European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

JANUBASTI: A NON INVASIVE TREATMENT MODALITY IN OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE JOINT

Dr. Sindhura A. S.* and Dr. Abdul Khader

ABSTRACT

Janu basti is a procedure in which the warm medicated oil is retained over the painful knee joint for certain period. Janu basti is a type of sneha poorvaka swedana chikitsa practiced in janu sandhigata vata (Osteoarthritis knee joint) where in the vyadhi desha (site of manifestation) is treated. Sushrutha Samhita in Chikitsasthana mentions that swedana quickly restores the movement in stiff joint. It is a non-invasive local treatment methodology practised in Osteoarthritis knee joint. Drugs used in Janu basti procedure get absorbed through and produce action according to the property of the medicine. Application of medicaments, heat and massage helps in eliminating the number of noxious elements through skin. The application of heat in different forms of Swedana promotes local circulation and metabolic activities and also opens the pores of the skin to permit transfer of medicaments and nutrients towards to needed sites and elimination of vitiated dosha and mala through skin and perspiration. Long term local heat treatment will improve the blood flow in periarticular tissue, resulting in pain relief in the knee. In addition, the effects of local heat treatment include an increase in collagen fibre extensibility, analgesic effects due to an increase in the pain threshold, and effects on muscle metabolism. Thermal stimulation alone or in combination with mild exercise has increases the muscle mass and strength. Effects of heat treatment associated with increased cartilage temperature, and the effects on cartilage metabolism due to promotion of blood circulation in the surrounding tissues have been considered for the mode of action of janubasti.

Keywords: Janu sandhigata vata, Osteoarthritis, Janubasti.