Role of Agnikarma in Gridhrasi (Sciatica) - A Conceptual Study

Abstract

Pain is the chief cause of visiting a doctor in most patients. Vata is responsible for all painful conditions in the body. Gridhrasi is one among vataja nanatmaja vyadhi affecting the locomotor system in which pain is major symptom. The name itself indicates the way of gait shown by the patient due to extreme pain just like a Gridhrasi (Vulture).  In Gridhrasi intense shooting pain start from sphik pradesha and radiates downwards to kati, prusta, uru, janu, jangha and pada in which the patient is unable to walk properly.  The pain starts in the back and radiates down to one or both lower limbs.  On the basis of symptoms of Gridhrasi; it can be equated with the disease sciatica in modern science. It occurs due to spinal nerve irritation and is characterized by pain in distribution of sciatic nerve. Statistically it is estimated that low back pain and radiating pain due to lumbar disc prolapse are major cause of morbidity throughout the world. The life time incidence of low back pain is 50-70% with incidence of sciatica more than 40%.  It disturbs daily routine and overall life of the patient. In modern medical science, only symptomatic management with analgesics like NSAIDs and a very few surgical procedures are available.  The surgical procedures are expensive with many limitations.  In Ayurveda, various methods used in treatment of Gridhrasi are Bheshaja , Snehana, Swedana, Siravedha, Agnikarma and basti. Among these, Agnikarma is one of the para- surgical procedures which is very effective, simple, safe, cheap and having quick action. In current study a humble attempt is made to explain the role of Agnikarma in Gridhrasi.