European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A PILOT STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF LANKA PINDA SWEDA IN GRIDHRASI W.S.R TO SCIATICA

*Dr. S. Triveni Manju and Dr.Vinay Kumar K. N.

ABSTRACT

The current busy world has made the man to indulge in hectic strenuous physical activity without giving due importance to health paving way for many diseased conditions such as Gridhrasi. Gridhrasi is one among the Vata Nanatmaja Vyadhi presenting with radiation of pain from Sphik, Kati, Prushta- Uru, Janu, Jangha and Pada associated with Ruk, Toda and Spandana and is commonly identified with Sciatica.Swedana is one among the Shad Upakrama and extensively practised not just as Purvakarma of Panchakarma but also as Pradhana Karma in various painful conditions as it is endowed with the property to relieve Stambha, Gourava and Shaityata as well as instantaneous relief from Harsha, Toda, Ruk, Ayama, etc. Sankara Sweda also popularly called as Pinda Sweda, one among the 13 types of Sagni Sweda wherein sudation is given over the affected part using a Pottali (bolus) prepared out of certain specified medicines. Though certain dravyas are mentioned for Sankara Sweda, it is need of hour to explore other dravyas which are readily available, cost effective, affordable, easy to administer, actively accepted and incorporate the same into the practice of Pinda Sweda with due consideration to its Guna Karma without violating the basic principles of treatment. Keeping this in mind, a procedure called Lanka Pinda Sweda was formulated using Lanka (Green Chilly), Pudina (Mint Leaves), Rasna, Nimbuka(Lemon), Haridra( Turmeric), Saindhava Lavana, Narikela (Coconut) and Murchita taila and a study was conducted by employing it in Gridhrasi where the results were overwhelming in instantaneously relieving the symptomatology of Gridhrasi.

Keywords: Gridhrasi, Sciatica, Sankara Sweda, Lanka Pinda Sweda.