities such as typing, etc. Because the nerves of the tunnel run through the neck and arms before reaching the wrist. Tension in the neck and shoulders can also aggravate the condition. Some predisposing factors like diabetics, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, and heavy manual work or work with vibrating tools may also cause the symptoms.

KERALIYA AYURVEDA PANCHAKARMA

KERALIYA PANCHAKARMA

Panchakarma procedures are utilized for the purpose of preservation, maintenance and conservation of health and the promotion of longevity.

While checking the history of Ayurveda we can see that,with the spread of Buddhism to the southern parts of India,Ayurvedic treatment got popularized as it was practiced in the monasteries.After the decline of the Buddhism,many of these monasteries where converted to the temples and the practice of Ayurvedic treatment through these temples still continues in Kerala. Panchakarma procedures where not confined to the higher societies only.Rather lower classes of the society also contributed to the promotion,progress,and development of these specialized techniques.Due to these fact modified technique of Panchakarma treatments developed in Kerala unlike north part of the India.

Based on Ayurvedic principles and own experiences, the Ayurvedic scholars in south India have modified certain techniques or procedures according to dosha, Prakriti(body constitution),Kala (season),drug availability etc.and found them quite effective.Later on thees procedures got popularized as Keraliya Specialties of Panchakarma which are extensively practiced in India and abroad as main procedures. With the modernization and globalization of Ayurveda,more and more peoples are showing interest in these treatment procedures due to their effectiveness in addition to the conventional Panchakarma practices.

Some of the main procedures are:

• Shashika Shali Pinda Sweda
• Pizhichil
• Shirodhara
• Shirovasthi
• Shirolepana

These procedures are specialized varieties of snehana and swedana which have more nourishing effects than bio-cleansing or depleting effect.

Sankara Sveda in Ayurveda treatment

SANKARA SWEDA in AYURVEDA TREATMENT

Samkara means mixing of dravyas like Tila,masha,etc together should be rubbed into pinda (ball like) made Luke warm and kept over the painful part of the body.This is a ideal procedure for application of heat to a selected part of the body.Depending on the drug used it can be  ruksha or snigdha.

Fomentation by means of hot bolus of prescribed drugs with or without being wrapped in a cloth.

CLASSIFICATION OF SVEDA KARMA/FOMENTATION THERAPY IN AYURVEDA

Svedana karma- classification

1.Niragni Sveda (without fire) and 2. Saagni sveda(with fire)

(ref: susurutha and vaagbhata)

Niragni sveda:                                   Saagni Sveda

1. Vyayama (Exercise)                   1.Tapa Sveda -done with hand
2. Ushna sadana                            Kaansya,Kapaala,Kanduka,Vaaluka and
3. Guru pravarana                         vastra (cloth)
4. Kshudha                                  2.Upanaha Sveda-bandhan,pradeha,potali
5. Bahupan                                  3.Ushma sveda-done with kapaala,Pashana
6. Bhaya                                      Loha ball,Sankar,Kumbhi,Prasthala,bhru etc
7. Krodha                                  4.Drava sveda-Done with parisheka,and
8. Upanaha                                   avagaha.
9. Ahava
10. Aatapa